Minutes of Wortham & Burgate Parish Council Commons Committee meeting, held in Wortham Pavilion on Wednesday 24th May 2023 at 7:00pm.
- Councillors present
- Chris Williams, Richard Thornton, Jenny Piper, Nick Castle, Jacky Bradley and Chris Grocott
- In attendance
- Jane Challis (Clerk)
- To appoint a Chair of the Commons Committee 2023/24– Cllr Bradley proposed Cllr Williams be appointed Chair of the Commons Committee, seconded by Cllr Piper, and approved unanimously, with one abstention (Cllr Williams).
- Chair’s welcome and to consider accepting apologies for absence - None received.
7:05pm Cllr Grocott arrived. - To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed – None.
- To consider any dispensations from members in any item to be discussed – None.
- Adjourn the meeting to allow public participation – 7:06pm - no participation.
- Re-convene the meeting - 7.07pm
- To receive the Clerk’s report and any outstanding items/actions – nothing to report.
- To consider and discuss grazing/management of the common
Cllr Bradley confirmed that the Stewardship scheme, which runs until 2024, requires the common to be either grazed or topped. With there being no requests for grazing, councillors discussed management via topping, agreeing that two cuts annually are required, which if carried out should mean that after two years it will be good enough to be used for hay. Cllr Grocott commented that a working party would need to be organised to cut round the edges missed by the topper. After further discussion, it was agreed unanimously for Cllr Thornton to obtain quotations for a contractor to conduct two annual cuts, the first of which cannot be carried out prior to 1st July 2023. Cllr Grocott will confirm the total acreage requiring topping.
- To consider, discuss and agree to Capital Works
After discussing, it was agreed to conduct an assessment of the common in order to create a list of works required. Committee members arranged to meet on Thursday 22nd June 2023, outside the pavilion at 7pm.
- To receive items from councillors - None
- To discuss any correspondence received - None
- To receive items for the next agenda – Capital Works and topping quotations.
- Date and time of next meeting – To be confirmed, but will be the beginning of July in order for the first cut of the common to be carried out as soon possible thereafter.
- Meeting Close - 7.43pm
2023/CC/1…………………………………………………....……………………………………………….
Chair, Wortham & Burgate Parish Council