RECREATION / LEISURE COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY 19TH JANUARY 2009

Present :-   Cllr D. Yates (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr J. Godwin, Cllr M. Johns,

                 Cllr D. Linney, Cllr J. Lynch, Cllr H. Wright

1.    Apologies for Absence

Cllr C. Dryden, Cllr C. Stanger

2.    Declarations of Interest

None.

3.    Open to the Public

Mr Sinclair and Mr Garlick of Kipling Drive requested an update on the removal of safety barriers on Brackley Road . The Clerk confirmed that S.N.C. Planning Enforcement Officer, Ken Vaughan, and Solicitor, Sarah Hagan are currently investigating this issue. Sarah Hagan is in possession of the legal documentation relating to the barriers and will be contacting the new solicitor at N.C.C. once they have had an opportunity to look into this matter. The Clerk confirmed the safety barriers were installed by the estate developer as a condition of its planning consent. As such, S.N.C. should have been consulted prior to their removal. The TC will not take any action with respect to the removal of the dog waste bin until the legal position has been determined. Ownership of the hedge is yet to be established.

4.    Belle Baulk

a)    Mowing

The transfer of open space at Belle Baulk completed in December and the TC has received the Section 106 monies for ongoing maintenance. The TC contractor has confirmed the cost of £240 per cut for mowing in accordance with the previous S.N.C. schedule, plus an additional annual charge of £380 for maintaining a clear right of way on the paths. The total cost for maintenance of this area will be £3740 per annum.

b)    Street Furniture

4 Litterbins were installed on the site last week and 2 dog-waste bins are due to be installed this week. When carrying out a recent site inspection, the Clerk noted the wooden bridge was extremely slippery and suggested its surface could be improved by applying gritted paint as on the bridge to the Recreation Ground. Last week a member of the public reported they had slipped and broken their wrist whilst walking on the bridge.

Proposal

Cllr Linney proposed that works to apply anti-slip surface to the bridge at Belle Baulk be carried out as soon as the weather permits;

seconded by Cllr Johns, all in favour.

5.    R.O.S.P.A.

The annual inspection of the TC play equipment was carried out by R.O.S.P.A. in December. 1 urgent repair to tighten bolts on the spinning pole on Sandyhome Road play area has been carried out. Other items graded as low to medium term risk are in hand with the TC contractor.

6.    Health & Safety Inspections

The Clerk thanked members for carrying out the weekly play inspections up to December. The TC contractor has taken over this role from January and will also be inspecting all the TC seats and benches on a monthly basis. The Clerk has initially prepared a contract for a three month trial period to 31st March when the arrangements will be reviewed.

7.    Street Furniture

The Clerk has prepared a tender document for repainting the TC play equipment and town centre street furniture consisting of;

20 litterbins

12 seats

72 bollards

The document will be sent to 4 contractors and the Clerk hopes to bring quotations back to the next meeting of the Recreation/Leisure Committee.

8.    Moat Lane Toilets

The Clerk confirmed that the Gents toilets at Moat Lane have been closed down due to a problem with water gathering on the floor surface. The TC contractor has identified a break in the pipe directly beneath the urinals and has recommended that they be removed to allow the necessary repairs and be replaced with stainless steel units to allow easier access for future repairs. The quotation for the works is £2,500. The Clerk confirmed that a balance of £1,000 remains in the Moat Lane redecoration budget; the remainder would need to be taken from contingency if the works are to proceed. Members expressed concern that the proposed works may prove less vandal-proof. The Clerk will raise these concerns with the contractor and report back.

9.    Nicholas Hawksmoor Pocket Park

Correspondence from Head Teacher, Richard Edwards, confirms a meeting of the school's Pocket Park Committee will take place at 4pm on Wednesday 28th January. The TC is keen to gain information on the constitution of the committee. Cllr Wright and Cllr Yates volunteered to attend the meeting and report back.

10.    East Midlands in Bloom

Correspondence from East Midlands in Bloom confirms its seminar will take place on Wednesday 25th February 2009 at Market Bosworth. The TC has not participated in the East Midlands in Bloom competition for several years as it has been unable to secure sufficient community participation, despite advertising via the Town Crier for volunteer groups. The committee agreed a further article requesting volunteer groups should be included in the March 2009 issue.

11.    Towcester Youth & Community Centre

a)    Update on Refurbishment Works

The Clerk expressed disappointment at the lack of progress over the last two months and is actively seeking a completion date from the contractor. At the last update the work was 80% complete but the floor was still not sufficiently dry to allow the new covering to be laid. A number of hirers have already confirmed they will not be returning to the Community Centre when it reopens.

b)    Financial Update

The balance of the Community Centre account stood at £1907.00 on 31st December. The Clerk confirmed that a recent spate of vandalism has resulted in a number of windows needing replacement and is awaiting a further invoice for these works. One of the new security lights has also been vandalised and will need repairing.

c)    Referred from Internal Audit Control Report – Window Cleaning

Whilst carrying out the Internal Audit Control, Cllr Lofts noted there is formal agreement for the window cleaning arrangements at the Community Centre. The Clerk confirmed that the rate of £25 per month was in place when the TC took over the operation of the Centre. The Caretaker agreed to take on these duties when the original window cleaner gave notice.

Proposal

Cllr Lynch proposed that the TC continue with its current arrangement for window cleaning at the Community Centre;

seconded by Cllr Linney, all in favour.