UPTON BY CHESTER & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL

Meeting of the Playing Fields and Environmental Initiatives Committee of the Upton by Chester & District Parish Council held on Monday 9th June 2008 at the Pavilion, Wealstone Lane.

Present:          Cllr John Butler, Cllr Gerald Grant, Cllr Jean Evans,

Cllr Gill Jordan, Cllr Pat Lott, Cllr Chris Reeve

and Cllr Robert Thompson.

           

 

1.         APOLOGIES:

Apologies were received from Cllr Bryan Smith.

 

2.         ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN FOR THE ENSUING YEAR:

It was proposed by Cllr Gerald Grant and seconded by Cllr Chris Reeve that Cllr Jean Evans be elected Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing year.  No further nominations were received.

 

Resolved:       that Cllr Jean Evans be elected Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing year.

 

3.        NAME FOR COMBINED COMMITTEES:         

Cllr John Butler suggested that the name of the new combined committee could be the

Environment Committee.

 

Resolved:       that the Committee now be called the Environment Committee.

 

4.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

No declarations of interest were received.

 

5.         REPORT ON PLAY AREAS:

The Clerk reported on the play areas owned and managed by the Parish Council.  She told Members that everything was fine except for a few outstanding things which needed doing.

Resolved:       that the report be noted.

 

6.         ADDITIONAL NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT FOR OLDER CHILDREN:

The Clerk reported that the Area Committee of the City Council had agreed to fund £4,000 towards the project so long as metal equipment was used.  Cllr Pat Lott reported that the Committee of the City Council that decided the outcome of the grant application for grants for parished areas, was meeting shortly. The Clerk showed Members pictures of both a trim trail and a fitness trail.  Members discussed the need to see both types of equipment before decisions were made.

 

Resolved:       that the Clerk contact play equipment companies to ask for locations where equipment can be seen.

 

 

 

7.         BEST KEPT GARDEN COMPETITION:

The Clerk reported that she had received only two offers of help with judging of the competition, following a request in the last newsletter.  Members discussed the lack of interest and whilst they did not want to stop the competition they agreed that the Parish Council had tried everything possible to keep it going in recent years.  Cllr John Butler proposed that the competition not go ahead this year and an item be put in the next newsletter explaining the situation.  Cllr Butler said that he felt if people were interested they would then get in touch.  This was seconded by Cllr Chris Reeve.

Members voted as follows:

 

                        For                   3

                        Against 1

                        Abstained         4

 

Resolved:       that the competition not take place this year and an item be put in the next newsletter.

 

8.       TREE AND BULB PLANTING:

Members discussed the success of last years planting at Wealstone Lane.  Cllr Robert

Thompson told Members that the Parish Council had wanted to enhance the area,

especially on the roads at the main entrances to the area.  He reported that unfortunately

there were problems in doing this as it involved the County Council.  Members

discussed not doing any tree of bulb planting this year but carrying forward the budget

to next year when it may be possible to involve the new unitary authority.

 

Members also discussed the idea of enhancing the roundabout at Chester Zoo.  Cllr

Robert Thompson reported that the staff at the Zoo, were very keen to be involved in this and that they were liaising with Cheshire Highways, although it was not clear where this project was up to.  Cllr Jean Evans suggested that a competition might be held for artists to come up with ideas for a sculpture for the roundabout.  Cllr Evans also advised that she would try to arrange a meeting with the Zoo to discuss this project.  Cllr John Butler suggested that the company who are going to develop at the Countess Hospital could be asked to contribute towards this project.

 

Resolved:       (a)        that Cllr Jean Evans arrange a meeting with Dr Gordon Reid.

(b)        that the budget for tree and bulb planting be carried over to next year.

9.         CORRESPONDENCE:

No correspondence was received.  Cllr Gill Jordan did advise Members that there had

been problems on Wealstone Lane Playing Fields recently with young people on a motorbike and also children playing golf.  The Clerk reported that the attendants would deal with this if they were on duty, but that as this had happened later in the evening nothing had been done at the time.

 

Resolved:       that the report be noted.

 

6 .        DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

Resolved:       that the date be set at a later time.