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RECREATION
/ LEISURE COMMITTEE MEETING
MONDAY
21ST FEBRUARY 2008
Present
: Cllr C. Dryden (Chairman),
Cllr P. Allen, Cllr J. Godwin,
Cllr M. Hornett, Cllr M. Johns, Cllr D.
Linney, Cllr C. Lofts,
Cllr J. Lynch, Cllr C. Stanger, Cllr H.
Wright, Cllr D. Yates
1.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr
V. Baker
2.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr
Lofts declared an interest in item 4 on the Agenda – Belle Baulk.
Cllr Lofts signed the Declarations of Interest Register accordingly.
3.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
No
representations from members of the public.
Inspector
Stuart Hitchon and Caroline Neale of SNC were in attendance.
4.
BELLE BAULK
Cllr
Dryden gave a summary of the problems with anti-social behaviour
at Belle Baulk which has resulted in the Police requesting the log
cabin be removed. The TC has now received 40 responses (approximately
25%) from the questionnaire issued to all residents of Belle Baulk;
results as follows:-
16/40
residents stated that their children use the log cabin for activities
27/40
residents stated the log cabin should not be removed
38/40
residents supported an alcohol ban on the open area at Belle Baulk
Whilst
Cllr Dryden stressed the importance of taking into consideration
the views of all residents, those closest to the problem would like
the cabin removed. Council members have expressed concern that this
would not achieve the hoped for results. Cllr Dryden questioned
how the removal of the cabin, which seats 4, would have the effect
of dispersing the reported 40 youths that regularly congregate on
this area. The log cabin has been in place for 12 years and the
problems with anti-social behaviour on this site are comparatively
recent. Cllr Dryden has obtained a quotation of £600.00 to
remove the cabin and make good the safety surface. There is no budget
for these works and the contractor cannot guarantee that the cabin
will be reusable. A recent ROSPA report confirms that the equipment
is sound but the Clerk advised that some repair work and graffiti
removal will be needed if the cabin is to remain and estimates this
will cost approximately £400.00.
Inspector
Stuart Hitchon confirmed there have been problems on the Belle Baulk
open area in the past but the situation has become particularly
bad over the last 12 months and is now taking up a great deal of
Police resources. The removal of equipment from such areas has proved
successful in the past and he asked the committee to consider removing
the log cabin to allow the Police to concentrate on other issues.
He confirmed that the Police would not implement a dispersal order
on the Belle Baulk open area as this is extremely labour intensive
and would need to be resourced for 6 months. Cllr Yates felt that
removing the cabin would simply move the youths on to cause problems
elsewhere in the town and would deprive younger children of a play
facility. Cllr Johns was not convinced that the youths would move
from this area even if the cabin were removed as there are benches
and other equipment they can use. He suggested that a core group
of youths associated with the Belle Baulk estate are drawing others
into the area and by removing the equipment the issue of law and
order is not being tackled. Inspector Hitchon agreed that there
is a core of approximately 12 youths but this can increase to as
many as 40 at the weekends. The anti-social behaviour only affects
a handful of residents. He believes that the youths will relocate
to the Recreation Ground if the cabin was removed and this will
prove much easier to police. Cllr Allen expressed concern at this
suggestion as the RG is surrounded by elderly residents and its
own problems with anti-social behaviour have only recently improved.
Cllr Stanger suggested that youths should be taken home to their
parents. Inspector Hitchon confirmed that this does happen with
persistent offenders; however, anyone drinking underage will have
alcohol confiscated and a letter automatically sent to their parents.
Caroline
Neale of SNC enquired whether there is any potential for youth outreach
work in this area as this has been carried out in Brackley. The
pattern of anti-social behaviour on Belle Baulk has changed with
older children now congregating on this area. Caroline suggested
that the Community Safety Partnership may be able to resource this
if the appropriate group can be identified. Cllr Linney pointed
out that the youths congregating on Belle Baulk are not those who
would attend a supervised activity such as the Vision or the Youth
Café. Cllr Yates asked whether there was anywhere in the
town away from residents that would be suitable for a large youth
shelter. The Clerk confirmed that the TC has no land of this nature
in its ownership.
Proposal
Cllr
Stanger proposed that the log cabin at Belle Baulk should NOT be
removed; seconded by Cllr Linney,
5
in favour, 3 against, 3 abstained – Proposal carried.
A
meeting of the Community Partnership will take place at 2pm on Friday
25th January. Anyone able to attend was asked to notify the Clerk.
Caroline Neale of SNC confirmed that £200,000 will be available
over the next 3 years from the Big Lottery Fund to purchase equipment
for 0-19 year olds. Monies available from the Youth Opportunities
Fund have been used to support Vision and facilities at the Leisure
Centre. A number of capital fund sources have been identified for
3 larger facilities. Cllr Lofts referred to the passage of open
space leading to the Tesco store, lit by Watling Street , and asked
whether this would be suitable for a youth facility. Cllr Johns
stressed the importance of engaging with young people as they themselves
would need to apply for the grant from the Youth Opportunities Fund.
5.
SKATEBOARD FACILITY ON THE RECREATION GROUND
Caroline
Neale advised there is potential to try lighting the skateboard
park on a temporary basis and offered the use of SNC mobile lighting.
She confirmed that arrangements would need to be put in place to
set up/take down the lighting. Cllr Linney referred to the recommendation
from ROSPA that the skateboard park is not lit. The Clerk was also
concerned that residents had previously been informed that the facility
would not be lit to discourage youths from congregating late into
the evening.
Proposal
Cllr
Linney proposed that the Clerk seek advice from ROSPA on mobile
lighting for the skateboard park and report back to the committee
and Caroline Neale; seconded by Cllr Johns,
7
in favour, 2 against, 2 abstained – Proposal carried.
6.
EAST MIDLANDS IN BLOOM
The
Clerk has received confirmation that the East Midlands in Bloom
Seminar will take place on 21st February. The TC has not entered
the competition for the past 2 years as it has failed to secure
the support of organisations within the community.
Proposal
Cllr
Lynch proposed that the TC does not enter the East Midlands in Bloom
Competition for 2008 and therefore will not send a representative
to its seminar on 21st February; seconded by Cllr Godwin, All in
favour.
7.
TOWCESTER YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTRE
a)
Financial Update
The
Clerk confirmed that the balance of the Community Centre account
stood at £5960.00 on 2nd January 2008 . Advance payment to
1st October 2008 of rent from Vision has been received.
b)
Request for a storage facility at the rear of Vision
Vision
is seeking permission from the committee to erect a storage facility
at the rear of Vision to house its Barbeque. The committee agreed
to grant permission to Vision provided the facility is freestanding
and built from non-combustible materials.
c)
Minor Works Update
The
Clerk confirmed that 4 security lights have been installed at the
Community Centre and signs put up. The caretaker recently reported
water leaking through the roof above the entrance. Ronald Fagan
has advised that the lead on this area has been removed. The quotation
to replace this and associated works is £805.00. The Clerk
has checked with the insurers and the excess is £500.00. Cllr
Allen suggested the lead could be replaced with a less expensive
material. The Clerk will look into this and report back.
8.
HEALTH & SAFETY INSPECTIONS
a)
ROSPA Annual Inspection Report
Cllr
Dryden confirmed that the annual Inspection of the TC play equipment
was carried out by ROSPA on 10th December. The only major item that
needs to be addressed is the slide on the Recreation Ground which
has been recommended for removal or replacement within the next
12 months. ROSPA has advised that the slide should be removed at
the end of the summer. The cost to replace the slide will be approximately
£9000.00 and this will be considered when budgets are prepared
for the 2009/10 financial year.
Proposal
Cllr
Johns proposed that the Clerk arrange for minor works contained
within the ROSPA report to be carried out; seconded by Cllr Linney,
All in favour.
b)
Monthly Inspection Report
The
monthly inspection was carried out on 21 st January:-
Belle
Baulk Toddlers Play Area
No
obvious defects with the play equipment
Broken
panel on the picket fence
The
area was litter free
Belle
Baulk Adventure Play Area
Graffiti
on the log cabin and table inside has been set alight. Gaps around
the edges of the play surface beneath the log cabin.
Shrubbery
to be cut back in the spring
A
small amount of litter on the site
Sandyhome
Road Adventure Playground
No
obvious defects with the play equipment
The
area needs reseeding in the spring
A
small amount of litter on the site
Recreation
Ground
The
cradle swings have now been replaced following vandalism in December
The
dog waste bin has been replaced
1
concrete seat needs to be replaced
The
slide needs to be replaced
The
matting beneath the cradle swing needs attention. Cllr Dryden confirmed
that this issue should be resolved as the contractors had been back
on site to feather in the matting.
The
area was litter free
Play
Area, The Shires
No
obvious defects with the play equipment
A
small amount of litter on the site
9.
OPEN SPACE AT THE SHIRES, NORTHAMPTON ROAD
The
Clerk has received a comprehensive map of the open space on the
Shires Estate which is due to be adopted by the TC in the future.
It was agreed that the Clerk, with Cllr Dryden, will walk the estate
to check that the spaces identified on the map are correct.
10.
CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE REMOVAL OF SAFETY
BARRIERS
ADJACENT TO 83 BRACKLEY ROAD , TOWCESTER
The
Clerk referred the committee to correspondence received in March
2007 from Mrs Causebrook of 83 Brackley Road and a further correspondence
dated 3 rd January The deeds to her property indicate a right of
way where the safety barriers were installed as part of the NCC
Safer Routes to School scheme. Accordingly, The TC replied advising
that the barriers were the property of NCC. The committee discussed
this matter and it was agreed to ask for further details of the
proposed gate and how this will affect pedestrian access to Brackley
Road .
11.
CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING BALL GAMES AT WINDSOR CLOSE
Correspondence
from Mr and Mrs Evans of Windsor Close refers to problems with young
children and teenagers playing football against their fence. The
open space alongside the fence belongs to the TC and they have requested
permission to grow hedging plants on this area to lessen the impact
of balls hitting the fence and also for advice on what could be
planted. Cllr Johns felt the committee must be careful not to cause
the TC problems for the future. It was agreed that the committee
will look at the area to see if a solution can be agreed.
Proposal
Cllr
Stanger proposed that the meeting move into Closed Session; seconded
by Cllr Godwin; All in favour.
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