VILLAGE HALL NEWS SHEET October 2010

Welcome to the October update on what’s going on with the new Village Hall. Since the last issue, a lot has happened, not least the Parish Poll about the wind turbine. Despite the distraction of the poll, we have continued to make good progress over the past few weeks, so here’s where we are up to, what’s happened and what’s planned.

The Parish Poll
Following a request from 10 parishioners, the poll was held on 4 October. It was limited only to those on the electoral roll and to the following question:
“Do the parishioners of Hickling want a wind turbine installed for the new village hall?”
Of 834 possible votes, 433 voted, with 247 against and 186 in favour, a difference of 61 votes.
Following the poll, 13 residents wrote to the Parish Council and asked if the Parish Council and the Playing Field Charity would “desist from making a applying for planning consent for a wind turbine” and demanded that “no further financial commitments are made on the Village Hall project without a full re-appraisal of the project”.

At the Parish Council meeting on 13 October, Richard Cook, the Chairman of the New Build Team, made the following response, with the promise that it would be printed in the village newsletter for all of the residents:
“As you are aware, the Parish poll is not binding; however the corporate trustees of the Playing Field and or Recreation Ground Charity will take careful consideration of the result of this poll and will fully evaluate all available options as we move forward with the project.
At present, the trustees have not signed up to the hall being built and this is still dependant on what the actual tender build prices are and indeed, the funding secured and pending.
We have taken legal advice on all of our decisions so far and have now secured the services of KPMG accountants on a pro bono basis going forward. We have also engaged an independent Quantity Surveyor to make sure that the tender process ensures we get best value and to look after the parish’s interest during the build, should we progress.
In the meantime, we will press on with the tender process and fund raising for the hall without the provision for a turbine
Our overwhelming desire is to provide a first class facility for the village and one which ‘stands on its own two feet’.
To achieve this we recognise the need to maximise the support of the village, it is your hall after all.
To help us achieve this goal, we would welcome from all ideas on funding, project delivery and how we can better communicate.”
Sale of Assets
• We have now completed the sales of the old Community Hall and the two housing plots on the corner of the Playing Field. Both of these sales were at or above their valuation.
Grant Funding
• The grant application for installation of sustainable energy technology for the new Hall was successful and we received confirmation of £50,000. Even if the wind turbine does not go ahead and we have to pay back £25,000 of it, our investment of £1100 in the Clean Energy Consultancy has certainly been proven to be a good one as we will still be able to
install our solar and ground source energy systems.
• A grant of £15,000 has been received from the Norfolk Rural Community Fund.
• Two smaller grants have also been received from the Norfolk Playing Fields Association and the John Jarrold Charity.
• We have of other grant applications in hand with strong likelihood of further success.
• Readers will remember from previous editions that we are awaiting the Big Lottery Fund, which may cover village halls, to re-start this autumn.
Loans
• It may still be necessary for us to apply for a loan to complete the Hall and we have applied to the Public Works Loan Board for a maximum amount, knowing that we can accept less as grants are confirmed.
• The Loan being considered is fixed at a rate of 4% for 25 years
Design, Planning and Construction
• Having achieved detailed Planning Permission, our Architects, A Squared Ltd. are now completing further drawings to enable the construction tenders to be completed.
• We have appointed Cyril Sweett PLC to act as Quantity Surveyors and our representatives in the construction project. There is little doubt that the downturn in the building industry will work in our favour in terms of pricing the build.
• The final design choices are being agreed and tender documents are being prepared.
Business Planning
• We are continuing to work on the Business Plan for running the new Hall and its associated activities and are confident that our prudent approach so far will be result in success.
• The Plan is being revised to take account of confirmed income streams from renewable energy, especially around heating, but may as yet not be affordable if there is no income from wind generation.
• Internationally recognised accountants KPMG have agreed to help us as business and financial advisors on a pro bono (free of charge) basis. We will however, pay for their professional opinion at critical stages of the project.
• The original village survey gave us very broad information and we now intend to firm up on this via a more detailed house-to-house survey and public information event commencing in November.
• Whilst we have been concentrating on the build project, we have also started to look forward to managing and marketing the new hall and have taken on further independent professional consultants to assist us, again on a pro bono basis.
Communication
• It is obvious from some of the comments received, that some residents do not feel we are communicating effectively enough.
• As well as this sheet, we will be shortly be sending out a detailed leaflet about the new village hall, to give more detailed answers to some of the issues raised.
• We are also holding an open information day at the Methodist Chapel on Saturday 13 November, so come along and discuss any ideas and make contributions to our plans for the new hall.
• As well as this event, if you have any questions or issues you would like answered, please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council, Shirley Sainsbury.