MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE RECREATION
AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON MONDAY 6 JULY 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 8.30 P.M. FOLLOWING THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL VIA ZOOM USING THIS LINK:- https://zoom.us/j/99529220733?pwd=a0U1dU1Bd2FjUkpRMm1DaEhzcVlXQT09
Meeting ID:-995 2922 0733 Password:-469761
Present:- Cllr Carter (Chair), Cllr Bagge, Cllr Cox, Cllr Crocker, Cllr Fox & Cllr Lynch
In Attendance:- Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)
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MINUTES
001/RE/20 Items by Members of Public Present 7.30pm-7.45pm
The meeting is open to the public and press and the first 15 minutes will be reserved, if
required, for public comment.
None
002/RE/20 Apologies for absence.
None
003/RE/20 Declarations of interest
Members to declare any personal interest in any item of business as defined in the Code of Conduct 2012. If that interest is a prejudicial interest as defined in the Code; the Member should withdraw from the meeting for that item.
None
004/RE/20 Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the R&E Committee held on 10 February 2020 which will be signed by the Chairman.
005/RE/20 Football Bells Hill
NOTED training has re-started with social distancing measures in place and outside only.
006/RE/20 Nettleship Wood
Update from Clerk and Cllr Carter that Frank Solari field looks amazing and tenancy is working well along with the tenant of the other paddocks.
007/RE/20 Bells Hill and Plough Lane Recreation Grounds
Cllrs are concerned that powered vehicles such as scooters are being used on the jogging/walking trail in the Bells Hill Recreation Ground and how dangerous this is. RESOLVED to agree to put up signage on the entrances to the ground stating, ‘No powered vehicles are allowed on the path’.
Clerk approached by a commercial company to use the recreation ground for a child’s exercise class on a Sunday morning as they are unable to use the Village Centre due to Covid-19. Cllr Bagge proposed that they are able to use the space and park in the recreation ground and that they give a refundable deposit for the key to the gate, and pay a donation to the Parish Council for use of the space at the same rate they would pay the Village Centre, this was seconded by Cllr Crocker, RESOLVED to agree, 5-1.
RESOLVED to agree to the request to replace the one rotten bench in Plough Lane with a metal one similar to others in the village, up to £500 from the maintenance budget. AGREED to looking at more benches in Plough Lane Recreation Ground and if the need to add a budget line for next year at the budget setting meeting in October 2020.
NOTED Playground inspections have taken place and a couple of items need work or replacing. Cllr Bagge proposed that the clerk can spend up to £5000 from the general fund to replace the items under health and safety, this was seconded by Cllr Carter, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
NOTED that the playgrounds were opened on 4 July with strict rules in place, signage is in place.
008/RE/20 Pavilion
NOTED that the building is closed at present, and the shutters and doors are being varnished. NOTED that kids were found on the roof of the building during lockdown and the police were called.
009/RE/20 Allotments
Cllr Cox updated the committee on allotments. During lockdown Cllr Cox did not do inspections of the allotments because he felt that holders might be shielding and it would be unfair to make them upkeep their plot during that time.
Inspection took place once lockdown was lifted. One plot was found to have an enclosed fence which is against the allotment agreement rules. The Clerk has asked the holder to remove the enclosed part and leave it open.
Cllr Cox had been approached by holders with regards fruit cages and poly tunnels as the agreement is unclear about these structures. It was agreed by all that they are classed as a structure along with poly tunnels and any other structure so it was RESOLVED to update the agreement from January 2021 to state that one structure of 6’x4’ is allowed per plot (or half plot whichever is rented) and that means, shed, greenhouse, fruit cage, poly-tunnel or any other structure. It must be one per plot only. Clerk to email and write to all holders pointing out that the agreement will be changed at renewal time in January 2021 and paying their renewal means they agree to the updated agreement. It was also agreed that the clerk should point out other clauses such as running businesses from the site and that includes bringing children onto site who are child minded. This is not covered by our insurance, and is a health and safety risk and cannot be allowed to set a precedent, only supervised family members of the plot holders.
010/RE/20 MUGA
NOTED that no work has been able to take place on noise issues and anti-climb rollers due to the Covid-19 lockdown, contractors will be on site as soon as they are able.
NOTED that the MUGA was unlocked on 4 July with volunteers helping locking and unlocking again.
011/RE/20 Bells Hill Green
No Update on Friends of Bells Hill working party because of lockdown. It was agreed that a contractor should be
found to do the weeding and planting of the Green now as it is becoming more difficult and asking too much of volunteers.
012/RE/20 Christmas Lights Ceremony/Bells Hill Green
It was agreed to go ahead and put the necessary paperwork in place for the event on Saturday 28 November 2020 and bring back to the September 2020 meeting for more decisions on what can and cannot go ahead.
013/RE/20 Litter Picking Event
NOTED litter picking dates are:-
Saturday 11 July 2020 10am-12 noon
Wednesday 9 September 2020 6pm-8pm
014/RE/20 NOTED Date of next meeting:-
12 October 2020
Meeting ended at 9.42pm
Signed/Chairman Dated
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