Litcham Childcare

Litcham Childcare would like to thank Litcham and Mileham Post Offices who in May kindly supported our Litcham village Mini-beast Quiz.  As well as thanks to all those who bought quiz sheets and gave monies generously to the the event.  This raised almost £90 for our funds.  Mike Fuller’s daughter Marcie and her family won the 1st prize of a donated Bug Hotel.
Anyone wanting more information on available spaces at Litcham Childcare’s please contact the centre by calling 01328 701155 or email to us at: litchamchildcare@gmail.com

LEXHAM HALL GARDENS

LEXHAM HALL GARDENS were open on Sunday 23rd May in aid of the National Gardens Scheme nursing charities and made over £2500. It was cold and windy but was well supported and the gardens were looking very colourful with rhododendrons, azaleas and other spring flowers. 323 adults attended and refreshments were provided by the Norfolk Hospice  (Tapping House), making £878 for their funds.


NEXT OPEN: Wednesday 21st July. 1100 – 1700

in aid of National Gardens Scheme. Adults £7.50, children free. Dogs welcome on leads. Contactless card payment encouraged. Refreshments available.

JUBILEE HALL TRUST

Vacancies

Due to recent resignations we have vacancies on the Jubilee Hall Trust for two new members.  This is an exciting time for the hall as we now have approved plans for it’s long overdue refurbishment so if you want to help us restore and improve Litcham’s only public meeting place then please let me know.

Call 01328 701178 or email me at juliamileham@gmail.com

Easyfundraising

Don’t forget to help us fundraise for the hall, when you shop on line by joining “EasyFundraising”.  It’s free and already has topped up the fund we are putting aside for the halls’s refurbishment.  Sign up and choose Litcham Jubille Hall CIO as your chosen charity.

Julia Bloomfield, Secretary

Litcham Common

Litcham Common Conservation Group
The next conservation task will take place on Saturday 8th May, starting at 10am and meeting in the car park.  All being well we will be installing some new benches for the use of people visiting the common, just in time for the sunny summer months ahead!  Contact Tim Angell on 01328 700045 if you would like to join us.

Gressenhall Museum “More in Commons” exhibition
“More In Commons” is a temporary exhibition at Gressenhall Museum scheduled to open on 17tth May 2021; it will celebrate Norfolk’s Commons, including Litcham Common.  Pop along to the exhibition in the museum’s Collections Gallery to explore the wildlife, history, communities and future of Norfolk’s common land.

HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

I write just a couple of hours after the sad announcement of the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.  In view of his recent health issues, a few weeks ago we were circulated with instructions as to how churches should react to the news if and when it came.  Having the benefit of a church in the village centre with several of us living very near by, we were able to fulfil the instructions very quickly, with regard to the flying of the Union Flag at half-mast, tolling of a bell and the provision of votive lights with a framed photograph of the Duke.  The Church of England prays for Her Majesty the Queen and all the Royal Family at every service, but the loss of Prince Philip and its impact upon Her Majesty and their Family will be realised by all without official bidding.
Richard Vogt, Churchwarden, Litcham All Saints

Retirement

Retirement

After much thought and a lot of prayer I am retiring from my post as full-time Team Vicar in the Benefice of Launditch and Upper Nar.  
Our Benefice of 17 parishes currently has the benefit of two full time paid priests but the parishes barely contribute enough to cover the cost of one of us.  We have been extremely fortunate to have had a second post subsidised by the Diocese but the Diocese is running a large deficit and with the huge negative impact of the pandemic on income this situation can no longer continue.
You may have read that the Diocese needs to lose 10% of clergy posts which it hopes to do without redundancies and our Deanery (group of local Benefices) has been asked to lose a post.  Having studied the overall situation and staffing levels in our neighbouring Benefices I have decided that my post is the obvious one to go and retirement will allow me the opportunity for a much needed change in pace and direction.
I will therefore be retiring on the 31st May and will move out of The Vicarage in Gressenhall.  My last service will be on the 30th May.  I will hopefully be licensed to The Benefice at some stage in the not too distant future but in a voluntary and therefore much reduced capacity.  For now my main priority, licensed or not, will be to support Reverend Miriam our acting Team Rector who is doing an amazing job running the Benefice whilst we seek to appoint a new Team Rector.
I have loved being your Team Vicar and there are a great many things I will miss when I retire but I am very much looking forward to laying down some of the heavy burdens of ministry and exploring a new and exciting chapter in my life.  It is my hope and intention that this new chapter will include some form of ministry within these parishes that I have grown to love.

Reverend Julia

Litcham Common

Good news
Litcham Common has seen an increase in visitors in recent months and we are fortunate to have this wonderful open space to enjoy.  The common and the ponies are looked after by volunteers and although grants are received from Natural England and Litcham Parish Council, for which we are very grateful, money is tight.  We are therefore very pleased that Breckland Council has recently awarded us two grants of roughly £600 each, one of which will cover the cost of urgent repairs to the stock proof fencing, while the other will purchase materials for some new benches.  Mike Oldfield has kindly offered to construct the benches, which will be installed by the conservation group.  The grants have come from money provided by the developers of the new bungalows behind Litcham Post Office, out of what is known as a “Section 106 fund” to be used for the benefit of the local community.

Respect the common
Although visitors are welcome, the increase in numbers has raised some issues which we need to keep on top of.
Please be mindful of the fact that Litcham Common is a designated Local Nature Reserve and County Wildlife site and must be respected as such, especially as we enter the nesting season.  In particular, dogs should be kept under close control at all times and please do not drop any litter at all, or leave dog poo bags lying around.  Bins are provided in the car park, but even better, dispose of your litter at home.

Parking on the common
Byelaws prohibit any unauthorised vehicles from driving over or parking on the common, including the road verges.  Please only use the car park provided.  We are grateful for Litcham School’s cooperation in getting this message across to parents from outside the area who have been parking on the verges at school drop-off and pick-up times.
We occasionally receive comments from people who say that because it is a common they can do what they like on it!  This is definitely not the case and a full copy of the Litcham Common Byelaws can be found on the internet at: http://www.litcham.org/pdfs/byelaws.pdf 
Please enjoy Litcham Common, but respect it too!

Conservation Group
The next conservation task will take place on Saturday 10th April, meeting at 10am in the car park.  As always, new volunteers will be welcome to join us.  Contact Tim Angell on 01328 700045 for more information.
Tim Angell, Litcham Common Management Committee

LITCHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MARCH MEETING

The March Parish Council Meeting was held by a virtual meeting and attended by 6 Councillors.  

For the full minutes and report from County & District Councillor please see the minutes on the website http://www.pclitcham@gmail.com

New Problems within the Parish: All highways items reported in December are still outstanding.  The lines have been reinstated at the junction of Druids Lane/Mileham road.  The County Councillor Kiddle-Morris reported that Norfolk County Council have appointed a new highways inspector and he will be visiting the village soon.  The clerk will write a report of all the outstanding items for inspection.  

Litter Bins:  It was agreed to install new litter bins, one to be placed outside the Litcham High School and to place a new litter/dog bin on Wellingham Road.  The Clerk will obtain quotes, and this will be approved at the next meeting.  

Christmas Tree: The Council discussed the possibilities of planting a Christmas tree on the green, opposite the Bull Public House.  The Clerk has contacted the insurance company to confirm if this will be covered under the parish’s insurance.  This item will be added to the next agenda for further discussion.

Community Car Scheme: The Community car scheme has increased booking, but unfortunately only one driver is covering all of these as the other drivers are waiting for their Covid jabs.  

Annual Parish Meeting: Unfortunately, the Annual Parish Meeting was postponed last year, due to Covid restrictions.  The Council has agreed to delay the meeting again this year.  

Finance: The financial position at the end of January 2021 was considered and payments were authorised.  

County Cllr and District Cllr Kiddle-Morris Reports 

The government is putting in place plans to hold Covid secure elections on the 6th May.  In Norfolk, there will be elections for the 84 seats on Norfolk County Council and for the Police and Crime Commissioner which was postponed in May last year.  Currently, hand delivery of leaflets and canvassing is not allowed, instructions on delivery of election material from candidates is awaited.  The government is allocating extra money to local councils to allow polling stations and vote counting venues to be made Covid secure.  Rules on postal voting and proxy voting are being considered.  

The County Council have set the Council Tax budget, it will increase by 1.99%, which is £4.95 for a Band D property in Breckland.  Social Care budget will increase by 1%.  Full details of the whole budget can be seen on the Norfolk County Council Website.  

District Councillor Kiddle-Morris reported that due to some recent problems outside the Litcham shop regarding parking and rights of way, it has now been established that this area is designated Highways.  Pedestrians have right of way across the pavements and vehicles should be approaching this area with caution.  

The full minutes are available for viewing on the notice board at the village hall or on the Litcham Website or Email Mileham Clerk: pclitcham@gmail.com.  

Next Meeting will be held on Monday 3rd May at 7:30pm, this may be in the Village Hall or will continue as a Virtual meeting.  

Donna Secker, Clerk to Litcham Parish Council.