001 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None as all members were present.

002 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

003 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

It was unanimously resolved to elect Councillor Anderson as Chair of the Committee.

004 IDENTIFICATION AND AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE LAND

Members were reminded that the Parish Council had earlier resolved under the Small Holdings & Allotments Act 1908 s 23 that an unsatisfied demand for allotment gardens existed and that it would pursue the identification and availability of suitable land within the parish.

The clerk reported that the land held in the Hall Meadow Estate Charity had originally been used as allotment plots for certain unpaid post-holders of the parish in the 19^th Century. Councillors, as members of the Parish Council as a body corporate, are the sole Trustees of this Charity. The land, located towards the northern end of Hall Meadow Road, is currently leased for agricultural purposes.

Having made enquiries with the Charity Commissioners, the Parochial Church Council who own part of the land and the tenant, the clerk reported that all parties were content to see the change of use of land to allotment gardens, subject to the current level of rental income continuing to be secured on behalf of the Charity and the tenant being given first refusal for the land should the scheme fail. The Charity Commissioners also confirmed that it would be acceptable for the Trustees of the Charity to apply the income of the Charity to maintaining the land as allotment gardens, should the Trustees so wish.

Members unanimously agreed to recommend the Parish Council to resolve that under the provisions of the Small Holdings & Allotments Act 1908 the land be confirmed as suitable for the provision of allotment gardens for the benefit of the residents of Deeping St James, subject to the annual income derived from such allotment gardens mirroring that currently received and the current tenant being given first refusal to lease the land for agricultural purposes should the scheme at any time fail.

005 PROGRESSING THE PROVISION OF ALLOTMENT GARDENS

It was noted that a considerable amount of work and expense would be incurred in the preparation of the land. In order to ensure that there would be sufficient interest for allotment gardens at this location, it was unanimously agreed to recommend that the clerk writes to all those who had previously shown an interest to gauge the extent of uptake and likewise place a second article in the next edition of the newsletter before any further action is taken.

006 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To be advised in due course.

The meeting closed at 7.55pm.