Great news!
We are delighted to report a reduction of just under 2% in the Parish Council element of the Council Tax charges. The Council has agreed to make a precept request of £140,497 for the year 2020/21 to East Suffolk Council. Most of our income comes through the Council Tax (precept). It means the average 2020 Parish Council charge per household will be £61.19 (amounts vary according to your housing band). Great news to start the year.
MEGABASH ON THE COMMON Saturday 25 January 2020
What is a megabash, you ask? It is a community event designed to get people actively involved in practical wildlife conservation & looking after the land on their doorstep! It will be led by the Greenways Project, with the support of other local volunteer groups. Activities planned are scrub clearing, woodland management, dead hedging & path improvement work. Everyone is invited. All are welcome. Just bring yourself in appropriate clothing and footwear as tools & expertise will be provided, and, most importantly, tea, coffee & biscuits, along with jacket potatoes cooked over a bonfire (weather permitting).
Meet at 10am in the Martlesham Community Hall car park, Felixstowe Road, IP12 4PB. The event will run from 10.00am until 3.30pm.
VOLUNTEER PLAY AREA INSPECTORS REQUIRED
Recently some of our volunteers who have been regularly inspecting our play areas have had to give up the role. We are very grateful for the work that they have done in making sure our children enjoy safe equipment. We now need replacement volunteers – the more the merrier in order to reduce the workload! We look after 2 play areas on Martlesham Heath (the Harry Higgins and Centenary Play spaces) and 2 in ‘old’ Martlesham ( Kronji's Piece along with the Diamond Jubilee bike trails). It might suit someone who already visits the play areas as a parent or carer. Ideally, we would like a commitment to do an inspection at least once a month; this can be for just one play area. Anything helps! Training and checklists will be provided. If you are interested, please do contact the Council office. We look forward to hearing from you!
MEMORIAL BENCH OPPORTUNITY
The Council is replacing the old bench outside the Community Rooms on Felixstowe Road. We are offering the opportunity for this to become a memorial seat if any community member or family would like to meet the costs of purchase and installation. Please contact the Clerk by 31 January 2020 for further information and to register your interest.
COULD YOU BE OUR NEXT TREE WARDEN?
We are seeking a replacement tree warden for Martlesham Parish, as John Forbes, the present tree warden wishes to hand over the tasks. John has done an amazing job for countless years, often with the help of his wife. We are so grateful for his dedication to this service. This is an entirely voluntary and extremely interesting role. Mr Forbes describes the role as " a great chance to do something for the community, climate emergency and wildlife. The tree warden, in conjunction with office staff, will help with surveys, inspections, planting and planning schedules, and training is given. Also attendance at tree warden events in the region is encouraged and your expenses are paid"
Resignation of Mr John Forbes, a long-standing councillor
It is with much sadness that we have recently received the resignation of John Forbes, a highly respected councillor. His resignation will take effect on 31 January 2020 which will leave a vacancy on the Parish Council. A bye-election to fill the vacancy will be held if ten electors from the Martlesham Ward give notice in writing claiming such an election to the Returning Officer. If no such notice is given the Council will be able to fill the vacancy by co-option. Please check our notice boards in February for details.
Mr Forbes has played a significant role in the work of the Council for many years, acting as our Tree Warden and footpath officer, actively participating in working parties and litter picks, advising on planning applications, promoting green issues and so much more. He will be greatly missed.
If you are interested in becoming a parish councillor, we would very much like to hear from you. The Clerk will be pleased to provide more information on what you can expect!
OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
Please "Follow Us" and "Like " our new Facebook page @Martlesham Parish. Just click on our Facebook link at the foot of this page or go to https://www.facebook.com/MartleshamParish to Like Us or Follow Us. We are trying it out as another way to engage with the Parish - to seek your views, to share with you what we are working on and to get information out to you quickly. This method of engagement will complement, rather than replace, our regular Martlesham Monthly news items and updates, our website and noticeboard information. Please do let us know what you would like to see on our Facebook page and how you would like to see it develop.
BUS SERVICE TIMETABLES
66/66A bus timetable here 63/65 bus timetable here 800 Park and Ride timetable here
Forthcoming Meetings of the Parish Council
Parish Council Meetings - 5th February & 4th March 2020; Development Planning Committee - Wednesday 12th February 2020; Finance Committee - Wednesday 26th February 2020
All meetings start at 7.30pm in the Parish Room, Felixstowe Road, and are open to the public who are welcome to ask questions or make comments to the Council during a public forum.