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ALDENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the RECREATION GROUNDS COMMITTEE held at 8pm on 5 October 2004 at The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett.

Present:
Councillor R.T.A. Worthy (Chairman)
Councillor Mrs A. Baker
Councillor Burke
Councillor Mrs Charrett
Councillor J. Howley
Councillor Mrs S.A. Reith
Councillor Mrs F. Turner

Officers:
Ms. Carrie Lloyd (Clerk)
Mr Fred Hills (Head of Grounds Maintenance)

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D. Lambert.

2. URGENT LATE ITEM

The Chairman advised that he had agreed to consider an urgent late item – Parish Paths Partnership work schedule 2004/05.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

4. TO CONFIRM AND SIGN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2004

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2004 were signed as a true and accurate record.

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2004

• Screening of compound – The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that the variegated ivy had been purchased and planted to screen the compound. Some further planting was still required however as the nursery did not have sufficient plants in stock when purchased. (Action: Head of Grounds Maintenance)

•  Area in front of Post Office – Hertsmere Borough Council had placed a bin by the bus stop and whilst it did tend to be moved around by the school children, Members were very grateful to Hertsmere Borough Council for responding to their request.

•  Public Toilets at Radlett Gardens – The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that the water was back on in the toilets.

•  Donation by Rotary Club – Councillor Howley had not yet been able to discuss the matter further with Prof. Beaver. (Action: Councillor Howley)

•  Phillimore Recreation Ground – Tennis Courts – The Finance and General Purposes Committee had considered the funding options at its last meeting and the Clerk would be seeking grant aid from Hanson's Environmental Fund, the Lawn Tennis Association and the Sports Council (Football Foundation). (Action: Clerk)

•  The Radlett Centre – The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that 5 extra baskets would be put up around the Radlett Centre for the winter. Some heathers had already been purchased and further plants ordered through Roundbush Nurseries. (Action: Head of Grounds Maintenance)

•  Scrubbitts Park Wood – Grounds staff had partially fenced the wood off at the rear of the houses in The Crosspath and the Clerk had written to all residents requesting their assistance in catching people fly tipping in the wood in future. The remainder of the boundary would be fenced off in due course. Some residents had welcomed the fencing provided the 10 foot access way was retained, other residents had expressed concern that they had to walk to one of the two entrances in Gills Hill or Scrubbitts Park Road rather than use one of the tracks created by residents to gain access to the woods from the rear of their property. The new fence had been cut in one place but had been repaired by the Grounds staff. The Clerk had explained to the residents that the fence was to prevent fly tipping in the ancient woodland, mark out the Council's boundary as suggested by the Council's auditor and to protect the flora and fauna in the wood. (Action: Head of Grounds Maintenance)

•  Cobden Hill Allotments – A couple of residents had expressed an interest in renting the land from the Council. Once the lettings had been established the Head of Grounds Maintenance would mark out the Council's land and block off any access way from properties that did not rent the allotments from the Council. (Action: Deputy Clerk/Head of Grounds Maintenance)

•  Phillimore Allotments – The letter sent to all allotment holders had caused some concern when that had not been the intention. The Chairman had sent a letter to those who had written in with comments to explain the Council's reasons for raising the problem of untidy allotments. The Chairman and Head of Grounds Maintenance would be visiting the allotments again on 11 th October to pinpoint any allotment holder who required a letter addressed to them specifically. (Action: Chairman/Head of Grounds Maintenance)

•  Fence adjoining the Scout Hut site – The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that the barbed wire would be removed from over the Council's land the next day. (Action: Head of Grounds Maintenance)

•  Salter's Field - Councillor Howley had not yet anything further from Hertfordshire County Council.

•  Christmas Lights - Councillor Mrs Reith and the Clerk had advised Lamps and Tubes of the lamp post numbers to be lit, that the lights should wrap round the posts and should be coloured lamps. Lamps and Tubes had undertaken to provide a quotation for removing the cross street wires.

6. HEAD OF GROUNDS MAINTENANCE'S REPORT

The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that there had been a spate of equipment failure which required repair.

The hanging baskets had been removed from Watling Street . Winter baskets would be put up around the Radlett Centre and War Memorial. This would include heather and some plants from Roundbush Nurseries. The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that with the additional planting being carried out particularly around the Radlett Centre, the budget for seeds, plants & soil preparations may be overspent.

The soil preparations for the bowls green had been purchased and were being delivered during the week.

The pond at Fir Spring Wood appeared to be holding water well.

Mr P. Marley would be erecting a plaque at Tykeside Gardens (Lautertal Green) next to the stone in the near future to explain who had given the stone to RAIFA.

The shrubs at Tykeside Gardens would be dug over by grounds staff in the next few weeks and replacement plants including hebes put in. Councillor Mrs Reith undertook to visit the nurseries with the Head of Grounds Maintenance to select replacement shrubs. The Clerk reminded Members of the Head of Grounds Maintenance's comments regarding an overspend on the seeds, plants & soil preparations budget and it was agreed that as the development of the pavilion was unlikely to proceed in the current financial year there would be room within current recreation grounds budgets for a small overspend. Members undertook to monitor the budget carefully. Members requested that the Head of Grounds Maintenance realign the flower bed at Tykeside Gardens so that it ran parallel to the pavement. The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that some of the maple trees at Tykeside Gardens had sooty bark disease and required removal.

The Iseki tractor had been repaired temporarily but spare parts could not be obtained for it anymore as it was obsolete. The Head of Grounds Maintenance was requested to obtain some quotations for a new or nearly new tractor so that the cost could be included in the budget for 2005/06 if considered appropriate. (Action: Head of Grounds Maintenance)

7. REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE – PREMISES BUDGET 2004/05

The Finance and General Purposes Committee had requested that the Recreation Grounds Committee look at the large overspend against profiled budget for Recreation Grounds Repairs and Maintenance – Premises. Members were circulated with a detailed breakdown of payments made against that budget head. Exceptional expenditure included £140.97 for graffitti cleaner, £114.48 for stakes and staples to carry out some Parish Paths Partnership work from the 2003/04 work schedule, £81.00 for a replacement float switch on the sewerage pump, £110.63 for the water pump on the fountain at Radlett Gardens, £348.65 for slabs, sand and shingle mainly for use around the pond in Fir Spring Wood and £425 for the shower pump replacement. Two annual extinguisher service payments related to the pavilions and a separate payment for the tractor sheds.

Members were satisfied that the exceptional expenditure was unlikely to continue for the remainder of the financial year.

8. LIGHTING AT RADLETT GARDENS

Councillor Mrs Charrett advised that further details were awaited from Thorn Lighting.

9. PHILLIMORE RECREATION GROUND – PAVILION UPGRADE

The Clerk had not received any further details from Mr Bedowes and was continuing to chase him for further details. (Action: Clerk)

10. TO APPOINT THREE MEMBERS TO THE FESTIVAL SUB COMMITTEE

Councillor Mrs Charrett, Councillor Worthy and Councillor Howley were appointed to the Festival Sub Committee for the ensuing municipal year. A further 5 members would be co-opted from the local community.

11. FESTIVAL SUB COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE

Members requested that the Sub Committee draft their terms of reference at the meeting to be held on 19 th October for consideration at the next meeting of the Recreation Grounds Committee. (Action: Festival Sub Committee)

12. APPOINTMENT OF WORK EXPERIENCE STUDENT

Following the successful week's work experience by Mr Gray, Members were requested to consider the principle of appointing Mr Gray as a work experience student during his school holidays, should he so wish.

Members agreed that such a work placement could be mutually beneficial and the Clerk was requested to find out further information from the Education Authority, the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme and Herts Business Link. (Action: Clerk)

13. PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP GRANT 2004/05

Members were advised that a grant had been received for the following work;

It was noted that the Head of Grounds Maintenance needed to research the kissing gates carefully before ordering them to ensure that they met the Council's requirements and that another entrance to Phillimore Recreation Ground would need to be gated by the Parish Council as it was on their own land.

The Head of Grounds Maintenance undertook to install to two posts within the next month. (Action: Head of Grounds Maintenance)

14. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting was scheduled for 8pm on 2 November 2004 .

Closure: 9.15pm