DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the meeting of the FACILITIES COMMITTEE held on 1 February 2006

 

Present:  Councillors            F. J. Hawkins   (Chairman)               

                                                S. Berlyn (ex officio),  A. Allen,  J. Brooks,

G. Gardiner,  R. Matthews,  D Powell

 

In attendance: Clerk to Parish Council, Assistant Clerk to Facilities.

 

Public Question time  No members of the public were present.

 

80  Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were accepted from Cllrs Lambert, Telling, Wood and

Mr Coe.

 

81  Declarations of Interest

Cllr D Hawkins declared an Interest in Minute 90 by virtue of personal acquaintance with one of the companies quoting for the Spot Level survey.

82  Minutes of the Meeting Held on 13 December 2005.
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2005 were approved and duly signed as a correct record.

 

83  Seating

83.1  The grant application to Chelmsford BC, Corporate Grants Scheme had been turned down.  There is no funding within the Facilities Budget to provide any further seating, however, members were referred to Minute 85.1 to follow.

83.2  No response from the young people who wished to contribute towards a seat on Dawson Field has been received.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84  Leases

84.1   DCA.  With our solicitor.  Cllr Hawkins advised that BodyLine have signed their commitment and will progress to improve the Reception area.

84.2  Tennis Club.  A request for a meeting has been made, awaiting dates. 

84.3   Eves Corner.  The lease is still with their solicitor. 

84.5   Bowling Club.  A meeting is booked for Thursday 2 February 2006. 

Cllrs Hawkins and Brooks to attend.

84.6 Royal British Legion.  Notes of the meeting held on 1 February 2006 will be circulated with the next Facilities agenda.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

85  Play Area

85.1  Grants. 

  i)  It was reported that Essex CC Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund inspected the fencing and seating on 19 January 2006.  They have authorised spend up to £1189.89 for additional seating.  The Clerk requested that the two seats by the Play Area, which are old and children were climbing from them onto the fence, be removed.

RESOLVED that a) Two new seats be purchased.  One to replace the broken one on the cricket field.

b) Cllrs Beryln and Hawkins and the Clerk to agree a location for the second.

c) The Groundsman to remove the two old seats.

 

  ii) Chelmsford BC, Corporate Grants Scheme –  The grant to cover play equipment and field maintenance equipment was rejected, no specific reason had been given.

RESOLVED: that the information be noted.

 

  iii) The Clerk reported that a full grant application was submitted on 27 January to  Essex Environment Trust for new play equipment and replacement net for the AB equipment.  The Trust sits on 15 March for a decision.  The Parish Council will have to fund a quarter of the project at a cost in the region of £1,910.00.   

RESOLVED: that the information be noted.


85.2  Main entry gate. 

The Clerk reported that Wicksteed had taken photographs of the gate and are investigating putting a self closing mechanism on it. 

RESOLVED that this item be kept on the Agenda.

85.3  RoSPA Inspection due in May 2006. 
RESOLVED that a) Another association other than RoSPA be approached.

b) If another association cannot be appointed in time then RoSPA can be used this year.

 

86   Sports and Social Club

86.1 A verbal report was given as to which aspects of the Legionella Report had been completed by the DCA.  Beacon had been asked to quote for the outstanding work.

RESOLVED:  that a decision on who should be responsible for items 4 and 5 will be made once the Beacon quotation had been received.

 

86.2 The new CCTV was installed on 18 January 2006 but the lens is still outstanding.

RESOLVED: that the information be noted.

 

86.3 Car Park lighting – Cllr Berlyn advised that the lighting at the Sports & Social Centre was working and is sufficient.  It was observed that the light outside the Pavilion appears not to be working still.

RESOLVED: a) That the information be noted.

b) The RBL be approached again about the apparent broken light.

.

86.4 The letter from the DCA was discussed.  The Clerk reported that the builder had been contacted and he no longer had the original records but said he was almost certain that the building materials used were sound.  The HSE website also produced information that identified that buildings erected after 1980 were unlikely to contain the building materials mentioned.

RESOLVED: that a) No action was required.

b) The DCA be advised of the recommendation.

 

86.5 Quotations for Double-Glazing

The quotations for double-glazing repairs were considered.

RESOLVED that Maldon Glass be appointed at a cost of £240.00.

 

87   Chain Barrier

Access for the Bowling Club was discussed .

RESOLVED that a) Keys be issued with a £10.00 deposit against each key to secure against loss.

b)  Conditions to be applied such as driving along a specific route, the chain barrier being re-locked, the members relinquishing the keys on cessation of their membership of the club and the issue to be monitored annually.

c) The Assistant Clerk, Facilities, to confirm the arrangement to the Bowling Club.

d) Management of the WI access via the chain barrier be on the next agenda.

 

88.1 Allotments       Leases are due for renewal in April 2006.  It was mentioned that there are specific laws about leases and rents for allotments.

RESOLVED that a) Lease to be discussed when agreeing next year’s budget.

b) The Law be checked on the requirements for giving notice about changes.

 

88.2  Basketball Court       Nothing further was reported.

88.3  Bowling Club            

The Clerk reported that work had started on the bowling green.  The quotations for the fencing were discussed.

RESOLVED that a) the information be noted.

b) The quotation from Danbury Fencing for PVC Weldmesh at a cost of £2,560.53 be accepted subject to agreement by the Resources Committee.

 

88.4  Car Parks                   

The report on the research undertaken on the usage of the car parks was received.

RESOLVED that a) The information be noted.

b) Car parking companies be approached to consider the feasibility of the inclusion of the car parks in their scheme.

c) Minute 70.4 was not to be pursued at this stage.

 

88.5  Cricket Square  A meeting had been arranged for the evening of

Monday 27 February.  Cllrs Berlyn and Hawkins to attend.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

88.6  Elm Green                   Nothing further was reported.

88.7  Eves Corner               See Minute 84.3. 

88.8  Football Fields          Nothing further was reported.

88.9 Griffin Meadow           Nothing further was reported.

88.10 Lingwood Common  Nothing further was reported.

88.11 Notice-Boards          Nothing further was reported.

88.12 Pedlar’s Path            Nothing further was reported.

88.13 RBL Pavilion                        See Minute 84.6.

88.14 Runsell Green          Village Sign to be kept on the agenda.

88.15 Tennis Club              See Minute 84.2.

88.16 War Memorial           It was reported that the memorial cannot be insured.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

89 Drinking Water Taps

RESOLVED that research be continued.

 

90 Car Park & Drainage Improvements

A Report was circulated of the meeting held 12 January 2006.  The recommendation to appoint a surveyor to complete a Spot Levels survey was agreed.  Discussions were held on whether the £30,000 for the Car Park and Drainage Improvements was in the Facilities Budget.

RESOLVED that a) The recommendation to appoint Spot Levels surveyor was agreed.

b) Quotations be obtained for the Spot Levels.

c) Resources Committee on 22 February to be requested to confirm that the £30,000 is available for Facilities to spend.

d) Cllrs Berlyn, Gardiner and Whiteing and The Clerk be appointed to choose the surveyor for the Spot Levels.

 

91   Signage

Chelmsford BC had confirmed that planning permission is not required to put the signs up for the car park and play area.  The proofs have been agreed.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

92   Electrical Inspection

The Parish Office and Groundsman’s Shed was completed on 18 January 2006.  The report is awaited.

RESOLVED that the information was noted.

 

93   Danbury Pre Schools

The Chairman reported that the Pre Schools’ representative had been advised this Committee did not see the project as feasible.  The representative will approach local schools and requested the moral support of the Parish Council.  

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

94   Trees

It was reported that CBC had now visited the two trees in Dawson’s Field that need work which should start within the next few weeks.  The quotations for the tree surveys were discussed.

RESOLVED that a) The information be noted.

b) D F Clark Contractors Ltd to be invited to the next Facilities meeting to present how the survey would be undertaken.

 

95   Ponds

The cleaning of the ponds was discussed and the condition of Runsell Green gave particular concern.

RESOLVED that a) Quotations to be obtained for the cleaning of the ponds at Runsell Green and Eves Corner.

b) Authority was given to the Chairman of Committee and the Clerk to agree up to £2,750 for the work.

c) Runsell Green to be given priority. 

 

96   Cycle Racks, Eves Corner

It was reported that the National Trust agreed for the racks to be painted yellow.  The Groundsman will undertake the work.

RESOLVED that the Groundsman paint the cycle racks.

 

97   Hire Fees & Rents 2006-07

Members to consider setting of fees to be charged for 2006-07.

RESOLVED that this item be deferred to the next Facilities meeting.

 

98   Closure of football pitches

Discussions were held about the potential closure of the football pitches over the summer.

RESOLVED that a) Advice be sought from CBC as to what it does.

b) This item be carried forward to the next Facilities meeting.

 

99   Summer Play Activities 2006 Chelmsford BC

The Parish Council had been invited to host activities for children up to the age of 11.  The event will be run by CBC.  The Parish Council would need to hire the Sports & Social Centre at a cost of £136.50 per day and have to confirm our commitment by 6 March 2006.

RESOLVED that a) The CBC be advised that the Parish Council is happy to host a summer activity at a cost of £136.50 for one day.

b) Budget Head to be discussed.

c) The preferred dates be requested for the end of August, that being week commencing 21st.

 

100  Hedge Cutting

The additional help for the Groundsman to cut the hedges has been booked for February 2006 at a quoted cost of £280.00

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

101  Budget

Direction was sought on how to fund the grassland maintenance equipment to the sum of £3,135.00 (Aerator £1,985.00 priority and Harrow £1,150.00).  RESOLVED that the matter be referred to Resources Committee on 22 February.

 

102  Land Valuation

Investigations have been made into getting the Parish Council land valued.  Three companies have been approached and the quotations range from £250 - £300 to do the valuation.

RESOLVED that no further action be taken.

 

103  Matters for Report

 There were no matters for report.

 

104  Dates of Meetings in 2006

15 March,   14 June,   12 July,   13 September,    8 November,   

15 November (if required),    13 December.

 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.10 pm.