/ Stow-on-the-Wold Town Council
Stow Youth Centre, Fosseway, Stow-on-the-Wold,
Gloucestershire GL54 1DW
Caroline Doran - Town Clerk and RFO
t. 01451 832 585
Minutes / Parks and Square Committee Meeting
held on Thursday 24 July 2014 at 7pm
Present / Cllr. Mike Curtis
Cllr. Alun White
Cllr. Ben Eddolls Cllr. Chris Turner
Cllr. Simon Clarke
Jack Baggott / (MC)
(AW)
(BE)(CT)
(SC) (JB) / Chairman
Bill Cheston (BC)
John Perks (JP) / Cricket Club
Allotments Association
PS14.1 / Apologies
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr.R.Jonesand Cllr. S.Green.
PS14.2 / Declarations of Interest
None
PS14.3 / Minutes of Last Meeting
Resolvedthat the minutes of the Parks & Square Committee Meeting held on 22 May 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman of the Council
Proposed- MC. All in agreement
PS14.4 / Matters Arising
Cricket Club - wheely bin.SG was to contact Ashley Andrews about finding a member of the club to take responsibility for taking the bin out for collection and returning it to the pavilion. BC thought it was a good idea. JB has a bin. / SG
PS14.5 / Agenda Items
Rospa Report - quote for parts
It was noticed that in the quote for parts from Wicksteed’s the cost for paint was omitted and installation was not included.
Resolved that Steve Harris was to be asked to provide suitable paint and undertake the repairs.
Proposed - MC / Seconded -CT / All in agreement
/ Clerk
PS14.6
A1.
A2
A3
A4 / List of Work
MC, SC and SG have drawn up a list of work following a walkabout meeting and have proposed priorities, dependent on
a) agreement on what works needs to be done and
b) cost estimates to be agreed by Finance Committee.
Bins x 3
- A quotation for Glasdon bins, £325 inc VAT each has been received.
- Sue Pointing and Claire Blizzard from CDC are happy with the proposed locations – (by the gate on Swell Road and by the Talbot Kissing Gate). They were also happy for a bin to be sited along Back Walls.
Proposed - MC / All in agreement
North side of QE2 field – tree canopies
- See item C. MDH quoted £850.00 + VAT to carry out a condition survey of trees on QE2 Field and four other identified area.
- JP mentioned that the allotments would be happy to receive any chippings.
Fence belongs to Abbotswood and is being damaged by adjacent trees.
Resolved Councillors to meet with land agents (Fines & Law) to discuss maintenance
All in agreement
Silver Birch Wood
- BC expressed concern about the loss of view as the trees have grown.
- See item C. Arboriculturalist to be consulted and then quotes to be obtained to carry out thinning and canopy raising work.
MC
A5
A6 & A7
A8
A9 / Wall by bottom kissing gate
The wall needs repairing. This is the Town Councils responsibility. It was suggested that repairing the wall could be in the region of £150/m
Resolved
Clerk to get quotes for repairs from Stephen Jones, Garry Gardiner.
CT to contact Glos,CC Training Dept. (See also item A7)
All in agreement
Wall along Talbot Close & wall along bottom of field
The grass is overgrown adjacent to the wall.
Resolved to accept the £360 quote from CGS to mow the area.
Proposed - CT / Seconded -BE / All in agreement
Wall along Swell Road The wall needs repairing and ivy removing in the area between the kissing gate and the middle gate.
Resolved to get quotes at the same time as item A5
All in agreement
Trees and overgrown area by Cotswold Heights
Resolved to accept the £225quote from CGS to clear the area.
Proposed - MC / Seconded -CT / All in agreement
/ Clerk CT
Clerk
Clerk
CT
Clerk
A10 / Gates from Properties in Cotswold Heights
BC, whose property is adjacent to the QE2 Field, gave a history of boundary changes and gates onto the field.
The options discussed were:
a) To challenge openings on to the field – this could be costly.
b) Leave things as they are – this might lead to residents getting a legal right of way which could be registered and then the Council would have no rights.
c) Allow an informal arrangement to remain but retain control by closing the access to field one day a year – residents to agree.
Resolved MC, CT & AW to talk to residents by 7th August
Proposed - MC / Seconded -CT / All in agreement
SC pointed out that a similar situation exists at King Georges Field.
Resolved
a)To see if residents have been consulted already by letter
b)Find out how many gates there are.
Depending on the above MC, CT & AW to talk to residents
All in agreement
/ MC
AW
CT
Clerk
A11 / Cricket Club
Bill Cheston, cricket club fund raiser,described the proposed improvement to the pavilion He has emailed a power point presentation which was circulated but had not been received by all members.
His proposal are to:
a)Make a change to the lease by handing over an overgrown area (see A9) to the Council.
b)Raise money to erecting a lean-to onto the pavilion for the storage of equipment and carry out other repairs.
MC expressed the Councils desire to help the Cricket Club, all agreed.
It was suggested that in principle approx.£2000 might be pledged if it could be match funded. JB asked if the Cricket Club had a committee. BG admitted that there was a treasurer but no formal committee at present. CT offered to be a committee member.
Resolved That in principle the Council could offer up to £2000 subject to further details and match funding
Proposed - CT / Seconded -MC / All in agreement
C / Tree Specialist
Quotes have been sought to carry out a condition survey on the trees in:
a)The QE2 Field
b)King Georges Field
c)Sheep Street & Park Street
d)Wraggs Row
e)The Allotments
Due to the short notice only one quote has been received (based on limited information) from MDH Forestry Services Ltd for £850.00 + VAT.
Resolved That approximately £1000 be put aside for a tree condition survey to be carried out.
All in agreement
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JB noted the time. It was decided to quickly cover some of the remaining agenda items and leave the rest until next time.
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PS14.7 / Monarchs Way
Resolved MC, JB & CT are to talk with the Brethren.
All in agreement
/ MC JB
CT
PS14.8 / Square – Christmas Lights
MC & CT to meet the contractor about the lights on 1 August to ascertain the options on the cost of replacement lights.
SC informed the meeting that Martin Elliot has offered a Christmas tree but collection would need to be organised. / MC
CT
PS14.9 / QE2 Field
Following the legal review of the village green application:
Resolved
That the Town Council would publish a statement regarding its intentions for the QE2 Field. MC to draft statement.
Blooms invoice be requested.
All in agreement
/ MC
Clerk
PS14.10 / Wraggs Row
SC has hacked back the overgrown area.
Resolved to obtain a quote from CGS to raise the crown of the lime tree and remove the shrubs.
All in agreement
/ Clerk
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JB left the meeting
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PS14.11 / Allotment Hedge
JP reported that the hedge to the allotments needed cutting
PS14.12 / Sheep Street Trees
Resolved to ask CGS if they could carry out the pollarding of the trees asap. Otherwise to ask Bob Skillen if he could find someone to do the work - £600 suggested
All in agreement
/ Clerk
TP14.13
1.
2.
3. / Any Other Business:
CT reported that Rowlenson’s Solicitors had agreed that Stow owned the freehold of the square. They are to provide a quote for registering 5 other areas of land.
Well Lane Verges - Have been cut.
Request to discuss at the next meeting the fees for the allotment which are due for renewal next year.
The meeting closed at 8.45
Next meeting will beThursday 4 September 2014 at 7pm
Signed ………………………………………………………
Date …………………………………………………………
Councillor Michael Curtis
Chairman of the Parks and Square Committee