HARDINGHAM PARISH

COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

THE ANNUAL REPORT

2014-2015

Parish Councillors

John Sharples: (Chairman)

Henry Edwards (Vice Chairman)

Nick Pounder

Tim Barrett

Richard Burke

Jane Strudwick

Glen Gower

Clerk – Lynn Whitwell

The Council met 10 times during the 12 months April 2014-March 2015. In addition the Council also hosted the AnnualVillage Meeting in May 2014. We continue to favour the more informal style for the Village Meeting.

The Council agreed the following appointments:

Responsible Financial Officer – Lynn Whitwell

Parish Council Trustee to the Memorial Hall – Joy Neave

Emergency Liaison Officer – Henry Edwards

Deputy Liaison Officer – Richard Burke

Internal Auditor – Liz Stallion

Internal Auditor Scrutineer– Tim Barrett

Homewatch Contact – Heather Johnson

Highways

During the year the Clerk has made many contacts with the Highways Officers. The economic squeeze continues putting pressure on the Highways Department at Norfolk County Council and limiting what can be achieved. However in spite of this most of the potholes and road problems have been attended to.

Planning Applications

The Council has considered 10 planning applications during the year. You can view the documents on Breckland Council Website or contact the Clerk

Finance

The accounts for the year ended March 2014, presented in draft form to the last Annual Village Meeting have been audited successfully.

A Receipts and Payments statement for the year ended March 2015 is shown as a separate supplement. The accounts for year ended March 2015 have yet to be audited

The precept for 2015/2016 remains at the level of 2015.

No donations have been made during the year to organisations outside the village.

The project fund has a balance of £1357

Changes in Legislation

The Clerk has spent a considerable amount of time, not always proportionate to the size of the Council, revising documentation as a result of changes in legislation.

Website

The website continues to be developed. The aim is to add more general village information. In addition to Parish Council documentation i.e. Agendas and minutes, you can now access details of the various clubs and societies that meet in the village. Events can also be added, so please let the Clerk have the details.

Solar Park

Following the extension of the Solar Park, the contractor, Solar Century, wishes to contribute to a community project. The Council has been instrumental in seeking agreement for a donation of £30,000 which will be paid in May 2015, when the Solar Park is commissioned. This money will be put towards the new play area.

Dog Fouling

Informal notices requesting that dog owners clear up after their pets, erected in various locations, appear to be effective.

Conservation of Wild flowers in the roadside verges

Work continues in Middle Road for the conservation of wild flowers in the verge. The project is run by volunteers and they have been cutting and clearing the verge. In addition some of the Bracken encroaching on the wild flowers has been removed. Volunteers are always welcomed. Please contact Richard Burke 852304 if you could help with clearing or identifying wild flowers.

Faster Broadband

Following the petition sent to various bodies and the attendance of Karen O’Kane, Programme Director for Better Broadband in Norfolk, things are progressing toward providing faster broadband for Hardingham. After much investigating BT are recommending a changed design which will see two new pairs of cabinets located in the village, with current phone lines re-directed to the closest pair. BT has drawn this conclusion because this will achieve much better speeds for properties than just upgrading the current Hingham cabinet 2. They expect to implement all the works by the end of September 2015.

Homewatch

Heather Johnson is the Homewatch Coordinator and can circulate crime reports to those who wish to receive them. Email Heather at if you wish to be included in the circulation list.

Thank you

Thanks are due to Lynn Whitwell, our clerk, who has put in a large amount of time, way beyond her allocated hours, in revising our policies and procedures as a result of new legislation. Thanks are also due to all the Parish Councillors who voluntarily give of their time in the service of the village.

John Sharples Chairman

Summary of receipts & payments to 31 March 2015
R E C E I P T S
Precept / 3,100.00
Interest / 3.78
Grants
V.A.T. / 22.12
Grant in addition to precept / 62.56
TOTAL RECEIPTS / 3,188.46
P A Y M E N T S
General Administration
Subscriptions / 110.66
Insurance / 204.94
Hire of Hall / 170.00
Clerks gross salary / 1,994.72
Training / 45.00
Stationery / 42.73
Postage / 4.65
Telephone / 10.00
Audit / 30.00
Ground Maintenance/bus shelter / 50.00
Website / 47.88
V.A.T. / 9.60
Annual Village Meeting / 51.67
TOTAL PAYMENTS / 2,771.85
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS SUMMARY
Balance at beginning of year / 2,569.45
Total Receipts / 3,188.46
Less Total payments / 2,771.85
2,986.06
Bank Balance
Barclays / 1395.91
Santander / 1590.15
2,986.06