UPTON BY CHESTER & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL

Meeting of the Playing Fields Committee of the Upton by Chester & District Parish Council held on Monday 11th June 2007 at the Pavilion, Wealstone Lane.

Present:          Cllr Jean Evans (Chairman), Cllr John Butler, Cllr Peter Griffiths, Cllr Pat Lott and Cllr Gill Jordan.

           

Also present:              4 Members of the Upton Bowling Clubs.

           

1.         APOLOGIES:

Apologies were received from Cllr Caroline Mosley, Cllr Chris Reeve, Cllr Bryan Smith, Cllr Theresa Bartliff, Cllr Gerald Grant.

 

Resolved:       that the apologies be noted.

 

2.         TO ELECT A CHAIRMAN FOR THE ENSURING YEAR:

Cllr John Butler moved that Cllr Jean Evans be elected Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing year.  This was seconded by Cllr Pat Lott.  No other nominations were received.

 

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

 

3.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

Cllr Gill Jordan declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 6.

 

4.         BOWLING GREEN FEES FOR CLUB USE:

Members of the three Upton Bowling Clubs informed Members of the problems they were having in raising members for their respective teams and due to this they were unable to pay £640 requested by the Parish Council for the use of the Greens.  The Bowling Club members asked for a reduction in fees of £340 and that in turn they would reduce club time on the bowling green.

 

Members briefly discussed the future of the green and all felt that it was important that everything possible was done to try to increase the usage of the green.  The Clerk reported that the City Council were currently looking to spend money to bring all of its bowling greens back up to standard, but that the Parish Council would have to pay for works at Wealstone Lane.  The Chairman said that she felt that the Parish Council would not be in a position to spend vast sums of money on the green and that perhaps the way forward would be to work with other bowling greens in the area.  She said that in the meantime however it would be good to set up a photo opportunity with the local press to raise awareness in the area.

 

Cllr John Butler proposed that the fees be set at £400 and that the Bowling Clubs keep the same usage of the green.  This was seconded by Cllr Gill Jordan.

 

Resolved:       that the fees for 2007/08 be changed to £400.

 

 

 

5.         TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON PLAY AREAS:

The Clerk reported on the following areas:

Greenfields – There was a small amount of litter.

Marl Heyes – The area was tidy except for a den that had been built in the bushes at the rear of Spar.  The Clerk reported that this was being seen to by Chester City Council.

Chemistry Pits – The area was tidy.

Wealstone Lane – ‘No alcohol’ signs had been erected, but these were being ignored and a den had been built in the hedges by the play area.  Cllr Pat Lott asked if the replacement litter bin at the teen shelter was still being done.  The Clerk reported that she would send a reminder to the City Council.

 

The Clerk reported that a sum of money had been put into the budget to pay for signs around all of the areas that the Parish Council owned and that Cllr Jill Houlbrook had been told by the Area Committee that a grant may also be available if quotations were submitted.

 

Resolved:       that the Clerk make of list of the signs and appropriate working required for the Playing Fields to discuss.

 

6.         PAVILION:

The Clerk reported that Urban Hope and Chester & District Housing Trust were in the process of forming a project team to look at Marl Heyes and that they would shortly be informing residents of possible proposals for the area.  The Clerk also reported that the grant application to WREN had been unsuccessful.  She also reported that Urban Hope wanted to set up a meeting with Upton Youth Club to discuss the project.

 

Cllr Peter Griffiths asked if all local residents surrounding Marl Heyes could have a letter delivered, explaining the possible project, as soon as the Housing Trust residents had been spoken to.

 

Resolved:       (a)        that the Clerk set up a meeting with Upton Youth Club.

(b)        that the Clerk contact Urban Hope to discuss sending a letter to local residents of Marl Heyes.

 

9.         CORRESPONDENCE:

The Chairman reported that she had received a telephone call from a local resident who had been to visit her husband’s grave at Holy Ascension Churchyard and found the area in an awful state and the grass very long, which had upset her.  The Chairman reported that the City Council now had responsibility for the area and that the current grounds maintenance specification only included strimming once a month which was not enough.  The Chairman told Members that she would visit the site herself and take the matter further with the City Council.

Cllr John Butler informed members that the local Churches were organising a ‘litter picking day’ shortly, but did not have the details.

 

Resolved:       that the Clerk write to Reverend Sayle of Holy Ascension Church to request more details of the event.

 

10.       DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

Resolved:       to be decided at the next Parish Council meeting.