HICKLING PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
Monday, 15 June 2009, at 7.30pm in the Community Hall

CHAIRMAN: V TALLOWIN,
VICE CHAIRMAN: H PURNELL
COUNCILLORS: M ELLIOTT, G SMITH, M SCOTT, D PUGH, I WATTON, R COOK
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR: S PARTRIDGE
Clerk: Mrs S Sainsbury

7.15PM The following point(s) were raised:

HLHG Chairman I Kemp briefed the council regarding the 'closing' of the history group. Mr S Mann explained about Heritage Trusts and that they work well in small communities such as Hickling.
It would enable the parish to keep the archives in the village and give people confidence in donating money to the trust; this would also enable the trust to go for funding independently.
People are very interested in historical documents and this would be a way of keeping the history of the village going. He would be very willing to do the paperwork and as a villager is happy to help.
Mr Kemp would like the parish council to be involved and a parish councillor to be on the trust committee. This will be an agenda item for July's meeting.

7.30pm The Parish Council meeting commenced with no public participation -
The Chairman welcomed one parishioner and our District Councillor S Partridge.

1. APOLOGIES were received from Councillors, K Moody, M Butcher & A Rich.

2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING -
These were approved as circulated.

3. MATTERS ARISING -
Cllr M Scott confirmed he was happy with his change from Planning to the Staithe Committee.

Cllr D Pugh attended the H&S meeting (item 6v) but felt it was a waste of time as the Neatishead person did not attend re their new village hall.

Clerk confirmed purchase of notice board and signs and Cllr D Pugh confirmed they are now displayed in the mower shed.

4. DECLARATION OF COUNCILLOR'S INTERESTS FOR THIS MEETING -
Cllr D Pugh declared a prejudicial interest in item 7b, Planning Application for Black Horse Cottage, as it's his place of residence.

5. CORRESPONDENCE -
a) Norfolk Assoc of Village Halls - June News Letter 2009.

b) Norfolk Assoc of Local councils - News letter May 2009 + Training Dates. It was noted that Parish Liaison Officer Sarita Presland will be available for an informal chat in Stalham 8th July 2-4pm. Chairman unable to attend but Clerk to confirm venue and will endeavour to attend.

c) Mr J Purcell - A letter regarding damage to his greenhouse by a golf ball. See item 8c2

d) Norfolk County Council - Bus Infrastructure Improvements to Bus Stops. See item 9

e) Stalham & Happing Business Group - Meeting 18th June in Stalham.

f) NNDC - LDF Consultation on Re Use of Rural Buildings as Dwellings, District Councillor S Partridge briefed the council on the importance of this questionnaire and it was decided to pass this to the Planning Working Party for completion. Clerk to organise.

g) NNDC - Verge cutting costs have been amended to £49.69 inc VAT.

h) Norfolk County Council - Improved bus Services, the parish council agreed that any improvements would be welcome. Clerk to respond.

i) NNDC - LDF Newsletter Summer 2009. A drop in exhibition will be in the Stalham Town hall on June 26th for Site Specific Proposals Draft Plan.

j) NNDC - Retention of Delegated Authority for Street Naming & Numbering, although the parish council elected to retain this function on reflection it seems the parish council never completed the whole exercise. After discussions it was decided to relinquish this option due to the amount of work involved but request to be consulted before any new naming or numbering happens. Clerk to respond.

l) Norfolk Rural Community Council - Invitation to AGM + Recruitment of Members.
No one wished to take these options up.

n) Norwich International Airport - Re Launch of Proposal to Establish Controlled Airspace to run between 22 May & 28 August. Clerk to reiterate previous correspondence regarding the wild life in and around Hickling Broad.

o) NENCPG - Minutes & agenda for the meeting 16th June in Sea Palling. HEARA will attend on behalf of Hickling.

p) E Rothney - Footpath Review. See item 10

q) Charity Commissioners - email with information regarding building on the recreation ground + plots. See item 11

r) Shoreline Management Plan - Newsletter update on what has happened since Nov 2008.
Copies distributed at meeting.

6. TREASURER'S REPORT
a)

b) b) End of Year Budget to Date - Distributed July, Oct, Jan & March

c) Annual Return - It was proposed by Vice Chairman H Purnell and seconded by Cllr R Cook and all agreed that the Chairman & Clerk sign accordingly. Clerk to return form with explanation of variances.

d) Mazars, Annual Return auditors requested that the Conflict of Interests issue be bought to parish councillor's attention; all confirmed that they had no knowledge of any Conflict of Interest with the Mazars Company.

e) Abby Business will be changing their name to Santander in the near future.

f) Allianz Insurance policy has now been changed to include £20k for the play area equipment, the office equipment decreased to £1500 and the Community Hall insured on an Indemnity basis for £150k, as it was decided that it would not be rebuilt on the existing site. Vice Chairman H Purnell proposed and Cllr D Pugh seconded the motion and all agreed for the cheque to be raised by the Clerk and signed accordingly, this saved the parish council £1463 on the premium.

7. PLANNING
a) NNDC - Decisions - none

b) NNDC - New Applications -
1. Black Horse Cottage, The Green - Erection of Single Storey Rear Extension - supported
Cllr D Pugh left the room while discussions and a vote took place.

8. PARISH COUNCIL PROPERTY REPORTS
a) Staithe
1.Quay Heading problem was discussed with the Broads Authority River Engineer Robert Savage who suggested we fill the gap with 20mm aggregate then use Tram textile material fixed between the underside of quay heading and protruding approx 15-18inches onto the grass area, then the dirt and grass turfs can be replaced on top.
It was agreed for the Staithe working party to investigate costs etc.

b) Community Hall
1. Hickling Hunnies playgroup will not know when they can move out of the community hall until after a meeting on the 1st July. Clerk to diarise.

c) Recreation Ground
1. A complaint about some damage to property backing onto the recreation ground has been received; this was apparently done by a golf ball. The letter also mentioned about the positioning of the practice goal posts on the field. A meeting has been arranged with the Football Club for Sat. 20th June when these issues will be discussed. It was agreed to put a piece in the next news sheet reminding people of the dangers of using golf balls near residential property.

d) Chapel Pit -
1. The telephone box is in need of a coat of paint so the Clerk will investigate whether BT will do it or whether we can purchase paint from them or other outlets to do the job ourselves.
Mr D Skinner has kindly offered to do the job if need be.

e) Grass Cutting
Cllr D Pugh explained about the having to replace the orange light on the mower and that a rubber guard has gone missing. Cllr R Cook confirmed it is a Health & Safety issue so Vice Chairman proposed and Cllr M Scott seconded and all agreed for a new rubber guard to be purchased.
Cllr D Pugh will arrange purchase.

9. BUS STOPS
The Bus Infrastructure Improvements includes 6 new bus stops in Hickling as the authorities wish to eliminate the 'Hail & Stop' situation.
The new stops will include raised kerbs and textured paving and be positioned at the Chapel Pit, Broadlands Road and the cross roads of Staithe Rd, Sutton Rd and Heath Road.
All supported the project.

10. FOOTPATHS
Although an update and work schedule has been received from E Rothney the map to accompany the schedule was not attached, so it was decided to defer this item until July to give the Clerk time to get the map then the footpaths can be walked by parish councillors to understand what work is required on each path.

11. NEW BUILD UPDATE -
The Chairman Viv Tallowin read out the Charity Commissioners email regarding the current situation on selling the plots and the building of the new Community Hall. A new Draft Scheme (Governing Document) needs to be set up to allow the selling of the plots and subsequent monies to be used for the new building. Clerk to follow up with the Charity Commissioners.
Cllr D Pugh summarised his meeting with Mr R Uttings whose view was that it could be built for around approx 20% less due to the economic climate, he would also be very willing to help and advise.

12. HEALTH & SAFETY
New Health & Safety forms to be supplied by Cllr R Cook for signing accordingly and a copy placed in the mower shed. Clerk to organise.

13. COMPRESSOR BIDS
After advertising in the Hickling news sheet three (3) sealed bids were received. All councillors present agreed to take the highest bidder before the envelopes were opened.
The Chairman Viv Tallowin proceeded to open the envelopes, Bid 1 = £51.10p, Bid 2 = £52.50p,
Bid 3 = £52.00. Cllr I Watton proposed and Cllr R Cook seconded the motion and all agreed to accept bid 2, a Mr R S Bennett. Clerk to organise.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 13th July 2009 at 7.15 pm in the Community Hall.

There was no further business and the meeting was closed at 9.20pm