| EC100 |
Minutes of a Meeting of the Wickhambrook Parish Council Estates
Committee
8th March 2005 at 7.30 p.m. in the MSC Pavilion |
| Present |
ACTION |
Cllrs. J. Walker, A. Harrison, K.
Merritt, P. Bevan
P. Miller
Clerk P. Miller
1. Apologies for absence
None received.
2. Declarations of interest
in agenda items
No declarations.
3. Minutes of meeting of
4th January 2005
The previously issued minutes were taken as read and signed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Minute 11.1. The Clerk tabled a letter to A. Mitchell and
a response which confirmed that due to other commitments he
had not been able to carry out inspection of the six acres and
greens.
4.2 Minute 11.3. The Clerk reported that he had not written
to the school as monitoring of the parking situation had indicated
that since the school parking area had been lined out use of
the grassed area had stopped as indicated by the headteacher
in an earlier discussion.
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5. Finance
The following payment were approved:
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| 5.1.1 |
131 |
EIBE |
Balance of Teen Project costs |
4,732.00 |
No.2a/c |
| 5.1.2 |
1157 |
Bowls Club |
Green refurbishment
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305.01 |
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| 5.1.3 |
1160 |
Saxon Monumental |
Churchyard headstones maintenance |
117.50 |
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6. Tree Warden’s Report by Cllr.
Bevan
6.1 Seven trees had been received. Four had been given to the
school and three had been potted pending planting around the
village.
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PB |
| 6.2 Funding scheme information had been passed to the school
with a view to replacing the chestnut tree in the playground
which had been felled on safety grounds. |
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7. Cemetery
7.1 Safety inspections. In the absence of P. Bayman no report
was available.
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| 8. Churchyard |
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| 8.1 Safety inspections. Cllr. Bevan confirmed that inspections
would be carried out as scheduled. |
PB |
| 8.2 Overhanging trees. Will be addressed on forthcoming maintenance
day. |
PB |
8.3 Headstone safety. The Clerk confirmed that he had inspected
the headstones after they had been re-installed and found them
to be satisfactory. However he had identified one broken headstone
missed on the previous inspection and had laid it down for safety.
8.4 Conservation area. Cllr. Bevan and the Clerk reported that
inspection earlier in the year had shown heavy weed growth which
could present a hazard to visitors to the graves in the area.
The area had not become populated by wild flora and fauna and
an inspection by Suffolk Wildlife Trust had shown “nothing
of value”. It was resolved that as the area had not achieved
its conservation purpose it should be cleared and in future
mown in keeping with the rest of the churchyard. The grounds
contractor to be requested to add this to the quote for the
2005 contract. It was suggested that bulb/wild flower planting
might be considered at a future date. |
PB/Clerk |
9. Playground
9.1 Safety inspections.
9.1.1 Local inspection. In the absence of J. Shaw no report
was available.
9.1.2 Borough inspection. The Clerk presented a report on the
annual safety inspection. This identified some issues but these
were already in hand. There were no urgent safety issues. An
attached access audit indicated access to the site to be poor
but improvement is already under consideration (see minute 9.3).
9.2 Maintenance.
9.2.1 Roundabout. The contractor had experienced difficulty
in obtaining the required material for the seats but hoped to
be able to complete the replacement shortly. The condition of
the seats, though poor, does not represent a hazard and was
not identified in the Borough safety inspection.
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| EC101 |
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| 9.3 Access. The Clerk presented an estimate for the provision
of a tarmac path from the car park via a dropped curb to the
two entrances to the play area with offshoot into the gateways.
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| 10. Teen Project |
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10.1 Safety inspections.
10.1.1 Local inspection. The Clerk reported that he had carried
out regular inspections. No safety issues had been noted.
10.1.2 Borough inspection. The Clerk presented a report on the
annual safety inspection. No safety issues were identified but
a water retention problem on the jumpbox would again be referred
to the equipment supplier. An attached access audit indicated
access to the site to be poor but improvement is already under
consideration (see minute 10.2). |
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10.2 Access. The Clerk presented an estimate for continuation
of the path from the playground (see minute 9.3) to the skatepark
with an offshoot to the entrance to the ball games area. It
was noted that the estimate was based on this path being installed
separately from the playground path but that some saving would
result if all work is carried out at the same time. It was agreed
in principle that a path should be provided while recognising
that the cost was such that grant support would need to be sought.
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Clerk |
| 11. Six Acres |
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11.1 Inspections. P. Miller reported that the bottom part
was severely waterlogged. The small goals did not appear to
be being used for organised games but this would be monitored.
11.2 Carnival 5-a-side. In response to a letter from the Carnival
Committee it was confirmed that approval cannot be given for
the 5-a-side football match to take place on the six-acres as
it would contravene to the terms of the Parish Council’s
Public Liability insurance.
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Clerk |
12. Village Greens
12.1 Inspections. P. Miller reported.
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PM |
12.1.1 Attleton Green. Soil heaped at rear and some builders
waste adjacent. Further vehicle damage at front corner.
12.1.2 Coltsfoot Green. Rutting indicates that motorbike had
been ridden on green but not a safety issue. A vehicle was being
parked on the non-barriered part of the green – the Clerk
was instructed to contact the owner.
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Clerk |
12.1.3 Genesis Green. Deep vehicle rutting opposite phone
box, adjacent to field access.
12.1.4 Moor Green. Further road edge incursion resulting in
deep potholes. Potholes to be reported to Highways.
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Clerk |
| The Clerk reported that he had approved the line of the previously
agreed entrance to Clematis Cottage. |
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13. Grounds Maintenance
Contract quote awaited.
|
Clerk |
14. Date of next meeting
Tuesday 3rd May, 7.30 p.m., venue to be confirmed.
|
Clerk |
15. Date of subsequent meeting
To be arranged
16. Any other business
16.1 Almshouses. The Clerk reported that a request from the
United Charities for maintenance of the garden hedges and front
verge was being considered by the Parish Council but that he
had advised that it could create a precedent. If approved this
would probably come within the remit of the Estates Committee.
16.2 Historical signage of greens. The Clerk reported that Cllr.
Wilson was meeting with the History Society to progress this
and that at in due course it would probably be referred back
to the Estates Committee for approval.
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| Meeting closed at 8.50 p.m. |
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