MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE RECREATION
AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2020 AT 9.55 P.M. FOLLOWING THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL VIA ZOOM USING THIS LINK:- https://zoom.us/j/92884896522?pwd=WngrMjdMTVhwZkhVTmJ2aks2QUV3Zz09
Meeting ID:- 928 8489 6522 Password:-231644
Present:- Cllr Carter (Chair), Cllr Bagge, Cllr Cox, Cllr Crocker, Cllr Egleton, Cllr Fox & Cllr Lynch
In Attendance:- Mrs. J Simmonds (Clerk)
Also present:- One member of public.
MINUTES
015/RE/20 Items by Members of Public Present first 15 Minutes.
The meeting is open to the public and press and the first 15 minutes will be reserved, if required, for public comment.
None
016/RE/20 Apologies for absence.
None
017/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
018/RE/20 Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the R&E Committee held on 6 July 2020 which will be signed by the Chairman.
019/RE/20 Football Bells Hill
Update
NOTED games have re-started with social distancing measures in place and outside only. Pavilion toilets beingused only at present.
020RE/20 Nettleship Wood
NOTED no issues with tenant from Frank Solari field and other paddocks.
021/RE/20 Bells Hill and Plough Lane Recreation Grounds
Update and any decisions as required.
NOTED playgrounds remain open at present.
Request from resident to look at the outer footpath in the recreation ground which they claim is in poor repair and difficult for people to walk on particularly elderly. RESOLVED to agree for Cllr Carter and Clerk to take a look and if necessary get quotes and bring back to Full Council.
Request from resident to fence off a piece of equipment in Bells Hill because toddlers can easily stray into its path. RESOLVED to agree all in favour that the Playbuilder Scheme grant was given for the equipment on the provision that the equipment was not fenced off and was left open, this was to encourage children to learn to play safely, AGREED that it would not be fenced off in any way.
Request from resident to have further work done on trees at the rear of their property even though we had them cut back this year. RESOLVED to agree for Cllr Carter and Clerk to take a look and if necessary get quotes and bring back to Full Council.
Request from contractor to cut hedge at rear of properties along Bells Hill down to about 3’ in height. Reason being that the hedge flail catches their fences and shrubs which is unavoidable. If cut down they can be cut by hand each year, this is part of the yearly contract. Cllr Crocker proposed to accept quote and go ahead, seconded by Cllr Cox, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
Quotation circulated to cut back Willow Trees from PC part of the pond which are overhanging the recreation ground. Cllr Carter proposed to accept quotation, this was seconded by Cllr Lynch, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
DISCUSSED & DECICED to get quotes to replace the fencing around the toddler play areas in both recreation grounds and bring back to November meeting to agree to add an amount into the budgets for 2021/22.
Quote circulated for two different benches to be placed in the Plough Lane recreation ground. Clerk was given a budget of £500 to spend. Both benches including installation considerably more. Cllr Bagge proposed to agree to spend £1300 to replace both benches in the recs as quoted for the first option, this was seconded by Cllr Carter RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
022/RE/20 Pavilion
Update and any decisions as required.
NOTED Pavilion has been made Covid-19 secure by Clerk providing everyone adheres to the rules and regulations. NOTED Uniformed groups are to return imminently.
NOTED Football team are using toilets only for the time being.
023/RE/20 Allotments
Cllr Cox reported that there were no major issued on allotments.
NOTED information received from Allotment Association following a meeting that they held.
NOTED letter received from plot holder.
Allotment Agreement:
CLARIFIED and AGREED all in favour that the agreement and rules regarding the locking of the gate at all time stand and must be adhered to!
Clause 14 – CLARIFIED and DECIDED that amendments are required to this clause regarding acceptable structures such as polytunnels and fruit cages. AGREED that Sheds, Greenhouse, Polytunnels and Walk in Structures must all be classed as the same and be 6’ 4” and one per half plot agreed by the clerk. Temporary netted structures which get removed are ok. Clerk and Cllr Cox to re-word and bring back for agreement.
Clause 18 – CLARIFIED and DECIDED that amendments are required to this clause regarding acceptable fencing around plots. Clerk and Cllr Cox to re-word and bring back for agreement.
Clause 23 – CLARIFIED and DECIDED that amendments are required to this clause regarding children. Clerk and Cllr Cox to re-word and bring back for agreement
To look at report given to Full Council on 12 October 2020 and to consider any of the suggestions that they had agreed for R & E to take forward. AGREED to go away and discuss with the Allotment Association and see if they can contribute or help with regards to additional costs that might be incurred for training and open days etc.
RESOLVED to AGREE all in favour to add a clause that Councillors and the Clerk cannot be harassed by allotment holders and that notice can be given. Clerk and Cllr Cox to word and bring back for agreement.
Cllr Egleton proposed to accept the quotation circulated to clear area of land where the plots are no longer used and to rotavate it and grass seed it for ongoing maintenance, this was seconded by Cllr Cox, RESOLVED to agree all in favour. Cllr Cox and Clerk to liaise with allotment holder who has offered to supply and install an area for an incinerator which cannot be on these piece of land.
024/RE/20 MUGA
NOTED that work has now been able to take place on noise issues and anti-climb razor barb has been installed with warning signage all around to satisfy insurers.
025/RE/20 Bells Hill Green
No update on Friends of Bells Hill working party due to Covid-19.
Cllr Carter proposed to accept the quote to have the statue re-lacquered, this was seconded by Cllr Cox,
RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
026/RE/20 – Cllr Crocker proposed that price increases for the following should be frozen for next year 2021/2022, this was seconded by Cllr Egleton, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
Football Teams
Paddocks
Pavilion Uniformed Groups
Allotments
Cllr Crocker proposed that half plots should be increased by £1.00 and whole plots by £2.00 for 2021, this was seconded by Cllr Bagge, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
Tennis Club
Cllr Crocker proposed that the club should be increased by £20.00 per year for 2021/2022, this was seconded by Cllr cox, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
027/RE/20 – Cllr Carter proposed that payment increases for the following for 2021/2022 should increase by 3%, this was seconded by Cllr Egleton, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
Playground Inspections/Litter Picking
Pavilion Management
028/PC/20 – Santa Sleigh
REOSLVED to agree to ask a couple of residents to look at the sleigh and decide an amount required to put into the budgets for 21/22 for repairing the Santa Sleigh and bring back to November meeting for budgets. It was agreed that a couple of scaffold boards and breeze blocks would suffice as a ramp to the container, Cllr Carter to ask a local builder if he could donate the items.
029/PC/20 Finance Budgets 21/22
NOTED and AGREED that budgets and any additions for 21/22 to be decided at the Finance and General Purposes meeting in November.
030/RE/20 NOTED Date of next meeting: –
8 February 2021
Meeting ended at 11.10pm.