Meeting Agenda:
Open Spaces
| Meeting Date: | Monday 8 Feb 2021 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 19:30 |
| Councillors | Jon Aldridge, Angela Baker Chairwoman, Alan Damodaran, Vic Jennings, Alan Layland, Nick Lloyd, Stuart McGregor Vice-Chairman, Bob Todd. |
| Committee: | Open Spaces |
| Venue: | Rickards Hall. 72a High Street Edenbridge, TN8 5AR Kent |
| Notes: | |
| Summary: |
Agenda
Minutes
The Minutes are not currently available.
Including any interests not already registered. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest. If an interest becomes apparent to a member during the course of a meeting that has not been disclosed under this item, the member must immediately disclose it.
Members of the public, and Members with prejudicial interests on items on the Agenda, may make representations, answer, ask questions and give evidence at this meeting in respect of items on the Agenda. (This is the only opportunity for members of the public to make a contribution during the meeting.) Both public and members are limited to three minutes per person to speak and the total time designated for public questions shall not exceed fifteen minutes unless directed by the Chairman of the meeting.
The comparisons report attached includes the expenditure and income up to 31 December.
| expenditure.pdf |
Each year the Council receives a detailed a report on daily wildlife observations from a local resident, Mr David Eade. Over the years these have built up into a unique record of the flora and fauna trends in a specific habitat lying between Lingfield Road and the River Eden. Mr Eade has once again produced this detailed really useful report for 2020. This report is not available for open publication but is available for members and other relevant organisations via the Council office.
In November, the groundstaff discovered that "persons unknown" had installed a new item of skating equipment along the far side of the ramps at Blossoms Park - without any prior contact with the Town Council at all; (see picture). This put the Council in a very difficult
(insurance) position if anyone used this and hurt themselves, a notice was put on it to say it was an unauthorised installation, not to be used, and requested its removal. This was done very amicably and there have since been several exchanges of communications. The box itself has been constructed to a good quality of the build. The people who constructed it would like "gift" the item at their own expense to increase the range of riding.
The grind box has been designed for a number of roller blade skating enthusiasts, mostly 30- something in age group but some younger; some are local people and others come from a wider area who really like the ramps at Blossoms Park.
The existing ramps are independently inspected against the BS EN 14974:2019 standard for roller sports equipment, and any addition would need to meet this criteria when inspected. If the item was provided by an authorised company, they would have Public Liability and Employer's Liability insurance for the construction and installation process, and the Council would expect a warranty for
the equipment to cover the quality of the item and if any subsequent defects emerged.
Also, the Council is already planning to add some additional items of equipment in the asphalt area on the north side of the existing ramps (reported to November meeting).
Enquires have been made to the constructor/maintenance company for the existing skate ramps for the cost of a new grind box added in to the proposed extension. The question to incorporate the use the unauthorised grind box has been asked as well, and photographs and details of its construction have been provided (in early January 2021). As yet, a response to the questions has not be been received.
An update can be provided at the April meeting. However, in the meantime, if advice comes back that it could accommodate the grind box, but that a new one would need to purchased, would Members want this cost included in the CIL application for the current approved improvements.
How do Members want to proceed?
| skatingf.pdf |
- We have taken delivery of our new heavier roller as approved by the members in a previous meeting. We have been able to get out on it once so far and it was a great success. Once the ground dries out a bit we will incorporate the rolling into our pitch maintenance program across the councils sport pitches.
- I have begun the winter tree survey and hope to have the majority of it finish within the next week or so. A full report will be presented at the next meeting.
- The winter headstone check has been completed with no major issues. We are in the process of contacting the families of any headstones that were flagged up as in need of attention.
- The team has renewed a number of posts across the council’s sites including all the bollards around the car park at blossoms park.
- I will be meeting with the community warden in the coming days to discuss the possibility of sowing some wild flower areas this spring. We hope this is something we will have the resources to do and I feel it will be an exciting project for the council to undertake.
- With the wet weather we have seen over the last few months and an increase in footfall across our sites we are understandably seeing a lot of muddy areas appear. I am in contact with a local contractor with the hope of getting a delivery of wood chip so the team can build some temporary paths in the worst hit areas.
- The team have continued with the disinfection of the towns play areas and gym equipment
Do Members support the expenditure of up to £600 for the new scarifying rake?
Cllr Aldridge had raised concerns with the condition of some of the paths around the public rights of way due to recent heavy rains and public use. Having viewed these, only the one in the bottom corner of the Recreation Ground near the bridge is on Council land.
Arrangements have been made to put a layer of wood chippings along this section of path.
The Grounds team will be working with the Sevenoaks District Council on the town wild meadow area. Last year, there were some conversations with SDC about the field at Mowshurst where the long grass was, and whether this area was suitable for wild meadow.
SDC may be able to help with cutting the grass at the beginning of the season. This would be done at the same time as the work to the town field. If this was to be possible is this something the Members would support?
Do Members support trialing an area at the Mowshurst field to create a wild meadow?
At the time of writing this Cemetery three has just 6 plots remaining. Cemetery four layout has been drawn-up and is ready for allocation of plots; approximately 250, plus space for more ashes plots. A formal vinyl copy of the layout is in the process of being created.
The refurbishment of the Recreation Ground playground is in the 30-year maintenance plans and is coming up for refurbishment. The Forward Planning Steering Group and Finance Committee have recommended that this projected should be funded via the CIL funds.
Some preliminary research has started to take place on possible costs and designs to help with preparing a specification to go out to tender. Consultation with local users of the park would also be included to help when preparing the tender. A CIL bid to the Town Council’s CIL Board needs to be prepared and submitted for the playground refurbishment. A CIL bid has been submitted to SDC to hopefully fund the area for older children.
Do Members support the proposal to submit a CIL bid to the Town Council’s CIL Board for funding the Recreation Ground refurbishment and improvements?
Do Members want to nominate a small group to work with the proposals that will be used to form the tender specification?
Currently, Cllrs Todd (Chairman of Open Spaces Committee) and Baker (Vice-Chair of Open Spaces Committee) have been working with officers.
The Community First Responders having been looking at siting a defibrillator and cabinet at Stangrove Park. The type of cabinet is currently yet to be confirmed, but it had been considering a solar powered box/cabinet. The preferred location would be near the outdoor gym area and accessible from the main footpath that runs through the park.
Do members support Stangrove Park to be a location for a defibrillator and cabinet?
It is likely the Council could receive a donation to purchase a suitable defibrillator and cabinet for up to 80% of the total purchase cost. If this was to be the case,
Do Members wish to proceed to purchase the defibrillator and cabinet, which would be then be included on the Council’s register.
Dog fouling continues to be an issue in Stangrove Park around the play, basketball and outdoor gym areas. The proposal is to have new signage displayed around these areas in the Park. A3 metal (or aluminium coated) signs, on a metal post and plate.
The Community Warden will be looking to liaise with the SDC Dog Warden and arrange to attend Stangrove Park; and to do some promotional awareness events.
Do Members approve the expenditure of up to £150 for two signs to be sited near the basketball area and outdoor gym.
The sundial which was presented to the town twinning committee some time ago by Mt. St Aignan in France, has had the gnomon stolen. A quote to replace it has been obtained to replace like for like or, instead of having a plain gnomon for the sundial, it could be decorative design. Of interest, apparently the gnomon had been attached the wrong way round.
Do Members approve the expenditure of £200 for a replacement gnomon for the sundial?
Date of Next Meeting: 19 April 2021