MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING OF TITTLESHALL PARISH HELD AT TITTLESHALL VILLAGE HALL ON WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL 2015 AT 7.30 P.M.

Present Councillor T Smith (Chair). Councillor M Colman Councillor S Lane Councillor M Robinson

12 members of the Parish

Mike Gardiner-Dog Warden for Breckland Council

The Chairman welcomed everybody to the Annual Parish meeting.

1. Apologies for Absence. Apologies for absence had been received from County Councillor M Kiddle Morris, District Councillor T Carter Martin Laneville and Robin Roberson.

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting. Councillor Lane proposed and Mr Taylor seconded the resolution that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2014 be approved. All were in favour.

3. Presentation by the Dog Warden. Mike Gardiner informed the meeting that Breckland Council still has a Dog Warden and he deals with all aspects with regard to dogs-lost, found, nuisance and fouling. He can not deal with fouling unless he ahs the information. This could be people witnessing and from the Parish Council on difficulties. He works with the Parish Council on signing but there is only him in Breckland to cover complaints. He was asked about improving the signs and he agreed that it was time that these were improved and it is hoped that there will glow in the dark signs by the winter. He was informed that the dog fouling is a sporadic problem in the village but it has got worse recently as it is dark and the culprits do not expect to be noticed. If a person is seen please contact the Dog Warden. It was agreed that the Dog Warden would replace all the old signs. If there is a problem with noise form dogs then he would speak to Environmental Health at Breckland Council. He informed the meeting that The Heath is excluded but he will try to educate the dog owners as they are still responsible for their dogs. If people are letting dogs off the lead on the Heath and they are causing a nuisance contact the Dog Warden who would then contact police. Car numbers are very useful as these can be passed on by the Dog warden to ascertain the dog owners. There has been a change to the Dangerous Dogs Act and the police have more powers to deal with offenders. He stressed that any instances must be reported and the Safer Neighbourhood Team and copied in on problems. He left some leaflets and his contact numbers for all. The Chairman thanked him for attending and passing on the information.

4. Chairman’s Report. The Chairman presented his report.

Page 1 of 15 04/14 Despite the shortage of local amenities Tittleshall remains a strong and vibrant community. It is a popular and sought-after village. We have a good community spirit and there is a wide range of activities and opportunities for engagement on offer. This evening we will be hearing a good number of reports from village organisations and activities so I am going to keep my remarks brief. For me the highlight of the last year was our dramatic production ‘Where Poppies Bloomed’ which was written for us by Village resident Wayne Drew to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. The performance was deeply moving and well above the standard usually found in village hall productions. It sold out every night and was a financial as well as artistic success. I hope it will lead to more theatrical performances in the village hall. In the last year we have also: • Purchased a community defibrillator which will be installed in the obsolete telephone kiosk for which we are waiting a quotation from electricians. • Provided a good range of sports equipment for free use by any resident • Started a speed monitoring programme using a shared speed warning sign

In the coming year we have plans to: • Maintain and improve the children’s play equipment on the Millennium Green o Subject to funding we hope to install a combined slide and climbing frame • We also want to organise a grand fete for the summer of 2016 o First planning meeting will be in September this year o I would like to involve as many people as possible so if you are interested in helping please let me know.

There will be no Parish Council election on May 7th. Although Charles Foster and James Garner have decided not to continue, we will be joined by Lynn Kilbey and Nicholas Hills so we will continue with a full compliment of councillors. Before we move on to the reports from village organisations I would like to publicly thank the following volunteers who help us maintain a strong community: • Pat and Dieter Janning for walking the village footpaths and monitoring their condition • Chaz Scholefield for looking after the village website • Gary Yarham for dealing with moles on the Millennium Green and in the Churchyard • Lynn Kilbey for taking on responsibility for the village emergency plan • David Shepherd chairing the allotment holders group • Arthur Drinkwater and Michael Taylor for looking after the community orchard • And Dick Thompson who seems to do everything else.

Thanks also for the hard work and support of my fellow councillors and clerk. If there is anything you think the parish council should focus on in the coming year please raise it in the open forum at the end of this meeting, or, just let me know. Tony Smith 22nd April 2015

5. Reports from Local Organisations. 5.1 Poor’s Land Trust. John Garner presented the report. The trustee have done a wonderful job again this year and the Charity is in very good heart. The income was £3886.16 and the expenditure £4567.00 made up of Fuel payments to 15 parishioners £2250, chiropody for 14 parishioners £1440, grants to 3 former residents in care, 1 bereavement grant £140, solicitor’s fees £558 and the Clerk’s Honorarium £400. The full accounts are attached to the minutes. He was asked if the Charity advertises itself and he

Page 2 of 15 04/15 stated that there has not been the necessity in the past. 5.2 Millennium Green Trust. John Garner presented the report. The Parish Council is responsible for the day to day to administration of the area. The capital account stood at £2408.74 and there has been no expenditure over the year. This capital account could be used for the purchase of additional equipment. The full accounts are attached to the minutes. 5.3 Tittleshall Village Hall Management Committee. THE TITTLESHALL VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2014/2015 PRESENTED TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY THE 5th OF MAY 2015. The village hall, one of several community meeting places in Tittleshall, starts its year with the various organisations having their fund raising coffee mornings. Last year the hall committee decided that there would be a slight break with tradition, and that our coffee morning would take place not in the spring but at the end of the year nearer to Christmas, and would be called a Winter Warmer. All those who came on the morning were greeted with carol singing provided by the TLMVC. There were chestnuts roasting on an open fire and for refreshments there was the now-famous hot chocolate with a cream topping and melted marshmallows. Several new stalls were included and the changes proved to be popular with all who came. The new format created a noticeably convivial atmosphere. Other mainstays of hall funding come from the Bank Holiday book sales, harvest suppers, Christmas fairs, the British Legion meetings, and the monthly cinema. Plus the occasional letting to individuals for celebration use. And the annual stop-over from the Pilgrims who seem to like our hall a lot. These events have the enduring support of residents, friends and visitors and they provide the on-going income that helps with the maintenance and fabric of this hall. That income, coupled with the letting fees and The One Hundred Club’s membership, form the sole basis of the hall’s revenue. The hall receives no subsidies from anywhere else. The lettings have increased and we now have a photographic club, a shooting club and a mother and toddler Play and Weigh group that meet once a month. These lettings, together with the ever present art group who meet every Monday morning, the Tittleshall Ladies Male Voice Choir who have become one of the success stories of this village and who meet on Wednesday evenings to make music, and the yoga group who meet on a Friday afternoon to suffer beautifully in silence - all play a vital part in keeping this hall functioning as a community resource. The cinema is now in its tenth year of existence! And during that time we have experienced some memorable film occasions such as the live performances of Shakespeare beamed direct from the National Theatre. It did come as something of a shock to realise just how far we had travelled in establishing this little cosy hall as a place where individuals really like to come to the movies. For the continuing success of the cinema I must mention our partners Creative Arts East, who continually work with us in trying to bring new cinema to rural areas. The hall committee has, in the past eighteen months, been involved in negotiations with a company called Solar Century who have the ability and funding to install solar panels on the east/west elevation of the hall - at no cost to the hall. Breckland Council have approved planning but, whilst the installation might be free, problems have surfaced regarding the strength of the interior rafters and their ability to support the solar panels in the long term. The rafters need strengthening and that cost is not going to be met by Solar Century. The committee is currently applying for funding to enable this work to be undertaken by an appointed builder. If this installation can be achieved then we have the ability to significantly reduce our energy bill. This is one of those work in progress projects and whilst it has proved a protracted in its exploration, it might very well be worth the effort if the hall benefits from the installation. In the autumn of 2014 the hall hosted two performances of the play ‘Where Poppies Bloomed’ which was written by Wayne Drew – a village resident and prominent West End playwright - who dedicated the play to those villagers who served and fell during the First World Page 3 of 15 04/15 War. One of the characters in the play was played by Sue Lane, a village resident, and the producer was Tony Smith. The two evening shows were sold out, and the performance itself was rapturously received by the audience. It was a wonderful experience for all who were there and is still talked about to this day. John ‘the hat’ Morling has decided to relinquish his association with the twice yearly Bank Holiday book sales at the hall. John’s been instrumental in putting the book sales on the map, and his leaving, after several years of organising the two annual events, would have been a sad occasion had not the committee decided to continue with his good work and carry on with the Bank Holiday Book Sale tradition. At this point I would like, on behalf of the hall committee, to thank John Garner, who is a member of the Parochial Church Council for his skilful negotiations on behalf of the hall in obtaining the permission from the PCC to store the books in the vestry at St. Mary’s Church. This accommodation allows our community resource to be stored in safety. Jane and Gavin Lane, the owners of Manor Farm have up until now allowed the books to be stored in an outside barn - and very grateful we have been for that. They are now having buildings renovated and repaired where the books are boxed and stacked, so this assistance from St.Mary’s is very timely for all concerned. The members of the committee are aware that we are responsible for the hall. The maintenance, the fabric of the interior and exterior, and its high standard of presentation. It is a well-liked community space and people like coming here. We aim to use our skills and creativity to continue keeping the hall sound. I would like to end by thanking the committee members for all their energy and ideas. To Barbara McGoun, Dennis Wick, Michael Colman, John Garner, Arthur Drinkwater, Sue Currell our latest co-opted member, Grizelda Hughes our secretary, Ailsa Warburton our treasurer and to Rosemary Robinson our booking clerk. Thank you all. 5.4 St Mary the Virgin Parochial Church Council. The report prepared by Robin Roberson was read out by the Clerk.

ST. MARY THE VIRGIN, TITTLESHALL

Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council

for the Year Ended 31 December, 2014

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Background

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the Priest-in-Charge in promoting the whole mission of the Church. It also has, under Ecclesiastical Law, responsibility for the maintenance of the Church fabric and contents.

Membership

Priest-in-Charge The Revd. Martin Joyce Chairman

Ex-Officio Mr. Nicholas Hills Churchwarden

Mrs. Sara Foster Churchwarden

Elected Miss Clare Le Messurier Secretary

Mr. Robin Roberson Lay Chairman & Treasurer

Page 4 of 15 04/15 Mrs. Sue Bevan

Mrs. Jane Lane

Co-opted Mr. John Garner

Church Attendance

There are seven members on the Electoral Roll.

The average attendance at Sunday Services is five. What was planned as a United Village Harvest Thanksgiving followed by a walk to the Methodist Church for refreshments was mainly supported by the small Methodist congregation with very few Anglicans present. The Remembrance Sunday Service was well attended but the congregation at the Christingle was smaller than usual.

During the year there was one Baptism, two interments of Ashes and one Burial.

Review of the Year

The pattern of Services set in the previous year has continued with Holy Communion celebrated on the second Sunday and Morning Prayer, led by a Lay Reader, or a more informal

Lay-led Service on the fourth Sunday. The Congregation is elderly and no young people attend. There was a small group of children at the Christingle and one at the Harvest Service.

The PCC met seven times during the year when business was mainly routine. In addition it had agreed to proceed with the provision of a new Weather Vane in memory of Sara Garner and a faculty had been granted. Discussions were continuing regarding repairs to the main gate and adjoining wall in relation to the un-healthy Horse Chestnut trees on each side. The problem of Church cleaning is being investigated but no decision has yet been reached.

Financial Review

Total of receipts in ordinary unrestricted funds was £4400 compared with £6610 in 2013whilst total expenditure was £4817 compared with £6232 in 2013. The balance in hand was£687. The Parish Share was not paid in full as it would have left the account in debit. The offertory at three ‘special’ Services was given to three Charities: the total of £262 was less than the £454 given to two causes last year.

Income in the Fabric Fund totalled £713 but expenditure was limited to £160, leaving a balance carried forward of £6992. £435 was paid out from the Organ Fund reducing the balance to £1307. £50 was added to the In Memoriam Fund giving a balance of £2725. Other balances in Restricted Funds were: Flower Fund £22; Heating Fund £569; Churchyard Fund (Mrs.C. Wilde Legacy) £500. Although credit balances have been maintained Gift Aid refunds for 2013 and 2014 are still to be received which will make the financial situation more satisfactory in 2015.

John Garner stated that there is a very serious situation at the Church. There are few services but must keep the church and the responsibility falls on the parishioners. A new floor is a possibility and the pews would have to be removed. He proposed a motion that the Annual

Page 5 of 15 04/15 Parish meeting proposes that the PCC consider the church be used for more functions. This was carried unanimously.

5.5 Tittleshall Bowls Club.

TITTLESHALL BOWLS CLUB ANNUAL REPORT 2015. Presented by Michael Colman. The Bowls club competed in the and District League and the Elmham and District League, gaining promotion to division 1 of the Dereham League after finishing runners up in division 2. Membership was made up of 31 players and 3

non playing. Events which included a Coffee Morning, Open Day, Bar B Q , Finals Day and presentation evening were held which the local community are invited to take part. Thank you to Gerry and Ann Warner for hosting the Bar B Q in their garden. The Presentation Evening was held in the village hall and thanks to Mike Fuller and his team at the Village Butcher for providing the meal . The aim of the open day is to promote the club and welcome any new members. Throughout the season inter club competitions are played with the finals taking place at the end of the season, Mr Frank Haverson a member of the NCBA Executive presented the trophies to the winning players. A Challenge match was arranged against a Norfolk Bowls Association Executive. Many thanks to Arthur Drinkwater for his very hard work in keeping the green in such good condition. 5.6 Tittleshall Coffee Morning. No report was received 5.7 Tittleshall Methodist Chapel. TITTLESHALL METHODIST CHURCH REPORT TO ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 2012. Presented by Michael Colman.

Like most Organisations we have a Mission Statement which is regularly reviewed. Ours for some time has ended with the following verse:

If we today but sow the seeds

of loving, kind and helpful deeds,

the harvest will be reaped one day,

in God’s own time, in God’s own way.

We are a small and ageing congregation but we try to get ourselves involved in village affairs. None of us would claim to be saints but we try to carry our Christian convictions into the community: we have members on the Parish Council, Village Hall Management Committee, Bowls Club, and we have an ‘odd bod’ who is also a communicant member at the Parish Church.

We operate a Food Bank Collection Point (Sundays 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays 10.30 till noon) and a member helps with distribution; we have a non-fundraising Coffee Morning on Wednesdays – its a right good chat-shop! Four or five times a year we operate a refreshment stop for the West Norfolk Cycling Club.

Page 6 of 15 04/15 We have to pay our share of the cost of maintaining the ministry in the Central Norfolk Methodist Circuit, utility costs, and we make contributions to the several Methodist charities. This is mainly covered by the direct giving of members. On special occasions we make a point of giving to charities outside the Methodist Church: Harvest Thanksgiving to ‘Send a Cow’ (agriculture and horticulture missionary work in Central and Eastern Africa), and Christmas Services to East Anglian Air Ambulance and & Home Hospice.

We would be pleased to welcome you on a Sunday morning at 9.30 a.m., or on a Wednesday morning, there is no charge, entrance is free. Do put us to the test!

4.8 Tittleshall Stay, Play and Weigh. The report prepared by Martin Laneuville was read out by The Clerk.. Dereham Children’s Centre began visiting Tittleshall Village Hall to offer Stay, Play and Weigh sessions in September 2014 as part of an outreach programme aimed at providing services available at the children’s centre to families registered with the centre residing in rural locations. In particular families that are unable to access Dereham or our sister centre in Litcham due to issues arising around lack of transportation. Tittleshall was among those areas included in the first wave of provision together with and . The initial commitment to these venues was four sessions (September through December inclusive) with a review of impact to be conducted at the end of that period. As a result of that review the success of Garvestone, which experienced a high number of families attending, saw that venue retained on our programme indefinitely. By contrast, consistently small numbers saw Cranworth dropped from the programme, to be replaced by Bradenham from January 2015, when was also added. It was decided at the review meeting that although the group at Tittleshall was also being poorly attended numbers-wise, the value added factor of holding a group in the village was such that it was decided to continue hosting a Stay, Play and Weigh session at the village hall each month. Likewise in March, it was decided to carry on attending Tittleshall village hall because of the particular circumstances of the aims of the project. The viability of a group; from the perspective of Action for Children, is not viewed so much in a financial sense but rather from the point of view of what benefits does the service provide to a child and their family. There is school of thought within the organisation that if only one family attend a group that we have provided, then we can show that we have helped that family with their aspirations and supported children to learn through play. The weighted viewpoint of that belief means however, that once the value added factor is removed; for example, the child progresses into Early Years Education, the question of viability returns. Attempts have, and will continue to be, made to increase numbers by widening the mailing area to include those villages surrounding Tittleshall. At the time of the compiling of this report, this attempt at marketing has regretfully, met with little success. Thus, the longer term future of the session at Tittleshall - unless numbers attending rise; from a current average of 2 adults and 3 children per month, is uncertain and may close in July this year. However, the session, if finishing at Tittleshall, would likely move to . If there are families in Tittleshall that would not be able to travel to Mileham or any of the other play sessions in the area, we may be able to offer them support by funding transport. In conclusion, Dereham and Litcham Children’s Centres would like to thank the Village Hall Committee for their support in what we have been trying to do to improve outcomes of the youngest members of the community and their families. Their positive plans to increasing the profile of the village hall into local life are to be applauded and we at Action for Children hope that their efforts are suitably rewarded.

Martin Laneuville, Family Support Worker 5.9 Waste Paper. Presented by John Morling.

Page 7 of 15 04/15 Waste paper Project 2015. Sadly this year saw the demise of the waste paper project. I was no longer able to spend the time needed to continue (anno domini was catching up), especially on the books side of the project. We sent out 200tons over the past 12 months raising £1,000 for talking books. I must again offer my sincere thanks to all the many people who helped over the years, collecting, delivering and loading. Special thanks to Arthur Drinkwater and Dick Thompson. It is probably the best time to finish the project as the farm at which we keep the papers is undergoing a major building programme. The Village Hall Committee agreed top take on the books with a view to arranging future sales. I still continue to collect stamps and postcards for the Leprosy Mission. 5.10 Royal British Legion. Litcham, Tittleshall & District Branch Annual Statement dated 20th April 2015 Presented by John Jones. ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Litcham, Tittleshall & District Branch Annual Statement dated 20th April 2015 Presented to Tittleshall Parish Annual Meeting on 22nd April 2015. The membership of the branch now stands at 13 owing to the demise of of Mary Grafton and very recently Jack Mills at the age of 102 in a care home in Leicester having lived at home in Mileham up until last November, and one member moving away and transferring to another branch. Branch meetings are held four times a year in the Tittleshall Village Hall on the first Wednesday of February, May, August and the Annual general Meeting in October/November. The average attendance at the meetings is only about six owing to the infirmity and the age of many of our members. We will be discussing the future of branch over the next few months either in the merger with another branch or the worst scenario the disbanding of the branch, but in the meantime will endeavour to keep the branch going as long as possible. We continue to look for new members to join the branch and any one interested please contact the secretary or any member of the branch. The officers were re-elected at the Annual General Meeting in November 2014 and are as follows, the President, Dennis Wick, Chairman, Doug Rork, Treasurer, Robin Roberson, Poppy Appeal Organiser, remains vacant, and Secretary, John Jones. Stephen Lynn has resigned as our standard bearer and our thanks go to Stephen for all his help over very many years. We are looking for a volunteer willing to take on the task of Poppy Appeals organiser. We attended along with the Branch Standard, the Remembrance Day Services at Tittleshall Church and the Tittleshall War Memorial. And following the Tittleshall service, we attended the American War Memorial in Beeston. We also attended All Saints Church Litcham Remembrance Service but without the standard as the standard is alternated between Litcham & Tittleshall each year. Unfortunately, not having a poppy appeal organiser and reduced number of collectors we were unable to make a house to house collection again this year but were still able to send £771.41 to the Norfolk County Poppy Appeal, owing to the generosity of local organisations which including a generous donation from the organiser of the Tittleshall World War commemorative show. We would like to record our thanks to former officers and members of the branch for past support.

Page 8 of 15 04/15 John E Jones (Branch Secretary 5.11 Village Allotments. I am pleased to report that a full contingent of happy allotmenteers have been preparing their plots for the new season. As may be seen from the allotment map some new members have appeared. Recalling 2014 briefly as a very good growing season, the members at that time (one day) were successful in removing large quantities of rubbish and weeds and moving necessary structures to more convienient positions. This allowed a large area to be made available to all members to park and turn round their cars so that the difficulty of exiting the entrance is safer. These actions also allowed easier access to the precious compost heap which is vital to a good harvest. The subject of irrigation has not been raised of late and members seem to be coping with their own ideas although we have been experiencing a dry period and this may need some attention as Summer warms.It has been noted that some of the wooden posts on certain plots are rotting at their bases.This not a problem yet but as more than a few are broken we need to know who can help? We have two families on the Allotment waiting list.I hope this is of interest to the Council. David Sheppard.

5.12 Tittleshall Ladies Male Voice Choir TITTLESHALL LADIES MALE-VOICE CHOI R (TLMVC ) Presented by Sue Lane. It’s been a busy year for us as usual: we were recommended and sang at a wedding; a group of us sang again at Litcham’s annual fete, as well as Litcham’s Harvest Supper; and our most recent outing was a very enjoyable sing-along morning at Courtenay House. Of course, the year wouldn’t be complete without our winter concert at St Mary’s Church. The acoustics in our church are second to none, so it is always a joy to sing there. It’s also wonderful to see it so full of people and to hear so many voices joining in with the traditional carols. As with last year, we were very lucky to have the Pavillion Brass Quintet - I hope they will continue to be regulars each November. The icing on the cake was that we raised £160 for the church’s Fabric Fund. Our summer concert at Beeston’s St Mary’s Church was an exciting affair. Organised in conjunction with Carol O’Neill, ‘Music in the Round’ was just that: 4 gorgeous choirs and some superb musicians sang and played from different parts of the church a la ‘Later With Jules Holland’. The music ranged from classical to pop, and the faster pace of the whole gave it a more professional feel. We raised £240.60 for the Rethink charity and £100 for the church. We all had a wonderful time and hope to repeat it in the future. We already have dates in the diary, including Tracey Trinder’s wedding next month. We’re also busy planning our summer concert, for which the charity will be ‘Water Aid’. The date is to be confirmed. I’m applying for funding for recording equipment, as we speak. This will enable us to be more creative, as well as aiding the learning process. The equipment would be available for community use. Last, but not least, I know I’m repeating myself when I say that the choir has gone from strength to strength and that I am hugely proud of each and every member. We were very sad to lose 5 singers, most of whom moved to ‘foreign parts’, i.e. Wales, Scotland and Surrey, and even one to the furthest horizons of Norfolk. Nevertheless, we are lucky to have welcomed a couple of new members, and if anyone is thinking of joining us, we’ll be so pleased to meet you. Just give me a ring on 700952. 5.13 Photographic Society.

Page 9 of 15 04/15 Presented by Brian Robinson. The society has 12 members and meets on the third Tuesday of each month. 5.14 U-Blog Times. The ‘Blog’, as it’s affectionately known, is now in its fourth year of publication. In that period the newsletter has evolved into a real community voice. But as with all voices, sometimes they take a little while to be heard. Initially there was sometimes a reluctance by individuals to think of themselves as writers in any shape or form, but over time the writers block has dissipated and we now have articles for publication being submitted by a growing number of village residents. People are beginning to feel a little more confident about contributing.

The Blog was started because the producers felt that the magazines and newsletters that were currently available for the villagers to use afforded only a limited amount of copy space - not really enough to showcase all that was happening in the village. And there is a lot going on in this village! So, as with all good ideas, it started with sitting round the dinner table discussing what to do about it. ! And a dedicated village voice, in the shape of the Blog, is what we came up with. Newsletters and magazines such as the Blog have a remit to provide information about what’s on, where it’s happening, who’s involved and how, should you wish, you can become involved. The producers hope to continue with that ethic but like all good publications there is an ongoing need to evolve and reflect the diversity and changes in this village. Since its inception the producers of the Blog have received financial assistance with the print costs from the Parish Council. We would like to express our gratitude for that help because without it the Blog would not be in existence. 515 Website. Presented by Chaz Scholefield. Tittleshall Village Website Annual Report 2014/15 Introduction We are the only 'Tittleshall' I can find on Google and so the website continues to receive regular hits from all over the world and the Google Analytics software I use is quite fun, easy and informative to navigate. Figures The annual website usage figures from April 2014 to April 2015 have been 'skewed' dramatically by a huge number of 'hits' from Kiev in the Ukraine on 4th and 5th of February this year. This amounted to almost half of all hits in the year, so was presumably some automated (and probably unsavoury) activity. Ignoring the Ukranian intervention, our new user rate of around 1900 is encouraging and users from the UK and Germany stayed the longest on the site. Most others just 'bounced' (ie looked at the home page for a fraction of a second only before leaving), which is to be unexpected. We average around 8 hits/day which is more than last year's 'real' figure. The old analytical software attached to our Site Manager programme which was used for my previous reports seems to be much more optimistic, so I apologise for quoting greatly inflated figures! We have received a total of 8 Forum messages and 17 emails to the site over the last 12 months. Although modest numbers, it does show that the resource is of use to people seeking information on aspects of life in the village. Future Plans 1. We have been approached with an offer to change the management software for the site, more or less free of charge. This would entail adopting a programme called 'WordPress' which is used by other Town and Parish councils. I have approached Parish Page 10 of 15 04/15 Council who already use this system and I await their views re ease of use, ease of migration from an older site and the value of the training (to be funded by the Parish), among other things. On a 'first look' with our Chair, we felt it appeared rather generic and 'typically council' where our current site looks rather charming and individual, if a little idiosyncratic. I will report to the Council again on this, once I have further details. 2. New Government legislation concerning Transparency of smaller Parish Councils will mean that additional reports and material must be published on the website. This will begin more or less immediately and will entail a little more time and effort, especially in the first few weeks of the new system. Chaz Scholefield 14th April 2015 5.16 Emergency Plan. Presented by Lynn Kilbey. There are now 10 volunteers who will b contacted in the future with the new plan once it has been printed. Hopefully this plan will never have to be used but it is in place if needed. A few more volunteers would be appreciated. The Chjairman stated that there has not been a really bad winter recent;y but the parish should not be complacent. 5.17 Creative Writing. Presented by Councillor Sue Lane. Our Monday evening group continues to flourish, as do we as writers. For example, Arthur recently won a short story competition. I did say that we continue to flourish, but the truth is that I rarely finish anything, while Arthur, Helen and Jack nearly always complete the homework I set while often working on their own projects. I’m very proud of all of them. If you, or anyone you know, would like to join us, give me a call on 700952. 5.18 Tittleshall Arts. The Clerk read out the report prepared by Rosemary Robinson. Our group meets every Monday Morning throughout the year. It is open to anyone with an interest in art or craft of any sort. One of our number has recently moved on to pastures new and we have two new members who have joined us this year. We have a healthy number, between 10 and 12, attending on a regular basis, as well as the occasional visitor. Our membership includes not only Tittleshall residents but also ladies from Litcham, Mileham and . There is an eclectic mix of members who undertake a huge variety of crafts including drawing and painting, embroidery, card making, quilting and knitting, to name but a few. If people should come into the hall on a Monday morning they may think we are just having a ‘good old natter’ but there is a huge amount of excellent work done by one and all, in what we like to think of as a friendly, welcoming and supportive atmosphere. We are self funding and usually have excess funds to pay for our Christmas Lunch and at least one other trip out for ‘coffee and cake’, which is obviously very important in the craft world! 5.19 Yoga. Presented by Wendy Seale. Yoga isn’t just for hippies! I have been taking a class at Tittleshall Village Hall for nearly two years. I took over from Jan Lacey who was the group’s first teacher. She then moved to Lowestoft so teaching here became untenable. I was asked by Jan to take over the class, I said yes and inherited a very enthusiastic group of yogis. I teach Hatha Yoga which is a wonderful way to keep fit, without getting hot and sweaty or wearing lycra! Yoga originated in India and is believed to be many thousands of years old. Yoga was brought to the West by Hindu monks in the late 19th century. Today yoga is practiced and enjoyed by people of all ages all over the World. Page 11 of 15 04/15 I practised yoga off and on for years, but began regular practice after a back injury. I found it great for my health and energy levels as well as being very relaxing, and no more bad backs! I loved yoga so much that I wanted to share it with other people, so went on to train as a Hatha yoga teacher. I qualified as a Hatha Yoga Teacher with the British School of Yoga and went on to qualify as a teacher of Yoga for Children and Babies, Ante and Post Natal Yoga and recently as an Advanced Hatha Yoga Teacher. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy yoga. I teach people from 16 to their eighties, my Nan is still doing yoga at 92! My students are from all different backgrounds, from fire fighters and road workers to nurses and potters, mums and retired folk. They are all shapes and sizes, many people come because they have back problems, struggle with anxiety or depression, are recovering from or living with cancer; yoga really is suitable for anyone! I have taught people with physical disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders and six week old babies. So what are the benefits of yoga? “Relaxation!” is what most people shout. We start and end sessions with a guided relaxation, snuggled under your blanket. The yoga poses, or asanas, make up most of the lesson. These are gentle stretches, sometimes more challenging, linked together and combined with deep slow breathing. Pranayama, or breathing exercises are included in some classes. A recent Dutch scientific study of almost three thousand people found that yoga reduces BMI, lowered blood pressure and reduced cholesterol. The research also looked at aerobics and found that yoga was just as beneficial, something that surprised even the scientists! Other studies have shown that yoga can slash the amount of working days lost to back pain, and twenty minutes of yoga increases brain activity more than any vigorous exercise. At my class at this hall the yoga exercises are taken seriously with the students concentrating on their own personal expression but we also have good fun and enjoyment and we laugh a lot. Which for me is how it should be 5.20 Air Rifle Club. Presented by Robert Bennett. There was poor start to the club with some confusion over the starting time. There will be a re-launch in may and any information can be accessed at [email protected]

The Chairman reported that although Tittleshall is a small parish it punches above its weight. John Garnet suggested that a Press Officer should be used to ensure that all the information gets into the Dereham and Times to advertise the Parish.

6. County Councillor Report. The Clerk presented the report. County Councillor for and Launditch Report for 2014 – 2015

The Council Tax levied by Norfolk County Council (NCC) will remain the same for 2015/2016. An extra £150m has been granted by central government for highway maintenance and repairs. This will be forwarded in roughly equal payments over the next 6 years, it has not been decided what the extra money will be spent on but I understand that stalled capital projects such as resurfacing work and junction improvements will take priority. Over 141,000 homes are now benefitting from the NCC/BT £30m (£15m from Central Government and £15m from NCC) Better Broadband for Norfolk (BBfN) contract to provide superfast broadband. A second, £12m contract (BBfN2), is now in place to increase the superfast broadband coverage to 90% of household across Norfolk. Government have also granted £18m to NCC to improve infrastructure in Norfolk Schools.

Page 12 of 15 04/15 The Parish Partnership Scheme which funds small scale highway improvements will be funded at 75% by NCC in the next round, only a 25% contribution will be required from the participating Parish. Previously this was a 50/50 cost sharing arrangement. County Farms has been put on a much firmer financial footing and the 16,000 acres of Council owned farmland now contributes £2.5 to frontline services. The Council changed from a Leader and Cabinet system of governance to a Committee system last May. A review of how the Committee system is working and an assessment of the need for improvement was promised for November last year but has not, as yet happened. There is some discontent among Members about the way the new system is working and that the “democratic deficit” is more marked than under the old Cabinet system which the introduction of the committee system was supposed to address.

Mark Kiddle-Morris

7. District Councillor Report. The Chairman presented the report. District Councillor’s Report 2014/2015 Government Funding for councils continues to all Central Government has continued to cut funding to local authorities – as a result at the last budget 2013/14 Breckland had to find savings in the region of 3 million pounds over the next 3-5 years. It is really pleasing to report that through good housekeeping Breckland is able to not only present a balanced budget for 2014/2015, with no increase in Council Tax and more importantly no reduction in services, but able to do so for the next two years. It is also significant that although the number of people working for the council has reduced by more than a quarter, through new ways of working the council has been able to make a significant improvement in productivity. It is this ‘More for Less’ approach that that other councils are starting to copy. It is imperative that Rockland maintain a dialogue with residents regarding what they consider important to them. At a number of events, especially the Town and Parish forums, residents have been able to give their views on a wide range of topics. High on the list was keeping parking in Breckland free and seeking to freeze Council Tax and yet still maintain, and in some cases, improve the service being offered. As a result of the freeze in tax the annual rate of tax for a Band D property is still £69.03, but as only approx 12% of properties in Breckland are Band D the majority of residents will pay less. As far as Council Tax is concerned Breckland, through once again feezing Council Tax, still has the lowest tax in the country by far – mostly half of that charged by other authorities. The Council has introduced a range of new Pride in Breckland grants and an increasing number of groups are applying for funding on a wide variety of projects. Look on our website to see what’s on offer and how to apply. Breckland have put almost £1m into improving Broadband for its residents and many villages are able to access Super Fast Broadband enabling local businesses and individual households to access the Internet. It doesn’t stop here though. The Council is continuing to help finance turning ‘Not Spots’ into ‘Hot Spots’. The Council has entered into partnership with a private development company to it deal with the desperate housing shortage in our region, as well as helping local companies with premises. The initial work will be carried out in as part of the regeneration of Riverside, but along with this a number of houses will be built at Mileham , and . It is anticipated that a rolling programme of housing development will continue on a variety of council owned land in consultation with local residents. During the year the Council introduced a new waste programme with recycling at its centre. After some initial teething problems the programme is going well and proving to be a success. The Council hope that with the proposed installation of new equipment at the Recycling Centres a greater number of recycling options will be available to residents of Rockland. Page 13 of 15 04/15 My priorities are still: 1. To help people who need care or protection and have no one else to provide it. 2. To achieve best value for money and balance the books. 3. To help bring new jobs and future prosperity. 4. To build more homes to meet increasing demand for people to reside in their local area. Shared Services Breckland remained with South Holland to share services and Chief Executive. The shared services are saving each council thousands of pounds and are enabling them to move forward with improvements in services, and development in housing, retail, and small business units. Despite the difficult times Breckland has sought to extend and develop various activities and events for residents and young people. These have included: Dancing at Litcham High School, Badminton for over 60s at Dereham Leisure Centre, and also at Swaffham. Netball at Swaffham, Nordic Walking at Watton Sports Centre, Riding at Eden Meadows Riding School and Middle Harling, Indoor Bowls at The Brick Indoor Bowls Club, Swimming lessons at Eccles Hall School, Indoor Cricket at Dereham, Archery at , plus various group walks throughout the county. Arts activities have included Poetry events, Breckland Arts Trail, and Breckland Book Festival. Internet – Better Broadband for Norfolk Programme. The technical solution that will be rolled out has been broadly agreed – because unlike the old copper based cabinets, new, fibre optic cabinets require power – a major consideration in rural areas. Detailed planning is underway for what will be the first of several phases across Norfolk. Full deployment is expected mid 2015. The Big Switch – Collective Switching Scheme (for Gas and Electricity). This is an initiative in which County and District councils have joined forces to reduce primary fuel costs for the people of Norfolk. Almost 10,000, signed up, 2,800 from Breckland, and the average saving per customer was in the region of £115. The opportunity to join the Switch and Save scheme has again been offered and almost 1,600 residents throughout the district have signed up. New Planning Policies. Two of the coalition government’s stated aims have been to simplify planning laws and to encourage greater community involvement in planning matters. At national level more than one thousand pages of planning law would be reduced to 58 pages under the Draft National Policy Framework. However, this draft has already caused considerable controversy with claims that “it would seriously weaken the protection for the countryside” being expressed by organisations such as the Campaign for the Protection of Rural and the National Trust. It could also weaken the protection of the historic heritage (at a time when the future of the county archaeology service is under review). However, NPPF has been in operation now for over a year and things have become a little clearer with the Government issuing updates and guidelines At district level Breckland has to establish how many jobs and homes need to be provided in the authority up to 2031. At appropriate stages the council is required to consult on the plan with parish and town councils and the public. Early indications are that up to 12,000 new jobs may need to be provided. Also up to 24,400 new homes may need to be provided. This figure included some 3,732homes already built, as the plan covers the period from 2006. The figure also includes a further 7,178 homes, for which planning permission has already been given since 2006. Up to a further 13,300 homes may need to be provided making a total of 24,400. I emphasise the word “may” as the plan is still being updated due to recent changes in legislation. At Parish level Councils have been encouraged to start preparing a Neighbourhood Plan, Local Plan, Village Appraisal – whatever residents feel they want to engage in. These plans will involve local communities in planning for their future development. When a plan is in place, subject to conforming to national policies, it will become part of the District Plan; then planning decisions relating to that parish will have to be made in accordance with the

Page 14 of 15 04/15 Neighbourhood Plan. An alternative to this is a local development order which allows a parish to grant planning permission to specific sites. Boundary Review Update: The Commission have accepted the case presented by Breckland Council who will now go ahead with plans to reduce the number of councillors by 4 and adjust the number of councillors representing certain wards. Furthermore, by now most residents are well aware that the Boundary Commission has added Mileham Hermitage Ward. As a result the population of the Ward is now in the region of 2,200. – an increase of 12%. What I’ve been up to As your District Councillor I have been working hard supporting residents and Parishes in the Ward and dealing with various issues that have arisen during the year. Examples are listed below: Identifying and dealing with instances of illegal fly-tipping. Identifying and reporting cases of ignoring/breaking local planning rules. Reporting and monitoring cases of vermin infestations. Helping speed up and resolve a number of planning issues. Giving help and advice to residents on a variety of issues. Supporting Parishes and village groups in grant applications. Gaining help from the Council for residents in need. Working with enforcement to deal with issues of concern to residents. Regularly attending and reporting to Parish meetings. Dealing with issues and concerns raised by Parishes. Supported village functions and Coffee Mornings. Visiting villages during weekends – meeting and greeting residents. 96% attendance at Breckland Council meetings and committees where I am a member or Chairman, plus other committees out of interest as part of my role as Executive Member for Assets. Attended 90% of training opportunities, plus 2 day weekend sessions at Warwick and Cambridge. For 2015/2016 As residents of the Ward are already aware I am readily available on the phone, respond quickly to emails and am reliable in dealing with issues. I am however; keen to explore other opportunities to improve my effectiveness as a Councillor. As I mentioned in my last report it is my intention to approach editors of the various Parish Magazines to see if I can include a regular article updating and informing residents of what is happening in their area. I have also held a number of on-line surgery utilising Direct Messaging, Facetime and Skype where residents can have an opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns. I must admit, however, that this has not been as successful as I might have wished, but it is my intention to try it again during the coming months. Trevor Carter Hermitage Ward

5. Open Forum. A parishioner raised the matter of Church Lane where part of the verge is being used as a passing place and is damaging the verge outside the bungalows and that bollards should be placed around the triangle at the junction of Fakenham Road and Church Lane. This would prevent further erosion of the triangle. Another parishioner raised the matter of realigning Fakenham Road to be able to install a trod. The state of the trod on Fakenham Road was also raised as this is now unusable and the Clerk will contact the County Councillor

The meeting closed at 2130

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