04. 9th April 2024

The Council Office Diamond Jubilee Lodge Wood View Road Hellesdon Norwich NR6 5QB
Tel: 01603 301751 www.hellesdon-pc.gov.uk email: clerk@hellesdon-pc.gov.uk

Minutes of the Meeting of Hellesdon Parish Council
held on Tuesday 9th April 2024 at 7pm
in The Council Chamber, Diamond Jubilee Lodge

PRESENT:

     Cllr B Johnson (Chairman)                          Cllr D Britcher
     Cllr G Britton                                     Cllr R. Forder
     Cllr S Gurney                                      Cllr S Holland
     Cllr A Lock                                        Cllr S Lowthorpe
     Cllr D Maidstone                                   Cllr R Sear
     Cllr S Smith

In attendance: Mrs F LeBon (Clerk).

Welcome by the Chairman – Cllr Johnson opened the meeting at 7pm and welcomed all in
attendance.

1. Apologies and Acceptance for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr N Barker, Cllr L Douglass, Cllr I Duckett, Cllr D Fahy
and Cllr M Hicks.

2. Declarations of Interest and Dispensations
No declarations made or dispensations applied for.

3. Minutes from Full Council meeting held 12th March 2024
The Minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 12th March 2024 had been previously circulated.
It was RESOLVED TO ACCEPT these Minutes as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

4. Public Participation
No matters raised.

5. Council Reports
a) To Receive Clerk’s Written Report
This report had been previously circulated. The Clerk updated the meeting as to the date for the
Annual Parish Meeting being as 8th May at 7pm. At this meeting the Family Hub will do a
presentation on their works to date. The next Staffing Committee meeting will be on 22nd April at
3pm.
The report was ACCEPTED.

b) To Receive Reports from District and County Councillors
District Council reports had been circulated.
Cllr Gurney, in her capacity as county councillor reported that the relaying of the Westgate /
Middletons Lane roundabout had yet to be completed. It was hoped that the works could be
completed during the school holidays but a date had not yet been agreed.

Approved…………………………………………………

Date…………………………………………………….
Hellesdon Parish Council, Full Council Minutes 9th April 2024
 Cllr Gurney assured the meeting that The Limes Care home, a private care home not run by
Norfolk County Council, had been inspected three times since an incident in 2021, as was
reported in the EDP today. The last time it was inspected was in June 2023 and the establishment
was described as safe and well managed.
c) To Receive Presentation on Updated Plans for the Yellow Pedalway
Cllr Gurney had arranged for the technical drawings for the proposed Yellow Pedalway to be
displayed for members. This is a shared pathway for cyclists and pedestrians which would start at
Amsterdam Way and extend to the NDR, giving access to The Nest as part of the route. The width
of the pathway would be improved to a width of three metres, but to allow this to happen, some
of the pathway would be on the Norwich City side of the Holt Road and some of the route would
be on the Hellesdon side, with crossing points being installed to enable safe crossing. This route
would avoid the complication of compulsory purchase orders and to ensure that the pathway
could be widened without impacting the width of the road.
The scheme would mean investment of £1.9m and funding would come from GNLP CIL and
government grants to encourage walking and cycling. There would also be a reduction in the
speed limit on the Holt Road from 60mph to 40mph.
The lighting of the scheme would be limited due to conflict with lighting at the airport.
Cllr Britcher raised concerns about the speed traffic exits the Holt Road at Buck Courtney Crescent
and the impact it would have on the crossing point in this location. Cllr Britcher also raised
concerns about traffic mounting the pathway as a result of moving for emergency services. Cllr
Gurney advised that a traffic survey had been completed and most movements of emergency
services are from north Norfolk, not outgoing.
Cllr Lowthorpe felt that to encourage active travel, the whole route should be on the Hellesdon
side of Holt Road to support local residents. Cllr Gurney advised that there had been consultation
with local residents and the preference was for this area of the route to be on the Norwich side of
Holt Road.
There is no indication of the timescales for the project at present. Cllr Gurney welcomed
feedback to be sent to her which she can forward to the Norfolk County Council officers.
d) Verbal Update from Chairman
The Chairman reported that he had met with an officer from Broadland Council to discuss Tree
Preservation Orders in Hellesdon. The map of Tree Preservation Orders in Hellesdon was
displayed. It was noted that this map was available on Broadland Council’s website.

6. Financial Matters
a) Bank Reconciliation – March 2024
It was AGREED to accept this reconciliation.
b) Earmarked reserves summary
Cllr Lowthorpe queried the reason behind the following earmarked reserves:
323 – It was noted that that this was earmarked for the hard courts as they had not been
resurfaced since installation.
352 – It was noted that this was for the extension of the community centre, which had been
granted planning permission. The office staff are currently turning away bookings through lack of
space in the community centre.
361 – It was noted that this was community infrastructure levy from developers which the Parish
Council could spend on infrastructure projects to mitigate the impact of development.
It was AGREED to accept this report.
c) Approval of Payments – March 2024
Clarification was provided about the payment made to Cllr Gurney. The payments detailed in the
written report were AGREED.
d) Receipts – March 2024
The receipts detailed in the written report were AGREED.

Approved…………………………………………………

Date…………………………………………………….
Hellesdon Parish Council, Full Council Minutes 9th April 2024
 e) Detailed Income and Expenditure 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024
It was AGREED to note the details in this report.
It was noted that the Internal Auditor will be attending the parish office early in May.

7. Planning Committee
a) To Note the Decisions made by the Planning Committee on 12th March 2024 and 26th March
2024
The minutes and decisions arising from the Planning Committee meetings held on 12th and 26th
March 2024 had been circulated. It was AGREED to note the minutes and the decisions made.
Cllr Smith queried the status of building works at 357 Reepham Road. It was confirmed that the
matter has been passed to planning enforcement and is being monitored.

8. Events Committee
a) To Note the Decisions made by the Events Committee on 2nd April 2024
The minutes and decisions arising from the Events Committee meeting held on 2nd April 2024 had
been circulated.
It was clarified that the Drag Bingo event being held on 20th April was a private event, which the
Parish Council was running the bar for.
It was AGREED to note the minutes and the decisions made.

9. Community Centre
a) To Receive Update on Closure of Roofing Contract
It was reported that the Clerk and the Project Manager have established a final account figure for
the roofing contract and submitted this to the liquidator for consideration. This figure was
circulated to members. It is hoped that this will be accepted to allow for a conclusion of this
project.
b) To Receive Update on Sunday Opening
The community centre opened on a Sunday on 7th April. A report was circulated to members on
current and future bookings for Sundays.

10. Playing Fields, Allotments and Amenities
a) To Note Decisions Made by the Playing Fields, Allotments and Amenities Committee on 13 th
March 2024
The minutes and decisions arising from the Playing Fields, Allotments and Amenities Committee
meeting held on 13th March 2024 had been circulated.
Cllr Maidstone reported that the committee gave consideration to a request for a community
garden. The committee agreed that the allotment site was not the best location for this and Cllr
Gurney had suggested alternatives belonging to other local authorities, housing associations,
businesses and community groups. The committee still wishes to retain plot 19 at the allotment
site to subdivide into smaller plots.
The apiary is to be discussed in the future as the bees have not wintered well.
Discussions occurred as to whether a future committee meeting should be held on the allotment
site within the new hut purchased by HAHA.
It was AGREED to note the minutes and the decisions made.

11. Community Cafe
a) To Note Decisions Made by the Community Café Committee on 20th March 2024
The minutes and decisions arising from the Community Cafe Committee meeting held on 20th
March 2024 had been circulated.

Approved…………………………………………………

Date…………………………………………………….
Hellesdon Parish Council, Full Council Minutes 9th April 2024
 Cllr Smith reported that the café is getting very busy. A volunteer policy and agreement had been
adopted in the meeting, and a new volunteer had started on site today. The Clerk is to circulate
the volunteer agreement and policy to all members.
Friday opening in the café is to be promoted in the future.
Cllr Gurney advised that there is a volunteer programme via Norwich City College which may be
able to assist with local volunteers.

12. Neighbourhood Plan.
a) To Receive Update on the Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr Gurney reported that on Thursday 14th March, representatives from AECOM visited the parish
to assist with the creation of a Design Code for Hellesdon. The meeting began with a meeting in
the council chamber to discuss the different aspects of the parish and what the Neighbourhood
Plan hoped to achieve from a design code. This was followed by a tour of the parish so AECOM
could familiarise themselves with the character of the parish and examples of good design and
where design decisions had let the parish down. This work by AECOM had been funded by a
technical support grant.
161 Neighbourhood Plan surveys were received electronically and 25 completed as a hard copy.
The Parish Council’s consultants are currently analysing the survey results.
The physical consultation events were not so well attended.
The next meeting is on Monday 15th April.

13. Waste Contract
a) To Consider Alternative Waste Contract to Encompass Increased Recycling
The Clerk reported that the Parish Council increased its budget for waste collection for 2024/2025
to assist with increased recycling. Cllr Gurney reported that Broadland Council were currently
considering a scheme for Parish Councils to benefit from glass recycling.
Three quotes were provided from local commercial waste contractors. It was AGREED after a
proposal from Cllr Gurney and a second from Cllr Forder, to continue with the Parish Council’s
current contractors for a period of six months with collections for general waste and mixed
recycling. This would allow time for details of Broadland Council’s glass recycling scheme to be
made public and the Parish Council can use this information when giving further consideration to
its commercial waste collection.
The Clerk is to investigate bins to allow segregation for general waste and recyclable waste for the
Recreation Ground.

14. ID Badges
a) To Consider Formal Photographic ID Lanyards for Councillors
The Clerk reported that a request has been made for councillors to have formal photographic ID
cards on lanyards. These would not only give a more professional appearance for councillors
when they are acting on behalf of the Parish Council, but would provide a greater level of security
than the non photographic badges provided in the office. With councillors becoming more active
within the community and attending more engagement events, the need for this has increased.
The cost would be £10 per card + £1.25 per card for a card holder and £1.60 for a lanyard (£12.85
per card + VAT). Discussions occurred as to whether the photograph on the card was necessary.
It was AGREED to proceed with photographic ID lanyards for councillors after a proposal from Cllr
Smith and a second from Cllr Maidstone.

Approved…………………………………………………

Date…………………………………………………….
Hellesdon Parish Council, Full Council Minutes 9th April 2024
15. Western Link
a) To Receive Update on the Western Link and the Local Liaison Group Meeting on 13th March
2024
Cllr Britcher reported that the had attended the meeting on 13th March as a representative from
the Parish Council. The planning application has now been submitted to Norfolk County Council,
as the local planning authority, for the Western Link. This will be validated and then a public
consultation will commence. As part of the proposal, there are three ‘green bridges’ which will
allow animals to cross. As these proposed bridges start and egress on private land, there will be
no public pedestrian access.
New guidance has been issued by Natural England relating to Barbestelle bats. Norfolk County
Council is looking for a solution acceptable to Natural England.
Cllr Gurney advised that there is a lot of work going on with government about the new Natural
England guidance.
There are no meetings planned for the near future due to the pre-election period.

16. Matters for the Next Agenda
Cllr Lowthorpe raised that he, Cllr Gurney and the Clerk had attended the recent NPTS seminar,
and topics of interest were Biodiversity (to include bio-diversity audits and ‘Bio-Blitz’ days) and
Community Awards.
Community Award will be further discussed by the Events Committee and Biodiversity will be
considered on the next agenda.

17. Time and Venue of Next Council meeting.
Tuesday 14th May 2024, 7pm at Diamond Jubilee Lodge

The meeting closed at 8.50pm

Approved…………………………………………………

Date…………………………………………………….
Hellesdon Parish Council, Full Council Minutes 9th April 2024