Amenities Committee Minutes - 1st March 2010
1 March 2010
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Present:
Councillors: F Angelou, J Cooper, J Hawker, P Hickman, M. Humber, E Jearrad and B Vincent
Also in attendance:
Councillors: B. Baker, M. Thorp, J Vernon-Jackson and J Welker
G. Naish – Meetings Administrator
51 APOLOGIES
There were no apologies for absence
52 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Hickman declared an interest in Agenda item 16: Ways of becoming a Greener Council.
53 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18th January 2010 be approved and signed as a correct record.
54 MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising
55 PUBLIC SESSION
The Chairman closed the meeting and questions were taken from the floor. Members of the public asked questions on the following: the positioning of dog bins at Woodside; Priestlands artwork for use at the Sea Water Baths; Christmas lights and Agenda Item 8: Use of Woodland for Priestlands School.
The Chairman reopened the meeting at this point.
56 TOWN CLERK’S REPORT
There were no items to report.
57 ’FRANCE AT HOME MARKET’
Members discussed the possibility of holding a ‘France at Home Market’ in the town. It was felt that it was important to protect the interests of the Saturday Lymington market and that more information was required before any decision could be reached.
RESOLVED: That the Council check the Lymington Charter Market rules on holding markets in the area. That the Council find out more information from the organisation and perhaps meet with them to discuss this before a decision is reached.
58 USE OF WOODLAND FOR PRIESTLANDS SCHOOL
Priestlands School had requested permission from the Council to use part of the woodland adjacent to the school, which the Council leased from Hampshire County Council, for their pig project. Cllr Humber outlined the Landscape Project Strategy Plan which the Council had agreed to implement.
RESOLVED: That the Council support the School’s request provided the area was properly and securely fenced and that agreement had been obtained from Hampshire County Council as this was a condition of the lease.
Cllr Humber informed Members that the Pennington Community Action Group, Priestlands School and St Barbe Museum were combining to hold a competition to name the Woodland and that the Mayor would be invited to open this area on 2nd July 2010.
59 OPEN SPACE FUTURE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
Cllr Hawker explained to members the arrangements by NFDC to make commuted payments for the ongoing maintenance of open space in new developments. Members felt that it was important to maintain such areas of green space for the town but were not sure they could commit to the principle of accepting transfer of open spaces without more information on the process and what the financial implications would be. It was agreed to refer this item to the Policy & Resources Committee meeting on the 8th March 2010 and Members also requested that Mr David Groom, Development Control Manager for NFDC, be asked to meet with them prior to this meeting for further clarification of this strategy.
60 HANGING BASKETS
Cllr Welker reported that many businesses in Lymington were prepared to purchase hanging baskets and water them themselves. Cllr Humber agreed to approach businesses in Pennington to see if they were interested in doing the same. Administration arrangements were also discussed. Cllr Welker asked Members to consider providing hanging baskets where there were already brackets on the lamp posts in the town.
RESOLVED: That watering arrangements for these hanging baskets be discussed with the Acting Parks Supervisor. That a report which included the financial implications for providing hanging baskets for the lamp posts in the town and watering arrangements be prepared and submitted for discussion.
61 DINGHY TRAILER PARKING AT BATH ROAD
A request from NFDC to use the Bath Road recreation ground for dinghy/trailer parking during the summer months was discussed by members. Although sympathetic to this request Members felt that this would be disruptive to Bandstand performances and could cause damage to their land and raise the level of maintenance work that would be required for the area.
RESOLVED: That the Council write to NFDC explaining their reasons for declining this request and offering suggestions for other sites where the parking of dinghies and trailers may be accommodated.
62 TO DISCUSS IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE TENNIS CLUB
Cllr Cooper presented her report on the requirement of the Tennis Club to enhance floodlighting and on possible funding arrangements. The options of grant applications or a loan agreement were discussed by Members.
RESOLVED: That the Council look into applying for planning permission for additional floodlighting now. That the Council seek three quotes for the floodlighting. That the Council make an application to the LTA for 75% of the funding of the floodlighting once the quotes have been received. That the Council approach NFDC to request the release Section 106 funds to support this project.
63 REPORT FROM CHAIRMAN ON WAYS OF BECOMING A GREENER COUNCIL
Cllr Hickman reported on two projects which had been put forward by the local Transition Group. One was to encourage residents and businesses in the town to join the ‘Earth Hour’ at 8.30pm on Saturday 27th March by turning off their lights for an hour to demonstrate publicly their commitment to energy saving.
The second project entailed the use one of the flower beds at Woodside to grow salad plants instead of flowers. Members suggested that planting edible flowers might be a better use of the flower bed, or that fruit trees might be planted in the Gardens. Cllr Hickman was asked to go back to the Transition Group with their thoughts and then to report back to the committee at a later date.
64 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The date of the next Amenities Committee meeting was confirmed as Monday 12th April 2010 at 7.00pm in the Town Council Offices.
The meeting concluded at 9.20pm
Signed
Chairman
Date