170 A meeting of the Recreation & Environment Advisory Forum was held on Monday 22 November 2004 , in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington and commenced at 7.30pm There were no members of the public present. Apologies were received from Councillors Bushell, Dziadkiewicz and Mrs Hutton. Present:- Councillor C.M. Green - Committee Chairman (also Tennis Club Rep) Councillor Mrs C.J. Dunning Councillor Mrs B Webster Ex Officio Councillor Group Capt W.E. Bliss CBE - Parish Council Chairman Organisations Mr L. Creasey - Heighington Bowls Club Mrs P. Edwards - Heighington Gardening Club The Chairman opened the meeting with a welcome to those present. 1. Declarations of Interest: There were none to record at this stage. 2. To approve the Clerk's notes from the Recreation & Environment Advisory Forum on 28 June 2004: having been circulated to all Members and displayed on the notice boards the minutes were taken as read. Mr Creasey asked for an amendment to delete the words “but remain unbeaten” on page 168 on the 5 th line of the 1 st paragraph, and this was agreed. A proposal by Councillor Mrs Webster, seconded by Councillor Mrs Dunning to approve the minutes subject to the amendment, as a true record was agreed unanimously. 3. Matters Arising/Clerks Report:
3/1 page 162/3 item 5/1 Grant Aid Application 2004/05 Financial Year: The Chairman informed Members that NKDC's scheme to improve the grassed area at Almond Avenue was currently going through a consultation process and the County Council have extended the period to claim the Grant for a Swing. Improvements at the tennis court area on the Recreation Ground had advanced in the laying of tarmac the previous week, the installation of temporary lines until Spring 2005, and a general tidy of the area for Winter.
3/2 page 163 item 5/2 Risk Assessments: The Chairman said that we were still waiting for the 5 mph signs to be installed by the County Council and this was being progressed on a monthly basis by the Clerk. 3/3 page 163 item 5/3 Provision of Litter Bins : Two new bins had been received and installed on Back Lane and the High Street.
3/4 page 163 item 5/4 Best Kept Village Competition : A copy of the judges comments had been received and these were noted by Members.
3/5 page 163 item 5/5 Village Signs : An arrangement with the Headteacher at Millfield School was to be progressed. There was no response from the Head of Art at the Branston Community College to our enquiry asking if students would be interested in producing a design. 3/6 page 163 Item 5/6 Vandalism, Noise, and Nuisance - Anti Social Behaviour: The Chairman updated Members about vandalism over the Halloween weekend and the appointment of an Anti Social Behaviour Officer at NKDC.
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3/7 page 164 item 5/7 Environmental & Sustainability Issues: In complimenting the Bowls Club for their auto watering system the Chairman asked Members for additional ideas where savings could be made (i.e. Environmental Issues - use of low voltage light bulbs, recycling etc) and Sustainable Issues (maintaining services etc), and this was noted for future interests. 3/8 page 164 item 5/9 Trees on Parish Council Land - Risk Assessment: The Chairman reported work to trees had been undertaken by a tree specialist in September and October at both the Recreation Ground and Sportsfield. He confirmed that a full tree hazard assessment at those locations had been deferred because of financial implications, 3/9 page 164 item 5/11 Footway Fen Road: The Chairman recalled a letter from the Highways Area Manager who advised about a list of improvements and the number of requests that exceeded his budget. He considered there was no alternative but to wait and see what develops and this was agreed.
3/10 page 164 item 5/12 Land along Fen Road: Members were advised that this matter was ongoing with NKDC Enforcement Officers. 3/11 page 164 item 5/13 Millstream Road: Fire hydrant marker (yellow) to be referred to the appropriate body for replacement.
3/12 page 165 Check of Electrical Installations, Sportsfield and Recreation Ground Pavilions and Changing Container: The Chairman advised that electrical checks had been completed at a cost of £1,142.10 and thanked the Junior Football Club for contributing £159.80 this being a charge for the changing container at the Sportsfield. He also referred to a problem at the Sportsfield on the lower level when Lincsgreen had been called in to treat the field following an infestation of leatherjackets, the Junior Football Club had made a contribution of £350 towards the treatment and he again thanked the Junior Football Club. 3/13 Recreational Areas Rental 2004/05: The Chairman confirmed that all rents were due.
3/14 page 166 item 6d Youth Transport Project: The Chairman confirmed that the Clerk had completed and returned the questionnaire by the due date. 3/15 page 166 item 6f NKDC Questionnaire ‘Views on Priorities': The Chairman confirmed that the questionnaire had been completed and returned by the due date. 3/16 page 166 item 7 LCC Free Tree Scheme: A request for additional hedge plants had been submitted to the County Council and approved. A date for collection of the hedge plants was awaited. 3/17 page 167 item 9 Parish Walks Leaflet: The Chairman referred to the adding of historical notes to a draft of directions to form a leaflet and considered that we would have to wait and see what develops. Members agreed.
4 Correspondence
4a Football Grants: A letter and questionnaire from NKDC entitled ‘The Lincolnshire Local Football Partnership's Facility Strategy 2003-2006 was noted in that it had been circulated to local football clubs to process.
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4b CPRE Country Lane Campaign: The Chairman advised that this item had been passed on to the Committee for further consideration. Two local areas Acre Dyke Lane and Lower Park Lane had been suggested at the Parish Council meeting. Members were asked if there were any other areas. There were no additional suggestions. 4c Environment Agency Flood Awareness Campaign: Details about the Campaign which runs from October 2004 through to March 2005 were noted by Members 4d Shaping Health/Patient & Public Forum: Publicity material associated with a Patient and Public Involvement Forum set up by the Government to enable people in the local community to have a voice in how health services are organised and delivered. Members also noted information about a campaign to recruit committed volunteers onto the Forum across Lincolnshire. 5 Village of the Year Competition Update - Ongoing Events: The Chairman commented about the preparations and presentation to the Judges on 20 th October 2004, which he considered had been magical, he pointed out that further judging of villages had been planned to take place between 11 th and 17 th November but in this event we had not been selected for a second visit; but that did not mean we had not won a prize as no results would be announced until the Awards Luncheon, and extended grateful thanks to everyone involved. Councillor Bliss said as an outsider attending the 20 th October presentation he thought it was excellent. Mrs Edwards from the Gardening Club was equally complimentary about what had been achieved in staging such an event. Everyone was keen to see the outcome of the Competition to be announced on 7 December 2004. The Chairman pointed out that those involved in the competition wanted to stage another event next year and a meeting to discuss the situation will be arranged in the New Year. 6. Street Lighting Programme: Members were advised that NKDC had recently asked the Parish Council for additional street lighting requests for inclusion in a forward programmed. An additional light on the upper part of Washingborough Road and one along Fen Road had been requested. Members were asked if there were any other areas that might benefit from additional lights but there were no suggestions. 7. Facilities for Teenagers: The Chairman said that he had given this subject some thought and was mindful of a minority associated with antisocial behaviour, vandalism, and skateboarding problems in the village. He opined that this Committee was the one to take a lead and provide a platform for discussion. To start this process he suggested talking to the people involved with youth activities and proposed an informal meeting with Ms Becky Sim (County Council Youth Worker) and Mrs Tracy Kerr (Leader of the Heighington Youth Club) to establish what facilities young people in the village were looking for. The Chairman said that he was going to invite Mrs Kerr to attend tonight but had found that she had been ill recently and the Youth Club had closed for three weeks. In discussion Members gave their support to a consultation initiative and it was agreed to recommend it to the Parish Council. 8. Planning for the Future: A copy of the Parish Council's Forward Programme was noted by the Chairman when he highlighted items for consideration in the current 2004/05 financial year and the forthcoming 2005/06 financial year, and how this would impact on the Parish Council Precept. In summary the 2004/05 list had been partially completed in the resurfacing of the Tennis Courts. The replacement of a carpet at the Sportsfield pavilion with altro flooring was being progressed. continued 173 8: Two litter bins had been renewed. Village signs and planting bulbs on village verges had yet to be progressed, and the Burial Ground investigation had been suspended. In 2005/06 a target to purchase land for car parking at or near the sportsfield and additional land for sport/green space was seen to be weak because of financial constraints. Facilities for teenagers had been discussed earlier, and treatment of the ceiling at the Jubilee Hall had to be looked in to for costing. Other items on the Forward Programme were mentioned particularly those relating to the renovation of stone boundary walls at the Jubilee Hall and eastern boundary of the bowling green at Station Road, resurfacing of the car park at the Jubilee Hall and renewing the tiled floor at the Jubilee Hall. During a discussion the situation as noted was acknowledged as standing. Reference was made to the surrounds at the front of the Pavilion at the Station Road Recreation Ground; it was seen as a good idea to remove the gravel from the space between the pavilion and the footpath, because it was being thrown about the grounds by vandals, but the removal of the gravel had provided a trip hazard. It was agreed that this matter be looked in to. 9 Reports from Clubs:
Heighington Tennis Club: In changing roles the Chairman said that the Club was making plans for the new season in that coaching would be on-going together with sponsorship from the LTA for the School. The Clubs funds had depleted following a £1,500 contribution to the Parish Council towards the renovation of the tennis court area.
Junior Football Club: In Mr Caunt's absence the Chairman updated about the continuing success of the Club and praised their efforts in entertaining over 100 youngsters.
Heighington Football Club: The Chairman said he had heard that the Senior Football Club were doing well and acknowledged Mr Abernethy's efforts.
Heighington Bowls Club: Mr Creasey updated on the success of the Club during last season when they had entered a new evening City League. The Club were nearing completion of some projects to include giving assistance to a nearby resident to lop trees, grounds improvements, and an old shed had been re-roofed. Parish Matters:
(a) Street Lighting Failures: Centre light on Open Space at Back Lane, and corner of Blacksmiths Lane. 10. Date of next Meeting: The next meeting is scheduled for Monday 28 February 2004. There being no other business the meeting was closed at 8.35pm
Signed C.M. Green Dated 28 February 2005 |