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The Process

How does it all work?

Simply...

  1. We set up a Steering Group
  2. Then draw up a working plan
  3. Consult with interested parties
  4. Draw up and issue questionaire to all inhabitants of the Parish
  5. Analyse the results
  6. Publish the findings

If only it were that simple, practically it means 12-18 months of hard work for your committee - North Elmham is a relatively large village, and getting the opinions of all will take time.

This web site (and the printed Elmham News) are the first building blocks in the communication process, and the intention is to keep you all as up to date with progress as possible, as well as hopefully to get your opinions with spot polls on various issues (see home page).

Along with personal meetings with groups, this feedback should provide us with the information necessary to format the full survey questionaires (printed and online) ready for all villagers to contribute to (Prizes as well for returned completed forms - printed and electronic!!)

We are looking at the moment to get funding to provide a computer and Broadband access point in the Coffee Shop at the Post Office, to give those without computers or Internet access the opportunity that the rest of us have, without the necessity of getting to Dereham Library to achieve it.

More information on this as soon as we have it, in the meantime it is the intention to start talking to as many groups as possible, in order to find out your feelings on the way you see the future for the village.

 

Aims and Objectives

What do we intend to look at with your help?

  • Community facilities
  • Vandalism
  • Primary health care
  • Play and recreation
  • Drugs
  • Youth facilities
  • Leisure facilities
  • Traffic and parking
  • Speeding
  • Housing needs
  • Local business
  • etc...

Community Plan June

The majority of the group were able to make the May meeting with the welcome addition of 4 of our Parish Council- Colin Smith, Colin Groom, Anne Ketteringham and Norman Lowe and a return visit from Roger Atterwill, Chairman of Swanton Morley Parish Council..

The group learned it had been successful in getting a grant from Norfolk Rural Community Council and more grant requests were in the pipeline. They  then set to work to decide on the best way to communicate with everyone in the village. It was agreed that all organisations, clubs and businesses would receive a letter asking for their ideas and suggestions but so that everyone in the village was included in the consultation process, a separate letter would be included in Elmham News so that no one was left out. Suggestion boxes could be placed around the village so that it would be easy for people to return their comments & ideas. Once these suggestions had been received, it was envisioned that relevant questions could be added to the questionnaire that was being produced.

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Community Planning Group July

The June meeting was smaller than usual but just as lively. We were delighted to welcome Peter Smith from the NRCC, together with our Chairman of the Parish Council, Caroline Payne and a fellow councillor, Norman Lowe.

A letter to local businesses, organisations and other interested parties such as the police had been sent out asking for any comments or suggestions with regard to their needs in the village and we would await their replies with great interest.

A similar letter asking for comments and suggestions will be enclosed in July's Elmham News which is delivered to every household, so please look out for your letter and please return it as soon as you can. There will be distinctive boxes around the parish for you to put your reply in or you can send it to Sue Ball at the address on the letter. We also hope to be able to talk to villagers during Elmham Festival.

The group is delighted to receive a grant of £1000 from the Norfolk Rural Community Council towards the cost of producing a questionnaire which will not be personal or intrusive.

Community Planning Group August

Imagine our surprise as we met for August's meeting when we were sent outside to have our photos taken.  We didn't know we were so popular!  Was this photo shoot for the local paper, a magazine or just for Mike's benefit - no - it was for the website.  Just so that people reading news on the website could put faces to names.  Those of you who read Elmham News will find the "mug shots" scattered around at our future presentations.

The good news was that we have received another grant from Norfolk Grass Roots of £500, so we are nearing our target, thanks to our treasurer, Linda filling in the forms correctly.

We then had an excellent presentation from Mike Wyatt of a piece he has written and photographed to introduce the reason for the Planning Group which will be on show over the Festival weekend.  We hope to have it running in the school.  There will also be a computer available (with help) so that you can see the website.  Don't forget to go and have a look for yourself.

The website is still going well but of course we are still anxious that those of you with computers still need to REGISTER with the site.  It is painless and simple - if I can do it, anyone can.

Community Planning Group Resumes

Peter Wade-Martins

Peter Wade-MartinsDr Peter Wade-Martins is a North Elmham parish councillor and chairman of the group.
He has spent his working life concerned with the archaeology of Norfolk, and is currently Director of the Norfolk Archaeological Trust.
In his spare time he also runs a small flock of sheep.












Meg White

Meg WhiteThe Deputy Editor of Elmham News, can usually be found with large note book around the village

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sue Ball

Sue Ball

Sue's early career was with a bank, before she moved into charity administration which is far more fulfilling!  Sue has worked for charities including The National Trust and, since 2004, Norwich Cathedral.  North Elmham became Sue's home in 2006 and she loves living here, having made many friends.  Sue hopes that the thriving community spirit in the village will continue for many years to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ivan Ball

Ivan Ball

For over 30 years Ivan's chosen career was with a high street bank, mainly developing new products and services.  He now helps to run a family-owned factory in Dereham employing two dozen crafts-people.  He was made exceedingly welcome on his arrival in North Elmham and hopes to repay some of that goodwill by playing a small part in community activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Mackim

Alan Mackim

 

 

Alan MacKim is the founding chairman of the Elmham Surgery's  Patient Participation Group. He also devotes a lot of time to promoting the well-being of older people (he's one himself and he's chairman of Age Concern Norfolk). Then there's  work on disability issues, particularly on removing the obstacles that prevent people, whatever their impairment, from getting around. He's a past chairman of the Dereham and District Access group and is still an active member. He's also  a founding trustee of the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People. His leisure is devoted to self-indulgence and survival."

 

 

 

 

 

Martin Phillips

Martin Phillips

Theresa and I have lived in the Village for 40 years, bringing up our 2 children who attended the local school, and various village clubs and organisations.  I am a Company Director running a Management Consultancy Company from our home in Elmham.












Peter Smith

 

Peter Smith

Following a career in advertising & marketing- including the last 10 years working in the developing markets of Eastern Europe & Middle East, Peter decided that it was time to return to his Norfolk Roots. He works for the Norfolk RCC a charity that helps rural communities be stronger and more sustainable. His role there is mainly working on community consultation and community enterprise (shops, post offices, pubs, local food etc all things that make up the hub of villages)

He is working with the steering group providing support from the experiences from the thousands of community plans that have been previously prepared across the country.

His loves are his family and most sports inc marrow dangling, passing the splod, Portuguese sardine racing, conger cuddling, rhubarb thrashing, and dwile flonking.

His hates are bureaucracy, narrow minded box tickers and disproportionate admin costs that reduce effectiveness.

 

 

Community Planning Group September

The August meeting opened with the good news that there had been a great deal of interest in the website from the Festival and new users had been registered. The computer in school providing access to the village website northelmhamvillage.org.uk had been used by 83 visitors.

We were very pleased that the presentation in the school during the Festival had worked well and many people had sat down to watch. We would be happy to use this presentation when we visit organisations to give them a taste of what the Plan is all about.

We have to thank Mike Wyatt for all his hard work in creating the excellent presentation.

At the last Parish Council, a Councillor had asked how many people had responded to the letter sent out in Elmham News asking for comments and ideas about a Parish Plan.  There had not been many, in fact only 9 out of a possible 600+ had answered.  Obviously a long discussion followed and the following emerged:

The letter was only a preliminary exercise to sound people out and it did require some thought which may have put people off.  The actual questionnaire will be much easier to complete as it will have options to choose from.  The main point was that people had been consulted and given the opportunity to contribute.  If they chose not to do so then that is fine.  However, some issues have come to light which we would not have been aware of.

Finally, a further grant of £500 has been received from Grass Roots, so we are on target with raising our own funds to pay for the questionnaire.

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