Cllr Mike Butcher

Chaired this meeting last night in the church Vestry with a couple of contentious issues including the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP).  I was able to sidestep the contentious bits by referring to our position as laid out in 2007.  Good meeting but cannot wait to meet in the soon to be completed village hall!

Helped supervise youth club members on the Hopton playing field last night….Lots of those storm bugs about but otherwise it was a lovely evening.

Chaired the monthly meeting last night which was held in the open air on Hopton Playing Field as the old village hall is now totally demolished.  What a great way to have a meeting!

Had a great meeting this evening made even more special by the attendance of our new CONSERVATIVE MP Brandon Lewis.  Brandon gave us a brief insight into his first 7 weeks in Westminster.  Very exciting, makes you wish you were an MP!!

Much debate this evening about the scrapping of the area Scrutiny Meetings for both Gorleston & Gt Yarmouth.  These were scrapped in the interest of economy.  It was felt that Councillors should be spending their time in closer contact with all the electorate in the respective wards.  it was, however, agreed that the current meetings should be seen as area surgery’s which would allow the public to access their Councillors.  The meeting also approved the budget.

Had a meeting with ward resident with regards to a domestic repair that appears to have been a case of over charging.  Recommended that an independent expert report be obtained before considering further action.

Spent most of this morning either at the Town Hall or The Maltings catching up on what has been going on whilst I was away.

New hall is progressing well.  I visited yesterday for the first time in 3 weeks and all is looking good.

Here is a picture of the old Hopton Village Hall pretty much demolished!

I visited the new village hall this morning to see how it is progressing.  The exterior of the building is now essentially complete and secure.  Most of the work is now going on internally with the first fixing of electrics, underfloor heating etc being installed before the final internal wall and floor coverings are installed.  Here are a few photos of the inside of the building.