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LYTCHETT MINSTER & UPTON TOWN COUNCIL

A MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE was held in the Council Chamber, 1 Moorland Parade, Moorland Way on TUESDAY the 25 SEPTEMBER 2012 and commenced at 7.30 p.m.

PRESENT: Councillor R Griffin (in the Chair)

Councillor Mrs M Pryor

Councillor P F Johns

Councillor F H Drane

Councillor F Rickard

Councillor P Rusling

Councillor J R Burns

Councillor Mrs L Wright

Councillor M Dodds

Councillor J C Small (V/Chairman of Council)

Also in attendance: Karen Wright, Town Clerk

Barbara Lake, Office Manager

156/12 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:

There were no declarations of interest and apologies for absence were received from:

Councillor Mrs J M Richards (holiday)

Councillor J Whippey (holiday)

157/12 CLERKS REPORT:

a)  Minute 318/11 Jubilee Garden Improvements. The steel fencing is now in production.

b)  Minute 319/11 Roundabout Sponsorship. Investigations will be made with DCC regarding the possible sponsorship of the Creekmoor roundabout. It was suggested that the Union Flag on the Bakers Arms roundabout be replaced with a Quality Town flag and quotes for this will be obtained.

c)  Minute 366/11 Best Kept Front Garden Competition 2012. Two entries have been received for the Autumn judging and these were passed to Upton In Bloom. It was suggested that in future awards should be presented in place of a competition.

d)  Minute 21/12 Old Kiln Road/Factory Road Parking Issues. No further information. This will be pursued with DCC.

e)  Minute 24/12 Trailway South. It was reported that a very successful day clearing the trailway took place.

f)  Minute 64/12 Pedestrian Crossing at Blandford Road. Cllr Drane will pursue.

g)  Minute 108/12 Proposed Cycleway along Poole Road. This will be pursued with DCC.

h)  Minute 109/12 Maintenance of Limberlost All work has been completed by Tappers although it was reported that the area still requires weeding.

continued…………………….

157/12 CLERKS REPORT:(Cont)

i)  Minute 115/12 Seat Sponsorship. DCC do not own the grass at the bottom of Moorland Way and Wessex Water have not yet responded. Other possible sites for the location of the seat were considered and DCC will be contacted regarding the grass recess area on Moorland Way. If they have no objection to a seat being sited there the sponsor will be contacted to ascertain whether this location is suitable.

158/12 CORRESPONDENCE:

a)  Information was received from DCC regarding Part Night Street Lighting and the committee had no objection to the proposals.

b)  An e-mail was received from a resident congratulating the Town Council on the work undertaken at Lytchett Bay View and suggesting some community work parties to carry out further work. (See Minute 159/12). An item to discuss this further will be included on the Agenda of the next Environment committee meeting and in the interim Cllr Griffin will arrange to meet with the resident.

159/12 TO DISCUSS VOLUNTEER WORKING PARTY:

After discussion it was agreed that volunteer working parties should be set up to maintain open spaces in the town such as Lytchett Bay View, Meadows Garden, Hop Close etc. and the Clarion will be approached with a view to placing a front page colour advertisement. Adverts for support will also be placed on the Town Council notice boards, the website, and on the sites concerned. It was suggested that an A5 leaflet be produced for distribution to every household subject to a possible financial contribution from the Beacon Project and Upton In Bloom. The Clerk will clarify the situation with regard to volunteers being covered by Town Council Insurance.

160/12 TO DISCUSS MAINTENANCE OF MEADOWS GARDEN/JUBILEE GARDEN:

See Minute 159/12.

161/12 TO RECEIVE UPDATE ON RECENT FUNDING APPLICATION FOR BOARDWALK AT LYTCHETT BAY VIEW:

Cllr Griffin met on site with a representative from Virador but no decision has been received to date.

162/12 TO RECEIVE COMMITTEE FINANCIAL UPDATE:

The committee financial update was received and agreed.

163/12 REPORTS ON AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM CHAMPIONS:

Roads and Pavements

Cllr P Rusling

The pavements in Beacon Park Road have been resurfaced.

Waste and Recycling Report

Cllr P F Johns

Dorset Waste Partnership

As a member of the DWP Liaison Panel Cllr Johns reported that the Panel is considering his proposal for renegotiation of the September 2013 SITA waste collection contract end date to allow a possible earlier start date for the “recycle for Dorset” scheme in the Purbeck District. Cllr Johns also reported that a new anaerobic digester plant is in operation at Piddlehinton. The plant processes food and farm waste to produce green energy. The anaerobic digester is the system proposed by Cllr Johns in place of the mass burn incinerator that Dorset County wanted to build at Holton Heath about 15 years ago.

continued…………………….

163/12 REPORTS ON AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY FROM CHAMPIONS:(Cont)

Street Furniture

Cllr Mrs L Wright

None. It was reported that the Keep Upton Tidy group are accessing funds for additional litter bins and a dog waste bin.

Open Spaces

Lytchett Bay View

Cllr J Whippey

None.

Limberlost

Cllr J Whippey

None.

Jubilee Garden

Cllr J Small

None.

St. Martins Park

Cllr J C Small

None.

Meadows Garden

Cllr Mrs J M Richards

It will be ascertained whether PDC contractors have been asked to empty the bins at this location.

Open Access Issues

Cllr Mrs J M Richards

None.

Trees

Cllr J R Burns

None.

Overgrowing vegetation

Cllr F Rickard

None.

Lengthsman activities. None.

164/12 HIGHWAY MATTERS:

It was reported that temporary restrictions will be in place on the A35 Upton bypass for 5 weeks from 5 November – 9 December 2012 while work is carried out on the Policemans Lane bridge.

Top Gear have made a request to DCC for the closure of the eastbound sliproad from the A35 for approximately 2 hours between 10 am – 12 pm on Thursday 18 October 2012 to enable filming to take place.

165/12 RIGHTS OF WAY OFFICER’S REPORT:

The base of the fingerpost on the bridleway at Pony Drive is rotted and this has been referred to DCC Rights of Way.

166/12 TREE WARDEN’S REPORT:

See attached list.

continued…………………….

167/12 ITEMS OF REPORT AND MATTERS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS:

a)  Cllr Johns reported that the Grove Management Committee, strongly supported by Synergy Officers, has applied for a £10,000 grant from the ‘Awards for All’ lottery fund. The grant is to provide a new central heating system, Grove Youth Club signs, external lighting and work to refurbish the toilets. Cllr Johns expressed concern about the repeated flooding that occurs at the entrance to the Youth Club. The broken rain water gutters and down pipe at the Pavilion increases the flooding problem and are causing serious damage to part of the Pavilion roof timbers. In addition the management committee asked if the council could raise the paving slabs or reroute the path to the Youth Club entrance in order to allow access to the club when the car park is flooded. It was agreed that the council will investigate these problems.

b)  Cllr Johns reported the prolific growth of Himalayan Balsam weed around the Bakers Arms area and in the drainage ditches and streams to the south of the Upton Bypass. He had reported this potential problem to the Environment Agency but as this weed is not currently listed as a dangerous plant the Agency could not take action to curtail its growth.

c)  It was reported that an article about the Town Council Celebratory Evening has appeared in the Bournemouth Echo.

d)  A request was received for the issue of car parking to be raised with other government bodies and this will be included as an item on the Agenda of the next Environment meeting.

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.00 pm.

Chairman…………………………………..

Date………………………………………..