Minutes - October 2007

15/04/08 — published by Mikki Thomas

Minutes of the meeting of the Environment & Allotments Committee of Campbell Park Parish Council held on Wednesday 24 October 2007 at 1 Pencarrow Place, Fishermead, commencing at 7.00pm

 

153/07

Members Present

 

 

  • Cllr M Thomas (Chair)
  • Cllr C Ennew
  • Cllr I Fraser
  • Cllr T Fraser 
  • Cllr L Harris
  • Cllr D Pafford
  • Cllr T Turner
  • Cllr H Walmsley

 

154/07

In attendance:


  • Cllr M Dudhill
  • W T Dawson - Parish Manager/ Clerk

155/07

Apologies for Absence

 

None

 

156/07

Declarations of Interest

 

None

 

157/07

Minutes of the Environment & Allotments Committee held on the 26 September 2007

 

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 26th September 2007, having already been circulated were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

 

ALLOTMENTS

 

158/07

Woolstone Allotments

 

The Committee noted the letter sent to the Environment Agency. 

 

 

LANDSCAPING AND HIGHWAYS

 

159/07

Oldbrook Green Signage

The decision of Council to erect prohibition signage around Oldbrook Green was noted.

 

160/07

Oldbrook Green Rates

After the question was clarified the Parish Manager/Clerk undertook to check whether the fact that Council does not pay council tax for the Green in any way restricts the usage to which the Green can be put and to advise Members by e-mail outside the meeting.

 

161/07

Traffic Congestion outside schools within the Parish

Report No: ENV/043/07

The report Speed Indication Devices (SIDs') was received.

It was agreed that:-

(1)  the Parish Manager/Clerk will ascertain the cost of outright purchase of "SID'" by the Parish

(2)  the Parish Council should support the use of SIDs to address the problems of speeding traffic on estates using, initially, the MKC loan scheme to begin the initiative

(3)  the Parish Council should also support the use of "High Visibility Speed Message Boards"

(4)  Members of the Committee, and of Council, should advise the Chair of, and Clerk to, the Committee of areas within their wards where it might be appropriate to locate SID's and message boards

(5)  at a future meeting the Committee should also give some thought to the possibility of liaising with MKC about further pedestrian refuges at estate "gateways" similar to the ones installed on Evans Gate

(6)  when Trevor Dove from MKC meets Cllr Walmsley regarding schools and car parking on Woolstone he will also be asked to meet Cllr Ennew regarding Springfield.

 

162/07

Lidls Car Park Refurbishment

It was noted that an e-mail from Lidls indicated that they have expansion plans which may overtake this matter.  If that is the case this will be the subject of a planning application on which the Council will be consulted.

 

163/07

Parish Notice Boards

It was noted that the board in question has been re-located.

 

164/07

Dog Bins

The position of the Parks Trust was noted.  The Committee did not support the Parish Council placing dog bins on Parks Trust land where they would be used by many from outside the parish. 

It was agreed that the Environment Officer be asked to locate 2 bins, one on the Woolstone allotment car park and one on the playing fields car park.

 

 

BUILDINGS

 

165/07

a)   Oldbrook Centre Internal Refurbishment

Report No: ENV/044/07

It was noted that, after the floor has been re-surfaced in December the current phase of refurbishment will have finished.

It was agreed that the Estates Manager be asked to arrange that the re-surfacing of the floor should include enlarging the "door mat" well at the main entrance.

It was further agreed that the Estates Manager be asked to:-

(1)  carry out a survey of what further work might be needed to refurbish the toilets

(2)  investigate the financial and any other implications of re-constructing the previous link between the public house and the centre to serve as a "lobby/waiting area" for visitors to the Centre

(3)  investigate the financial and any other implications of demolishing the wall within the centre between the large and small rooms with particular reference to the criteria that would have to apply to joint use of the centre by adult and children's groups

(4)   ascertain what external storage capability might be appropriate for the current play group if the small room is no longer available for their storage.

 

 

At this point the Chair proposed and the Committee agreed to, interrupt consideration of item 9 to enable Cllr Dudhill to present item 12, Play areas in Fishermead.

 

166/07

Play Areas in Fishermead

Cllr Dudhill reported on conversations she had had with Phil Snell from MKC about possibilities to provide play equipment in Fishermead, on Kernow Crescent. 

The Committee was informed of public consultation that would be carried out to ascertain the wishes of residents.  The intention is to engage the public in the design stage to enhance community cohesion, to have a facility available to all, and to have one in which the community will take pride.

It was noted that external funding will be needed but noted also that "WREN" funds might be available for the "right" scheme.

The Committee asked that the minutes reflect thanks to Cllr Dudhill for her work on this matter.

 

165/07

(a)  Oldbrook Centre Internal Refurbishment

The work of the Estates Manager in progressing the question of the management of the Oldbrook Centre was acknowledged.  It was noted that:-

the Estates Manager will draft a specification for the facilities management of the centre as outlined in report number ENV/044/07

this will be presented to the next meeting of the Committee for consideration

the Estates Manager will also try to obtain three competitive quotes for the facilities management of the centre, and will also compare the costs and service of in-house provision.

 

167/07

WASTE & RECYCLING

 

 

 

There was nothing to report.

 

168/07

CRIME & COMMUNITY SAFETY

 

NAG - Cllr Thomas updated the Committee on the NAG September meeting and the plans for the Community Clean-up day.  The NAG West is considering the next two priorities of HiMOs and anti-social behaviour although the initiative from MKC on the former was noted. 

 

169/07

Graffiti Cleaning - Report No: ENV/045/07

The report of the Parish Manager/Clerk was received.  It was noted that the out-sourced graffiti removal service was excellent.  Therefore it was recommended that Council authorise the Parish Manager/Clerk to seek to dispose of the equipment for the best terms available.

 

 

ITEMS PENDING

 

170/07

Closure of Willen Post Office

The current position was noted. Talks about the future of the post office are ongoing.  Meanwhile the problem experienced by elderly residents

Collecting pensions were recognised.  It was agreed that the Parish Manager/Clerkwould look into the possibility of the provision of an ATM in the elderly residents home.

 

 

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Environment & Allotments Committee will be held on 28 November 2007.