Aldenham Parish Council

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Minutes of the meeting of the RECREATION GROUNDS COMMITTEE held at 8pm on 6th November 2007 at The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett.

Present:

Councillor S. Burke (Chairman)
Councillor G. Balen
Councillor A. Baker
Councillor J. Howley
Councillor D. Lambert
Councillor C. Wilkins

Officers:

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

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence.
URGENT LATE ITEM

The Chairman advised that he had agreed to consider an urgent late item relating to the trees in Cobden Hill Dell. The reason for urgency was the neighbour’s concerns regarding the safety of the trees.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.
TO CONFIRM AND SIGN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 18TH SEPTEMBER 2007

The minutes of the meeting held on 18th September 2007 were signed as a true and accurate record.
UPDATES FROM ACTIONS IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 18TH SEPTEMBER 2007
1. Suggestions for changes to Radlett Gardens – The Clerk had spoken to the Environment Agency regarding opening up Radlett Gardens and Tykeside Gardens to the brook and discussions were to be held shortly. (Action: Clerk)
2. Control of Dogs – The Clerk was still drawing up the policies necessary to enable the Grounds Staff become accredited by Hertfordshire Constabulary so that they could enforce environmental issues such as dog fouling etc. (Action: Clerk)
3. Allotments water system and Three Valleys Water – Watermation had been requested to keep their quotation to April 2008. (Action: Clerk)
4. Allotments – Following the inspection 11 plots had been released and 6 half plots.
5. Tree Survey – The work had been ordered and the surveys commenced. A report would be with the Council within the next month.
TO NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE FOOTPATHS SUB COMMITTEE HELD ON 18TH JULY 2007 AND 9TH OCTOBER 2007

The minutes of 18th July were noted. The minutes of 9th October were awaiting Chairman’s approval prior to circulation. (Action: Deputy Clerk)
HEAD OF GROUNDS MAINTENANCE’S REPORT

The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that Mr A Chick had started employment with the Council on 5th November 2007, he had carried out 2 weeks casual work for the Council prior to permanent employment and was proving an asset to the team.

All of the hanging baskets were down and the war memorial had been replanted. The plants for Summer and Winter 2008 had been ordered.

The new Kubota ride on mower and M.T.D. rotovator had been delivered and were in use.

The leaves were falling very slowly this year so leaf clearance would take some time. The annual bonfire was held on 5th November which had cleared the compound of tree cuttings.

Work on checking the Christmas lights was in hand.

The winter work to the bowls green was complete but a few hard frosts were needed to kill off diseases in the grass.

The showers in the changing rooms were showing signs of wear and would need improvements in the next financial year. It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would take place at the Pavilion so that Members could look at the building prior to the meeting commencing.

An allotment holder had expressed his gratitude at the alterations to the gate and requested that it be made self closing. The Head of Grounds Maintenance advised that this would be a costly exercise. Members noted that there may be problems with the gate closing onto cars etc.

Members noted that the lights in Radlett Gardens were not working as Hertsmere Borough Council had had the electricity turned off. The Parish Council had undertaken to pay for the electricity used and the Borough Council were arranging for the electricity to be put back on. (Action: Clerk)
SETTING UP A SUB COMMITTEE TO PREPARE AND MONITOR A 5 YEAR SPENDING PLAN

Members RESOLVED that a 5 Year Spending Plan Sub Committee should be set up to draw up a Recreation Grounds 5 year Spending Plan to assist in budget calculations. Councillor C. Wilkins, Councillor S. Burke and Councillor D. Lambert would sit on the Sub Committee. (Action: Clerk)
SETTING UP A LAW AND ORDER WORKING GROUP

Members RECOMMENDED that a Law & Order Working Group be set up and terms of reference agreed by Council.
DETAILS ON EXPENDITURE FOR WORK TO THE BOWLS GREEN TO BE RECHARGED TO THE BOWLS CLUB

Members noted that at the suggestion of Radlett Bowls Club that matting be purchased for the ditches around the green and that the Club donate the cost less VAT to the Council. (Action: Clerk)
UPDATE ON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 2007

Members were advised that 17 strings of fairy lights and rope light for around the Radlett Centre had been purchased as the existing lights were broken. Four additional lamp post snowflakes had been purchased during the year and would extend the lighting along the Oakway. Sponsorship for the lights was considered a possible way forward in future, however, it was accepted that work on obtaining this would need to start in the Summer of 2008.
HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORTS
1. General Reports – There had been no accidents reported.
2. Fire Risk Assessments – The Head of Grounds Maintenance was working through the risk assessments reports and clarifying some issues with the specialist firm.
3. Trees in Cobden Hill Dell – Members noted the letter from the resident at 22 Cobden Hill Dell and RESOLVED that no tree survey should be carried out this year but the Clerk should apply to Hertsmere Borough Council for permission to lop or fell the trees adjacent to 22 Cobden Hill. (Action: Clerk)
PHILLIMORE RECREATION GROUND – SPORTS DEVELOPMENT FUND

The Clerk advised that the programme of training drawn up by S.A.F.E. Coaching was working well with over 30 young people attending training on a Saturday morning. Paul Servier (S.A.F.E. Coaching) had advised that he hoped to engage a trainer in tennis and basketball to widen the sports programme offered, he also hoped to get an ex-premier league footballer to visit one Saturday.

Members RESOLVED that S.A.F.E. Coaching be engaged to the end of December with all training taking place in the Multi-use Games Area or on the old tennis courts with additional training during the school holidays up to a maximum of two 2 hour sessions, subject to availability. Members also requested that arrangements be put in place in case of cancellation due to inclement weather in that a cancellation on the Thursday would mean no fee being paid, a cancellation on the Friday or Saturday would pay a £90 retainer to S.A.F.E. Coaching. (Action: Clerk)
BID TO PLAYFUL IDEAS

Members noted that the Clerk had to resubmit the proposal for a grant for a primary school age cycle track and a young people’s bike trim trail to receive official approval to submit the full bid. (Action: Clerk)
LEGAL ASPECTS TO ENABLE THE GROUNDS STAFF BECOME ACCREDITED BY HERTFORDSHIRE CONSTABULARY

The Clerk advised that there were no accredited agencies enforcing the issue of Fixed Penalty Notices (F.P.N.) in Hertfordshire. Where the scheme had been partly introduced it had been successful in alcohol-free zones but the Health and Safety of staff was paramount. Confrontational actions such as issuing F.P.N. was not considered safe for lone working staff. The Clerk was requested to ask Insp. Rankin if the grounds staff could be linked to the police network via mobile phone as used in the Summer by the Security firm.

Members noted the increase in incidents of dogs fighting and the increase in popularity of Staffordshire terriers. Keeping dogs on leads was not considered beneficial as those fighting with dogs would just ignore the rule. The Clerk was requested to contact Environmental Health for advice on issuing F.P.N. and control of dogs. (Action: Clerk)
PARISH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN

Newberries Path and Tykesglade Bridge – The Clerk had contacted Ian Gibbon, Countryside Management and Richard Grove to arrange a meeting.
DRAFT BUDGET 2008/09

Members noted the draft budget as circulated and RESOLVED to discuss it further at the next meeting of the Committee. (Action: Clerk)
DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next meeting would take place on 4 December 2007 at 7.45pm in the Pavilion, Phillimore Recreation Ground, Gills Hill, Radlett WD7 8AL.

Closure: 9.45pm