AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL
REPORT OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE MEETING held in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices 66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill onWednesday 4th December 2008 at 7.30 pm Report No. 3/2008Present: Councillors R A D Chappell (Chairman), R A Holden, Mrs P K Foster, M A Smith, R Tebbutt, Mrs M E Wilson, Mrs M Wright and the Deputy Clerk. 44. To receive apologies for absence Apologies were received from Councillors Mrs S Bacon (work commitment), P Duckett prior commitment), P A Eversley(family commitment) and G Summerfield (prior commitment).
45. To receive and record declarations of interest, whether personal or prejudicial There were no interests declared.
46. Period of Public Participation There were no members of the public present.
47. Matters arising from previous minutes for information and note only Bollards in the front of The Alameda Gates (see minute no 34) On speaking to the Conservation Officer it has been established that planning permission will be necessary and that oak posts are the preferred choice of bollard. The Deputy Clerk advised that the planning application would be submitted once suitable bollards are sourced.
48. To receive a report from the Ampthill Park Management Advisory Group meeting of 12th October 2008 The report as appended to these minutes was circulated to members prior to the meeting. Item 1 - Cllr Mrs A M Wright agreed with the matter concerning the poor condition of the grassland and requested that in future the grass should not be allowed to get too long before being cut and that the community service workers rake up the cut grass in the western area of the park.
Resolved: That the Senior Park Keeper ensures that during the grass cutting season the grass is cut on a regular basis as a priority and that when available the community service workers rake up the cut grass in the western area of the park.
Item 2 – Small chestnut tree
Resolved: That the small chestnut tree located near to the cricket clubhouse be removed as it has bacterial canker.
Item 6 – Update on Heritage Centre
It was advised that the District Council’s Conservation Officer’s comments were still awaited.
Resolved: That Cllr Mark Smith chase this up with the District Council.
Item 7 – Any other business Proposal to turn half of Maggs Field into a second cricket pitch.
Resolved: That the Clerk investigate the land charge and any other restrictive covenants on this field and report back to the Parks Committee.
49. To receive a report from the Dog Walking Group meeting of 16th October 2008 The report as appended to these minutes was circulated to members prior to the meeting. Members again discussed the issue of commercial dog walking and how any bylaw and enforcement will work. It was felt that further research and investigation was needed before making a final decision. Resolved: That the Town Clerk liases with The Greensand Trust and investigates what other authorities do to deal with this issue and report back to the full council meeting on 17 December.
50. To receive a report from the Allotments Joint Consultative Committee meeting held on 24th November 2008 The report as appended to these minutes was available to members at the meeting.
Resolved: That the report be noted and Vicki Francis is to be commended on the good job she is doing with the allotments.
51. To consider any action required on the matter of the branding on the Town Council owned gates in the Park Members discussed the branding on the gates and decided that no further action be taken as regards re-branding due to the extra costs involved and further markings on the gates.
Resolved: That any future branding be done under the supervision of the Town Clerk.
52. To consider the extra expenditure required to replace the light fitting in the play area to allow better illumination for the CCTV system The sum of £469.85 will be required for the new white light floodlight with an additional cost for the hire of a four wheel drive vehicle to allow the AMEY contactors to access the area over the wet ground. The cost of this is not yet known but has been estimated at approx £150 to £250. Resolved: That the light fitting in the play area be replaced as detailed above.
53. To consider what action will be required on trees in the Park in year 2 of the Management Plan Members were advised that the Oaks are to be examined which may result in further work.
Resolved: That the Council awaits the results of the thermal imaging of the Oak trees.
54. To consider the short term objectives for the Park, Burial Ground and Allotments and Open Spaces for inclusion in the Corporate and Community Strategy The short term objectives were reviewed and the following amendment made: Replace “To install new play equipment suitable for use by older children and teenagers” With “To install new play equipment suitable for use by the disabled and by all”. All other objectives were still ongoing.
Resolved: That (a) the aforementioned amendment be made and (b) the map detailing the agreed locations for donated park benches be reviewed at the next Parks meeting. 5
5. To consider the possible use for the Developers Contribution Secured from the land West of Ampthill Development in the sum of £96,768 towards off site Sporting Open Space The Hallam Land development at land west of Ampthill has provided the following contribution: Ø Off-site Sporting Open Space: £96,768 for “the provision and/or improvement of off-site sports facilities serving the Development” The trigger point for the payment of the contribution is on occupation of 100 dwellings. The developer’s contribution are initially paid to the District Council, where they are put into a ring-fenced account which prevents them being used for any other purpose. It is then the District Council’s responsibility to ensure that they are released in accordance with the legal agreement. If funds are not spent within 5 years of receipt by the District Council, the contribution will be returned to the developer. In order to release the money, the Town Council must decide the most appropriate way to spend the contribution within the requirements of the Section 106 agreement. Once the trigger point has been reached and the funds received from the developer, the District Council will inform us. Members discussed possible ways to spend this contribution such as a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and it was agreed that the following areas of land be investigated further for this type of equipment: · Maggs/Westminster Field – Town Clerk to check land charge etc· Grassed area by disused tennis courts at Redborne· Ailesbury Road Once further information was available an item could be included in a future edition of ‘Around the Pump’ to get feedback from the public.
Resolved: That the Town Clerk investigates the provision of a MUGA as detailed above.
56. Items of Correspondence received for note The Playing Field Spring 2008 newsletter was available for members in the council chamber.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.02pm.
CHAIRMAN DATED
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