Parish Council

THE Latest meeting of Upwell Parish Council opened with the chairman, Councillor Neil Morgan, welcoming those present, including David Rodwell, locality youth worker for West Norfolk Borough Council, who spoke of his role managing youth provision in the area. Mr Rodwell is currently working in conjunction with Councillor Ros Shorting on a joint project with the Outwell parish to provide amenities for youth group meetings. It is hoped the pavilion on Upwell's playing field can be refurbished for this purpose and funding is actively being sought to this end. Councillors heard that the chairman had been in contact with the head teacher of Upwell Primary School regarding generating a closer relationship between the school and its community. Cllr Morgan has offered use of the council's website and newsletter as portals for school information. Councillors were asked to consider a participation matrix. Drawn up by Cllr Morgan, it presents the council's key responsibilities and initiatives raised in the parish plan. All councillors were asked to nominate themselves for specific areas of responsibility or interest to ensure full and fair involvement by each member in the parish's affairs. Following the resignation of Councillor Bill Hircock at the September meeting, councillors heard that there had been no call for an election to fill the vacant position. Two nominations for the position had been received and a ballot was held to co-opt a new council member. Keith Harrison of Upwell was the successful candidate and will be invited to attend the next full council meeting to take up his post. Following its success last year, the council was unanimous in its decision to run a Christmas lights competition this year. On Tuesday, December 19, Councillors Medlock, Morgan and Shorting will tour the parish to judge the best lit home and garden. The meeting closed with the presentation to the council of a set of photographs of Albert and Edna Feary of Upwell, the only parish residents ever to be mayor and mayoress of King's Lynn. The photographs, donated by Mr and Mrs Calton, of Upwell, and will be framed and hung in the committee room at Upwell village hall. The next meeting of the council will be on Monday, November 13 at Upwell village hall (7.30pm) There will be a councillor surgery for half an hour prior to the meeting for members of the public with concerns or queries they wish to raise.