Council Meeting, 24 October 2012

HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
All Councillors are summoned to an Extra Ordinary Meeting of Helmdon Parish Council to be held in the Reading Room, Church Street, Helmdon on Wednesday 24th October 2012 commencing at 7.30 pm.
Members of the public and Press are invited to attend and to participate in the Open Forum
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Declarations of Interest
3. Open Forum
4. To consider issues regarding the Jubilee Wood project
5. Councillors’ Questions
Signed _______________________
Dated________________________
Liz Hart, Parish Clerk
[address removed]

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HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
Draft Minutes of the Extra Ordinary meeting of Helmdon Parish Council held on
Wednesday 24th October 2012 in the Reading Room, Church Street, Helmdon at 7:30pm
Present:
Councillors Burns, Barnes, England, Moody, Garner, Adhemar, Simpson
Parish Clerk: Liz Hart
Tree Warden: Phillip Warden
Two members of the public were present.
Action
1
Apologies for Absence
Cllrs Duncombe and Coatsworth had given their apologies which wee accepted by the Parish
Council
2
Declarations of Interest
None.
3
Open Forum
Phillip Ward, Tree Warden gave an overview of the Woodland Trust Project to plant 6 million trees nationwide. Helmdon was scheduled to receive 400 trees for w/c 5/11/12 to be planted in land offered for the purpose by the Sparrows. He noted that Mr Sparrow was happy to host the event and have allow people to subsequently enjoy the land but that he is adverse to a formal agreement being made. He would however be happy to signify his intentions via written communications with the Parish Council. Outstanding issues to be clarified include Occupier’s
Liability, Public Liability and the issue of future disposal of the land. Phillip Ward indicated to the Parish Council that there may be various options to overcome these issues such as a covenant being put on the land or registering it as a Community Facility under the Localism
Act. However, at the current point in time, neither of these was feasible.
The proposed planting scheme had been modified to take into consideration the neighbours’
views. Phillip Ward indicated the location of the area to be planted on a map to the Councillors.
4
To consider issues regarding the Jubilee Wood project
Issues raised by the Parish Councils included the future position should the Sparrows wish to sell the land, how to secure ongoing access to the land for the general public (whilst noting that two footpaths already crossed it), the need to clarify insurance issues.
It was emphasised that the Sparrows had made a very kind offer to the village to allow the land to be used as a wood for public enjoyment but that the Parish Council must nevertheless consider any issues which needed to be addressed.
It was noted that although the trees themselves were free, the ongoing maintenance would fall to the Paths Group and ultimately to the Parish Council.
It was resolved that
Phillip Ward should approach the woodland Trust for their advice on the issues.
The Parish Clerk should approach the Parish Council’s insurers regarding liability and report back to the Parish Councillors.
Phillip Ward
Clerk
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Cllr Burns would check with the Land Registry whether the area ro be planted was separately registered.
A further meeting would be called if necessary.
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Councillor Questions
None.
The meeting closed at 8:34 pm
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Cllr Burns