MINUTES of an Extraordinary Meeting of the Parish Council Held in the Village Hall

LITTLE DOWNHAM PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES of a Extraordinary Meeting of Little Downham Parish Council held in the Village Hall, Main Street, Little Downham, on Wednesday, 25 April 2007 commencing at 7.00pm.

Councillors present: KI Norton, in the chair, and Mrs CM Frankland, Mrs CE Hall, Mrs ML MacCaulliffe, CE Heaps, RS Martin, R Pearl and AJ White.

In attendance: 5 Parishioners.

247/06 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Cllr Mrs P Golding

248/06 TO ADJOURN MEETING FOR PUBLIC FORUM 7.03pm Meeting adjourned – The Chairman commented on the Parish Council’s past year and end of term. 7.07pm Meeting reconvened.

249/06 MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 1. Cllr RS Martin declared an interest in item 250/06.1 because he is a Downham Society representative on the Village Hall Committee. 2. Cllr AJ White declared an interest in item 250/06.1 because he is a Cricket Club representative on the Village Hall Committee. 3. Cllr Mrs MacCaulliffe declared an interest in item 250/06.1 because she had volunteered manual assistance to the Girl Guides.

250/06 TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED Cllrs RS Martin, AJ White and Mrs MacCaulliffe refrained from taking part in the discussion and decision of the following application. 1. 07/00246/FUL Little Downham Guides Association, Little Downham Village Centre, Main Street, Lt Downham – To site container for storage of Guides camping equipment (6.4 x 2.4 x 2.4m) - The Parish Council had no concerns about the application. It was content for the final determination to rest with the planning services.

2. 07/00391/FUL Mr & Mrs Blythe, 6 Church Way, Lt Downham – New ground floor extension (demolish existing) - The Parish Council had no concerns about the application. It was content for the final determination to rest with the planning services.

3. 07/00325/FUL Busy Fingers Pre School, Main Street, Lt Downham – Extension to form two offices - The Parish Council had no concerns about the application. It was content for the final determination to rest with the planning services.

4. 07/00449/FUL Mrs C Hastings, 79 Main Street, Lt Downham – Two storey side extension - The Parish Council had no concerns about the application. It was content for the final determination to rest with the planning services.

251/06 PRESERVATION AREAS 1. Mill Hill Tree Plantation – Unauthorised dumping of ditch spoils (Min.240/06.1) – Mr Mott’s reply was read by the Chairman. Following a discussion on who might own the ditch, Common Land, the position of the trees and restricted access to adjacent fields, it was agreed to have a site visit at 10am on 03/05/07 to view the area. Cllrs Mrs CM Frankland, Mrs CE Hall, RS Martin, KI Norton and AJ White agreed to attend. Mr Mott was invited to attend and the Clerk was instructed to invite Mr Bye, who uses the land to the rear to gain access to his field.

7.52pm Two parishioners left

2. Community Orchard – grass clearance – The Conservation Group expressed concern that the cut grass lying on the field was a potential fire risk. Truelink Ltd had verbally quoted to flail the grass into small bits @ £100.00 or flail, pick up and remove @ £200.00. It was resolved that Truelink Ltd be instructed to flail the Community Orchard at a cost of £100.00 + VAT. [1]

252/06 RISK ASSESSMENTS 1. Matters of high priority from Risk Assessments carried out 26/03/07 – There was only one high risk item – nails protruding in the cartshed. Cllr Norton volunteered to remove the nails.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 8.02pm.

Powers: [1] Open Spaces Act 1906 ss. 9 & 10 LD.mins Page 1 of 1 25/04/07 Little Downham Parish Council