HICKLING PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
Tuesday, 7th April 2009, at 7.30pm in the Community Hall

PRESENT: CHAIRMAN: V TALLOWIN,
COUNCILLORS: K MOODY, M ELLIOTT, G SMITH, M SCOTT, D PUGH, A RICH
COUNTY COUNCILLOR: C HOWE
Clerk: Mrs S Sainsbury

7.15PM Public Participation -

The following point(s) were raised:
HEARA - The announcement that the NE report had been adjusted to reflect the views of the people in that the Broads area & Hickling should be protected from coastal flooding for at least the next 50 years means the heavy workload of HEARA has come to an end after such a hectic year for them. They both have done a tremendous job of persuasion on the powers to be of the importance of the whole area and especially for Hickling residents. Many many thanks to them both. They will continue to be in contact with NE and will be keeping an eye on developments of the SMP and inform the parish council of any situations affecting Hickling. Ken & Eric thanked the parish council and the community for their support and felt a letter of thanks should go to Shaun Thomas of NE for his support.

Questionnaire -A parishioner enquired whether the results had been collated yet, the Clerk replied that we hope to have the relevant data by the Annual Parish meeting on the 29th April. The question of renovating the existing community hall was raised but as explained by the Chairman the cost would be high for the same facilities, i.e. very little parking etc. The cost for building the new hall was questioned and it was explained the parish council would only build what could be afforded i.e. build in phases. The parish council were not looking to raise the precept for future running costs of the new building.

County Councillor C How - Spoke about his retirement at the end of June and congratulated HEARA on their successful outcome on the coastal flooding issue. Also that Neatishead had taken 15 years of hard work to get their new village hall.
He gave a brief summary on the new consultation of the Boundary Committee and that status quo is not an option and no-one knows what the outcome will be.

7.50pm The Parish Council meeting commenced with no public participation -
The Chairman welcomed one parishioner as the other eight visitors left the meeting at 7.50pm

1. APOLOGIES were received from Councillors, R Cook, H Purnell, I Watton & M Butcher

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

3. MATTERS ARISING -
It was pointed out that in the minutes dated 2nd March, item 5e should read 'on notice boards' instead of 'in'.

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

5. CORRESPONDENCE -
a) Broads Authority - Changes to the procedure for householder appeals on planning applications.

b) Brown & Co - Return of completed revised Allotment Lease.

c) NALC - Subscription for 2009/10, all agreed that this was a justifiable cost as we use the
legal department for various issues.

d) Mrs A Utting - A letter complaining about dog fouling around the village, particularly
outside the school and The Causeway.
Clerk to follow up signs for the NNDC to clarify the position of the Dog Control Order Act.

e) North Walsham Fire Protection - Fire Certificates for the Community Hall & changing
Rooms.

f) C Gray - A letter about the current position of the training goal posts on the recreation
ground. See item 8c1

g) HLHG - Various topics + Useful leaflets on Emergency Planning.

h) NNDC - Full agenda and a request to have future copies sent via email. All agreed that
paper copies are a waste of resources. Clerk to respond to organise email copies.

i) Mazars - Annual Audit forms with a deadline of the 30th June.
Clerk to contact Mr Clarke for a quote for auditing the accounts.

j) Norfolk Rural Community Council - Subscription for 2009/10. Proposed by Cllr K Moody and seconded by Cllr M Elliott and all agreed to renew the subscription as we have been in contact with them on issues relating to the new building etc.
l) Boundary Committee - New Draft Proposals for a Unitary Council.

n) Campaign to Protect Rural England - Help Clean up Norfolk week 1-7th June.
Clerk to contact the WI for their views on this matter.

o) NENPCG - Email on the launch of the NE report..

6. TREASURER'S REPORT

a)

b) End of Year Budget to Date - Distributed at meeting

c) Bank Accounts -
1. Nat West reinvestment. Confirmation of investment
2. Abbey Business account to be revisited. Left with Abbey for a further month.

d) Business Rates for 2009/10 - Com Hall £432.90, Changing Rooms - £206.13.

7. PLANNING
a) NNDC - Decisions -
1. Martins Nest, The Green - Erection of Car Port - permit
2. Hickling Hunnies, Hickling Infants School - Use of Land for Mobile for Playgroup - permit
3. Martin's Nest, The Green - Erection of Dwelling - refused

b) NNDC - New Applications - None

8. PARISH COUNCIL PROPERTY REPORTS
a) Staithe
1.Update on meeting 3rd March, although many councillors attended it is still undecided as to the best course of action for resolving the issue of gaps/uneven ground alongside the quay heading. A boardwalk may result in further ongoing maintenance costs but Clerk to investigate 2 further quotes. A solution maybe sawdust and soil and turf over. Clerk to contact the BA for advice.

b) Community Hall
1. HLHG rent review 2009-2010, all agreed that the rent remain at £150 pa due to the current economic climate and the uncertainty of the availability of the hall. Clerk to respond.
2. As the HLHG projector was used for a working party on the 26th February all agreed
to waiver the fee for the hire of the community hall by the HLHG on the 29th March.

c) Recreation Ground
1. A complaint has been received about the positioning of the practice goal posts. It was agreed that another meeting be arranged between A Mayhew from the Football Club, a parish councillor and the person concerned before the start of next season.
Clerk to diary.

d) Chapel Pit - none

9. GRASS CUTTING
An update from the 11th March H&S meeting was deferred until the next meeting. The required boots have been delivered to Cllr D Pugh who will distribute them accordingly.

10. NEW BUILD UPDATE - see item Confidential

11. UPPER THURNE meeting 31st March, Chairman V Tallowin gave a brief summary of the works being undertaken by the IDB that includes reducing ocre, salinity problems and dredging Trinity Broad.

12. HIGHWAYS/SPEEDING
Cllr M Scott has contacted PC Wiseman as to when he will be back in the village, and reminded everyone about reporting any dangerous driving by taking the number plate of the vehicle.

13. EMERGENCY PLANNING
This is to be advertised again in the news sheet. Clerk to diary.

FUTURE DATES -
Parish Council Meeting, Tuesday 7 April at 7.15pm in the Community Hall
Annual Parish Meeting, Wednesday 29th April at 7.30pm in Community Hall
Annual Parish Council Meeting, Tuesday 12th May at 7.15pm in the Community Hall

CONFIDENTIAL SESSION

The Chairman asked for a proposal that a resolution be introduced, under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 to exclude members of the public and the press in order to consider items in a confidential session. Councillor D Pugh proposed and Cllr K Moody seconded such a motion. All were in approval. The Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance as they left the meeting.

Although most of the questionnaires have been collated the exact figures for all questions still require attention. It is looking like a good response with a good majority in favour of building the new building. A working party meeting is to be arranged to discuss the results before the Annual Parish meeting on the 29th April, when we hope to report on the final figures. Clerk to organise asap.
The issue of the letting of the hall is still dependant on the outcome of the questionnaire results.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Tuesday, 12th May 2009 at 7.15 pm in the Community Hall.

There was no further business and the meeting was closed at 9.45pm