AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL 

REPORT OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE MEETING

held in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices, 66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill on

Wednesday 2^nd June 2010 at 7.30 pm

Present: Cllrs R Tebbutt, (Chairman), P Eversley, M Smith, G Summerfield, Mrs M Wright and the Clerk.

Also present were Gary Quilter Park Development Manager and Mr P Sayer, President of Ampthill Cricket Club.

Report 01/2010

1. 1.                  To receive apologies for absence.

There were apologises from Cllrs Mrs M Wilson (Mayoral duty) Mrs S Bacon, deputising for Cllr Mrs P Foster,(unwell), P Duckett (another commitment) and Mrs P Foster (on holiday).    

1. 2.                  To appoint a Vice Chairman.

Cllr Mrs M Wight was nominated by Cllr Summerfield and seconded by Cllr Mrs M Wilson, there being no further nominations Cllr Mrs M Wright was duly appointed to the role of Vice Chairman.

1. 3.                  To receive and record declarations of interest, whether personal or prejudicial.

Cllr P Eversley declared a personal interest in the item concerning flower baskets as he previously provided planted up fresh flower baskets for the Town Council.

Cllr M Smith declared a personal interest in the item concerning the cricket club as his brother is an officer of the Club.

1. 4.                  Period of Public Participation.

Cllr R Tebbutt invited Mr Sayer to address the Committee on the matter of fairs and circuses being held during the cricket season.

Mr Sayer advised that the season runs between mid April and mid September and during that time the ground is being used for senior and junior matches and training most days.

When fairs and circuses visit they believe they can link into the water and waste supply at the cricket club which results in a cost to the club.

There is a danger of injury to people visiting the fair or circus from cricket balls leaving the ground.

Cllr R Tebbutt advised that he would allow the agenda item to discuss this matter to be considered as the next item.

1. 5.                  To consider the policy for taking bookings from Fairs and Circuses during the Cricket Season (April to September).

Members discussed this matter before it was:

Recommended that the Council do not accept bookings during the cricket season, mid April to mid September except for the period of the Festival events in June. Bookings can be accepted outside of the cricket season.

1. 6.                  Matters arising from previous minutes for information and note only.

The Clerk advised that there was nothing to report.

1. 7.                  To receive a report from the Park Development Manager on work carried out over the past month.

Gary Quilter provided the following list:

• Strim grass around fence lines, obstacles, stiles and kissing gates
• Replace wire mesh on walk board
• Apply herbicide to car parks, obstacles and path edges
• Flail pathways
• Replace worn tap in Kings Arms Path Gardens
• Fill rabbit holes in playground and events area
• Install memorial bench in cemetery
• Repair/replace fencing slates
• Repair kissing gates
• Varnish notice boards in middle and west car parks
• Rub down and stain park benches
• Fill pot holes and ruts in west car park with hardcore
• Spread type 1 aggregate on worn path areas
• Fill holes with tarmac in middle car park drive way

Members then asked Gary questions which resulted in the following information being obtained:

• The work plan will revolve around priorities.
• There have been no further recent problems between deer and dogs and more signage will be placed on the entrances warning dog owners.
• The top end of Maggs Field will be weed wiped by a Contractor with the other half being spot treated. Mr Reynolds has been asked to remove the cattle in order that this can be done.
• The rabbit infestation could be dealt with when the cattle have been moved. Cllr G Summerfield is to check that night fishing is not allowable in the Westminster Pond before action is taken.
• Mr Reynolds has been asked to graze more cattle in Maggs Field.
• Cllr Mrs M Wilson will talk to Mr Chapman in relation to the condition of St Andrews Churchyard.

Cllr R Tebbutt thanked Gary for his report.

1. 8.                  To consider the Terms of Reference for the Parks and Open Spaces Committee

The Clerk had provided Members with a draft set of Terms of Reference.

Members considered other areas that needed to be included such as :

• Support to the Friends of the Kings Arms Path Garden
• Maintenance and provision of the Public Conveniences.
• Provision and support of the Charter Market
• Annual flower displays
• Maintenance of the monuments in the Park and Alameda Walk

Recommended that the Terms of Reference be adopted subject to the amendments being made. The Clerk is to e-mail Members with an amended copy.

1. 9.                  To undertake a review of the artificial hanging baskets following a years trial.

The artificial baskets are changed twice a year and now that the winter ones have been changed to summer ones a review is due.

A member advised that she would like to see fewer baskets, maybe there could be larger ones concentrated around the town centre.

Members discussed the virtue of fresh against artificial baskets before it was:

                        Recommended that the Clerk:

i)                      Provides details of how much the fresh baskets cost in man hours.

ii)                    Contacts the suppliers of the artificial baskets to see what other baskets can be provided and at what cost.

1. 10.              To consider entering Ampthill Great Park for an accreditation under the Green Flag Award Scheme.

            Gary Quilter provided members with documents detailing the Green Flag Award as appended to these minutes.

The main action that Ampthill Park will need is for the entrance into the Park to be enhanced with toilets and directional signage. The Park is very strong on Heritage and Conservation which some parks do not have.

If this standard was reached it would enhance future bids for funding.

Assuming that the Tractor Shed extension and a new toilet block are built the Park would stand a good chance of being assessed for the award at the end of this year. Plans would have to be shown to show that the Council are working towards the enhancements.

The community aspect is met by the Volunteers and Gary will be encouraging people to sign up to be Friends of Ampthill Park on his stall on Gala Day with an aim to hold a meeting later in the year to establish the group.

Cattle grazing will enhance the application.

As this scheme has a financial impact it was:

Recommended that the Clerk and Gary Quilter draw up a plan of what it would cost to bring the Park up the standard for the application to be lodged.

1. 11.              To consider the long term care of archive from the Ampthill Castle Community Archaeology Project. (Central Beds Archaeologists have offered to liaise with Northamptonshire Archaeology over the types of material that might be suitable for a display).

There are 22 boxes involved and there is an issue of ownership and negotiations with Bedford Museum for storage.

Members would like to see the finds stay in Ampthill and it was felt that not all of the boxes will have contents worth keeping.

Recommended that the Clerk obtains information form Hannah Firth as to how much of the find is worth displaying and what type of cabinet would be needed to hold the finds. It is also to be enquired as to how big the boxes are.

1. 12.              To consider priorities for Ampthill Park 2010/2011

Cllr R Tebbutt advised that he would like to identify what the priorities should be that fall under the remit of this Committee.

Members then made the following list:

• Support the work of the Park Development Officer and the Clerk to ensure the momentum is maintained on the work currently being carried out.
• The Green Flag criteria will set most priorities.
• Supply of toilet facilities.
• Promotion of the Park
• Interpretation work and volunteer work, Councillors could be more pro active to raise the profile. Volunteers currently provide 10,000 man hours a year.
• Management of the heather on Coopers Hill
• Preparation of tourist information, the current leaflets will not be reproduced by Central Bedfordshire.
• The restoration of the Duke of Bedford War Memorial.
• Generation of more income. A car parking donation scheme could be used to provide enhancements to the car park areas.

It was then:

Recommended that an item be placed on a later agenda to look at a volunteer car parking donation scheme.

1. 13.              Correspondence

• Play Ranger Figures- Easter 2010, 12th April, 33 children and 10 parents in attendance in Ampthill Park.
• Notice of the intention to place a 50mph speed limit along the A507, Woburn Street, Fordfield Road and Froghall Road as appended for Members.

          Recommended that the Council fully support this action.

1. 14.        Future meeting

      Cllr R Tebbutt advised that he wanted the Committee to walk around the park at least twice a year.

      Recommended that a Saturday morning walk be arranged in the few weeks before the meeting on 6^th October.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.55pm

CHAIRMAN                                                                                      DATED