UPTON BY CHESTER & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL

Meeting of the Playing Fields Committee of the Upton by Chester & District Parish Council held on Tuesday 22nd November 2005 at the Pavilion, Wealstone Lane.

Present:          Cllr Jean Evans (Chairman), Cllr. Gerald Grant, Cllr Patricia Lott, Cllr Caroline Mosley, Cllr Liz Warrington.

 

Also present:              Tim Metcalfe, Principal Access Officer,

                                    Chester City Council.

 

1.         APOLOGIES:

 

Apologies were received from Cllr Bryan Smith, Cllr John Cliffe, Cllr Phil Pearn,

Cllr Chris Reeve, Cllr Robert Thompson, and Cllr Gill Jordan.

 

2.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

 

No declarations were received.

 

3.         TO DISCUSS NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT AT WEALSTONE LANE PLAY AREA:

 

The Clerk reported that a contract had to be drawn up and signed between WREN and the Parish Council with regard the grant of £20,000 from WREN.

 

Resolved:       that the Clerk sign the contract on behalf of the Parish Council.

 

Three schemes had been received by the Parish Council from three contractors showing the play equipment they would recommend and supply for £72,000.  Members then discussed the comments made by the User Group who studied these schemes at the meeting held on 10th November 2005 as follows:

 

Scheme One – It was unanimously felt that this scheme was the least favourite as it had far less equipment and was very traditional and not at all challenging.

 

Scheme Two – Although it was unanimously felt that this scheme provided a lot of equipment, it was not dissimilar from the present equipment and did not appear to be either challenging or provide play opportunities for 8 to 12 year olds.

 

Scheme Three – This was unanimously the preferred scheme as it was felt that the equipment was innovative and adventurous.  There was concern raised however, that the younger children’s equipment was not challenging enough and that the proposal to put the cradle swings within the older children’s play area was not suitable.

 

The Clerk then presented Members with Scheme Four which had only been received that day.  It was felt that this scheme, like Scheme One had far less equipment and was not very challenging.

 

 

The Clerk reported that following the User Group meeting she had obtained a quotation from the Scheme Three contractor to change the younger children’s multi-play unit for a more challenging one and also to add two cradle swings to the younger children’s play area.  The additional cost for this would be £4,500, but the Clerk also reported that the City Council would again be contributing £4,170 to the Parish Council to offset double rating issues and that this had not yet been taken into account with the budget put forward by the Finance Committee.

 

The Chairman then reported to Members on a visit by herself and the Clerk to Dorin Park School where a number of teachers and children had viewed three of the schemes.  She reported that the school understood that a number of the pieces of equipment were deemed as integrated play but felt that some of their children would still be unable to use it.  They suggested that there should be an item of equipment more suitable to severely disabled children and referred to a fully inclusive roundabout which could accommodate wheelchairs.  The Clerk reported that the cost of installing this type of roundabout would be in the region of £8,500. Members felt that the installation of this roundabout at this time was not possible within the finance available and that this could be added at a later date. Tim Metcalfe reported that the City Council had a DDA budget and that an application could be made for monies towards this.  He also reported that WREN were always keen to fund successive schemes.

 

Resolved:       that the fully inclusive roundabout could be a development opportunity for the future.

 

 The Clerk also reported that a fully inclusive swing seat was available to which a harness could be attached that would be used by both disabled and able bodied children.  The cost of this swing with a harness was £420.

 

Members then considered seating for the area and looked at the brochure and samples of seating made from recycled plastic bottles.  Members agreed that there should be plenty of seating in the area and that the two present seats should remain and that a further bench and picnic table which can be used by wheelchairs should be added.  The cost of the extra bench and picnic table would be £635.  Members also agreed that the colour of the new benches should be a bright colour and blue was chosen.  The Chairman reported that she had been advised of a possible source of grant funding which could be applied for to put in the seating and Tim Metcalfe indicated that some funding for this could also be found from the City Council and asked that the Clerk send him a letter of request.

 

Recommended:          taking into account the express views of the User Group and also Members present, that the following                                               proposed option be put to the next Parish Council meeting:

 

            That Scheme Three with amendments be accepted                                £76,500

            That a fully inclusive swing seat be purchased                            £     420

            That a bench and picnic table be purchased                                           £     635

                                                            Total                                                   £77,555

 

            Less  - Grant from WREN, City Council, Lottery          £40,000

                        Double Rating offset from City Council  £  4,170                                              

                        Parish Council earmarked capital                      £20,000           £64,170

 

 

This leaves £13,385 required from the Parish Council from next year’s budget instead of the £12,000 currently proposed.  As the budget for the next financial year currently stands this would result in an increase of £901 on the previous year’s precept.  Some of this increase may be offset by a successful application for grant funding for the new seating.

 

Tim Metcalfe informed Members that the proposal being recommended was excellent in terms of disability as many of the items of equipment were accessible and integrated.  He added that the addition of the fully inclusive swing and possible installation of a fully inclusive roundabout at a later date, would be beneficial due to the proximity of a local school for disabled children.  He stated that as this play area was in a public open space and mainly unsupervised, no further requirement for specialised disabled equipment would be expected.

 

4.         DOG WALIKING AREA BY TEEN SHELTER:

 

Members were reminded that a local resident had raised this issue at the last Parish Council meeting.  She had reported that there was often broken glass around the teen shelter which was directly in the allocated area for dog walking.  Members discussed how to overcome this problem.

 

Resolved:       (a)        that the Clerk ask the attendants to ensure that broken glass is removed from both the teen shelter and the                                     surrounding area.

                        (b)        that an item be placed in the next newsletter informing residents that when walking their dogs they should                                      cut across the field away from the teen shelter if necessary.

 

5.         DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

 

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