& Parish Council www.offtonandwillisham.org.uk

The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday 13th May. This will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting.

Meetings will start time at 7.00pm unless otherwise stated. Press and public are welcome to attend.

Notes from the March meeting

Community First Responders Mike Vorndran and colleague Angie from the CFR group, gave a demonstration and presentation to Councillors. Councillors were able to observe how equipment carried by CFR’s can be used to help save lives and were made aware of the various types of calls that volunteers respond to in their local community. Offton and Willisham are hoping to have their own CFR group up and running this year. Volunteers were invited to the meeting and had an opportunity to meet with Mike and Angie to ask questions.

Libraries At the recent Bosmere Chairmans meeting, organised by Councillor Truelove, it was reported that there had been no reduction in the number of books being lent from/by the library since cuts were made. If you are unable to get to your local library a mobile library van visits our villages on a regular basis. See attached link for further details – we are route 16. http://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/libraries-andmobiles/mobile-libraries-and- community-services-2013/-mobile-library-route-16/ If you are housebound there is a home delivery service available where you can order books and have them delivered to you by volunteers. See attached link for further details. http://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/libraries-and-mobiles/home-library-service/

Donation for Laptop Councillors thanked County Councillor Julia Truelove who kindly donated £400 from her County Council locality budget, towards the cost of a new laptop and software for use by the parish council.

Tables for Village Hall Following a request from the Offton and Willisham village hall committee, Councillors agreed to purchase 4 large tables and 6 smaller tables for use by groups/functions using the village hall.

Footpaths A problem with footpath 49 where it meets with footpath 14 by Middlewood was highlighted. A section of the footpath is deeply rutted and fills with deep water. Anyone walking in this area should take care until work can be carried out to resolve the problem.

Parish Notifications – email network A ‘parish notifications’ email network will soon be available to alert residents about important issues such as road closures or major planning applications that may impact on life and work within the parishes. Details on how to sign up will be available soon.

Age UK Suffolk (formerly Age Concern) Information received from Age UK Suffolk – If you are over 60 and need advice, Suffolk Age UK have 3 information help centres located in Ipswich, & . As an independent charity they aim to enable older people and their family carers to manage the challenges that may come with ageing while retaining choice in, and control over, their own lives. They offer a variety of services which include Benefits Advice, Advocates who support older people in making important decisions about their lives or when feeling ill or isolated and Independence Advisors who visit older people at home to talk over any problems or worries they have about staying independent and safe at home. A befriending service is also available along with a home help service and day centres. Contact - Ipswich 01473 257039 9.00am – 5.00pm, Bury St Edmunds 01284 757750 9.30am – 1.00pm, Lowestoft 01502 586308 9.30am – 1.00pm.

Cheaper Energy Cheaper Energy Together.org is a not for profit community project providing a collective energy switching service. Their aim is to get households a better deal on gas and electricity. For further information phone 0800 888661 or visit www.CheaperEnergyTogether.org.

Suffolk’s Warm Homes, Healthy People This scheme is run by Suffolk County Council who can provide home based energy advise and surveys, help with the cost of home insulation, emergency boiler repairs, fuel costs and installation of temperature sensor and telecare alarm unit. For further information tel 08456037686 or visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/warmhomes

Jayne Double, Parish Clerk, Tel 01473 658680 Email the clerk via the website www.offtonandwillisham.org.uk