Mike Tuffs, chairman of the Anglia in Bloom steering group, explained to the annual council meeting on April 17 how the village had become involved in the project and what the plans were for the year leading up to the judging in July.

He explained how West Norfolk Council is helping Old Hunstanton with repairs and providing such items as planters and hanging baskets.

Finally, he explained that the parish council is applying for funds from the borough council to help with buying plants, etc. and that local fundraising will also be looked into.

Mr Tuffs also added that new members to the steering group would be most welcome. Cllr Anderson added his congratulations and comments.

Proof copies of the parish plan questionnaire were handed out. Mrs Rita Brown, a member of the parish plan steering group, gave a resumé of the work involved so far.

Cllr Anderson, leader of the steering group, added his comments and explained how knowing what the village wanted for the future was very important.

John Anderson was elected as chairman as the council chairman was unable to attend due to illness.

Cllr Anderson welcomed everyone to the meeting and wished the regular chairman a speedy recovery.

The minutes from last year's parish meeting were confirmed as a true record and signed by the chairman.

There followed a short written report from the vice-chairman, Cllr Scott, who was unable to attend.

Eleven members of the public attended. One of them mentioned that the old flower shop, adjacent to the allotments is in a bad state of repair and asked if anything could be done. This would be looked into.

During the open session of the meeting Pauline Farncombe said that enthusiasm for the Homewatch scheme seemed to have declined and that she would like to see it revived with new members.

The reason for the lack of activity was that many of the co-ordinators had moved away so new people were needed. She asked anyone interested in volunteering to contact her at the shop, or John Hornsby-Bates, chairman of Homewatch.

She also requested that any notes or information from clubs and organisations be included in the paper.

Mike Tuffs asked, with reference to the parish plan questionnaire, whether it would be 'per household' or 'per member of the household'.

Cllr Anderson explained that it would be per household but that there are sections within the paper allowing for individual members to be represented.

He said that the steering group was looking at the possibility of a different way of canvassing the ideas of the younger residents of the village.

The parish council meeting followed and the minutes from the previous meeting were signed by the chairman.

Police community support officer Owen James, the police liaison officer, reported no crime in Old Hunstanton in the last month but an attempted break-in at Ashdale Park was queried by Cllr Mackinder and PC James would investigate.

Cllr Farncombe asked PC James, on behalf of a resident, about the possibility of bollards being used opposite Howards Close on Sundays and bank holidays, the problem of speeding through the village, and junction confusion at the end of Sea Lane. All these matters had been raised before but PC James would refer them to PC Gordon Francis for a response at the next council meeting.

The council agreed to build its own website. The clerk will check with the borough council and other parish clerks about ways of raising funds.