Minutes of the Recreation, Amenities and War Memorials committee held on 22nd May 2008 at 7 pm in the Corn Exchange complex, Hungerford.

Present:   Cllrs Cardwell, Harries, Bullock, Pope, Nesbitt, Liddiard, Wilson and Werrell; also Mr Steve Mills and Mr Steven Skipworth

1. Apologies for absence

R Tarry

2. Declarations of interest

Cllrs Bullock and Wilson – St Lawrence PCC

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 29th April 2008 were agreed as correct.  Proposed Cllr Harries, seconded Cllr Wilson, 7 in favour, 3 abstentions

4. Election of Chairman/Deputy Chairman

Cllr Chardwell was proposed as Chairman by Cllr Harries, seconded by Cllr Wilson, all in favour.

Cllr Harries was proposed as Vice Chairman by Cllr Cardwell, seconded by Cllr Liddiard, all in favour.

5.      Triangle Field

Hungerford Hares, which is run by Clare Digweed, use the 'trim trail' around the Triangle Field;  they have forwarded to the Council their Certificate for Liability Insurance.  They have been using the field free of charge for a year and it was thought appropriate now to charge them for their use.  These funds would be used to maintain the facilities, for instance, of the toilets needs to be labelled 'ladies'.  An annual fee of £100 to cover the period April to March was proposed by Cllr Wilson, seconded by Cllr Liddiard, 6 in favour. 

5. Junior Football Tournaments

Suggested that some of the waste ground is cleared and used for car parking, it needs strimming.  WBC happy for JOG car park to be used for parking.  There will need to be signage/bollards and there will need to be a letter of authorisation from JOG. 

6. Skate Park

2/3 weeks ago there was an inspection of the area, some of the support wood is rotten, Playground Services carried out the repairs at an approx. cost of £2000..  The whole playground was vandalised the following weekend, £300 worth of damage was done, the park was closed.  There are now four options for the future of the park, keep carrying out repairs, close the park down, use the site for allotments or let a youth user group run the site supported by HTC.  A meeting is planned with JOG on Friday with Sue Edgar and some of the pupils to try and get a group to run it, if this fails the park could be closed and the site used for allotments.

7.25pm Martin Digweed left the meeting

7. Tragedy Memorial

In good condition, D Taylor and T Lavers have cut back the shrubs and are now looking at the planting needs.  Cllr Liddiard has some leaf mould etc that can be collected to put on the beds.

8. War Memorial and Recreation Ground

Letters have been done re the grass cutting contract.  The skate board park and the bottom of the cricket ground will be cut with a rotary mower.  The moles in the area have been treated.  Dog bins are at the perimeter and the bottom end, 7 bins in the area, they are emptied once a week.  The public do not always use the bins, need to name and shame, HTC need to know who the culprits are, articles have been in Open Door and The Advisor.  D Taylor would like chemicals for the kerbside weed killing, suggested Roundup to use with a spray bar, R Beard to come and collect order. 

7.30pm S Skipworth and S Mills left the meeting

9. Smitham Bridge play area and contracts

Mr James the new contractor will carry out the following work, scrap path, clean the area, seed and cut the grass, cut the hedges back, approximate cost £10 - £12 per hour, Cllr Cardwell has actual costs.  The new equipment has had 1 bar broken by vandals.

10. Bulpit Lane Play area’s complaints

A complaint from Carol Harrison re her niece who fell off the swing in the play area, she E mailed HTC and texted friends etc saying the park was unsafe for young children.  ROSPA/LAPSET carried out inspections for HTC, the park was given a clean bill of health.  Waiting for invoices from ROSPA and LAPSET.  Cllr Harries intends to recharge inspection costs to the complainant.  The sigh for the lottery funding sign was put up and stolen within 2 days.

11. Bridge Street War Memorial, Rose planting

Tony Lavers has planted 20 roses in the War Memorial in Bridge Street, roses were donated by Wyevale Garden Centre, HTC has to put up a plaque to say this, planted by Tony Lavers free as a gesture of goodwill, thanks expressed to TL.

12. St Saviours Cemetery (Mr James) paint gates

The posts on the gates need to be straighten out, Cllr Liddiard to arrange this, posts will then be painted and refitted.  Other work to be done clear the area where the children’s graves are, cut back the yew trees behind the paupers graves, clear the area where the paupers graves are.  Any spare soil to be put in the fenced area so it can be used later for levelling the sunken graves.  Suggested by Cllr Liddiard that when people apply for a grave they are asked to sign a contract to have the grave maintained for 5 years.

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

HTC has had the wall rebuilt (cost £3000).  The Town and Manor have had the gates (have been there since 1868) refurbished.  There will be a dedication after the Constable’s Service on the way out of the Churchyard.  A new hearth has been put under the gate, old stone has been used.  A quote has been received for the drive to have new tarmac, cost approximately £1700, the church has donated £500.  Cllr Cardwell to liaise with the contractor who is carrying out the work free.

14. Swimming Pool House discuss rent review

The garage roof is in poor condition, the repairs are estimated at £2,500, on hold at the moment.  Rent has been reviewed and increased.

15. Land ownership

Noted that Cllr Pope has access to landownership records.

16. Benches

5 new benches to be delivered and fixed on Friday, cost for fixing is £80.  Cllr Harries to talk to Library re two seats, the other five to go on The Wharf.  Agreed that the old seats could be sold.