Hickling Parish Council

1. APOLOGIES were received from T Woodman, District Councillors S Partridge, C Stockton and County Councillor's C How.

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

3. MATTERS ARISING - None

4. CORRESPONDENCE

a) NNDC - Update on Preparation of LDF

b) Hickling VC School - Requesting permission to store the school piano in the Community Hall for the duration of the building works. All agreed to the request with the proviso that it is at their own risk and on their own insurance policy also could the piano lid be secured down.
Clerk to respond.

c) Go East - Proposed Changes to the East of England Plan.

d) North Walsham CAB - Thank you letter for the donation of £25 from the Hickling PC.

e) Norfolk Playing Field Association - News letter passed to L Beales,

f) NNDC Agenda's - 21 January & 21st February. Passed to K Moody.

g) NNDC - Annual Trade show at Thursford this year. No councillors could attend.

h) Parish & Town Councils - Norfolk Link News sheet.

i) Communities & Local Government - Revised Model of Conduct A summarised version passed to all councillors present.

j) Broads Authority - Changes to the planning Service, meeting 19th March.

k) Independent Custody Visiting Scheme - Update Leaflet.

l) Broadland Flood Alleviation Project - Public Exhibition 3rd April at Acle.

m) NNDC - Nomination Forms for Parish Council elections 3 May. Distributed as required.

n) VCS - Awareness & Access for disabled Persons Event 26th March.

o) Stalham & Happing - Minutes 16th Jan & agenda 20th March.

p) Mr E Lindo - Letter in response to the grass cutting of the open churchyard at St Mary's Church. Clerk to respond.

q) Mrs D Lawrence - Letter informing the Parish council about the state of the roads in Hickling. Although this arrived too late to be discussed Clerk will contact highways as this a concern for everyone this year with the amount of rain, resulting in flooding of some roads in the village.

5. TREASURER'S REPORT
a)

b) Budget to Date - Distributed with minutes.

c) Brown & Co & Whispering Reeds cheques received for dredging costs, total £1000

6. PLANNING

a) NNDC - Decisions
1. Hickling First School - Construction of 2-classbase Ext with raised terrace with canopy, temporary mobile units and repositioning timber shed - permitted.

2. 21 Broadlands Road - Erection of Replacement Garage - permitted.

3. Timber Gables, Hill Common - Raising of Roof to Provide First Floor Living Accommodation and Erection of Detached Double Garage - permitted.

4. 1 Sutton Rd, East Broadland Cottage - Erection of Rear Porch - permitted.

5. Heath Priory, Staithe Rd - Erection of Single Storey Extension - permitted.

6. Hickling House, Town St - Erection of Single Storey Extension - permitted>

b) NNDC - New Applications
1. Middle Oak, The Smea - Erection of Agricultural Storage Building - No objections subject to certain conditions.

2. 2 Mill Close - Erection of 2.2m Boundary Fence - no objections subject to front fence being lower than 2.2m.

7. PARISH COUNCIL PROPERTY REPORTS
a) Staithe
1. The re seeding of the dry berth area as discussed at the property walk in August 2006, has been deferred as it will be a difficult exercise and not a priority at the moment.

2. The quay heading and slipway works have now been completed, and the final cost was under the original quotation cost, and the grassed area requires some additional work due to the wet weather. The Parish Council would like to thank Councillor David Pugh for the organisation of the new quay heading and slipway works.

b) Community Hall
1. The wood strip on the floor between the kitchen and lobby requires attention.
Caretaker Bill Diss said he would attend to this problem.

c) Recreation Ground
1. The area requires scarifying as it hasn't been done for some time, it was agreed for Clerk to obtain some prices etc.

2. The mound of soil on the playing field has been used to backfill at the Staithe quay heading also Mr Appleyard had some in return for using his field to put the dredging spoil on, but it was decided to keep the rest to level out the ground at Chapel pit.

3. The gate for the Ouse Lane entrance into the recreation ground has been delivered and H Nudd has agreed to install the gate when the ground has dried out.

8. CHAPEL PIT
1. It was agreed for a Chapel pit conservation Group to be set up to keep the area looking nice and the pond reeds under control. Clerk to contact the Unpaid Work Unit for twice a year maintenance and put a piece in the news sheet for volunteers who would be willing to sit on the committee.

2. Also it was agreed to go ahead with installing a picnic table and another bench around the pond area.
Chairman & Clerk to organise.

9. VILLAGE PLAN UPDATE
For all councillors to discuss the various concerns of the Village Plan results a working party meeting was arranged for the 14th March 2007 at 7.30pm in the Community Hall.

10. WEB SITE
It was a unanimous decision to keep the web site links at the present level of £13.
Clerk to send invoices out.

11. GRASS CUTTING AT ST MARY'S CHURCH
A meeting was held with representatives of St Mary's Church when all problems were discussed and subsequently a letter outlining the parish council's position was forwarded. It was suggested that they put a piece in the news sheet for volunteers and a request for donations towards the grass cutting costs.
It was proposed by L Beales and seconded by M Elliott and was voted on with 7 in favour and 1 objection that the council donate £300 to the church annually and continue with cutting the unused open area, the closed area and the field used for parking.
Clerk to respond.

Councillor B Noye declared an interest in this matter as being a Church Warden for St Mary's and left the meeting at 9.05pm