DIDCOT TOWN COUNCIL, ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, MONDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2010, 7.30PM
Admission of the Public and Media
Members of the Public and Media are welcome to attend in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meeting) Act 1960 Section 1 extended by LGA 1972 Section 100.
Public Participation
Public Participation will be strictly in accordance with Standing Order No. 11.
AGENDA
1. Apologies
2. Declarations of Interests – Members are reminded to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have on any item on this agenda in accordance with Didcot Town Council’s code of conduct.
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 5th October 2009 (not attached, sent out with Council Agenda 12th October 2009)
4. Questions on the Minutes as to the progress of any item
5. Financial Statement (attached)
6. Technical Manager’s Report (attached)
7. Overtime Report (attached)
8. Events Report (attached) – To approve requested event(s) within the budget limits for 2009/10
9. Edmonds Park Opening Hours review (report attached)
10. The Vibe’s future use of the Motorcycle Project building (report attached)
11. Sport Relief Mile at Ladygrove Park (report attached)
12. Snow plough attachment for snow clearance (report attached)
13. Correspondence
Dominic Stapleton
Town Clerk
27th January 2010
MINUTES
352. PRESENT
Councillors:
- Mr A Thompson (Vice-Chair)
- Mrs L Hood
- Mr W Service
- Mrs E Hards
- Mr P Hayward (ex officio without voting rights)
Officers:
- Mr S Carter (Deputy Town Clerk)
- Ms B Andrews (Technical Manager)
353. APOLOGIES
Councillors Mr B Griffiths (business) and Mr C Daukes (personal).
354. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
Members were reminded to declare any personal or prejudicial interests on any item on the agenda in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.
(a) Councillor Mr A Thompson declared a personal and prejudicial interest on Minute 361 as he is the Chair of The Vibe Management Committee.
(b) Councillor Mrs L Hood declared a personal interest in Minute 361 as she is the Chair of the Didcot Under 13’s Youth Club which is based at The Vibe.
355. MINUTES
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 5th October 2009 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.
Referring to Minute 199 it was stated that the Deputy Town Clerk had been in further correspondence with South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) about future burial provision in the town and that he was awaiting a reply.
356. FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The Financial Statement for month nine was circulated.
RECOMMENDED that the following budget heading virements be approved:
- £20,951 from 3101 Salaries – Basic to 3102 Salaries Additional
- £1,650 from 32581 Grant Received to 3171 Contingency – Environment
- £1,500 from 3166 Millennium Wood Upkeep to 3154 (Cemetery 303) Maintenance
- £750 from 3170 Waste Recycling to 3154 (Edmonds Park 304) Maintenance
- £588 from 3161 Improvement Schemes to 3165 Ladygrove Lakes
- £465 from 32512 Wessex Mower Attachment to 32514 New Gates – New Road Allotments
357. TECHNICAL MANAGER'S REPORT
The Technical Manager’s report was circulated for information.
It was reported that the Town Council had been successful in its application for a £15,000 grant from WREN towards the Great Western Drive play area upgrade and that the construction was due to begin in March.
It was also reported that a local resident had kindly donated £3,000 towards a landscape feature at Ladygrove mound and that it was proposed to install a single large standing Sarsen stone at the head of a turf cut maze. It was RECOMMENDED that further plans and costings are brought to the next meeting and that this plan is put on the agenda.
NOTED
An application to install a granite seat at the children’s section of the Kynaston Road Cemetery had been received from a local stone mason. It was explained that the cemetery has many wooden benches and that this granite seat would be out of keeping. It was RECOMMENDED that the application to install the granite seat is turned down.
In response to a question about the damage done to hedging at Mereland Road allotments by the neighbouring developers it was explained that officers had met with the developers. The Town Council would be requesting that the developers make good any damage they have done to the standard it was prior to them commencing building.
Following a question it was explained that snow clearance was prioritised at Edmonds Park so that staff could gain access to the depot located there.
In response to a question it was explained that the cost to the Town Council to install bollards outside the health centre on the corner of Britwell Road would be in the region of £320.
358. OVERTIME REPORT
The overtime report for the week ending 22nd September 2009 to 19th January 2010 was circulated.
NOTED
359. EVENTS REPORT – TO APPROVE REQUESTED EVENTS WITHIN THE BUDGET LIMITS OF 2009/10 BUDGET
The events report was circulated and is attached appendix A.
RECOMMENDED that the events listed in the Events Reports as attached at appendix A be approved within the budget limits for 2009/10.
360. EDMONDS PARK OPENING HOURS REVIEW
A report was circulated regarding the opening hours at Edmonds Park. At present the park is open from 6am – 7pm from October to March (winter months) and from 6am to 0.30 hours after sunset from April to September (summer months).
There had been an increasing problem of dog fouling during the early morning in the winter months as many dog owners are unable to see where their dog is fouling and therefore unable to pick it up. There have also been instances of owners letting their dogs off the lead whilst they remain in one location and calling them back when they are ready, leaving the council staff to clean up any mess.
To counter this problem it was proposed that the opening hours be amended to minimise the park being open whilst it is dark.
RECOMMENDED that Edmonds Park is open from 7am to 6pm in the winter months and 6am to 10pm in the summer months to come into effect in April 2010.
361. FUTURE USE OF THE MOTORCYCLE PROJECT BUILDING AT EDMONDS PARK
This agenda item was deferred to the next meeting of the Environment Committee as the committee was not quorate.
362. SPORT RELIEF MILE AT LADYGROVE PARK
A report on the Sport Relief Mile was circulated for information. The event had been formally recommended for approval by the committee at Minute 359.
It was explained that the event was to take place on 21st March 2010 and was part of the BBC Sport Relief fund raising initiative.
Some concern was raised as to the cost of putting on the event to the Town Council as overtime would have to be paid to the outdoor staff in order to set up the course. The cost to the Town Council was estimated at £300. Everything else including marshalling would be done by volunteers. The Leader, Councillor Mr W Service, stated that he would seek funding from SODC for the cost of the staff hours.
NOTED
363. SNOW CLEARANCE
A report was circulated regarding possible snow clearance that the Town Council could do if it had the proper equipment. During the recent snow the Town Council had manually cleared its own land such as Edmonds Park, Kynaston Road Cemetery and the Civic Hall using shovels. The report went on that these areas could be cleared effectively and easily using a snow plough attached to the front bar of the Town Council’s tractor. Once this was done then the Town Council could liaise with Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) about clearing some of their road network and pavements in the town. To buy and install a snowplough would cost approximately £2,400 – £3,100.
Hiring the equipment was discounted as an option as it would be expensive and it was likely that should snow fall, larger authorities would hire all the equipment.
Snow blowers and ‘Kill frost’ hoppers were suggested as cheaper alternatives. It was also highlighted that OCC were paying farmers to clear snow and that some sought of recompense could be sought from them if the Town Council were to clear highways and/or pavements.
The Technical Manager stated that she would research these options further and also the possibility of charging OCC for clearing snow on the highways and pavements and bring this matter back to a future meeting.
NOTED
364. CORRESPONDENCE
(a) SODC – Commercial Services
Notice that the price to empty the Dig Bins was to rise to £2.35 per bin per week plus 15% administration charge and VAT. This cost would rise annually from April 2011. It was also highlighted that the dog bins would be emptied when required rather than once a week but that the price would be fixed regardless of the amount of times a bin was emptied.
NOTED
Clerk’s Note: Didcot Town Council is currently responsible for 26 Dog Bins in the town.
Members were reminded of the Didcot Town Council ‘Big Tidy Up’ which was taking place on 27th February 2010 from 10am – 12 noon meeting at the Civic Hall and that all were invited to attend.
The Meeting commenced at 7.30pm and closed at 8.35pm
Chair
APPENDIX A
AGENDA ITEM: 8
REPORT TITLE: Events Report
REPORT AUTHOR: Brenda Andrews, Technical Manager
Purpose of Report: To approve requested events within the budget limits for 2009/10
1. Perry Hatwell’s Fair
To arrive Edmonds Park on 9th August and operate from Wed 11th until Sun 15th August, leaving site on Monday 16th August 2010.
2.0 Sport Relief Mile at Ladygrove Park and surrounding cycleways, Sunday 21st March.
The 6 and 3 mile event start at 10 am followed by the single mile at 11am, 11.15 and 11.30 am. SODC are involved in organising this event along with DTC staff.
3.0 Memorial Rugby Match at Edmonds Park, 21st February.
Didcot Rugby Club celebrating the life of Martin Llewellyn. Kick off at 12 noon.
Brenda Andrews
Technical Manager
27th January, 2010.
