Meeting of the Playing
Fields and Environmental Initiatives Committee of the
Present: Cllr Jean Evans
(Chairman), Cllr Theresa Bartliff, Cllr John Butler, Cllr
David Capstick, Cllr Gerald Grant, Cllr Pat Lott,
Cllr Chris
Reeve and Cllr Bryan Smith
1. APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received from Cllr Gill
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
No
declarations of interest were received.
3. CHANGE OF NAME FOR COMMITTEES:
Members
discussed the new name for the combined Playing Fields Committee and
Environmental Initiatives Committee.
Resolved: that the
combined committees be now known as The Environment Committee.
3. REPORT ON PLAY AREAS:
The Clerk reported on the play areas owned and
managed by the Parish Council. She told
Members that there were problems with the surface of one of the tennis courts
and that during the week a gentleman had fallen. The Clerk produced photographs of the
gentleman’s injuries and also of where he had slipped. She reported that the ground maintenance
contractor was dealing with the matter.
The Clerk also reported that on Sunday a member of the tennis club had
cut down one of the sycamore trees and just left the debris on the surgery land
and that this had cost £130 to have removed.
Members stated that the person responsible should be asked to pay. The Clerk reported that the tennis club had
sent a letter apologising for this persons act and offering to pay the bill.
The Clerk reported that she had been given details
of a firm who specialised in jet washing wetpour in
play areas and that it was recommended that this be done every two years. Members discussed the necessity of this.
Resolved: (a) that the reports
be noted.
(b) that the Clerk
forward the bill for the removal debris from the sawn tree to the tennis club.
(c) that the Clerk
obtain a quotation for jet washing the wetpour in the play area for consideration for next year.
4. NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT FOR OLDER CHILDREN:
The
Clerk reported that she had received confirmation that the City Council were
going to provide the additional £5,000 funding for the equipment and also on
the quotations received for providing both trim trails and outdoor gym
equipment. The Clerk also told Members
of the advice she had been given by the Development Officer of Chester City
Council with regard to equipment standards being used at present by
manufacturers and also the need for having equipment that meets European
Standards. Members had a site meeting on
the field to discuss the location for the new equipment and which type of
equipment.
Resolved: that the Clerk obtain final quotation figures for outdoor gym
equipment at the next Parish Council meeting when the decision could be taken.
5. REPORT ON PAVILION ROOF:
The
Clerk reported that during the recent downpour of rain, the pavilion had been
flooded in both the main hall and the gents changing rooms. She had asked a contractor to fix the
problem. She reported that the
contractor had told her that the roof was no longer repairable and quite
dangerous and that the only thing he could do other than provide a new roof,
was to baton down some plastic to stop the water getting in. He had advised that this would not last for
long and that also the rest of the roof was in a poor state and likely to cause
problems.
The
Clerk reported that she had been advised that the Parish Council install signs
to indicate that the roof was dangerous, to cover themselves.
Resolved: (a) that
the report be noted.
(b) that the Clerk arrange for signs to be put in the pavilion windows.
6. ADOPTION OF BACHE RAILWAY:
The Clerk had received an
email requesting that Members get involved in adopting the local railway
station, but it came to light at the meeting that the email had been intended
for the local council of
7. DATE OF
NEXT MEETING:
Resolved: that the date be set at a later time.
Cllr John Butler asked if
the meeting could be informed of the events surrounding the land survey of Marl
Heyes,
that took place on Friday 19th September. The Clerk reported that she had been
telephoned by a local resident on Long Lane to inform her that work with
diggers was occurring on Marl Heyes and asking what
was happening. The Clerk then telephoned
the Housing Trust, as Dr Carey was out of the country and had left them with
the responsibility of overseeing everything.
Paul Knight of Chester & District Housing Trust told the Clerk that
he had asked a member of his staff to telephone her on Wednesday to inform her
of the land survey occurring on Friday but they failed to do so. He said that his Officers had visited the
residents in Marl Heyes on Thursday to inform them of
what was happening. The Clerk informed
Members that she amended the proposed letter that had been agreed at a previous
meeting, to indicate that it had been intended to let them know beforehand, but
that the Housing Trust had let the Parish Council down. This letter was then hand delivered to all
properties abutting Marl Heyes field on Tuesday 23rd
September by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Clerk.
Cllr John Butler proposed
that the Parish Council send a letter to the Housing Trust to inform them that
the Parish Council was not happy that this had occurred and hoped that steps
would be taken to ensure that it would not happen again.
Resolved: that the
Clerk write to Mr Knight of the Housing Trust.