VILLAGE HALL NEWS SHEET DECEMBER 2009

THE NEW VILLAGE HALL
This is the first issue of what will be a regular feature on what's happening with the new Village Hall. We know there is clear support for the project but we also know there are some concerns as well. Below, we have set out how we have got to our current position, what is going on now and how we are planning for the future.
In the Village Plan, the Parish Council committed to move forward with investigating the question of the village hall. The needs of the village and the costs associated with the existing hall made it imperative that we build a new hail as soon as possible and this decision was taken after the last village survey.

"Our survey said"

o Every house in the village got a survey to complete
o 75% responded
o 2/3 were in favour of building a new village hall on the playing field
o There was a wide range of views on what the new Hall should contain

Key Messages: this is what you told us

o The hall needs to cater for as wider range of people as possible and be multi functional.
o We need to build a positive legacy, not a millstone that will cost everyone lots.

This means that we need:

o Sound Business Planning
o Free energy, through sustainable sources
o Minimised borrowing
o Plans that allow fund raising events such as receptions
o There must be responsible use of public money
o Value for money - not just lowest cost but high quality
o Professional advice at every stage
o Open tender processes for sale and contracts

Planning Permission

o Thanks largely to Peter Brown's efforts for the village in drawing up the initial plans, we now have detailed Planning Permission for: o the new Hall on part of the playing field o a pair of semi detached houses on the existing hall site o two houses on the edge of the playing field
o This is conditional on money raised from the sale of the building plots being used for the new hall - this is the safeguard so that we will have a new Hall
o In addition, it is likely that an amended planning application will be needed to allow for minor changes to the original design which will make the building more energy efficient progress
We have a committed team of both Parish Councillors and advisors who are willing to work to ensure the new hall gets built
o An initial, draft business plan has been written
o The sale of our property assets is being moved forward
o The current work programme is looking at the following key issues:
o The appointment of an architect to take the existing plans forward to enable technical drawings for construction
o Ensuring we have options within the building design to allow for any contingency
o Sustainable energy - so that the new hall has minimal energy costs
o Funding - it is clear that the sale of the plots and the existing funds held by the Parish Council on behalf of the Recreation Ground Charity will not be enough to complete the size of building we need, so additional funding will be required

So where do we go from here?

o We will have a project plan drawn up by Christmas
o Architects will be appointed in January
o The property assets will go on the market during January, for sale by tender or auction
o We will know if we have been successful in our application for a grant to fund the capital cost of providing sustainable energy by March

Communication

oWe accept that communication on the new Village Hall needs to be better and we will provide the following:
o monthly updates in the Hickling Parish newsletter
o a web page on the Parish Council website with all available information and an email link for comments etc
o a facility for questions and answers
o a series of public meetings, the first of which will be to explain the sustainable energy needs of the new Hall
oAs a start, if you have any queries or ideas about the new Hall, forward them to Shirley Sainsbury, our Parish Clerk, at the contact details below, so that the New Build team can answer them in the next issue:

Mrs Shirley Sainsbury
Briarley Lodge
Stubb Road
Hickling
NORWICH
NR12 OBN

Tel: 598882

clerk@briarleylodqe.co.uk