Hickling Parish Council

1. APOLOGIES were received from Mr D Pugh, Mr M Elliott, Mrs K Moody, District Councillor S Partridge and District Councillor C How

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

3. MATTERS ARISING
Item 8.2 - The name of M Elliott was changed to Parish Councillor.
Item 4.aa - The Slimming World agreed to pay 2 weeks in lieu of notice instead of 3 as requested, this was accepted as no formal agreement was in place.

4. CORRESPONDENCE
a) Norman Lamb - Reply regarding Speed Limits in Hickling, unfortunately the village does not meet the requirements.

b) P Sparks - Resignation letter.

c) Norfolk Accident Rescue Service - Thank you letter for donation of £50.

d) NNDC - LDF Preferred Options Consultation + DVD - Comments to be received by 6 Nov. Chairman & Clerk to respond.

e) NNDC - Agenda, no items referring to Hickling.

f) Norfolk Carpet Bowls - Promoting carpet bowls in Norfolk, this to be advertised in next months News Sheet.

g) NNDC - LDF Autumn News Letter + Poster - Clerk attended Public consultation in Stalham, Hickling comes under 'The Countryside' and is not having any new housing built under this scheme.

h) Wendy Crisp - Thanking the PC for allotment rent adjustments.

i) P Elliott - Confirmation of termination of allotment at Eastfield Road.

j) B G Brooks - Confirmation of reimburshment of lost cheques 101430/428

k) W Crisp - A letter about the Windsurfer Club and the current lease terms and conditions.

l) Parish & Town Council - Norfolk Link News letter, including a pamphlet about how the East of England will develop.
Clerk to respond.

m) U Jackson - A letter offering her advice and help when the flood disaster plan committee is formed.

n) Broads Authority - LDF Core Strategy on how Suffolk & Norfolk will develop.

o) D Burdett - Request to be added to Wet Berth Waiting List. Clerk to respond.

p) N Lamb - At N Lamb's surgery tour of Hickling some local children spoke with him with regards to a play area for older children, this will be looked at in conjunction with the Community Hall/Recreation ground decisions. Clerk to respond.

q) Charity Commission Recreation Ground no. 270199 - Annual Information Update Returns 2006, current trustees are L Beales, M Elliott and S Chapman.

r) Stalham & Happing - Chairman's Report & Agenda for AGM 31 Oct.

s) NNDC - Casual Vacancies on Parish Councils - The 'six month rule'

t) Town & Parish Councils - NCAPTC Annual Report & AGM 4 Nov.

u) NCC - The Future of Post Offices in Norfolk plus a copy of letter to the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Prescott.

5. TREASURER'S REPORT
a)

b) Budget to Date - Distributed with agenda.

c) Precept - After much discussion it was proposed by T Woodman and seconded by L Beales to increase the precept for 2007-2008 by 2.8% (£197.40) to keep in line with inflation. This should ensure against large increases in the future. Apart from one abstention all agreed to this increase and the form was signed accordingly.

a) NNDC New Applications
1.Whispering Reeds Boatyard - Installation of Replacement Quay Heading - supported

2. Beaconsfield Farm, Ingham Road - Revised plans for Erection of Two Single- Storey Extensions - no objections (Mrs V Tallowin declared an interest in this application)

b) NNDC Decisions
1. Burwell Acres, Stalham Road - Change of Use from Agriculture to Keeping Horses - permitted with conditions.

2. Martins Nest, The Green - Continued Use of Former Shop/PO as Ancillary Living Accommodation - refuse to permit (Clerk to follow up change to windows)

7. PARISH COUNCIL PROPERTY REPORTS
a) Staithe
1. Dredging - AJS has quoted approx 5 days @ £220 per day, all agreed and H Purnell proposed and B Noye seconded the motion that this quote be accepted but before confirming with AJS, Clerk to ensure other parties are in agreement. Clerk to clarify whether the 'spoil' will be levelled out on Colin Applegate's field, who has kindly offered his field for this purpose. Dredging to be carried out before the quay heading and slipway work is started.

b) Community Hall
1. History Group Rental Review - Councillors H Purnell, L Beales, G Smith, and Chairman V Tallowin declared their prejudicial interest as members of the Hickling History Group. Using the Dispensation granted by the North Norfolk Standards Committee on 7th January 2003 they remained and took a full part in the discussion.
It was proposed by L Beales and seconded by D Mayhew that the rent for the History Group be increased to £150 pa and all agreed that the motion be carried.
Clerk to respond.

It was brought to the council's attention that the front double doors required attention so Clerk to organise repairs and also the removal of the posts from the steps.

c) Recreation Ground
1. Football Club Rental Review - It was proposed by H Purnell and seconded by B Noye that the rent be increased to £120 pa all agreed that the motion be carried. Clerk to respond.
(Mr L Beales declared an interest and left the room while the above discussion took place)

It was brought to the councils attention that the football pitch grass is in better condition
than the rest of the playing field, this to be discussed before the next seasons grass cutting
rota is finalised.

2. Planning Permission for new Sports Complex ceases in June 2008, this has been minuted for future reference.

3. Fencing quotes have been received for the removal of the old wooden fencing only, but Mrs V Tallowin has since been informed that by removing the fence the area could become unsafe for children, so further investigations will be required.

d) Chapel Pond
1. Mr L Beales had received the written quote from Mr Pegg who will commence the work as soon as possible.

Mr P Berrie and S Chapman are to meet with Carolyn Heydon and Margrete Thorsen-Moore to discuss the next step in the Village Plan also to gain some information about the way forward for the Community Hall issue.

The issue of parishioners access to the beach will be discussed at the next Staithe Forum meeting and Mr P Berrie will report back to the council.
(Mrs V Tallowin declared an interest in this item)

11. PROPERTY INSPECTION WALK -
This was discussed and most issues are either in the process of or are already been attended to,
outstanding items are - grants for slipway, woodwork staining at the changing rooms, recreation
ground sign at the corner of Mill Close, storage of benches for winter months, community hall
shed to be added to insurance policy.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday, 6th November 2006 at 7.15 pm in the Community Hall.