08.09.26 FC mins combined with appendix

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 Full Council meeting held on Tuesday 8 September 2026 at 7pm
in The Council Chamber, Diamond Jubilee Lodge Wood View Road, Hellesdon
Norwich Norfolk NR6 5BQ

Present:
Cllr David Maidstone (Chair)
Cllr Gemma Diffey
Cllr Roy Forder                      Cllr Shelagh Gurney
Cllr John Knowles                    Cllr Andrew Locke
Cllr David Britcher                  Cllr Ian Duckett
Cllr Bill Johnson                    Cllr Nigel Barker
Cllr David Fahy                      Cllr Sue Holland
Cllr Mike Hicks

In attendance:
Jonathan Hall (Clerk & RFO)
Rebecca Larke (Deputy Clerk)
Cllr Nick Taylor (Norfolk County Councillor)
Heidi Waters (Broadland District Council)
Vicky Edge (Broadland District Council)
Three members of the public.

1. Apologies and acceptance for absence

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs Lacey Douglass, Mel Maidstone and Robin
Sear.

2. Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

None.

3. Minutes from Full Council meeting held 11 August 2026

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2026 were AGREED as a true and accurate
record.

4. Public Participation

Two members of the public raised concerns about disruption arising from the grounds works
taking place at Firside School. The Clerk was asked to write to the Wensum Trust to convey
these concerns and highlight the impact on local residents.

A report from the Police is attached at appendix A
5. Other Council’s Reports
a) County Councillor report.

Cllr Taylor had provided a written report which had been circulated to members before the
meeting. The report is attached to these minutes at appendix B.

Approved………………………………………..

Full Parish Council Minutes
08 September 2026
 b) District Councillor reports.

Cllr Gurney (Hellesdon North West) advised that she had been dealing with various planning
matters including HMOs (House in Multiple Occupation). The ‘H’ bars painted on Cottingham’s
Drive had been causing a lot of confusion for motorists, with many believing they could not drive
over them, causing one slow speed head on collision. Residents had also commented on the
poor quality of the workmanship with many of the lines described as “wobbly”. The ‘H’ bars had
not been painted on the corner where most parking issues were being experienced. The County
Council who are responsible for Highways matters had been advised.

Cllr Johnson (Hellesdon North West) advised he had recently appointed to a new planning
enforcement panel.
6. Parish reports
a) Clerk’s report.

The Clerk’s report had been circulated prior to the meeting and was noted.

b) Chair’s report.

The Chair advised that the St Paul’s Church Building Working Group had made initial contact
with a view to meeting in due course.

7. Financial Matters

It was RESOLVED to approve:
a) The list of payments and receipts from 1 August 2026 to 31 August 2026.
b) Earmarked Reserves Summary to 31 August 2026.
c) The bank reconciliation to 31 August 2026.

8. Committees

To receive reports from Chairs of Committees and to note.

a) Committee Centre & Café Committee
No report.

b) Environment Committee.
The Chair Cllr Duckett asked the clerk to forward correspondence from the Wensum Trust
regarding the tree planting project to take place later in the year.

c) Events Committee
It was RESOLVED to defer both recommendations from the committee meeting held on 18
August 2026 back to the Committee for further consideration. The Committee’s next meeting is
15 September 2026.

d) Planning Committee
The Chair thanked Cllr Gurney for substituting and making the committee meeting, held earlier
that evening, quorate.

e) Playingfields, Allotments & Amenities
The next meeting was scheduled for 10 September 2026 at 7pm.

Approved………………………………………..

Full Parish Council Minutes
08 September 2026
f) Property, Policy & Resources.
The next meeting is scheduled for 28 September 2026.

g) Staffing
The Chair confirmed that the HR training held on 20 August had been completed successfully.
Cllrs David Maidstone and Johnson confirmed they had viewed a recording of the training. The
Committee had met its obligation for all members to receive appropriate training.

The recording of the training is available for any councillor to view. Members should contact the
Clerk to obtain access to view.

Other Business

9. Heidi Waters Local Area Co Ordinator from Broadland District Council.

Heidi Waters undertook a presentation to the meeting concerning her new role. A copy of the
presentation is attached to these minutes at appendix C. The Councillors received the
presentation with much enthusiasm and RESOLVED to assist Heidi by allowing access to the
café, providing a private space for residents to discuss matters in confidence and to publicise
her work and events of the Local Area Co Ordinator on the Council’s various platforms, including
Just Hellesdon magazine.

10. Greater Norwich Local Plan 2045 Scoping Consultation

The Consultation had opened on 17 August 2026 and was scheduled to close on 28 September
2026. Although the call for sites had brought forward a couple of locations within Hellesdon, this
consultation did not cover this matter. The consultation was noted.

11. To receive a verbal report from the Car Parking around The Bull Roundabout Working
Group.

The Chair gave a verbal update. A meeting had been held with shop and business owners on 2
September 2026. The meeting was well received and several helpful suggestions were agreed
upon to take into discussions with the Pharmacy owners. It was acknowledged that the meeting
was very positive with all participants engaging in a co operative and helpful manner.

12. Planning Appeal for Planning application 2024/3511 the Norwich Golf Club Drayton
High Road Norwich NR6 5AH

a) Verbal report from the Chair following pre case meeting held 2nd September 2026.
The Chair gave a verbal update and advised that he had attended the Case Management
Conference via Teams, with the Clerk and Cllr Gurney also present. The Planning Inspector
accepted the main issues that the Council wished to raise. The Council were asked by the
Inspector to carefully consider whether participation in the Inquiry as a rule six status party was
required.

b) To consider professional services requirements for support and guidance for the
planning appeal inquiry: Planning application 2024/3511 the Norwich Golf Club Drayton
High Road Norwich NR6 5AH
Confusion had arisen from some members as to why the Council had registered for rule six
party status. The Clerk explained that advice had been received from Sarah Everard, Area
Planning Manager at Broadland District Council via the district councillors, that it would be more
appropriate for the Parish Council to register with the Planning Inspectorate, as a corporate
body, as a rule six party, rather than individual district councillors doing so.

Approved………………………………………..

Full Parish Council Minutes
08 September 2026
 The Clerk reassured the Council that he had checked the position and registration at that point
gave the Parish Council options for later decisions. There was no cost to registration and the
deadline for registration had been only hours away, giving no time for an extraordinary council
meeting to be called, due to the statutory three day clear notice requirements.

The Clerk had ascertained that rule six status could be withdrawn at no cost to the Council, as
long as all deadlines for submissions had been met. If the Inspectorate considered the Council’s
claims as frivolous or vexatious, costs may be awarded against the Council, however the Clerk
considered the Council’s issues raised as genuine concerns.

Given this information and the position that no registration would have meant the Parish Council
would have had no formal involvement in the Planning Inquiry, the Clerk decided as Proper
Officer of the Council to register the Parish Council, for rule six status, as a corporate body with
a view for Full Council to decide the way forward at the next Full Council meeting.

After much heated discussion, the Council RESOLVED to :
• Assert a ruling that matters for Full Council should be considered by Full Council.
• The Planning Inspectorate should be advised that the Parish Council wishes to withdraw
from rule six status.
• Advise the Planning Inspectorate that the Parish Council wishes to proceed on an
interested party status.
• Instruct Collective Community Planning Ltd to review the Council’s statement of case
and to help and support the Parish Council as part of the Planning Inquiry.

13. The next meeting of Full Council was confirmed as 13 October 2026 at 7pm in Council
Chamber, Diamond Jubilee Lodge, Woodview Road Hellesdon Norwich NR6 5QB

14. It was RESOLVED under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 to
exclude the press and public for the duration of the meeting remaining in view of the
confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

Meeting closed to Press and Public at 9.18pm

15. Probation Period for the Clerk.
The Chair gave a very short summary of the probation meeting held. The Council noted the
successful completion of the probation period for the Clerk.

Meeting ended 9.20pm

Approved………………………………………..

Full Parish Council Minutes
08 September 2026
Police report:

1.) Police have received reports in late July of youths causing anti-social behaviour
on Loxwood, Hellesdon. Where a shoe print was left on a door. There has been
no further issues reported.

2.) Police received reports of anti-social behaviour outside McDonalds, Boundary
Road. Police have issued an anti-social behaviour stage one letter to one
individual.

3.) On the 17th of August, police received reports of road traders and that they
offered to carry out work on the residents roof, despite it not being required.

4.) Police continue to make contact with drivers parked inappropriately on City View
Road and Coronation Road, Hellesdon.

5.) We are aware of a report regarding anti-social behaviour at an address Reepham
Road, we would urge that any ASB or offences committed are reported to police
as soon as they take place. I understand there is an element of underreporting.

6.) Partnership working continues between the safer neighbourhood team and
Hellesdon Hospital. This includes a review of police reports, including
investigations, calls and missing patients. A monthly meeting is held to discuss
the data from the last month.

7.) I have compared recorded offences, anti-social behaviour reports and road
traffic collision data between both 20/07/2025 – 08/09/2025 and also
20/07/2026 – 08/09/2026. They are as follows:

ASB – (2025 – 13) (2026 - 7 ASB) – 46.2% decrease.
Investigations – (2025 – 14) (2026 – 103) – 9.6% decrease
RTC – (2025 – 15) (2026 – 9) – 40% decrease
8.) Whilst I understand only some of the A1270 comes under Hellesdon it may be
useful to mention the work Sam and I have been responsible for in relation to a
problem solving plan relating to suicide prevention along the seven bridges of the
A1270 (NDR). This work has gone on for several years and has included:

• Completion of a detailed problem-solving plan, supported by data analysis to
identify trends, demand, hotspot locations and repeat individuals. This has
included the analysis of over 700 police incidents linked to the bridges,
identifying patterns relating to suicide prevention, public safety concerns and
anti-social behaviour.

• Regular liaison with Norfolk Highways, Norfolk County Council, Public Health,
NSFT Mental Health Services, the Samaritans, Fire and Ambulance Services, and
the High Risk Locations Operational Group.

• Development and implementation of Operation Gentle 24, a comprehensive
response plan covering all seven bridges on the A1270, including access routes,
rendezvous points, road closure plans, photographs and deployment guidance
for emergency services. Creation of bridge specific POP markers (Markers which
flag with our control room) and control room response plans to improve
identification of incidents and support a coordinated emergency response. This
has also included production of drone imagery, mapping products and detailed
bridge surveys to support operational planning and emergency deployments.

• Introduction of a bridge numbering scheme in partnership with Norfolk
Highways, resulting in clear numbering signage being installed on all seven
bridges along the A1270. You may have seen these small numbered signs on the
approach to the bridges on the A1270 and across the bridges (There are four per
bridge). These numbers are in line with the problem solving plan.

Bridge 1 – Marriotts Way, Taverham. W3W herb.exact.makeup
Bridge 2 – Dog Lane, Horsford. W3W blazing.perch.beams
Bridge 3 – A140. W3W frock.trim.bridge
Bridge 4 – Buxton road, Spixworth. W3W gates.local.teeth
Bridge 5 – Newman road, Rackheath. W3W page.teams.both
Bridge 6 – Plumstead road, Thorpe end. W3W vest.torn.fact.
Bridge 7 – Middle road, Great Plumstead. W3W frog.option.tries

The intention of implementing this numbering system is to allow members of the
public to contact police and accurately communicate the bridge where the
emergency is taking place. The control room who hold the location of each
 bridge number and location are able to communicate with officers the exact
location, consider deployment of officers and suitable road closures. Following
the introduction of bridge numbering signage across the A1270, officers were
able to respond directly to a report of a male in crisis on Bridge 2 (Dog Lane,
Horsford) after the member of the public identified the location using the new
signage. Officers attended the correct bridge immediately, engaged with the
male and safely persuaded him away from the bridge, with the deployment to
arrival time being approximately four minutes. This demonstrated the practical
benefit of the bridge numbering initiative and the improvements made to
emergency response arrangements.

• Work with mental health services to identify and support high-demand
individuals, contributing to a significant reduction in repeat incidents involving
those most frequently attending the bridges. Ongoing monitoring of incidents,
proactive patrols and targeted activity to address anti-social behaviour involving
young people on the bridges. Creation and distribution of officer aide-memoires,
including bridge numbers and What3Words locations, to support faster
operational responses.

The work remains ongoing, however significant progress has been made through
partnership working, improved emergency response arrangements and targeted
safeguarding interventions aimed at reducing both suicide risk and anti-social
behaviour across the A1270 bridge network.
 Hellesdon County Councillor Update
Hellesdon Parish Council meeting September 8th 2026

Here’s a brief update on some of the key issues and activity from the past month.

Local Government Reorganisation

Splitting Norfolk into three Unitary Authorities will not now go ahead. The government
have taken legal advice and it would appear that they have been advised that they were
unlikely to win the legal challenge made by the Reform UK led Norfolk County Council.
Norfolk taxpayers will now be spared the £96m cost of LGR and residents will be spared
the significant disruption and risk to services that would result from the changes.

Norfolk cancels £6.3m contract for consultancy services

The Reform UK led Norfolk County Council has extricated itself from a consultancy
contract worth £6.3m with Inner Circle that was meant to advise the council through the
LGR transition. This contract should never have been signed by the previous
administration.

Local Issues

I have continued to work on a range of local issues raised by residents.

A package of mitigation works has been agreed to help alleviate the anti-social parking
on City View Road around the Whiffler Pub. The proposals from Highways include
double yellow lines on both sides of the road between the junctions with Boundary Road
and Hercules Road and around the junctions, re-seeding of the verges and timber
bollards. However, Wetherspoons have reneged on the planning condition that
stipulated that they would pay for the works. I am meeting with Broadland District
Council planners later this week with Cllr Lacey Douglas to hopefully resolve the matter.
I have no jurisdiction over planning matters but if I did, I would pull the Whiffler’s
planning application altogether if they are not prepared to meet their obligations.

I met with Richard Pearson from Highways to find ways of mitigating parking issues in
Heath Crescent and Middletons Lane caused by the airport parking problem.

I have managed to get Sanders Coaches to lay on an extra request stop on Reepham
Road on the 602 bus route to make it easier for a small number of Hellesdon families to
get their children to Reepham High School.

I met with Wensum Academy Trust regarding the intolerable dust affecting residents in
Meadow Way caused by the redevelopment of Firside School. The trust has agreed to
redouble efforts to minimise the dust although the ground works phase of the project is
coming to an end and the next construction phase should be less impactful for local
residents.
I have been approached by a family in Hellesdon regarding their serious concerns about
Hellesdon High School and have referred the matter to children’s services.

If you have an issue you would like me to look into, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Residents are encouraged to report Highways issues online at
highways@norfolk.gove.uk.

Council Business

The Cabinet meeting due to take place on September 11th will agree several property
disposals, restructure the financial arrangements for Repton Ltd to enable it to develop
two major housing schemes and approve the council’s “first 100 days” document.

Community Engagement

I held my first Hellesdon surgery in the library on September 3rd. I spoke with several
residents about a variety of issues and will return on the first Thursday in October.

Keeping in Touch

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.
Your feedback is always welcome, and I remain committed to representing the interests
of everyone in our community.

Kind Regards

Cllr Nick Taylor
Hellesdon Division

Email: nick.taylor.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk Phone: 07881 962917
Local Area Coordination in Hellesdon

‘Something different for Hellesdon’

Proposal to Hellesdon Parish Council:
Community Café Partnership Working

Presented by Heidi Waters & Vicky Edge– Local Area Coordinator Team
• Anyone over the age of 18 can access the
service
• Building trusted , consistent relationships
offering free open access to support
• A role focused on prevention and early
intervention
• Helps residents find solutions
• Connects people with local opportunities
• Can help people reach their goals
 Hellesdon Community Café
The Perfect Community Hub: By having a Local Area
Coordinator present:
The café already brings together:
• Residents get immediate
• Older residents
access to support
• Younger residents
• Barriers to asking for help are
• Carers
reduced
• Families
• People receive advice early
• Volunteers
• Community connections
• Community groups
strengthened
• People who may otherwise be isolated
Benefits for Hellesdon Residents
Title
• Loneliness and Isolation
• Bereavement
• Mobility Concerns
• Carer Support
• Preparing for old age
Fewer • Cost of living concerns
crises • Housing issues
• Benefits
• Community Connections
• Accessing Services
 Benefits for the Community Café
• Increased footfall
• An increase in revenue
• Creates more opportunities
• Putting the café on the map
• Wider awareness of the café and
the community services
• A recognised valued community
asset
• Opportunities for partnership
funding
 A New Neighbourhood Working Model
Something different for Hellesdon
• Together we can test a new approach

• An opportunity for Hellesdon Parish Council to contribute to something
that is completely unique , providing the community a front door that
aligns with Norfolk County Council Adult Social Care transformation
strategic plans.

• A regular presence within the café where other agencies could join us,
current discussions with Norfolk Fire Service , safe and well scheme ,
Electrical safety testing and Fire Prevention. Health partners for prevention
opportunities and community wellbeing. Along with community tech
coaches, Housing Partners and Community groups.
 Let’s make Hellesdon a
leading example…
We would welcome the opportunity to
pilot a Local Area Coordinator presence
Information Information within the Community Café and
Information Information

demonstrate the difference it can make.