Hickling Parish Council

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT OCTOBER 2006
The Parish Councillor vacancy is still open for anyone who is interested in being a councillor.
Please contact me on 598410 or Shirley on 598882 for an informal chat about what is involved -
or write/fax/e-mail in with a brief description of your interests and what you could contribute to the role.
We would like to hear from people who are interested in the future of the village and who are prepared to spend a few hours a month for the benefit of the village.

The Allotment is also still available for renting from March 2007 in Hickling.
This is a grassed area of 1 acre and the resulting hay is used for horses.
The rent is £80 per annum. If anyone is interested, again contact Shirley or me.

Another reminder please, about keeping the gate to the recreation ground shut at all times.
This will help ensure that any travellers are kept out and will help reduce the wear and tear on the hinges.

It was agreed at the last Parish Council meeting that the precept be increased by 2.8% to keep in line with inflation. This should then avoid higher increases in the future.
This equates to 40p per household per annum, depending on your rateable value.

Please note that blue-green algae has been detected in Hickling Broad.
Persons coming into contact with it could have some unpleasant symptoms and sickness.
Please see the full notice on the GAM Board at the Staithe.

We have had a leaflet from the Norfolk Carpet Bowls who are promoting this sport in Norfolk.
They would like Hickling to give it a try. They provide all the equipment etc. All they require is for at least 6 people to turn up.
If anyone is interested, please ring Shirley or me for further information, or ring direct on 01603-880747.

Many more rural Post Offices may close unless we act now!!! Currently the Rural Post Office Network is sustained by a subsidy of about £11Om which will stop in March 2008.
The decision of the future of the Network after 2008 is being taken by the Department of Trade & industry this autumn.
Unless we act now, they are likely to take the decision on a purely commercial basis.
This could mean the closure of many additional rural post offices/shops which rely on the income from the PO to remain solvent. If you would like to make your views known, you can sign a petition on the web-site: www.norfolkrcc.org.uk or contact our MP, Norman Lamb, on 01362 698216

The next visit of the Mobile Police Van is at the Methodist Car Park on Friday, 17th November, from 10,15am- 12.30pm. Please avail yourself of this service.

The next Parish Council meeting is on Monday, 6th November, in the Community Hall at 7.15pm
All are invited to attend.

Viv Tallowin, 598410