Minutes of the Recreation, Amenities and War Memorials committee held on 26th February 2008 at 7.30pm in the Corn Exchange complex, Hungerford.

Present: Cllr Cardwell, Harries, Bullock.
Also R Beard, S Mills


1.       Apologies for absence

Cllrs Nesbitt, Pope, Werrell, Liddiard,
Wilson, Andy Bell, Ron Tarry

2.       Declarations of interest

Cllr Bullock stated that she is on St Lawrence’s PCC

3.      Minutes of the meeting held on 29th January 2008

Item 15 amended to £100.  Proposed Cllr Harries, seconded Cllr Bullock, all in favour

4.      Triangle Field

The parking areas need to be extended and after a user meeting a resolution has been agreed for the tournaments

The building is now up to internal fitting.

The cricket field will be seeded after the tournaments.

An update was given on the Club House.  Internal work is ongoing, plastering is complete, second fix on the electrics is being done, work will done in the kitchen and the bar at the weekend.  Club has got the licence, licensing authority are visiting the premise on 27th February.  Further work to be done in the car park to make sure it can accommodate the number of vehicles expected for tournaments in April and May.  Cllr Harries and Cllr Cardwell to meet with the tarmac company on the 25th February, quote is to go to Cllr Cardwell.  The area where the rollers are stored could be cleared and used for additional car parking.  The under lease was signed on 3rd March at Full Council.  The covered area will be used at the Tag Rugby for the sale of refreshments, Steve Bull suggested that the garage could be cleared and used in the future.

Letter and contract to be sent re grass cutting, needs to be cut and marked out during the second or third week of May for the tournament on the 10th and 11th, then cut again before the tournament on 17th and 18th.  Seeding to take place in June, seed is 3 to 4 years old, so only likely that there will be 60% germination.  

Agreed that the Saxon Triangle mower should be serviced by Fairoaks Machinery, it should be used to cut the bottom football pitch, outside of the cricket pitch and ??, suggested and agreed that the cost should be split between HTC (£220) and the Cricket Club (£255).  Repairs can be done by this weekend, costs to be charged to Triangle Field.  The other mower has been repaired, needed a new battery, cost £29.

Agreed that the mowers should be serviced every year in the winter, November to February, LB to enter in diary.  Proposed Cllr Harries, seconded Cllr Bullock, all in favour.

5.      Junior Football Tournaments

A meeting was held with Wickham Wanderers and Hungerford Juniors as there could be additional parking there and also in John O’Gaunt Technology College car park.  Suggested that the rollers are moved, the entrance is widened, and a post erected and signs put up to clearly defined the entrance and exit.  Parking would be provided for an ambulance down one side.  There has been a request for a static caravan for photographs. Hungerford Tournament lease is in the office to be signed.

S. Mills left the meeting

6.      Skate Park

Cllr Cardwell and Harries met at the skateboard park on 18/2, the area was covered in litter, metal benches are being used as skateboard runs, the fence is damaged and requires repairs, the equipment is starting to rot and the surfaces are loose.  Repairs are being carried out this week and a further assessment. The equipment needs painting and it has been suggested that we organise a graffiti workshop for the local artists.  Rhino has agreed to carryout repairs up to a cost of £2000.  There are problems with broken bottles on the site, some are alcoholic, this needs to be reported to the police by e mail and records kept.  The baskets are now up and being used.  Looking at getting a rail from rhino, cost £351 plus fitting.  Repairs to the ramps and baskets have been done.  Agreed that the area should remain fenced for the time being.

7.      Tragedy Memorial

The Tragedy Memorial garden needs to be tidied up, A Lavers is going to cut back the lavenders and shrubs to clear the area to see how many new plants/shrubs are required.

Confirmed that A Lavers will be paid once a month

8.      War Memorial and Recreation Ground

Roses donated by Wyevale Garden Centre are being planted in the War Memorial Garden.  Agreed a letter of thanks should be sent to Wyevale.

The goals need to be moved on a regular basis to even out wear.  Another small moving goal is needed for the younger players.  The seats are in a reasonable condition but one needs to be repaired or replaced on the cricket pitch.  The Hurdle House will be vacated when the storage facility is built at Triangle Field.  The skip used by the cricket club, are we a user, should we be paying for this?

There is a problem with moles on the Recreation ground, Cllr Bullock has contacted the mole man to deal with this.

19.55 – R Beard left the meeting

9.      Smitham Bridge play area and contracts

The grass needs to be cut, a request needs to be made to A Slatter.  There is a problem with moles, Cllr Bullock to contact the mole man.  Where ground work has been carried out there are a number stones that need to be cleared.  The edges need to be defined and cleared away.  Some grass seed needs to be spread during the next few weeks.  The bank to the multi play area needs to some matting fixed to the slope and seeded.  The hedges around the park need cutting back but not trimmed down.  The swings need painting and the mechanics serviced.  The benches need to be cleaned and maybe two more added to the site. 

Insurance claim needs to be processed, invoice to be sent to Cornhill.  Amount due £7,720, this could be used for the path

Trevor James has quoted for grass(£30 per cut) and hedge cutting (£30 per cut, twice a year).  Work to start straight away.  LB to write to AS Contractors thanking them and advising them we have alternative arrangements for the future.  Proposed by Cllr Cardwell that we accept the quotation from Mr James, seconded Cllr Bullock, all in favour.

10.  Bulpit Lane Play area’s complaints

The new bins need keys and emptying.  The tension on the gates needs to be reset.  The ground needs to be turfed, the area is approximately 55 square metres.  There are three seats that need painting and new wood slates.  There are areas that need seeding and stones removed.  There is a requirement for at least three picnic benches.  The area could use a small slide for minors.  Cllr Cardwell to contact Rebecca Scorey re the option/cost for artificial grass.  There have been some complaints from local residents and users of the play area.  Cllr Harries to update Carole Harrison with the current situation.  The placard advising that the play area had lottery funding has been stolen, Cllr Cardwell to request a replacement from David Hogg.

11.  Bridge Street War Memorial, Rose planting

The Bridge Street War Memorial garden is to have 20 roses planted, the roses have been given to HTC by Wyevale Garden Centre. 

12.  St Saviours Cemetery (Mr James) paint gates

Brick walls need attention.  Roger Ballard to paint the gates.  Trevor James has been given the contract for maintaining the cemetery this year, the work has been split into 4 areas for maintenance, current burials and cremation areas will be cut with immediate effect for a cost of £105 per cut, other sections will be strimmed between the graves and the edges cut, the bins will be emptied, the children’s graves will be tidied and maintained, the paupers graves will be ???.

Spare soil to go in to the fenced area so that it can be used to infill graves, this area needs some new wood panels and others need coating with preservative.

There is additional space that can be used for a parking area.

New bins are needed, Cllr Bullock to get information and costs.

A grave survey will be done, some information will be sought via Hungerford Historical Society, this is an ongoing project.

The wooden benches at St Saviours need some tlc.  The rows need to be clearly marked, markers are £16 each, Cllr Bullock to contact Mr Sly.

13.  St Lawrence Churchyard, (update on wall and gates)

The wall has been taken down, the roots from the tree at Parsonage Farm are too big for the contractors to remove, a lintel will have to be put across the roots.  The pillar to the left hand wall has fallen down, the bolts have rotted, but it can be welded back together.  The quote for the original work was £3,500, but actual cost will be £6,000.

Would like to tarmac the whole driveway, have been offered for this to be done for just the cost of the materials, £1750, as the family of the tarmac company attend the church.  HTC would like to accept the offer, but need to consult with the PCC.  Cllr Harries and Cllr Cardwell to attend the PCC meeting after which Cllr Cardwell will get back to the tarmac company.  Cllr Bullock to speak to Rev Andrew Sayer.
Mr Mills has been contacted re the problem with moles, this is being dealt with

14.  Swimming Pool House discuss rent review

The electrical work has been done, the cost will be deducted from the rent.  The tenant has to buy new batteries for the smoke alarms.  The annual rent review is due,  Cllr Cardwell has spoken to Mark Allen, suggested that the rent is increased by £10 per month.  Agreed to put the rent up to £735 per month with effect from 1st May 2008, Cllr Cardwell to advise Mark Allen.  Proposed Cllr Harries, seconded Cllr Bullock, all in favour.

15.  Accounts for authorisation

This item can be removed from future agendas.


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