Minutes Town Council Parks Committee - Monday 22 February 2010
Committee Members Present:
Councillor A Raymond (Chair)
Councillor Mrs C Marsh (Vice Chair)
Councillor Mrs K Bickley
Councillor Ms T Edwards
Councillor M Ireland
Councillor C Letchford
Councillor D Weekes (Town Mayor)
Councillor Mrs M McDonald (Chair, Planning)
Councillor A Leech (Chair, Property)
Other Members Present:
Councillor Mrs D Smith
In Attendance:
D Bent (Town Clerk)
S Lord (OCRA)
538. Apologies for Absence - Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of Councillors C Hodgson and P Stunèll.
539. Deferment of Business (for comment by the public) - There were no members of the public present.
540. Members’ Questions - Councillor Letchford referred to the pothole in Simmons Park car park and questioned repairs. The Clerk advised an order had been placed with South West Highways through DCC and he had pursued it, but would deal with it immediately.
Councillor Mrs Marsh referred to the wall adjacent to the cricket field and questioned repairs; agreed a chaser letter be forwarded.
Cricket pitch/putting green hedge, it was agreed a letter be despatched to the College.
541. Minutes - The minutes of the Parks Committee meeting held on 25 January 2010 were approved and signed by the Chairman on the proposition of Councillor Mrs C Marsh, seconded by Councillor Ms T Edwards.
542. Matters Arising -
542.1 Play Builder Scheme Simmons Park - S Lord (OCRA) attended the meeting and referred to this project previously endorsed by the Council and reported a provisional grant offer of £30,000 from government central office administered by County representatives. He explained he, with the Clerk, had attended an intense interview where the scheme was examined in detail with emphasis on community consultation, further research, advices and assistance on the project development together with site identification, design layout and design brief requirements; the whole project contained in a management structure with due documentation for the project process.
Mr Lord advised of the following content of the project - willow sculpture, rock climbing format, inclusive swing (including for use by disabled), play equipment with emphasis on gymnastics, multi-use swing with all equipment targeted for older children and girls. He suggested the introduction of a beach space to accommodate volleyball, football with a large sand area and concluded these options were subject to further consultation with an initial event held at the College in early March. He questioned precise location in the park for the equipment, acknowledged the Council’s proposals to install rock climbing structures and suggested a meeting be held to assess the impact in the park.
Members did not support the beach area and concluded this would become a dog toilet, suggested the willow sculptures be located in Pig Meadow at the rear of the park, examined a number of alternative areas for the creation and delivery of new play areas whilst acknowledging minimum available space remaining and on the proposition of the Chair, it was resolved that a working party meeting be held on 4 March 2010 at 2.00 pm comprising the following Members: Councillors Mrs Marsh, Ms Edwards, Mrs Smith, D Weekes.
542.2 Clapps Wood - A letter from the Borough advised that authority would be interested in transferring this parcel of land to the Town Council and subject to the authority’s asset management group a decision would be determined, no response had been received to date; noted.
542.3 Kempley Meadows Play Equipment - A letter from the Hamlets Parish Council advised of no available funds during the current year, but sought a request in the financial year 2010/11 for a contribution; noted.
542.4 WDBC - Market Street Site -
(i) Correspondence from the Land Registry confirmed ownership of this site with the Borough Council. The Clerk referenced a conversation with the Manager of Somerfield who believed that company, with the Borough, were to construct a new wall with shared costs, suitably decorated but no knowledge of repairs to the fence. In view of the confusion it was agreed this be discussed at the liaison meeting on 1st March.
(ii) Market Street Plaque - Councillor Marsh was invited to produce a form of words for a plaque to be located at this site. The following was agreed, with the Clerk to pursue the cost of a plaque.
‘The market house and weighbridge once stood on this site. When they were demolished in 2000, this stone was placed as a reminder.’
542.5 Old Oak Tree Station Road, Simmons Park - Following concerns over an oak tree adjacent to 109 Station Road, a report was sought from M Woolley on the condition of this specimen. The report recommended the tree be reduced to a height of 8 or 10 metres or close to the height of the existing lower stems. Members acknowledged the tree was presently unsightly and on the proposition of the Chairman, seconded by Councillor Mrs Marsh, it was resolved it be removed and replaced with 5 new young trees. Councillor Leech wished his vote be recorded against this decision, the decision to be subject to discussion with the Borough Conservation Officer on the status of the specimen. Councillor Weekes abstained from voting.
543. Sydney Simmons’ Grave, All Saints Churchyard - Councillor Letchford questioned the timescale involved in renovating Simmons’ grave with the omission of minutes reporting the position. Councillor Leech advised permission had been awaited from the Archdeacon, he had mentioned it in Members’ reports, however a double application had to be made through the diocese for work previously carried out to the surround and work to the headstone. He expressed disappointment at not receiving permission in autumn 2009 to effect works which would be carried out in the spring of 2010, subject to permission, however if the face were to fall from the headstone and a new headstone required, the same permission process would be necessary and difficult to achieve in a very sensitive conservation area. Members shared the frustration and on the proposition of Councillor Letchford, seconded by Councillor Ireland, it was resolved that the current budget provision of £500 be earmarked to the following financial year for repair costs.
544. Simmons Park -
544.1 Proposed Parking Order - Okehampton Town Council (Civil Enforcement Off-Street Parking Places) Consolidation Order 2008 - Variation Order No 1 of 2010 - Members noted receipt of a draft order to regularise parking arrangements in the car park adjacent to the school and the access road to Parklands Leisure Centre. The Chairman confirmed that users of this car park would have permits issued by the College or would have to buy parking tickets.
544.2 Simmons Park Five-Year Performance Plan - The Chair presented a draft of a suggested plan prepared by D Bent/D Whitfield and invited comment. Members questioned the structure of the document, acknowledged maintenance schedule, seasonal work, but questioned where the authority was going with the future of the park and acknowledged the Clerk’s comment on public consultation. The Mayor challenged the proposal to demolish the hut donated by the Rotary Club and suggested that club be invited to assess and repair this structure. It was also suggested that other funding partners be involved in any five-year development plan eg Okehampton United Charity, Rotary Club, Round Table, Lions etc. On the proposition of the Chairman it was resolved that the following Members form a working party to develop a five-year plan for the park: Councillors Weekes, Ms Edwards, Mrs Bickley, Mrs Marsh, Leech.
544.3 Complaints - There were no complaints from members of the public relating to the park since the date of the last meeting.
545. Members’ Reports -
Tennis Court Management Committee - the notes of a meeting held on 2 February 2010 were circulated. Arising therefrom was a loose agreement of the Management Committee to pursue a monthly report with quarterly payments on fees and charges received from Parklands. This was deemed weak with reference to the formal agreement that any alteration had to be signed by all parties and attached to the original documentation if change were required; the Clerk to pursue.
546. Continental Market - The Clerk advised that O Simonin requested permission to promote a continental market in Simmons Park car park on Sunday 25 April 2010. The Clerk advised that permission had been granted for last year, but the market failed to attend; agreed that permission be granted.
PART TWO
ITEMS WHICH MAY BE TAKEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC ON THE GROUND THAT EXEMPT INFORMATION MAY BE DISCLOSED (if any).
The Committee is recommended to pass the following resolution:-
“On the proposition of Councillor Mrs M McDonald, seconded by Councillor A Leech, it was resolved that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the Meeting for the undermentioned item of business on the grounds that exempt information may be disclosed as defined in the paragraph given below from Part I of Schedule 12(A) to the Act"
Paragraph 8 - The amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.
547. Kempley Meadows Play Equipment
548. CCTV Okehampton Town Centre
549. R Oughton Arrears Lower Market Hall
550. Finance Officer
It was resolved to come out of part 2 on the proposition of Councillor Ms T Edwards, seconded by Councillor M Ireland, move back into part 1 and ratify all decisions taken in part 2.
Meeting closed 8.45 pm.