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

PRESENT: CHAIRMAN: V TALLOWIN,
VICE CHAIRMAN: H PURNELL
COUNCILLORS: K MOODY, D PUGH, R COOK, I.WATTON, MJ ELLIOTT,
L WEST, N BAKER
Clerk: Mrs S Sainsbury

The Chairman welcomed Mr N Hancox, District Councillor S Partridge and County Councillor P Rice and two parishioners.

The following point(s) were raised:

Mr I Kemp representative of the HLHG handed over two framed pictures kindly donated by Mr R Martin who's father had the Hickling Stores for many years in Hickling. The parish council thanked Mr Kemp for liaising with the Martin family and hope to find a suitable home for the pictures in the new building. Clerk to reply to Mr R Martin and thank him and his family.

Mr H Nudd enquired when the work at the staithe would begin. Clerk to enquire.

County Council Paul Rice confirmed that speed reduction measures in Stubb Road is not an option as the road does not meet any of the criteria set by Highways.
The clerk is in receipt of speeding literature from the C.A.R.S campaign, which includes wheelie bin stickers. These will be distributed after January's news sheet.

Mr Nicholas Hancox from Nicholas Hancox Solicitors, based in Acle had been invited to attend the parish council meeting to introduce himself and his company. It was felt that the parish council should have a solicitor that can be called on for any legal work the parish council may require, also to undertake some of the legal side of the new build. Mr Hancox has many years experience in parish/town council work and is quite happy with any cross over that may occur with the district/county councils and felt it would be unacceptable for a parish council to pay for advice/work if they can get it for free. His fee is £195 + vat per hour charged in 6 minute segments or a fixed price for a large assignment.

7.45pm The Parish Council meeting commenced with no public participation -

1. APOLOGIES - Cllr D Beales and Cllr M Elliott.

2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING -
These were approved as circulated with the following corrections - insert 'he' between the words 'hope' and 'enjoys' on line 1.
Item 5m, delete wording between 'ie' and 'Clerk'
Item 9, line 6 delete words between 'results' and 'if' on line 7 and change the word 'cost' to 'risk' on line 7.

3. MATTERS ARISING -
The relevant forms have been completed for public liability insurance on the charity 270199 and returned for a quote by the Vice Chairman H Purnell.

4. DECLARATION OF COUNCILLOR'S INTERESTS FOR THIS MEETING -
Cllr N Baker expressed a prejudicial & personal interest on NNDC Planning Applications due to working for NNDC and refrained from commenting on these plans.
Chairman V Tallowin expressed a prejudicial interest in application from the Broads Authority for Flood Defence Improvements as being on her land and refrained from commenting on this application and a personal interest in 7.2 Grove Farm application.

5. CORRESPONDENCE -
a) Mr H Gibbons - Letter confirming the relinquishment of his wet berth at Hickling Staithe. See Item 8a2

b) Stalham & Happing - Minutes from 9th September & Agenda for 14th December.

c) C.A.R.S Publicity Packs - These are packs of literature and wheelie bin stickers to be distributed throughout the village to encourage motorists to slow down through the village. Clerk and councillors to distribute after January's news sheet.

d) Highways - Scheduled Highways next inspection.

e) HEARA - Defra announcement of £3m to fight Coastal Erosion.

f) Stalham & Happing 2010 Festival - Free advertising for anyone holding an event during 2010, the deadline is 18th March. Clerk to insert in news sheet.

g) HLHG -Mr Kemp passed to the parish council two framed photographs, see public participation.

6. TREASURER'S REPORT
a)

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

c) Dispensation - After receiving advice from a solicitor at NNDC, dispensations are now not required, apart from in special circumstances. Clerk to keep on file for future reference.

7. PLANNING -
Due to deadlines the following 3 planning applications were seen and commented on before
this meeting-

NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL -
1. Hickling First School, Eastfield Road - Construction of Hard Surface Multi Play Area -
supported

NNDC -
2. Grove Farm, Ingham - Erection of 2 x 130m Wind Turbines/Associated Hard Standings /Access Tracks and Substation Compound - supported
(vote - 5 supported, 2 no objections, 2 objections and 2 refrained from voting due to
conflict of interests, (Chairman V Tallowin & Cllr N Baker - See Item 4)

BROADS AUTHORITY
3. Hickling, Horsey & Heigham - Flood Defence Improvements to Embankments -
supported (one conflict of interest registered by Chairman V Tallowin - See Item 4)

NNDC - decision
1. Wakeby, The Street - Change of Use from Residential to Residential/Child minding Facility - permitted with conditions

8. PARISH COUNCIL PROPERTY REPORTS
a) Staithe
1.The Chairman, Clerk and Cllr I Watton met with the Crime Reduction and Architectural Liaison Officer Paul Willis and colleague on Wed 4th Nov to discuss the prevention of petty crime at the staithe and recreation ground. Paul will send a written report on the various ways the parish council can secure these areas better.
The PCSO crime prevention meeting at the parish staithe on Sat 7 Nov went well with queries from 9 parishioners. Clerk to enquire if this is to be a regular meeting.
The message from both these meetings is that people need to come forward with any information relating to a crime being committed.

2. The Wet Berth vacancy to be re-let in accordance with the rules. Clerk to respond.

b) Community Hall
1. Small appliance electrical testing is overdue. Clerk to respond.

2. The New Build Team recommended that estate agents Abbotts Countrywide as being the best agents to sell the Community Hall plot. This decision was deferred until later (see Item 'New Build Team Working Party' update)

c) Chapel Pond
1.The clear up day at the chapel pit was undertaken by David Skinner and his band of helpers with one parishioner joining in later, unfortunately the date clashed with another event in the village.
There was a nasty incident where some ducks were run over with the result of one duck dying, a sad end to a worthwhile day.
The PCSO is investigating the incident.
The Parish Council would like to extend their thanks to David and his team for all their hard work.

9. Appointment of Solicitor to represent the Parish Council
It was felt that the parish council should have a solicitor that would be willing to represent the council at any given time (see Public Participation) . It was proposed by Cllr I Watton and seconded by Cllr R Cook that Mr Hancox be appointed, 7 were in favour plus 2 in favour subject to references from Acle, Upton and Sprowston councils.
Clerk to respond.

10. Questionnaire Results Update
The draft results from the Community/New Build questionnaire that went out earlier in the
year have now been re-checked with the results as follows - 75% turn out, 64% in favour, 36% against. The final results have been published in the news sheet and a copy has been
passed to all councillors.

The Parish Council meeting closed at 8.45pm and the Chairman thanked everyone for coming.

HICKLING PLAYING FIELD OR RECREATION GROUND CHARITY 270199 Meeting

Following advice from the Charity Commissioners it has been decided to separate charity 270199 business from the parish council business for this and future meetings

New Build Team Working Party Update -

As all councillors are not on the NBT and have not received minutes from the 26th Nov, Cllr R Cook, Chairman of the NBT, updated everyone on the current position of the team.
It was re-iterated that the parish councillors had voted for the New Build Team to recommend ways forward, people or companies to the full council rather than a full discussion of all options in a council meeting.
It was agreed that minutes from the NBT meetings will be passed to all parish councillors at the same time as the NB Team.

1. Out of the 7 estate agents approached it was recommended to appoint estate agents Abbotts
Countrywide for all 3 building plots as they gave a good estimate on values, a reduced fee and
had recently sold a village hall.
It was proposed by N Baker and seconded by H Purnell and all agreed to appoint Abbotts Countrywide.

2. After receiving 3 quotes it was agreed that 'A Squared Architects' be appointed at a cost of £7325, they will assess the plans to accommodate facilities required within the budget. It was proposed by H Purnell and seconded by D Pugh and all agreed to appoint A Squared Architects.

3. It was recommended that Project Manager Trevor Nelson be appointed at a cost of £600 - £700 to ensure the project is properly structured, kept on track and to set a timetable of events and tasks against which progress can be monitored.
The NBT have not got the time for this task but it is essential that the various issues surrounding this project are correctly administered.
It was proposed by N Baker and seconded by L West and all agreed to appoint Trevor Nelson who has offered to attend the next NBT meeting on the 8th Dec to introduce himself.
He works part time for NNDC on various projects and is willing to do the task at a reduced cost.

4. New bank account for the charity, we are still waiting for account details. Clerk to query.

5. Funding issues were discussed, N Baker explained about the Clean Energy funding application, and the probability of scaling down the building due to the absence of funding from the lottery. It was proposed by L West and seconded by R Cook and all agreed for the NB Team to discuss building options with A Squared Architects on the budget achievable.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday 11th January 2010 at 7.15 pm in the Community Hall.

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