DANBURY PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the meeting of FACILITIES COMMITTEE held on 12 December 2006 at the Parish Office

 

Present:  Councillors  A. Allen, S. Berlyn (ex officio), F. J. Hawkins,

                                    J. Langley, D. Powell, A. Wells, Mrs J. Wells,

                                    M. Wood (ex officio).

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

                                    Mr David Royle, Chairman DCA.

                                    Mr Adrian Owers, Manager S&SC.

 

Public Question time   No members of the public were present.

 

75  Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were accepted from Cllrs J Brooks and M Telling.

 

76  Declarations of Interest  

None were made. 

 

77  Minutes of the Meeting Held on 8 November 2006

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2006 were approved and duly signed as a correct record.

 

78  Sports and Social Centre

78.1  Urgent Request from DCA for Lighting.  Adrian Owers, General Manager S&SC and David Royle, Chairman DCA, attended this meeting in order to discuss the request for lighting.  They circulated a plan of the Centre showing the lighting and CCTV.

RESOLVED that a) Mr Royle and Mr Owers would read the manual to check the operation of the CCTV.

b) Investigations be made for three new lights and to check the effectiveness of the existing ones and interlinking of the sensors.

c) The CCTV would not be sent back to the supplier.

 

78.2  Delivery Vehicle Access.  Mr Owers advised Members that cars were being parked opposite the pavilion in the car park.  This reduced the road width and delivery vehicles were not being able to gain access to the S&SC.
RESOLVED that a ‘Yellow Box’ junction would be investigated to restrict cars from parking in the area in question.


78.3  Booking of Events.  Members considered the amended S&SC Application for Hire form and the amended Conditions of Hire.  Cllr Berlyn proposed that the Parish Council staff be authorised to agree changes with the DCA.  This was seconded by Cllr Powell. 
Voting on the proposal was as follows:

In favour 5, Against 0, Abstentions 1

 

RESOLVED that a) The Application for Hire form be accepted with the amendments shown in red on the draft that had been circulated to the DCA and Members.

b) The Conditions of Hire be accepted with the amendments shown in red and blue on the draft that had been circulated to the DCA and Members.  Also, an additional amendment under General Provisions Point 2 the word ‘area’ be changed to ‘areas’.

c) The Centre Manager be requested to confirm which of the two email addresses on the Conditions of Hire and the Application for Hire form is the correct one.

d) The Centre Manager be advised of the agreed changes.

 

78.4  De-Scale of the Drains.  Further to Facilities Minute 62.6, the quotation to do a full De-Scale of the drains at the Centre at a quotation price of £270.00 had been investigated.  The de-scale was for one pipe only, that being the pipe leading into the manhole that had blocked on a number of occasions, the latest being September 2006.  The depth of scale on the pipes could only be measured following a survey of the pipes with CCTV, a price has not been obtained for this at this time.  Members considered whether the de-scale on the pipe and/or a CCTV scan be commissioned.  Cllr Hawkins proposed that no further action be taken, this was seconded by Cllr Berlyn and all Members voted in favour of the proposal
RESOLVED that no further action on the de-scaling of the drains be taken.

 

79  Dawson Memorial Field

79.1  Draft Hire Form and the Draft Conditions of Hire.  The forms had been circulated with the agenda.  Members agreed that the Parish Council staff be authorised to deal with these.

RESOLVED that the staff agree the Hire Form and the Conditions of Hire of the Field.

 

79.2 Draft Proposal of Charges for the Field.  Members considered the draft proposal.  Cllr Wood proposed that a charge of £30.00 be included for when Colchester UFC hire the Field, this was seconded by Cllr Allen. 

Voting on the proposal was as follows:

In favour 2, Against 3, Abstentions 1

The proposal was lost.

 

RESOLVED that a) The costs as shown on the draft be approved.

b) The reference to Danbury Mission Community FC be shown as an annual fee.

c) The Hire Charges to show as for the year 2006-07.

 

79.3  Damage to the Field.  Over the weekend of 18 & 19 November a regular user of the Sports & Social Centre (The Go-Kart company) had been unable to access the sports halls doors as two cars were parked there.  The driver drove off the hard standing area to bypass the cars.  This had resulted in the van becoming temporarily stuck and causing damage to the field.  Consequently football training was cancelled for the following week.  The driver concerned, although not accepting that all the damage caused to the field was as a result of his action, had offered to pay for repairs.  The minimum order for top dressing at a cost of £84.44 has now been purchased.  The Groundsman had suggested a cost of £10.00 be charged for his time.  Members agreed to charge the driver the full amount of £94.44.

RESOLVED that a) The driver be charged £94.44 to cover the costs.

b) Investigations be made as to whether VAT is chargeable to the driver.

 

80 Cricket Club  

Members considered the draft agreement between the Parish Council and Danbury Cricket Club and made one amendment to Point 6 that the reference to ‘orange peel’ be removed.  It was agreed that there were still questions as to the future of the Club

RESOLVED that a) The draft agreement was agreed with the amendment that the reference to ‘orange peel’ be deleted.

b) The Club be written to in order to get confirmation of their continued use of the cricket green.  A copy of the draft agreement to be included with the letter.
c) If the Club intended to stay it would need to complete the finalised agreement which would reflect the fees for 2007-08.

 

81  Bowling Club

Members agreed that authority to agree non-bowling activities that the Club wish to book for either itself or an other party be delegated to the Parish Council staff.  Information on bookings would be reported to Committee for note only.

RESOLVED that a) Parish Council agree non-bowling activities that the Club wish to hold.

b) Information on bookings would be reported to Committee for note only.

 

82  War Memorial  

Correspondence regarding the condition of the Memorial and possibilities for restoration were discussed. 

RESOLVED that a) The matter be considered at the next budget setting meeting due in September 2007 for the year 2008-09.

b) This item be on an agenda in Spring 2007 to enable Members to discuss prior to the budget setting.

83  Litter Bins

This was discussed under Minute 84.3.

 

84  Matters to Note

Members were asked to note the following matters.

 

84 .1  Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF)

The application for the fund had been refused on the basis that funding was limited, they had had a high number of applications and Danbury had already been awarded grants previously.  The application would be submitted again for funding in 2007-08.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.2  Groundsman Area of Work

84.2 i) The hydraulic lift had been received.

84.2 ii) Two closed bids were received for the trailer.  The highest one of £160.00 was accepted.  Payment had been made and the trailer removed.

84.2 iii) Ten hawthorn bushes were purchased at a total cost of £9.80 to fill in the gap in the hedge on Dawson Memorial Field.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.3  Litter Bins

84.3 i) The Groundsman had removed the concrete base from Eves Corner pond.

84.3 ii) The damaged litter bins had been replaced at Play Area, Eves Corner, Main Road car park (DCA), Mayes Lane car park, Beacon Field (next to Pam’s bench), Main Road bus shelter and Copt Hill.  The Groundsman had deliberately not replaced the one by the bench at the entrance to the Field – it is not required at the moment and he wanted to wait until after Christmas to decide what to do. 

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.4  Danbury Village Sign - One side of the sign had been repaired.  The other side should be completed by mid December.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.5  Dog Bins - Four bins had been installed on Dawson Memorial Field by CBC which would also maintain and empty the bins.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.6  PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) - The annual PAT had been booked for the Parish Office and the Groundsman’s shed for 13 December 2006.  The same Company as last year had been employed to complete the work as there was no price increase and they were the cheapest on the last occasion.  JRB had quoted at a price of £1.60 per item which was about £1.00 per item less than the other two quotations last year.  The invoice would be in the region of £86.40.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.7  Eves Corner - The road sign ‘Little Baddow Road’ had been replaced by CBC.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.8  Football - The goalposts for Pitches 1 and 3 had been delivered.  The Groundsman will have to do some digging out for the posts for Pitch 1, the pitch will be closed over the Christmas period to allow for this work.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.9  Drainage & Car Park Improvements

84.9 i) It was agreed at Parish Council on 29 November that a Working Group consisting of Cllrs, Allen, Brookes, Hawkins Keeler, Powell and Thomson would hear the presentations by the consultants for the specification.  The presentations would be held on Wednesday 17 January at 7.30 pm at the Bowling Club and recommendations from that meeting would be referred to Parish Council on 31 January 2007.  Mr Brian Royden-Hall, CBC had been asked to attend the presentations.  The Clerk and Assistant Clerk, Facilities will also attend.  The three consultants had confirmed attendance.

 

84.9 ii) Parish Council agreed to make a donation of £25.00 to the Bowling Club for use of its facilities.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.9 iii) Car Park – Charging Fees.  A response to the article in Danbury Times regarding the charging for the car parks had been circulated with the agenda.  No more responses had been received by the meeting. 

RESOLVED that responses to the charging for car parks be collated and reviewed after the Christmas period.

 

84.10  Sports & Social Centre  The copy of the S&SC Risk Assessment for the Sports Hall had been circulated with the agenda.  The Manager had confirmed that:

- The floor was swept daily and mopped once a week on a Saturday morning.

- The floor conditions were monitored weekly and the floor checked over for any problems.

- The equipment, chairs and tables, were checked monthly.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.11  Trees Survey

84.11 i) It had been agreed at Resources on 22 November 2006 that £2300.00 be authorised for spend on the work identified as high priority and the TPO trees at Pedlars Path.  This work had been ordered with D F Clark Contractors in accordance with Facilities Minute 8 November 2006, 67.2.  Following a meeting with CBC, D F Clark had reduced the quotation to £1350.00.

 

84.11 ii) The Council’s Insurance Company Zurich Municipal had agreed to take on the case regarding the trees behind 6 Landisdale.  The Insurance Company is questioning evidence at the current time.  The last letter dated 24th November, 2006 from the owners representative stated that the two trees would be felled within 14 days.  The Clerk confirmed at the meeting that the insurance company was dealing with this directly. 

RESOLVED that the information be noted.


84.12  Theft of Diesel from the Groundsman’s Shed.  Westcar had advised that it cannot start the work on the concrete until mid January 2007 at the earliest.  It was reported at the meeting that the oil storage tank was delivered today.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

84.13  Facilities Meeting December 2007 – The date had been changed from Wednesday 12 December to Tuesday 11 December.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

85  Matters For Report

85.1  Cllr Allen reported that the Christmas tree installed on Eves Corner on 11 December was vandalised that same night.

 

85.2  Cllr Berlyn advised that the light on the Royal British Legion pavilion that shines on the car park was not on.  The RBL need to be advised.

 

85.3  Cllr Wood advised that the Danbury Youth Club was now closed until January 2007.
 

85.4  Cllr Berlyn advised Members to assume that he will open and lock up for the DCA meeting scheduled to be held at the Parish Office on 14 December.

 

86  Dates of Meetings in 2007 - 7 February,   14 March,   25 April.

   

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.50 pm.