Parks mins 2 Dec 09

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 2nd December 2009 at 7.30 pm

Present: Cllrs R Tebbutt (Vice -Chairman), Mrs S Bacon, R A D Chappell, P Eversley,       Mrs P Foster, R Holden and the Clerk.

Report 03/2009

  1. 1.                  To receive apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Cllrs Mrs M Wilson (illness), Mrs M Wright (illness), G Summerfield (another Council commitment) and M Smith (another Council commitment).

 

  1. 2.                  To receive and record declarations of personal interest

Cllr P Eversley declared an interest in the matter concerning flower baskets as he has supplied these to the Council for a number of years.

 

  1. 3.                  To receive and record declarations of prejudicial interest

Cllr P Eversley declared an interest in the matter concerning flower baskets as he has supplied these to the Council for a number of years.

 

Matters arising from previous minutes for information and note only.

 

  1. 4.                  Meeting to discuss the draft Park Management Plan with Bob Holland of the Greensand Trust. (minute no 6)

The meeting with Bob Holland is to be held on Wednesday 9th December at 6.30pm.

 

  1. 5.               Meeting to discuss Higher Level Stewardship (minute no 7)

            To be held on Thursday 3rd December at 10.30am starting at Coopers Hill.          

 

  1. 6.                  Printing and launch of the Woolnough Trail leaflet, (minute no 9)

i)              The amendments have been advised to the Greensand Trust.

ii)             The request has been made that the Greensand Trust asks Ampthill and District Lions if they can fund the printing of 2000 leaflets at a cost of £585.

  1. 7.                  Bench in memory of Former Mayor Peter Cruse (minute no 10)

            The Head Park Keeper has been instructed to repair the right foot of the bench.

 

  1. 8.                  Bollards along the wide area of pavement in Bedford Street. (minute no 11)

Decorative metal bollards can be obtained for the cost of between £19.99 for a steel bollard up to £165.00 for a decorative bollard.

           

Central Bedfordshire Council has advised that it must be identified that the bollards are required to protect pedestrian safety; it could fit into the aims of the Parish Partnership Fund as a precedent has been set in Woburn.

 

The Area team would need to investigate the suitability of bollards as solution to parking on the footway, but if parking is permitted along this stretch of road then bollards will become a hazard to the doors of legally parked vehicles. The matter has been left to the Area Team to decide whether they will support the proposals and if so whether funds can be made available either this year or next.

 

Cllr P Eversley left the room before the next item was discussed.

 

  1. 9.                  To consider the way forward for the hanging baskets 2010. (minute no 14)

On Health and Safety Grounds Shop Keepers have advised that they do not wish to send a member of staff up a ladder to water the baskets.

 

A quote of £28 per 16inch basket has been received for baskets to be prepared and put up, but maintenance would still be down to the Council. The large baskets in Bedford are watered by a system controlled by computer.

 

On 27th November a representative from Ambius called, the company supply hanging baskets to large towns, the nearest to Ampthill being Milton Keynes Shopping Centre. The baskets are filled with replica flowers and are supplied in summer and winter form.

 

             The following costs were obtained:

             

  • 12 replica baskets rental @ £1.90 per basket per 52 weeks = £1,185.60 + vat.

 

To be paid quarterly in advance on invoice. The rental could start in January 2010 with winter baskets.

 

  • Alternatively baskets can be purchased at the cost of £95, 12 summer and 12 winter = £2,280 + vat.

 

Costs of providing real flower baskets amount to £6,997, made up of £290 plants, £6,707 in man hours over a seven day week for 20 weeks. This time could be better used in Park Keeper duties.

 

After discussion it was:

 

Recommended that a rental of replica flower baskets is trialled for a period of twelve months, a review will held in June 2010 to see if there are any comments from residents.

 

            Cllr Mrs S Bacon voted against this recommendation.

           

            Cllr P Eversley rejoined the meeting.

 

            Cllr R Tebbutt thanked Cllr P Eversley for all the hard work he has done over the years to provide hanging baskets for the town.

 

  1. 10.              Application form for the donation of park benches. (minute no 15)

A form has been drawn up and will be used for future applications.

 

  1. 11.              Application form for the hire of the Park (minute no 16)

             The amendments have been added to the application form for hiring the Park.

 

  1. 12.              To consider the disabled angling parking permits

Members were provided with a draft copy of suggestions for the parking permit.

Members raised a number of concerns as follows:

  • Cars driving across the park on wet days or when dew has fallen may have trouble with getting stuck.
  • There is only a single track which would cause problems if cars need to pass each other.
  • There are only four spaces so if a fifth car arrives there is no space to turn around.
  • Disabled people would have to leave their cars to open gates.

 

            After further discussion it was:

Recommended that permission for parking cannot be given due to the practicality issues highlighted, these reservations are to be discussed with the Angling Club to see if they can come up with any other solutions for disabled access.

 

  1. 13.              Items of Correspondence received for note.

 

The Playing Field – Autumn 2009.

 

This item of correspondence is available from the Clerk.

 

  1. 14.              Cllr R Tebbutt passed the following motion:

 

“That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted relating to staff and financial matters, it is advisable in the public interest that the public and press be temporarily excluded and that they are instructed to withdraw”.

 

  1. 15.              Visitors Centre

This minute is appended for members only.

 

  1. 16.              Staffing matters

This minute is appended for members only.

 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.35pm.

CHAIRMAN                                                              DATED