Minutes Town Council Parks Committee - Monday 17 January 2011
Minutes Town Council Parks Committee - Monday 17 January 2011
Monday, 18 April 2011 16:44
Minutes of a Meeting of the Okehampton Town Council Parks Committee held on Monday 17 January 2011 in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Okehampton at 7.00 pm
Committee Members Present:
Councillor Mrs C Marsh (Chair)
Councillor K Ball
Councillor Dr M Ireland
Councillor D Weekes
Councillor M Morse (Town Mayor)
Councillor Mrs K Bickley (Chair, Planning)
Councillor Mrs M McDonald (Chair, P & R)
Councillor A Leech (Chair, Property)
Other Members Present:
In Attendance: D Bent (Town Clerk)
444. Apologies for Absence - Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of Councillors C Letchford and Mrs D Smith.
445. Vice Chairman - On the proposition of Councillor Leech, seconded by Councillor Mrs McDonald, it was resolved Councillor D Weekes be appointed Vice Chair to this Committee.
446. Deferment of Business (for comment by the public) - Mr R Flexman complimented Okehampton on its walks which were spoilt by dog mess across the town. He referred to correspondence to the Committee and a request for the placement of a bin at the confluence of Ball Hill and Simmons Park, further questioned clean-up exercise in the Ball Hill area and the delay in re-siting a bin in Ball Hill Lane. Members noted the request, offered reasons for non-placement including collection of waste through access, health and safety, but further acknowledged difficulties in training the public to use this facility. The Chair confirmed the bin in Ball Hill Lane would be re-sited shortly and identified the location of ten/twelve dog waste bins in Okehampton town and suggested additional bins may not solve the problem. The meeting concluded that enforcement as a civil issue with due publicity or a campaign to educate the public would address this problem and it was agreed to agenda it on the WDBC/OTC liaison meeting for further discussion. Mr Flexman was thanked for his enquiry.
447. Members’ Questions - Councillor Leech questioned the progress on the land by the skate park; the Chair advised this transfer had been concluded with part of the land transferred to the Guides with work on the Guides’ hut delayed due to personal reasons of the leaders. The Chair commented the skaters and bikers using the facility were currently preparing a scheme for improvement and were due to submit claims for match funding to progress the same.
448. Minutes - The minutes of the Parks Committee meeting held on 13 December and the special meeting held on 6 December 2010 were approved and signed by the Chairman on the proposition of Councillor A Leech, seconded by Councillor M Ireland.
449. Matters Arising -
449.1 Playbuilder Scheme Simmons Park - The Clerk advised submissions for play equipment had been received from five companies which had been examined and assessed against criteria established on previous research. He commented a contract had been awarded to Record RSS Play Equipment for five/six pieces of equipment in the sum of £28,500, which works would be completed by 20 March 2011; noted.
449.2 Simmons Memorial - Members were informed of discussions with the Diocese of Exeter regarding the restoration of Sydney Simmons and Sophia Simmons’ memorial headstones. Councillor Leech referred to works undertaken, the delicacy and anxiety over effecting works on Sophia Simmons’ memorial due to its condition, with options for the replacement of a headstone and faculties required for this work. To expedite matters a representative of the Exeter Church was prepared to visit the site, assess the problem and determine a way forward; Committee endorsed this action. The Clerk to research costs for a new headstone.
449.3 Simmons Park Five Year Performance Plan - The Clerk advised he had met representatives of the Rotary Club and discussed the replacement of the Rotary Shelter with a structure of some type. Councillor Mrs Bickley, as a member of that Club, explained they would be pleased to see a replacement and asked the Council for ideas for shelter or seating and they would contribute towards costs. The Chair acknowledged and invited Members to reconsider options at a subsequent meeting whilst acknowledging Heritage status of the park.
449.4 Dog Bin Provision - The Chairman presented a plan identifying the location of dog bins across Okehampton, referred to the above conversation with Mr Flexman and agreed to submit this information at the liaison meeting when discussing the problem of dog mess in Okehampton.
NB The Hamlets to be informed of the Council’s action on this problem.
449.5 OCRA Land Development - Construction of Pavilion - A letter from Solicitors (Peter, Peter and Wright) explained the Council’s position regarding the lease, the County could surrender the land back to the Town Council who could then transfer the same land to OCRA. Alternatively, OCRA could liaise directly with the Devon County as an underletting to OCRA; a proposal was awaited from OCRA via the County’s Solicitor.
449.6 Simmons Park Brochures - The Chair explained the Council had proposed to create a joint brochure promoting the civic facilities and Simmons Park. She said the Property Committee were pursuing a document advertising the Council’s facilities and she suggested a meeting be called to assess photographs with a view to creating a brochure promoting Simmons Park; agreed with the following Members appointed to a working party - Councillors Mrs Marsh, Ball, Weekes.
450. Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge - The Clerk referred to this proposal as a project to receive official endorsement from the Queen to protect 2012 recreational fields throughout the UK and to earn the title, ‘Queen Elizabeth II Fields’, with the programme marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics. The Clerk confirmed the Council qualified for inclusion in this project and he sought endorsement to submit an application. On the proposition of the Chairman it was resolved accordingly.
451. WDBC The Big Tree Plant - Members were informed of a Defra project launched in December 2010 to promote a nationwide tree planting campaign together with a request from the Borough suggesting this community apply for funding towards the project. Members acknowledged a number of sites which would benefit from the planting of trees, including Simmons Park, skate park, Old Town, Okehampton Primary School, possibly Okehampton College and on the proposition of the Chairman it was agreed the Clerk research and pursue this campaign if applicable.
452. Car Parking - Councillor Leech had considered proposing car parking be free in Simmons Park car park, but in view of the situation relating to on-street pay and display machines for the town and integration into the Okehampton traffic management plan, he withdrew the suggestion. Members acknowledged income received from car parking in Simmons Park, a fixed precept and noted the position.
453. Complaints - Councillor Ireland referred to a complaint from Councillor P Vachon relating to a small fire in the shelter.
454. Members’ Reports - There were no reports from Members attending other organisations on behalf of the Council
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 K Bickley, seconded by Councillor M Morse, 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 9 - Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.
455. Clapps Wood Okehampton
456. Simmons Park Railings and Footbridge
457. CCTV
It was resolved to come out of part 2 on the proposition of Councillor M Morse, seconded by Councillor K Ball, move back into part 1 and ratify all decisions taken in part 2.
Meeting closed 8.35 pm.
______________________
Councillor Mrs C Marsh
Chairman