Meeting of the Environment Committee
of the
Present: Cllr Jean Evans
(Chairman), Cllr John Butler,Cllr Gerald Grant, Cllr Bryan Smith
1. APOLOGIES:
Members expressed concern
that more than half the members of the committee had Not
attended when the date for the meeting was agreed at the last Parish Council
meeting.
Resolved: Apologies were received from Cllr Chris Reeve, Cllr Gill
Jordan, Cllr Pat Lott, Cllr Robert Thompson, Cllr David Savage and Cllr
Theresa Bartliff,
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
No
declarations of interest were received.
3. REPORT ON PLAY
AREAS:
The Clerk reported on the play areas owned and
managed by the Parish Council. The Clerk
also reported that some repairs were being undertaken at Wealstone Lane Play
Area and that a tree had fallen in the old pitch and putt area.
Resolved: that the reports be noted.
4. TREES AT
The
Clerk informed Members that the cost of pollarding all the poplar trees at Marl
Heyes would be £2,800 but that the owner of the adjacent land should be
approached to share the costs due to the trees being on the boundary. She also informed Members that the Tree
Officer had advised that a few trees could be done each year rather than all
together.
The
Clerk informed Members that the cost of removing the sycamore trees alongside
the tennis courts was £450 if the owners of the care home, who owned the
adjacent land, would agree to the debris being kept in their wildlife area
rather than carted away.
Resolved: (a) that money be put in the budget for next year to
pollard some of the poplar trees at Marl Heyes and that the Clerk contact the
adjacent land owner for a contribution.
(b) that
money be put in the budget for remove the sycamore trees at the tennis courts
and that the Clerk contact the adjacent land owner.
5. COMMUNITY
PRIDE COMPETITION:
Members
discussed the marks given for this year’s competition and also considered
setting up a small to look over areas before the judging is done next year.
Resolved: that the small
committee be discussed at the next Parish Council meeting.
6. RE-SURFACING
OF THE TENNIS COURTS:
The
Clerk reported that the Tennis Club had informed her that they may be able to
obtain a grant of £10,000 towards an artificial grass surface for the tennis
courts. Quotations had been sought and
the full costs would be in the region of £20,000 and the Parish Council would
have to find the remainder. Members were
unsure that this stage of whether enough money could be put into the budget to
do the work next year, but agreed that as much money as possible should be put
towards this project.
Resolved: that consideration
be given for this project when setting the budget for 2010/11.
7. CHRISTMAS
TREE:
The
Clerk reported that Cllr Jill Houlbrook had informed her that some of the Area
Board Members wished to donate money to the Parish Council to put up one or two
Christmas trees in the area. The Clerk
told Members that she had gathered lots of information from other Parish
Councils and possible costs. Initially
putting up a tree would cost in the region of £2,000 to £3,000 due to electrical
connection, licences, ground preparation etc.
The
Clerk told Members that there was not enough time this year to complete the
work required and that Cllr Jill Houlbrook had asked if the matter could be
discussed during next year for Christmas 2010.
Resolved: that this
matter be discussed at a later date.
8. CHARGES
FOR FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE PARISH COUNCIL:
Members
discussed charges currently made and several changes were suggested.
Resolved: that the
attached list of charges for 2010/11 be put to the Parish Council.
9. COMMITTEE’S
BUDGET REQUIREMENTS FOR 2010/11:
Members
discussed budget requirements. It was
decided not to include an amount for the tennis court re-surfacing at this
stage, but to leave this to the Finance Committee to consider when setting
their final budget.
Resolved: that the attached
draft budget be put to the Finance Committee.
10. CORRESPONDENCE:
The
Clerk reported on an email from Welsh Water asking if the Parish Council wished
to claim compensation for the disturbance during the works at Wealstone Lane
Playing Fields.
The
Clerk also reported that Dr Martin Carey, Project Manager, wanted a meeting to
be set up with the Youth Club to discuss the Community Building Project.
Resolved: (a) that the Clerk contact Welsh Water and
confirm that the Parish Council would like to be compensated.
(b) that a meeting be arranged for 6.30pm on
Tuesday 15th December 2009.
11. DATE
OF NEXT MEETING:
Resolved: that the date be set at a later time.