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RECREATION
/ LEISURE COMMITTEE MEETING
MONDAY
16TH MARCH 2009
Present
: Cllr C. Dryden (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr J.
Godwin, Cllr D. Linney,
Cllr C. Lofts, Cllr C. Stanger, Cllr H.
Wright, Cllr D. Yates
1.
Apologies for Absence
Cllr
M. Johns, Cllr J. Lynch
2.
Declarations of Interest
Cllr
Godwin declared an interest in Item 12 on the agenda – Correspondence
regarding anti-plastic bag campaign. Cllr Godwin signed the Declarations
of Interest Register accordingly.
3.
Open to the Public
No
members of the public were present.
4.
Sure-Start Children's Centres
Jane
Pitchfork, Children's Centres Area Co-ordinator for N. C. C., gave
committee members a brief history of the Sure-Start Children's Centres
in Northamptonshire from 2004 to date. A Sure-Start Children's Centre
is a one-stop shop providing families with children aged 0 – 5 years
with access to a range of community services and information including
health, employment, childcare and parenting/family support. The
aim of Central Government is to have a Sure-Start Children's Centre
in every community by 2010 and it is providing considerable capital
and revenue investment to achieve this. There are currently 32 centres
operating in Northamptonshire. N. C. C. is now in its final phase
of the development programme with a further 19 centres being established
by March of 2010, 5 of these are to be based within South Northants
.
N.
C. C. is hoping to develop a centre in Towcester with additional
outreach services for the surrounding villages. Towcester Community
Centre has been identified as a possible venue for a Phase 3 Children's
Centre, which must include;-
•
Reception area
•
Kitchen area / tea and coffee making facilities
•
Toilet facility
•
Dedicated office space (for 2-3 staff)
•
Meeting space for group work activities
•
Storage area / cupboards
Funding
is in place to make any necessary adaptations to the building. Revenue
funding has been secured to 2011 to appoint a service provider and
the successful tender has recently been agreed. Due to the current
limits on the revenue funding the lease of the building would need
to contain a break clause. A brief inspection of the Community
Centre concluded there is potential to adapt the building to provide
the additional space necessary
to meet the requirements. This will also allow some of its current
users to continue with their bookings. Jane is seeking permission
from the committee for N. C. C. to carry out a feasibility study
on the building in order that draft proposals / plans can be brought
back to the TC for discussion. This will include details on how
current user groups can be accommodated.
Proposal
Cllr
Linney proposed that the committee gives N. C. C. permission to
carry out a feasibility study on the Towcester Youth &
Community
Centre for its adaptation to a Phase 3
Sure-Start
Children's Centre;
seconded
by Cllr Yates, all in favour.
The
committee agreed that a meeting to review of the proposals / plans
arising from the feasibility study should take place at the Community
Centre.
5.
Towcester Youth & Community Centre
a)
Financial Update
The
Clerk confirmed she had transferred £1,000 from the TC to
the TYCC account in order to settle its recent bills. Vision has
now brought its rent account up to date and a further £1,500
is due from the Loss Adjusters in lieu of lost income. This will
bring the
balance
of the TYCC account to approximately £1,500 once the funds
have been reimbursed to the TC. All funds from the New Build Account
have been utilised to provide additional security lighting and new
kitchen appliances for the centre.
The
Clerk referred to the N. C. C. proposals for the Community Centre
to become a Sure-Start Children's Centre. Hopefully the feasibility
study will show the majority of current users can continue to be
accommodated or the TC will assist their relocation. The Clerk is
keen to attract additional weekend bookings and considered it would
be beneficial to replace the tables and chairs which are in a very
poor condition. She will contact Cllr Bromwich to enquire whether
any grants would be available for this purpose.
6.
St Lawrence Church
Tree Surgery
Reverend
Bryer has forwarded a quotation from Treemenders Ltd for works to
remove epicormic growth on 8 lime trees along Chantry Lane and 1
lime tree in the Vicarage Garden . The cost of the works will be
£360.00. Cllr Linney advised the works need to be carried
out professionally as the trees are subject to a preservation order.
The Clerk confirmed that there are no funds in the TC
budget
for the works.
Proposal
Cllr
Allen proposed that the committee gives permission to Reverend Bryer
to proceed with the works which will be funded from the TC contingency
budget;
seconded
by Cllr Lofts, all in favour.
7.
East Midlands in Bloom
The
Clerk confirmed that no response had been received to the Town Crier
article requesting assistance from community groups in Towcester
for the East Midlands in Bloom Competition. An independent group,
Towcester Traders, comprising of the town's High Street retailers
have contacted the TC with a view to expanding the window box scheme
to include more participants. The Clerk advised the committee on
the cost implication of the additional watering.
Proposal
Cllr
Lofts proposed that the window box scheme be open to town centre
traders located between The White Bear and Towcester Fire Station
to a maximum of 10 additional participants on 2008;
seconded
by Cllr Godwin, all in favour.
8.
Northamptonshire County Council
Correspondence
from N. C. C. Highways confirms its contribution of £2102.15
towards grass cutting for 2009. Noted.
9.
Health & Safety Inspections
The
Clerk referred to the most recent weekly inspection of play equipment
carried out by contractor, J. R. Murray on 9 th March 2009:-
PLAY
EQUIPMENT
Belle
Baulk Toddler Play Area
Nothing
to report
Belle
Baulk Adventure Playground
Chains
on the play equipment showing signs wear. Low risk item to be observed.
Sandyhome
Road Play Area
Springer
leans to one side. Low risk item to be observed.
Gate
needs adjustment. Low risk item, contractor to carry out works.
Play
Area, The Shires
Clip
missing from slide. Low risk item, contractor to carry out works.
Climbing
net showing signs of wear. Low risk item to be observed.
A
large volume of glass bottles need to be removed from site.
Recreation
Ground
Cracked
seat on Wrexham unit. Low risk item, contractor to carry out works.
STREET
FURNITURE
The
Clerk confirmed that minor works to repair items of street furniture
will be carried out by the contractor.
10.
Towcester Recreation Ground
New Equipment for
2009
Cllr
Dryden confirmed that monies will become available in April 2009
to replace the toddler slide. She referred to additional sources
of funding that may be available to enhance these works and asked
committee members to consider forming a sub-committee with parents
and members of the NCT for this project.
11.
Nicholas Hawksmoor Pocket
The
Clerk confirmed she had received no reply from the Head Teacher,
Richard Edwards, to her request for a key to the Pocket Park or
amendments to the constitution to allow two representatives from
the TC to form part of the Pocket Park Committee. Cllr Wright confirmed
she is attending a meeting at the school this week and will follow
this up.
12.
Correspondence re anti-plastic bag campaign in the
town
Cllr
Dryden referred to correspondence from Miss Eleanor Godwin (aged
11) requesting that the TC starts an anti-plastic bag campaign to
stop retailers giving free plastic bags to shoppers. Cllr Allen
referred to the re-usable bags issued by the supermarket, which
has now been taken up by independent traders, i.e. Elliotts. He
considered the TC should support every effort but it does not have
authority to impose any regulations. It was agreed that the committee
would write to Miss Godwin offering its support to her initiative
and will refer this item to the Towcester Partnership.
Cllr
Linney proposed that the meeting be moved into Closed Session;
seconded
by Cllr Allen, all in favour.
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