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Present: Mike Oldfield (Chairman)
Roy Payne (Vice Chair)
Mark Sheard
Les Raven
Claire Lawrence
Trevor Carter
Chris Mitchell
John Relph (Clerk)
Two members of the public.
Before the meeting: Tim Angell of the Litcham Common Management Committee (LCMC) reported on the latest developments regarding the introduction of grazing cattle on Litcham Common. The installation of Cattle Grids has been ruled out by N.C.C. Transport Department so the LCMC has decided to apply for permission to fence parts of the common. At present they envisage that there will be three areas, one on the west side of the road and two on the east.
The Committee is aware that the solution is not idea; however they will attempt to minimize the visual impact of the fencing. Gates will be provided so there is no loss of public access and the fencing will be hidden where possible in trees or scrub. It is unlikely that barbed wire will be used.
The plans will be subject to a full consultation process with the Parish Council, and villagers in general, invited to put forward their views. However, LCMC would welcome any comments from the Council (for example on the positioning & type of access points) as soon as possible, so that full account can be taken of these before the plans are submitted for formal approval.

The Council Meeting opened at 7.43 p.m.
1) Apologies and reasons for absence. None.
2) Declarations of Interest by Councilors: None received.
3) Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 20th February 2006 were agreed and signed.
4) Reports:
Long Meadow: A more up to date contract for the lease of Long Meadow was approved.
Graveyard Maintenance: The contract with N.C.S. has been renewed at a cost of £1285.45 p.a., a rise of 3.8% on last year.
Village Appraisal: The N.R.C.C. were unable to grant all of the £786 applied for so it has been agreed that they will provide half (£393) and Breckland will provide the rest.
McAlpine rebate: Last years overpayment to McAlpine Ltd continues to be outstanding.
Dog Fouling: These signs have finally appeared but the Council agreed that they were a lot smaller than they had expected, and at the top of some of the poles were unreadable.
Use of School Tennis Courts: The 'Litcham Parish Tennis Club' will start after the Whitsun School holiday on a Tuesday evening between 5pm and 7pm. Charges will be £1 an hour for adults and 50p children.
Bowls Equipment - Clerk has contacted the Norfolk Carpet Bowl Association and they are confident that they can find a home for the disused Litcham set. They will contact us after their next committee meeting which should be at the beginning of April.
Police Phone. There are plans to install a 24 hr Police Phone outside the P.O. which will have an illuminated sign. This is part of a scheme to allow Post Offices to take on Police work such as reporting crime and lost property etc. It has been piloted at eight Norfolk Post Offices since last September. You will also be able talk to and ask advice from a Police Officer.
Annual Parish Meeting: Invitations to twenty Village organisations have been sent.
5) Gate at Rear of Graveyard: Mike Oldfield and Claire Lawrence reported on their meeting earlier in the evening with the P.C.C. regarding the installation of a kissing gate at the Druids Lane end of the Graveyard. The P.C.C. was against the idea and said it contravened the restrictions laid down by Breckland in the original Planning Permission. The Clerk will approach Breckland to confirm that this is the case.
6) Road Safety, Back Lane: Council agreed to postpone discussions on this subject until after they has spoken with the new Headmaster of Litcham High School (Mr. Jeremy Nicolls) who is due to attend the Annual Parish Meeting on the 24th April.
7) Update Heritage Map: Council agreed that the two Heritage Maps put up in 1988 needed updating. The Clerk will get in touch with Breckland Heritage Officer regarding the matter.
8) Trees in the Conservation Area. Mark Sheard explained to the Council that he had become aware that pruning any tree within the Conservation Area needed permission from Breckland. There have been cases recently where work has been done on trees without first consulting Breckland, both the owner of the tree and the contractor can end up being fined in such cases.
9) Planning :
i) Application BT/2006/0001/BTM, erection of a 10 metre microwave mast at the Primary School (discussed in detail at the last meeting), was approved.
ii) Application 3PL/2006/0281/F, rear extension at The Haven, Butt Lane, was approved.
10) Financial Business:
i) Financial reconciliation for March was checked against current bank statements and signed.
Payments were made:
ii) by cheque no.466; £82.25 to T.T. Jones for streetlight maintenance (4th Quarter)
iii) by cheque no.467; a total of £69 to Litcham Jubilee Hall; £39 for the hire of the hall for meetings and a £30 donation towards the cost of maintaining a light in the bus shelter.
iv) by cheque no.471; £15 to NRCC, yearly subscription for 2006-7.
v) the Council examined the accounts of the "Church and Village" and noted that currently the organisation is in profit and so declined to make a donation at the present time.
vi) to the Clerk by cheque no.468; Salary Dec-Feb £701.04 plus £79.21 administrative costs.
vii) to the Clerk by cheque no.470; £180.86 for purchase of photocopier.
11) The following Correspondence was noted:
iii) Letter of thanks and drawing from 'Groovy Movers'. The Council asked the clerk to forward a further letter concerning the recent vandalisation of the murals in the bus shelter and containing names of the alleged culprits to Breckland's Anti-social behaviour officer for action.
iv) Letters of thanks from Litcham Youth Club and Tittleshall Bowls Club
v) NCAPTC - training schedule. Two places on an Initial Training course will be booked for Trevor Carter and Chris Mitchell at a cost of £30 each.
vi) N.C.C. Local Bus Services review - tendering is under way for the renewal of contracts in July-September.
12) Items for the next agenda. None proposed.
13) The date of Annual Parish Meeting was confirmed as Monday 24th April 2006. The date for the Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council is Monday 15th May 2006 and the next Ordinary meeting of the Parish Council will take place on the 19th June. All meetings will take place in the Jubilee Hall, Church Street, Litcham starting at 7.30pm .
Meeting closed at 21.18pm