0UPTON BY
CHESTER & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL
Meeting of the Environmental
Initiatives Committee of the
Present: Cllr. Robert
Thompson (Chairman), Cllr Lyndsay Cussons,
Cllr Jean
Evans, Cllr Peter Griffiths, Cllr Jill Houlbrook,
Cllr Pat Lott,
Cllr Caroline Mosley and Cllr Bryan Smith
1.
APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received
from Cllr Gerald Grant and Cllr Gill Jordan.
Resolved: that the apologies be noted.
2. ELECTION TO CHAIRMAN FOR ENSUING YEAR:
Cllr peter
Resolved: that Cllr Robert Thompson be elected Chairman of the Committee
for the ensuing year.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
No declarations
were received.
4. BEST KEPT GARDEN COMPETITION FOR 2007:
The Chairman reported to members that the number of
residents entering the competition has been decreasing each year and that the
prizes for this years competition had been reduced due
to the disappointing response. He
reported that a number of initiatives had been tried over the years and these
had not met with any success.
Cllr Jill Houlbrook told
members that the Parish Council should rethink the categories and maybe include
new items such as children’s school garden.
Cllr Patricia Lott said that she thought an item could be placed in the
next Newsletter to advise residents of lack of support and ask for
opinions. Cllr Peter Griffiths reported
that he had nominated a number of gardens and was not aware of any other
members having done the same and felt that if members were more involved the
competition could have a greater success.
Cllr Jean Evans reported that Blacon held a
successful competition each year and that maybe they could be asked for ideas
along with the Upton Horticultural Society.
Cllr Jill Houlbrook suggested that the Upton
Horticultural Society be asked to organise the competition and that the Parish
Council continue to provide the prizes but Cllr Peter Griffiths told the
meeting that he felt that the Parish Council should continue to retain the
organisation of the competition. The
Chairman, Cllr Robert Thompson told members that the Hoole
in Bloom competition was done by volunteers and that he felt that asking for
nominations from garden owners for the general public would never work. He suggested that the Parish Council ask for
volunteers to walk the area and nominate gardens to be judged by an independent
judge.
After further discussion, the Chairman told members
that he felt that the concensus was:
a. that
the competition should continue but that the format should be completely
overhauled.
b. Upton
Horticultural Society should be asked for ideas and assistance in promotion of
the competition.
c. That local schools be asked to get
involved with growing sunflowers/tomatoes/runner beans etc.
d. The competition could be themed i.e.
next year – Olympic Games/Year of the Garden.
e. An item be
placed in the next newsletter to get local people to volunteer to get involved.
Resolved: that this should be discussed in greater detail at a future
meeting.
5. PROPOSAL FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS COMPETITION:
Members discussed the proposal and a number of
people were still unsure about the possibility of encouraging local people in
something which to others may seem offensive and improper use of energy
resources. The Chairman suggested that
Cllr Peter Griffiths sit down with Cllr John Butler who proposed the idea to
put some criteria down on paper for consideration. Cllr Jean Evans told the meeting that she
felt that perhaps having Christmas lights as they do in other villages could be
considered instead. The Clerk reported
that this idea had been discussed in the past and that she had investigated the
possibility and it proved to be very expensive and difficult to undertake. Cllr Jill Houlbrook
suggested an alternative of having a real Christmas tree which need not even be
lit, which young people could decorate with green/environmentally friendly
materials.
Resolved: (a) that
Cllr Peter Griffiths arrange to meet with Cllr John Butler to
look at criteria for a christmas
lights competition.
(b) that the
committee think further about other ideas.
6. BULB/TREE PLANTING FOR 2007/08:
Members
discussed possible sites for bulb planting and types of bulbs. The following was proposed:
a. The area to the side of the bus shelter in
- lilies
b. Along the hedgerow on the A41 between
the Zoo roundabut and
Lane North. - daffodils
The
Chairman told Members that as the proposed areas belonged to the County
Council, they would have to be consulted.
The Clerk reported that she would have to order the bulbs before the end
of August. Members discussed how the
bulbs would be planted and felt that this could be done by the Parish Council
and that if the County Council refused permission for the areas identified then
alternative sites would be found. The
Clerk reported that Cllr Peter Griffiths had provided plants for and was
maintaining the area at the War Memorial and that he would like to plant some
winter plants which would cost around £30. Cllr Peter Griffiths asked Members
if the Clerk could be asked to write to the Upton British Legion to asked if they could contribute towards the War Memorial.
Resolved: (a) that the Clerk
order lilies and daffodil bulbs sufficient for the
areas proposed.
(b) that the Clerk will contact the
Highways Department of the County Council to advise them of the proposal.
(c) that Cllr Griffiths order winter
plants for the War Memorial up to £30.
(d) that the Clerk contact the Upton
British Legion.
7. SPONSORED
BENCH:
Members
discussed the report provided by the Clerk with regard to the local resident
who wished to sponsor a new bench for the war memorial. Cllr Peter Griffiths told Members that the
current three benches were in good condition and that if one was replaced he
would like the old one to be repositioned either on Upton Lane by Penfold Way or on Newhall Road by Newhall Court as both of
these locations had benches that desperately needed replacing. Members discussed what type of bench would be
suitable for the War Memorial.
Resolved: (a) that the Clerk
advise the local resident that the Parish Council
had no objection to an all
wooden Memorial bench being placed at the War Memorial
(b) that the Clerk negotiate with the
Housing Trust for the replaced bench to be placed in either
7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
Resolved: that this be set for