Meeting Minutes:

Apologies were received, noted, and accepted from Cllr B Todd.
Cllr S Taylor was absent.

Cllr Lloyd declared an interest in item 7.1, being a member of the Bonfire Society committee.

None

Resolved: that the minutes (9738-9743) be signed by the committee Chairman as a true and accurate record of the meeting

Members noted the position with one quarter of the financial year completed; there were no questions.

A resident bordering Stangrove Park reported a large over-extended oak tree branch from the park with a quantity of deadwood at height above an outbuilding on his property. As the groundstaff were not equipped to deal with this, the Council’s tree surgeon was asked to inspect, report, and cost any work recommended. In consultation with the committee chairman, expenditure of £275 plus VAT was approved to climb, remove deadwood, and shorten the over-long limb. It was

Resolved: to ratify the above decision for expenditure of £275 plus VAT.

The Bonfire Society had submitted a request to use the Recreation Ground for the annual firework display, which was resuming after a gap during the Pandemic. The Open Spaces Hire Agreement had been completed.

Resolved: to allow the event including use of the Council’s TN8 licence, subject to submission of required health & safety documentation, including current insurance cover, at no charge for a community event.

resident of Greenfields had raised the issue of some branches over hanging his boundary fence from an oak on Forge Green. On investigation there appeared to be no significant branches overhanging. The resident acknowledged he had the right to cut these back to the boundary line, but stated that the height required a tree surgeon.

Resolved: to give permission for the resident to engage his contractor to access the branches from Forge Green if necessary, subject to submission of required health and safety documentation, including insurance cover.

Members noted the team’s routine and seasonal work during June-July.

Members noted the summer headstone check had been carried out and any issues had been brought to the attention of the Deputy Clerk for contact with grave owners, if possible. The summer visual tree survey was under way, and a report would be available for the next meeting. All the hedges and shrubs across Council’s sites had been pruned.

The team spent some time laying concrete bases for the new benches to be installed onto in the new playground at the Rec. It was unfortunate one of these was vandalised whilst setting, which required additional groundstaff time to rectify.

The team had continued with the summer pitch maintenance programme, with all the goal mouths and other bare patches well on the way to being ready for the start of the new season. Due to the hot weather, they were being watered regularly, and this would continue to ensure said areas were well established for the coming season.

The summer bench painting/maintenance programme would continue through the coming weeks and would incorporate all the council’s furniture, and bollards.

Since the last meeting a new pedestrian mower had been delivered to replace that which was deemed uneconomical to repair. This was approved by councillors at the last meeting.

The contractor carrying out the spraying for weed control on the Council’s sports pitches had made a start. Nomads had been completed but the hot weather week meant it had not yet been possible to spray Blossoms Park and the Rec.

It was noted that as a refresher to previous training, the Head Groundsman would be attending a one-day LANTRA course on basic tree survey and inspection in September.

Resolved: to purchase a Henchman 4.8m tripod ladder at £550 +VAT, and a Titan 3-section ladder with stabilisers and rubber feet at £253.75 +VAT

The burial report was noted as follows, updating the record of Cemetery activity:
June 2022
One burial
Two interments of ashes
One Grant of Right

Resolved: proceed with the works as recommended by the external inspector, and part reduce the second yew as requested by the Church.

It was noted the annual service of the Jubilee Clock in the High Street had been carried out, and the annual external playground inspection had been booked with Wicksteed.

The Head Groundsman had meanwhile highlighted two playground issues – one was damage to the self-closing spring on a gate into the games area in Stangrove Park, the other was worn safety surface at the slide on Marsh Green. The two repairs were costed at £295, and £672 respectively, £967 in total exVAT.

Members Resolved: to carry out the playground repairs at £967 plus VAT, funding for the gate to be taken from vandalism budget, for the slide surface from Open Spaces maintenance plan.

The County Councillor Margot McArthur reported that she had not had any response from the Highways officer, and was taking this up with KCC.

Resolved: To approve the amended pitch layout for the forthcoming winter season as requested, and recommend the Lease Negotiating Group reviews the Lease, and then liaises with the Rugby Club at the annual meeting between Council and Club in September.

Resolved: to approve the additional tournament work next month, to be charged at £58.80 per pitch, as per the Fees and Charges table agreed for this financial year.

The head groundsman meanwhile would source a new padlock assembly with a covered hasp.

Resolved: to seek costings for repairs to the bridge, as detailed in the report, and for comparison the potential cost of removing the bridge element.

Resolved: to contact the new SDC countryside manager to view the possible locations of trees and
Suitable varieties for planting in the autumn.

Members considered items from this meeting to be the subject of a News Release and confirmed the intention to publicise the Westways new lighting once connected