Minutes of the Amenities Committee held on September 20th 2017

Present: Cllrs Riddle, Whittaker, Custance, Laxton, Gadsby, Ashley, Mulcrone, Parkes, and Janet Spencer (Tree Warden) and 4 members of the public.

Prior to the meeting an allotment holder spoke about the condition of one of the allotments at St Judith’s and asked that the tenancy should be ended.

1 / Apologies For Absence – Cllr Tuplin
2 / Minutes of Last Meeting – June 21st 2017 – previously circulated
3 / Matters Arising From Previous Minutes (for information only) – none
4 / Members’ Declaration Of Interest for items on the Agenda:
A Councillor should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends. They must declare any interests and relationships.
None
5 / Sawtry Sports and Leisure Association:
The Clerk updated the committee on the removal of the skip. The two large contractors in the area will not remove another company’s skip even though they are no longer trading. It was noted that smaller companies may remove it if they can keep the skip. It was agreed that it is the responsibility of the SSLA to arrange for this to be removed. The Parish Council should not incur any costs.
6 / Allotments:
6.1 St Judith’s – update attached – Appendix 1
6.1.1 Request from plot holders for fence alongside public footpath – deferred to allow for a visit to the site by committee members
6.2 The Mulberries – update attached – Appendix 1
The Clerk advised that the legal process has started for the Parish Council to take over The Mulberries allotments.
It was agreed to recommend to Full Council that 100 numbers for identifying individual plots are purchased at a cost of £74.
7 / 7.1 Green Spaces
7.1.1 To agree contractor for annual tree survey – current contractor Global Tree Solutions – it was agreed to recommend to Full Council that they continue with Global Tree Solutions
7.1.2 HDC – Replacement of Dog Control Orders – it was noted that there would be no change to the current orders in Sawtry
7.1.3 Request from resident in Rockingham Road for ditch at back of their property that borders St Judith’s Field to be cleared out as weeds causing them problems – it was agreed to recommend to Full Council that the ditch should be cleared including the weeds and hedges the ditch side of properties. Quotes to be presented to Full Council in October for appointment of contractor so that the work can be carried out before the ground gets too wet.
7.1.4 Provision of Christmas tree on The Green – Cllr Mulcrone advised that he is still investigating the possibilities; no conclusion can be reached for this year.
7.1.5 To consider design for siting gym equipment for St Judith’s Field – deferred to allow the committee to visit the site
7.2 Play Areas
7.2.1 To agree Wicksteed Leisure to carry out annual playground assessment and risk reports – at a cost of £60 – it was agreed to recommend to Full Council that Wicksteed are contracted again.
7.2.2 Current list of play equipment – noted
7.3 Cemeteries:
7.3.1 St Andrews – offer from scouts to help with tree planting – the tree warden confirmed that the offer from the explorer scouts was to help with any tree planting in the village. It was agreed that when the Alders are purchased for St Andrews they will be taken up on their offer.
7.3.2 Future planning – sites for benches (from Full Council) – it was noted that Cllr Alexander is preparing a plan.
8 / Tree Warden Report:
  • The copse at Beaumaris Road will be thinned out
  • The Plum in Beaumaris needs work – the tree warden to give details to the Clerk for reporting to HDC who are responsible for trees in that area
  • It was noted that the Royal Oak on The Green is growing well and will need the lower branches trimming when the trunk is established
It was agreed that Janet Spencer could purchase compost to replenish the village planters in her work with Sheila Harland for Sawtry in Bloom. The invoice to be paid by the Parish Council.
9 / Strategic Planning/Future Projects:
Cllr Mulcrone advised that he is still investigating the possibility of purchasing a red telephone box for the village to use as a noticeboard.
10 / Financial Report – noted
11 / Date of next meeting – November 15th 2017 at 7.30pm

Appendix 1 – I Amenities Committee September 20th 2017 – Agenda Item – 6 – Allotments Update

Councillor Ashley (Lead Councillor for Allotments) and the Clerk visited both allotment sites on September 13th.

The Mulberries:

  • All the ground works have been completed
  • Grass paths have been sown and are growing
  • The plots have been marked out
  • We have tenants waiting to take them over
  • Chasing up HDC to complete the hand over from the developer to them, and then on to us
  • Aiming at 1st October start date for new tenancies – not yet confirmed

St Judith’s:

  • There are 46 plots in total – 2 one and a half size, 6 half size and the remainder full size
  • Three tenants have recently given up their allotments
  • Rents due by end of September, currently 13 have paid
  • As well as the 3 vacant plots another 8 have not been worked and it is recommended that their tenancies are not renewed
  • 10 of the plots will need a contractor to clear them
  • Recommend that more half plots are created to make them more manageable and therefore more likely to keep the tenants
  • Couple of complaints received from allotment holders at the top of the site regarding the condition of a lower allotment – on inspection it was agreed that one half is obviously being worked with a few weeds, the soil is well worked and looked after, the herb area needs tidying up, inside the fruit cage/netting area needs tidying – nettles, wood etc. No reason to consider ending the tenancy – untidy rather than unworked.

Allotments on both sites need numbering/re-numbering recommend that the long term solution would be the purchase of numbers that could be screwed into the marker posts – cost 0.74p per number from Homebase – total required 100 = £74 plus an amount for screws.