RECREATION / LEISURE COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY 15TH MARCH 2010

Present:-            Cllr H. Wright (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr D. Bain, Cllr C. Dryden,

                          Cllr J. Godwin, Cllr D. Linney, Cllr C. Lofts, Cllr J. Lynch, Cllr D. Yates

1.           Apologies for Absence

Cllr J. Hart, Cllr M. Johns

2.           Declarations of Interest

None.

3.           Open to the Public

No members of the public were present.

4.           The Shires

              Adoption and Maintenance of Open Spaces

The Clerk will meet on site with Grant Perks of SNC and a representative of Persimmon Homes on 16th March to look at any maintenance issues on the areas due for adoption.  The Clerk will contact Nick King of Neighbourhood Watch prior to the meeting for details of any outstanding problems to be addressed, i.e. street lighting and litter.

The Clerk referred to the open area that remains in the ownership of the Hesketh Estate and the possibility of taking over this with a small maintenance allowance.  The Clerk receives a considerable number of complaints concerning the condition of this area and it would be beneficial if the TC is responsible for the whole site.  The committee agreed the TC should look into this.  The Clerk advised that, once adopted, the TC will need to arrange the installation of dog waste bins/litter bins and litter picking of the site.  The Clerk considered that litter picking of the site would take a minimum of 10 hours per week.  These duties cannot be assigned to current employees and the TC will need to advertise for a new employee.

5.           Vision

              Graffiti Wall Project

The Clerk confirmed that Vision has suggested using the side of its premises for the graffiti art project.  The boards would not be visible from the front of the building but it could become problematic when works on the Sure-Start project commence as the main entrance will be at the rear of the building.  Vision has not suggested any other sites at present.

6.           Shrubbed Area on the Recreation Ground

The Clerk referred to the complaint made by a member of the public at the Annual Meeting of the Town concerning the condition of the shrubbed area at the top of the Recreation Ground.  The Clerk looked at the area and confirmed it is overgrown with brambles and the shrubs have become woody and full of litter.  The TC contractor has now cut back this area and the Clerk asked whether it should be replanted.  The committee agreed with Cllr Allen’s suggestion to wait until autumn to see if any of the shrubs regenerate.

7.           Health & Safety Inspections

The Clerk confirmed that the weekly inspection sheets had not been forwarded in time for the meeting.  The contractor has taken away the springy animal on Sandyhome Road play

area for repair.  Cllr Yates raised concerns that the two metal prongs left protruding from the ground were not adequately cordoned; the Clerk agreed to speak to the contractor on this matter.

8.           Litter Picking

The Clerk confirmed the poor weather conditions in January/February caused problems for the TC litter pickers and complaints were received concerning litter in certain areas.  Last week they carried out a thorough clear up in all areas to address this problem.