03 Environment Minutes 11.08.26

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

Minutes of the Meeting of Hellesdon Environment Committee
on Tuesday 11 August 2026 5.30pm held in the Council Chamber,
Diamond Jubilee Lodge, Hellesdon, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 5BZ
Present:
Cllr Ian Duckett (Chairman)
Cllr David Britcher
Cllr Andrew Lock
Cllr David Maidstone
Cllr Mel Maidstone

In Attendance:
Jonathan Hall (Clerk & RFO)
Kevin Sage (Facilities Manager)
One member of the public – Debbie Pegg

1. Apologies and acceptance for absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr John Knowles .

2. Declarations of Interest and Dispensations
No declarations were made or dispensations requested.

3. Public Participation
None.

4. Approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2026
The minutes were APPROVED and signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting and were
signed by the Chairman.

5. To receive budget monitoring report and to note
The report had been circulated to members prior to the meeting. Whilst the materials for the Miyawaki
Tree project had been ordered, no invoices had yet been received and processed. The report was
noted.

6. To consider arranging a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing
The committee discussed hosting a screening of the 45 minute film from the National Emergency
Briefing Initiative (NED). The initiative would cover the film costs, with the council’s responsibility
limited to providing a suitable venue. The film is recommended for audiences aged 16 and over, and
the committee considered holding two screenings: one for a specific invited group and another open
to the public. To encourage community engagement, it was suggested offering refreshments, such as
tea and coffee, and holding a structured discussion after the screening. There was also a suggestion
that the film could be made available to local schools for sixth form students at an invitation screening.

The Committee agreed that the Clerk should report back to the committee with possible dates and
costs and ideas of whom could sit on the after film discussion panel.

Approved…………………………………………………...…

Date………………………………………
HPC Environment Committee Minutes 11 August 2026
7. To consider RHS project funding application.
The Clerk was asked to investigate whether the Parish Council was eligible for the grant funding. It
was felt likely that local gardening and horticultural groups are the possible targets of the grants. The
Clerk would investigate the position and report back to the committee.

8. To receive an update on the Miyawaki Woodland Planting Project
The Facilities Manager had provided a written report which had been circulated to committee
members prior to the meeting. The recent drought conditions may delay the start of the project as
preparation work scheduled had not been able to take place. There was also concerns about lifting
bare root trees in drier conditions. Contact had been made with the Wensum Trust regarding
involving children in the planting of the trees in the Autumn. Dr Archer from Norfolk County
Council’s Green Infrastructure Team would be making a site visit on 18 August 2026.

9. To receive a verbal report regarding the 3 June 2026 visit to Mile Cross Green projects
Overview of the visit: The Chair reported that the visit to the Mile Cross Green projects had been
well received and had provided useful inspiration for developing similar environmental projects in
Hellesdon.the It was suggested that a member of the Mile Cross project team could review the
Council’s proposed projects and provide advice. Debbie Pegg also offered her support in this
regard.

10. To consider draft of article for Just Hellesdon magazine and to approve for publication.
A draft article had been written by the Chair and circulated to the committee prior to the meeting. It
was agreed the article required reducing in words as space was limited within the page structure of
Just Hellesdon. It was suggested that adding a line concerning the drought and the possible delay
of the Woodland Planting project could be added. The Clerk would liaise with the editor of the
magazine ready for the September edition of the publication.

11. To receive a verbal update from the Clerk regarding grass verge cutting in the Parish
The Clerk advised that the contractor Norse would not be cutting any grass verges until substantial
rain had fallen.

12. To confirm the date, time and venue of the next meeting
The next meeting would be held on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 5.30pm in the Council Chamber,
Diamond Jubilee Lodge, Wood view Road, Hellesdon Norwich NR6 5QB

Meeting closed at 6:17 pm

Approved…………………………………………………...…

Date………………………………………
HPC Environment Committee Minutes 11 August 2026