DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the meeting of the FACILITIES COMMITTEE held on 3 May 2006

 

Present:  Councillors  F. J. Hawkins   (Chairman)

                                    S. Berlyn (ex officio),  M. Wood (ex officio)

                                    A. Allen, J. Brooks, Mrs. C. Lambert, D Powell,

                                    M. Telling

 

In attendance: Clerk to Parish Council,  Assistant Clerk to Facilities, Cllr Mrs. J. Wells.

 

Public Question time  One member of the public was present to discuss the closure of the football pitches.  A request was received to leave a pitch available for Saturday morning football.

 

125  Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were accepted from Cllrs Gardiner and Matthews and  Mr Coe.

 

126  Declarations of Interest

Cllr Powell declared an interest in Item 4.  Members raised questions regarding Declarations of Interest.

RESOLVED after a lengthy discussion that the Clerk was to be instructed to contact the Standards Monitoring Officer at Chelmsford Borough Council again to seek further clarification on the points in question.

 

127  Minutes of the Meeting Held on 15 March 2006.

Minute 110.4 should read that the ground rent would be charged at £1000.00 with effect from 1 April 2007.  Clarification was sought on Minute 116 ii) and it was confirmed that £29,610 had been earmarked for the Drainage and Car Park Improvements.  In all other respects the Minutes of the meeting held on

15 March 2006 were correct. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2006 be approved and duly signed as a correct record.

 

128  Football

A discussion was held as to whether or not to defer this item.  It was requested by Cllr Wood that a recorded vote to defer the item be held.

Voting on the deferment was as follows:

In favour: Cllrs Allen, Berlyn, Mrs Lambert, Telling, and Wood.

Against: Cllr Brooks.

Abstentions: Cllrs Hawkins and Powell.

RESOLVED that this item be deferred to the next meeting of the Parish Council to be held on 17 May 2006.

 

129  Play Area

129.1 Invoices for the balance of the grant payment from Essex CC Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund had been submitted for payment to the sum of £1189.89.

 

129.2  The grant from the Essex Environment Trust had been approved for the new play equipment and the new net for the existing AB equipment.  This is for £8303.77 of which the Parish Council will pay £2000.00, as agreed at Parish Council on 29 March 2006, Minute 143.  Both pieces of equipment are due to be installed by the end of May.

 

129.3  The Chairman said that he had an idea on how to resolve the problem of the non self-closing main entry gate and will come back to Committee with more information.

Cllr Mrs Lambert mentioned that a bench in the play area had been removed as vandals had removed the securing bolts.  It was reported that this matter had already been resolved and the bolts on the benches had now been glued.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

130  Sports and Social Club

130.1  It was reported that Beacon had completed part of the work outstanding from the risk assessment.  When they went to clean the CWS tank further examination showed that the inside was rusted and additional work was required at an estimated cost of £405.00 on top of the £195.00 quoted.  A formal quotation is awaited.

RESOLVED that The Clerk be given authority to accept the quotation if she considered it to be value for money.

 

130.2 The down-pipes on the building are coming away from the wall.  A request had been made for 20 brackets at a cost of £5.00 each.

RESOLVED that The Clerk be given authority to deal with the matter in the most value for money way for the Council.

 

131  Chain Barrier

131.1  Management of the WI access via the chain barrier was discussed.

RESOLVED that no further action be taken.

 

131.2  It was reported that two requests from members of the Bowling Club, who are disabled, had requested a key to the chain barrier.

RESOLVED that a) Keys be issued on receipt of all the relevant information including a copy of their Disabled Badge and for it to be displayed in their cars.

b) The two members who had been issued with keys previously to be advised that they need to present their Disabled Badges, copies to be kept on the Parish Office file and for the badges to be displayed in their cars.

 

131.3  The matter of a Five Barred Gate to be installed where the chain barrier is was discussed.

RESOLVED that quotations be sought for the gate and for a pedestrian gate and fencing to the hedge.

 

132.1 Allotments       

The new agreement was considered.

RESOLVED that a) The amendments as shown on the draft to be included in the new Agreement.

b) Section 2(6) to include ‘soil’.

c) The Assistant Clerk, Facilities to include an item on Health and Safety and

tenants’ responsibility for adjacent pathways based on what she had learnt on the Risk Assessment course she attended, ran by NALC.

d) The Assistant Clerk, Facilities to make the amendments and issue the document without further referral to Committee.

 

132.2  Basketball Court Cllr Mrs Lambert reported on the condition of the court. RESOLVED that the nets and backboards be replaced.

 

132.3  Bowling Club

i) The metal cage for the green was installed in March. 

ii) Cllr Berlyn reported that he had been advised by a bowling club member that the bank was not at the correct height and would not meet the County Inspection due on 9 May.

RESOLVED that a) The information be noted.

b) Cllr Berlyn and The Clerk deal with the matter as appropriate.

 

132.4  Car Parks

The letter of complaint regarding the condition of the car parks was discussed.

RESOLVED that a) The Groundsman be requested to put down more aggregate and level both the car parks as much as is possible.

b) The writer of the letter be informed as appropriate.

 

132.5  Cricket Square

It was reported that the pavement signs had been purchased and passed to the Cricket Club for use.  

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

132.6  Elm Green

The Groundsman had reported that installing parking restrictions on the Green would hinder his ability to mow the green.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

132.7  Eves Corner               Nothing further was reported.

132.8  Football Fields           See Minute 128.

132.9 Griffin Meadow           Nothing further was reported.

 

132.10 Lingwood Common 

Confirmation was received that this is Village Green Land and should not be fenced off.  The person who erected the fencing had agreed to take this down.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

132.11 Notice-Boards           Nothing further was reported.

132.12 Pedlar’s Path             Nothing further was reported.

132.13 RBL Pavilion             Nothing further was reported.

 

132.14 Runsell Green

Cllr Berlyn reported that the owner of the vehicle parked on the Green had been identified and a message passed through to him.  Cllr Mrs Wells mentioned that a Blue Mini was parked regularly on the grass verge outside Rectory Farm House on the A414.

RESOLVED that a) The information be noted. 

b) The parked car be reported to Highways.

 

132.15 Tennis Club               Nothing further was reported.

132.16 War Memorial            Nothing further was reported.

 

133 Play Activities

The Whitsun Sports Programme by Chelmsford BC had been booked for two multi-sport sessions for the morning and afternoon of Wednesday 31 May.  There will be a lead qualified coach and two assistant coaches.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

134   Drainage & Car Park  Improvements

134.1 The car park payment options and surfacing were discussed.

RESOLVED that Information on why other Councils charge for car parking to be included in the proposals.

 

134.2 It was reported that the Consultants Specification and Tender Document were being drafted.  The next meeting with Chelmsford BC would be held on

4 May 2006.

RESOLVED that the Committee await the proposals regarding the Improvements.

 

134.3 Cllr Berlyn reported that £20,000 had been offered to the Council for the Improvements by Chelmsford Borough Council under S106 should the planning application for Danbury Palace go ahead.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

135   Ponds

It was reported that the National Trust normally only produce risk assessments where staff or volunteers are working in close proximity to deep water, or where there is risk of the visiting public falling into deep water.  RoSPA had been booked to do risk assessments on Runsell Green and Eves Corner ponds in May 2006.

RESOLVED that the information be noted. 

 

136   Theft of Diesel from the Groundman’s Shed

The matter of a replacement oil storage tank was discussed.  Quotations were required.

RESOLVED that a) The Committee was not in a position to make a decision until the quotations had been received.

b) The CCTV be deferred until the next meeting.

 

137   Essex Best Kept Playing Field Competition

It was agreed an application for the above-mentioned competition would be made.  RESOLVED that a) An entry be submitted for the class.

b) The Clerk to decide which classes to be entered for.

 

138  Maintenance Equipment

138.1 The company that provided the new slitter offered to take away the old one for a fee.  An offer had been received from another party to take it away free of charge.  A decision is required on the disposal.

RESOLVED that a) The Groundsman to confirm that the slitter was not required.

b) The slitter be offered to another party to take it way for free on signature of a letter confirming there would be no liability to the Parish Council.

 

138.2  It had been requested that a tractor mounted sprayer be purchased at a cost of £3000 for 800 Litre or £3250 for 1000 Litre capacity.

RESOLVED that a) Quotations be acquired for a tractor mounted sprayer.

b) A request be put to Resources Committee for funding.

 

139 Matters for Report

139.1 It was reported that the skateboarding activity scheduled for 3 June with Chelmsford Borough Council had been cancelled as the equipment had been vandalised.

RESOLVED that the cancellation be advertised.

 

139.2 The date for the Summer Play Activities by Chelmsford Borough Council was confirmed as Monday 21 August 2006.  These will be indoor art activities (in the Sports and Social Centre) held 9.30 – 4.30pm.

RESOLVED that the event be publicised nearer the time.

 

139.3 It was requested that Councillors meet at 6.30 pm on Wednesday 10 May in order to help set up for the Annual Parish Meeting.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

140  Dates of Meetings in 2006

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

15 November (if required), 13 December.

 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.20pm.