Next week sees the bi-monthly Parish Council meeting, at which a number of important issues will be debated and two new councillors will be co-opted.
 
In this issue:
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A final reminder that the annual village litter pick will take place this Saturday 15th March. If you can spare an hour, please join us to tidy up the village. Meet on the village green at 10.00am.
 
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The next meeting of Birlingham Parish Council is on Wednesday 19th March at 7.45pm in Birlingham Village Hall. Among other items on the agenda, the Council will be co-opting two new members, considering action to claim compensation for Parish Council trees destroyed by hedge trimmers and discussing an application by Defford Parachute Club to use the airstrip at Defford as a drop zone.
 
The Agenda for the meeting is available at www.birlingham.org/pc_info/pc_agenda_2014-03-19.pdf and the minutes of the last meeting on 15th January are available at www.birlingham.org/pc_info/pc_minutes_2014-01-15.pdf.
 
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A Parish Meeting will take place in the Church on Saturday 22nd March at 10.00am to give all residents an opportunity to discuss the three options recommended by the Diocesan Architect for providing facilities in the church to suit modern expectations. Primarily, the Parochial Church Council (PCC) seeks to connect the building to running water, with WC in the Church and drainage through the churchyard, creating at the same time a kitchenette for hot drinks (but not food catering). This will form Phase One of the project for which a Faculty (similar to planning permission) will be required and which could be funded from the existing resources of the PCC and the Friends of St James’s.
 
There are two main purposes of the meeting:
 
1. To gauge support by village residents and the likely enthusiasm for raising funds to construct a Jubilee Room, separately lit, heated and furnished, both for the congregation at services and also for a variety of social, non-religious events, meetings and classes on other occasions in the week.
 
2. To choose one of the three options outlined by the Architect’s sketches for development of the Jubilee Room and for improving access to the bell ringing floor.
 
Ian Winnard has kindly agreed to be the independent chairman of the meeting, which could move to the Village Hall for further discussion.
 
The PCC is anxious to hear your views about the proposals and the three options, which will be displayed throughout the day in the South East corner of the Church. If you are unable to come to the meeting, please let the Churchwarden at Brockham or the PCC Secretary at 3 King William IV Close have your comments in writing.
 
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The Swan Inn has a special Mothering Sunday Menu on 30th March. The menu is available at www.birlingham.org/docs/swan_mothering_sunday_menu_2014.pdf.
 
Advance booking is essential. Please phone 01386 750485 to book your meal.
 
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The Birlingham Evening Fete will take place on Friday 6th June, starting at 6.30pm. The fete will be held at Brockham, courtesy of Harry and Anne Porter.
 
If you would like to help with the fete in any way, please contact Steve Morris at smorris@butford.co.uk or phone 01386 751717.
 
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