HICKLING PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
Monday, 2nd February 2009, at 7.30pm in the Community Hall

PRESENT: CHAIRMAN: V TALLOWIN, VICE CHAIRMAN: H PURNELL
COUNCILLORS: M BUTCHER, M ELLIOTT, A RICH, M SCOTT
I WATTON
Clerk: Mrs S Sainsbury

7.15PM The following point(s) were raised:

HEARA - Ken conveyed Eric's apologies for tonight's meeting, then continued to explain that Peter Ainsworth has been replaced by Nick Herbert so HEARA will go back to Trevor Ivory to review the situation, this is a major stumbling block as in the world of politics people are moving from post to post continuously. The different letters that have been sent back and forth do have some interesting points highlighted in that Option 3 is now being reported as the most effective way and the words ' at least 50 years' instead of 'up to 50 years' is being quoted.
The NE report has still not been published or a date set for publication, HEARA are still hoping for a preview before it goes out to the public.
Ken confirmed that the German TV company will be visiting Hickling on Wed 4th Feb weather permitting and Ken & Eric will be interviewed.
The Chairman V Tallowin once again thanked Ken & Eric for their commitment to this issue. .

7.30pm The Parish Council meeting commenced with no public participation -
The Chairman welcomed one parishioner.

1. APOLOGIES were received from
Councillors, R Cook, G Smith & D Pugh
District Councillor S Partridge

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

3. MATTERS ARISING - none

4. DECLARATION OF COUNCILLOR'S INTERESTS FOR THIS MEETING - none

5. CORRESPONDENCE -
a) Norfolk Assoc of Village Halls - Confirmation of 2009-2010 subscription and details of County Qualifying Whist Drive's. Clerk to put in news sheet.

b) Brown & Co - Quote details for acting on behalf of the parish council in respect of the new community building. Clerk to respond and file for future use if need be.

c) Norman Lamb MP - Copy of letter from Defra regarding the Coastal Flooding issue,
HEARA had received a copy. Clerk to file

d) Stalham Town Council - Tesco Extension plans had been scrutinised and they had found fault on many points and wish to know if the Hickling Parish Council had the same concerns.
The parish council had already forwarded their comment by the original deadline but it was decided that we should reply to oppose a Pharmacy & Coffee Shop within the store from opening, but also felt individual letters of objections would have more affect. Clerk to respond.

e) NCC Highways - Two emails confirming that the village sign on the Stalham Road will be attended to again, as their previous two visits had not stopped the sign from falling down.
Clerk to diary.

f) NNDC - LDF Winter 2008/9 Update.

g) NNDC - Landscape Character Assessment Consultation period from 19 Jan - 2 March for
any comments to be forwarded.
Clerk had printed off relevant pages for Hickling and Cllr M Scott took disc home to read.

h) Brown & Co - Allotment 35-39 has been reclaimed by Brown & Co so a new lease requires signing. See item 9

i) NNDC - Area Forum meetings are starting in the spring and requesting suggestions for topics to be included in the agendas - none were put forward.

j) Churches Together on the Broads - Norfolk Flooding issue to be discussed at an all day
seminar at Acle on the 7th February. HEARA to represent Hickling.

k) NNDC - Receipt for payment of the Section 106 agreements.

l) Stalham & Happing - Report to Parishes Feb/March 09 editions. Various articles to be placed in the next news sheet. Clerk to respond.

n) NCC - Multi Operator Bus Tickets to begin in June any comments by 27 Feb.

o) Hickling Ladies - Confirmation that they have found alternative accommodation from July 2009.
Clerk to write and thank them for their past support.

p) Mazars Audit Commission - The annual Return has been 'sign off' and the relevant notice displayed in the GAM board at the staithe.

q) NENPCG - Update from Richard Starling. Clerk to file

6. TREASURER'S REPORT
a)

b) Budget to Date - Distributed with minutes.

c) Budget 2009 - 2010 - it was decided that for the new build project expenses should be detailed in a separate report attached to the current budget and updated as necessary.
Clerk to respond.

d) Bank Accounts -
1. Nat West 2. Abbey Time Deposit
It was proposed by Cllr M Elliot and seconded by Cllr M Butcher and all agreed that the balances in both banks as above (1 & 2) should be re invested for one month and meanwhile the Clerk to investigate other accounts/bonds to increase our interest rates.

e) Audit Commission have returned the completed Annual Return and the relevant notice has been displayed in the GAM board at the staithe

7. PLANNING
a) NNDC - Decisions -
1. Hickling Parish Council - Erection of Two Detached Dwellings at the Old Bowling Green, Mallard Way - permit with conditions

2. Hickling Parish Council - Demolition of Existing Community Hall and Erection of Two Semi-Detached Two Storey Dwellings at Community Hall, The Street - permit with conditions

3. Windchimes, Heath Road - Erection of Two Storey Rear Extension & Detached Garage - permit

b) NNDC - New Applications -
1. Martins Nest, The Green - Erection of Car Port - no objections

2. Hickling Infants School, Use of Land for siting of Mobile Classroom for playgroup
- no objections

8. PARISH COUNCIL PROPERTY REPORTS
a) Staithe
1. Grass Verge & Posts, we still have person(s) unknown driving over grass verges around the village but although the police are aware once again unless there is evidence nothing can be done. The highways can only put reflector posts at potential hazard points and the staithe ones will be erected in the next four weeks.
Clerk to repeat the piece in the news sheet next month and continue to log incidents with the PCSO.

2. Overall appearance of the staithe was discussed as it has become very untidy looking, partly from the grass verges being churned up.
The staithe warden was concerned about the quay heading edge and the level of ground alongside which appears to have dropped. It was agreed that the Staithe working party will investigate and report back to the council with their finding, the meeting was arranged for the 12 Feb at 8.30am.

3. The dry berth rents were discussed with Cllr I Watton proposing and Cllr M Scott seconded and all agreed that the dry berths should remain at the same rent due to there being 20+ vacancies. The Wet berths were deferred until next month.

b) Community Hall
Cllr M Scott confirmed he has purchased the curtain hooks ready for re-hanging the curtains.

c) Recreation Ground
1. The Clerk to contact Mr A Mayhew with regards to the changing rooms use and to update them on the current situation and follow up the quotes for the electric box.
Cllr A Rich asked if he could have a key to the changing rooms as being the Recreation Ground warden he will have access for any problems.

d) Chapel Pit - none

9. ALLOTMENTS 31a
1. Allotment 31a has been reclaimed by Brown & Co who have amended the lease to reflect this change. The signing was deferred until next month due to some confusion over acreage recorded.

2. The rent review was also deferred for the same reasons.

10. GRASS CUTTING
It was agreed to arrange a date early March either a Tuesday or Wednesday evening for the
volunteer grass cutters. Clerk to liaise with Cllr D Pugh.

11. NEW BUILD UPDATE
The Chairman explained about the Fund Writing course that had been attended by herself and the Clerk which proved to be very informative, followed by a meeting with a P Smith,
Development Officer and Ms L Leonard from the Norfolk Rural Community Council.
Unfortunately this meeting did not go to plan, we were only informed that the project was
probably to ambitious and no funders are lending large amounts of money at the moment.

12. HEALTH & SAFETY - See item 10

13. HIGHWAYS/SPEEDING
Cllr M Scott had received a call from PC K Wiseman to say he will be visiting Hickling again.
No one had received any calls from people volunteering for the Speed Watch Scheme.

14. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
A completed copy of 'Information available from Hickling Parish Council under the model publication scheme' was distributed and all agreed to Adopt the Completed Scheme as agreed in January's parish council meeting. A note will be published in the news sheet and on the two notice boards and on the Hickling village website in due course.

FUTURE DATES -
Parish Council Meeting, 6th April at 7.15pm in Community Hall
Annual Parish Meeting, Wednesday 29th April at 7.30pm in Community Hall
Annual Parish Council Meeting, Monday 11th May at 7.15pm in the Community Hall

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday, 2nd March 2009 7.15 pm in the Community Hall.

There was no further business and the meeting was closed at 9.30pm