ABOUT SIDESTRAND

The church of Sidestrand, St. Michael's and All Angel's, splendid views of which may be seen approaching from Mundesley, is mostly 15th century, having replaced an earlier building, and is one of 124 round-tower churches in Norfolk. Coastal erosion, the effects of which are still very evident along the Norfolk Coast Path, led to the church being moved stone by stone to its present site in 1881. Only the tower, itself an unimpressive structure put up after the original early medieval tower collapsed in 1841, was left as a mariners landmark.  The tower and graveyard became known as "The Garden of Sleep" - after Clement Scott's sonnet. Samuel Hoare, Viscount Templewood (1880-1959), son of Samuel Hoare, Baronet, who was responsible for moving the church, is buried in the churchyard. The tower finally fell into the sea in February 1916.

The section of cliffs at Sidestrand is one of the wildest parts of the Norfolk coast due to its rapid erosion. Its beaches and dramatic cliffs are less accessible than most others along this part of the coastline. The 50m high cliffs contain glacial sediments and structures, and its beach is popular with petrologists and fossil hunters.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

Sidestrand Parish Council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish. It is the level of government closest to the community, with the district authority (North Norfolk District Council) above it in the hierarchy.

As it is the authority closest to the people, the Parish Council is invariably the first place people will go with concerns and ideas. For this reason they are a vital part of the community.

The Parish Council makes all sorts of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that the council get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention, managing open spaces and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.

It's true to say that  on it's own, Sidestrand Parish Council has limited powers to make decisions. But it does have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions (such as the District or County Councils, Health Authorities, Police etc.) In this respect Sidestrand Parish Council is very influential. The organisations that make the final decisions know that the Parish Council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something, and it's views will be taken seriously.

Parish Councils have a wide range of powers which are essentially related to local matters, such as looking after community buildings, open spaces, allotments, play areas, street lighting, bus shelters, car parks and much more. The Council has also the power to raise money through taxation, the Precept. The Precept is the Parish Council's share of the Council Tax. The Precept demand goes to the billing authority, North Norfolk District Council, which collects the tax for the Parish Council.

The Parish Council serving Sidestrand consists of seven Councillors and a part-time Parish Clerk. The Council meets four times a year, on the 3rd Thursday of the month, in May, September, November and March. The meetings are held at the Reading Room in Sidestrand at 3pm.

All meetings are advertised on the Council notice board and web site. Residents can bring to the attention of the Parish Council anything that concerns them, either directly or through the Clerk. If matters raised are not the responsibility of the Council, the Clerk can bring them to the attention of the proper authority.