HICKLING PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
Monday, 6th October 2008, at 7.30pm in the Community Hall

PRESENT: CHAIRMAN: V TALLOWIN, : VICE CHAIRMAN: H PURNELL
COUNCILLORS: A RICH, M BUTCHER, G SMITH, M ELLIOTT, I WATTON
R COOK, D PUGH, K MOODY, M SCOTT,
Clerk: Mrs S Chapman

7.15PM Public Participation - The following point(s) were raised:

1. HEARA - Ken explained it had been a little quieter since the very successful meeting with
John Gummer in September.
Although P Woolas has changed posts HEARA are fairly confident that the portfolio will carry on with the new minister.
There are still various meetings that HEARA will be attending on behalf of Hickling as we will not be satisfied until we see a proper conclusion to this issue for the foreseeable future.
On behalf of HEARA Ken thanked the Parish Council for their full support in what they are trying to achieve for Hickling.
The Chairman Viv Tallowin reciprocated with the Parish Council many thanks and appreciation to
Ken & Eric in what they have and hope to achieve.

7.30PM The Parish Council meeting commenced with no public participation -
The Chairman welcomed five parishioners.

1. APOLOGIES were received from County Councillor C How

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) BT payphones Customer Services - Confirmation that the payphone situated at Chapel Pit is not on the removal list and will be assessed for a coat of paint.

b) Norfolk Playing Field Association - News letter. Passed to Cllr M Butcher.

c) Parish & Town Councils - Norfolk Link Booklet.

d) Communities & Local Government - The Making & Enforcement of Bylaws, this will be looked at by the Chairman and Clerk for any comments the Parish Council would like to put forward.

e) NNDC - Full Council Agenda. Passed to Cllr G Smith

f) NNDC - A Draft Section 106 Agreement in relation to the three building plots in Hickling.

g) Norfolk County Council - Norfolk County Unitary Authority with Lowestoft Business Case. This had been requested before any comments were made on the proposals.

h) NNDC - Area Forum at Aldborough Village Hall on 13th November, no one was available to attend. Clerk to request minutes from meeting.

i) NNDC - LDF Update Bulletin Autumn 2008. The LDF was adopted on the 24th September.

j) Brown & Co - A reply regarding the cutting of a roadside hedge on High Hill & Allotments

k) Mr D Beales - Complaint Letter

l) Highways CSC - Traffic Speed & Footpaths (See item 12)

m) Broads Authority - Landscape Character Assessment (passed to Vice Chairman)

l) Parish & Town Council - Details of Training Courses for Councillors.

m) Norfolk Ass. Of Local Councils - Details of a Emergency Management Seminar on 5th Nov at Poringland. Clerk to attend.

n) Stalham & Happing - AGM 2008 details & Minutes from 2007 AGM

o) SNT Police - Enquiry & Information on the Speedwatch Volunteer group. Clerk to contact previous volunteer and advertise again on notice boards.

p) Charity Commission - Requesting further information re the current position of building on the recreation ground. Clerk to respond accordingly.

6. TREASURER'S REPORT
a)

b) Budget to Date end of Year - Distributed by Clerk

c) News Sheet Donation - The current donation of £125 has not been raised in over 5 years.
All Councillors felt that as it provided a service to all parishioners it was agreed to raise the amount to £200. Cllr M Scott proposed and Cllr I Rich seconded the motion and all agreed with one abstentation. Clerk wrote a cheque and it was duly signed.
Cllr I Watton abstained from voting on the above item(6c) due to having a personal interest

7. PLANNING
a) NNDC - Decisions - none

b) NNDC - New Applications -
1. Heath Farm house, Sutton Rd - Conversion of Outbuilding to Habitable Accommodation & Erection of Link Extension - no objections Broads Authority - Decision
1. Willow Farm, Stubb Rd - Removal of Stockpile of Earth Material - approved

8. PARISH COUNCIL PROPERTY REPORTS
a) Staithe
1.Advertising for Dry Berth Vacancy's was discussed but all agreed to leave this until January then place adverts in local free papers, news sheet, web site & notice boards etc. Clerk to diary.

b) Community Hall
1. All agreed that the rental rates remain unchanged for 2008-9 but fuel costs to be
monitored.

c) Recreation Ground
1 & 2. All agreed that the rent for the changing room was to be left at current rate but a meeting to be arranged with the Football Club for clarification on usage of electric & water, as the costs appear to be on the high side. Clerk to arrange for Anglian Water to check for any water leaks.

d) Allotments
1. All agreed to leave the Allotments rents at current rates for 2009-2010 as there was no deficit between income and expenditure.

9. CLERKS RENUMERATION
The clerk left the room while the discussion on the Clerk's renumeration took place.
It was decided to increase the renumeration to £3000 pa starting from April 2009, this was
proposed by Cllr H Purnell and seconded by Cllr M Elliott and all agreed that this motion be passed.

10. VILLAGE PLAN BOOKLET
The final printed document was distributed to all councillors and all agreed to deliver some
booklets around the village. All residents should receive a copy before the end of October.
The Chairman thanked Peter Berrie for his time and effort in this exercise and the Clerk
explained that the difference between the grant received and total costs was approx £100.

11. PLANNING UPDATE
The Chairman explained that we were in touch with the Charity Commission and awaiting their decision. A meeting with the NNDC planning officer R Howe to finalise the Section 106 agreement was arranged for the 14th October. We were also finding out the approximate rateable value of the new building for the Business plan.

12. HIGHWAYS SPEEDING MEETING UPDATE
Councillors M Scott, G Smith & M Butcher had a very successful meeting with Mr C Dawdry of NCC Highways department regarding the issue of speeding through the village.
The main focus was the crossroads junction of Heath Rd & Staithe Rd. The school bus stops
here and traffic entering the village ignore the 30mph signs. Mr Dawdry has arranged for
SLOW markings to be placed here and on the Sea Palling Road near the 30mph sign. Also
THINK signs in the village for a temporary period of 3 months.
To fund a flashing sign would be in the region of £5-£8k. The lack of footpaths was discussed and we could formally request a footpath assessment but all agreed to leave this as it was clear in a village plan data villagers did not want footpaths.

13. TESCO - EXTENSION PLANS
The Chairman put forward the question as to whether it would be appropriate to write and ask Tesco's if they would consider a Tesco Express shop in Hickling as we have premises up for sale. All agreed there was no harm in writing. Clerk to respond.

14. HISTORY GROUP MEETING
A meeting with the History Group representatives has been arranged for the 24th October.
Chairman & Clerk will attend as representatives of the Parish Council.

Cllr D Pugh informed the council that Mr N Lawes will cut & strim the grass area of the Children's Play Area next season. He would also like an advert to be placed in the news sheet and notice boards for grass cutters for next season.

Cllr M Butcher reminded everyone about the Charity auction at the Greyhound Inn in support of the Children's play area and that Mr Baxter-Pownall will donate money collected from his annual Christmas lights display on his bungalow this year to this cause, also a reminder that the toilets will only be opened at weekends and holidays for the winter.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday, 3rd November at 7.15 pm in the Community Hall.

There was no further business and the meeting was closed at 9.55pm