Tuesday 6th March 2007

Draft Minutes (112)

RECREATION GROUND & OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

6th March 2007

PRESENT:- Councillors: V.Redpath (Vice-Chairman)

A.R.Nicholls

Mrs.L.A.K.Nicholls

Ms.J.Russell

E.J.F.Whatmore

Mrs.M.R.Whatmore

Apologies were received from Cllrs: Mrs.A.Daymond and M.V.Daymond

Also in Attendance:- Mrs.V.J.Bright, Town Clerk, Mrs.J.Gaskell Assistant to the Town Clerk and Mr.Nigel Watts, Rossgarth Football Club.

351/06 Election of Chairman

No nominations were received for this position. The next meeting of the Committee will be

held after the election where the election of the Chairman will take place.

352/06 Declarations of Interest.

None.

353/06 Clerk’s Report.

a) Sponsorship of Roundabouts. Minute 39/06 (c), 130/06 (a) & 210/06 refers. The Clerk has arranged for the roundabout at Manor Road/Burnbake Road to be cleared. Once this has taken place the Clerk will contact the interested sponsor. After discussion the Clerk was instructed to find out when the contractor would be clearing the roundabout.

b) Recycling of bottles and cans from Verwood Recreation Ground. Minute 135/06(b) & 210/06(c) refers. A new contractor, who has a license to remove rubbish, has been employed. This was noted.

c) Picnic Bench Verwood Recreation Ground. Minute 44/06 )c), 130/06 (f) & 210/06(d) refers. See agenda item 7.

d) Talking Circle, Ferrett Green. Minute 42/06, 130/06 & 210/06(f) refers. The Clerk still cannot find any assistance to install the seats when they are delivered. Consideration should be given to this matter as, once the new shops are built by Ferrett Green, the monthly market may have to use the pathway where the seats may be placed. After much discussion it was agreed that this matter would be deferred until a later date because of the development which will be taking place.

e) Planting at Ferrett Green. Minute 133/06 & 210/06(g) refers. Two of the First Schools, Hillside and Trinity took part in the planting of the bulbs. Mr.Simms, with the Town Mayor, planted the new tree. This was noted.

f) Kissing Gate at the front of the Verwood Recreation Ground. Minute 213/06(b) refers. The kissing gate has now been installed and tarmac put around the area. Members were asked to consider if they wished to tarmac any further into the Recreation Ground? After discussion it was agreed that this would be deferred until the next meeting and the Clerk would get costings for additional tarmac and a price for Matta. Information was given that the Verwood Memorial Recreation Ground Trustees had discussed the request for a pathway through the Recreation Ground and had suggested, once funds were available, that another kissing gate could be erected at the Moorlands Road entrance.

(113)

354/06 Correspondence.

a) Trinity First School. As part of their geography topic, ‘Our Environment’, children in Year 4 were asked to look at an area that was familiar to them. They chose the recreation ground in Verwood. They looked at the area and thought about things which were good and things which could be improved. These can be viewed at the Town Council offices. The Clerk wrote thanking the children for their letters and that the Town Council would take their comments on board when they reviewed the play area provision at that site. This was noted.

b) 3.X.F.C. wrote that they wish to hold a 5 a-side football tournament and an all day barbeque at the Three Legged Cross Recreation Ground on Sunday 8^th July 2007. The idea of the tournament is to raise funds for the football club which will help pay for training equipment, clothing etc. The relevant insurance documents will be copied to the Town Council nearer the time. If there is no other function taking place could permission be given? After discussion it was proposed, seconded and

RECOMMENDED that permission be given for the 3.X.F.C to hold a football tournament and a barbeque at Three Legged Cross Recreation Ground.

355/06 Review the use of the Verwood Recreation Ground by Rossgarth Football Club.

The Vice-Chairman welcomed Mr.Watts to the meeting and asked if the ruts had been repaired on the ground where a van had been driven onto the ground? Mr.Watts replied that they were in hand and assured members that the van would not be driven onto the ground again. Information had been received about fixtures but they had had to be altered due to weather conditions. Members asked Mr.Watts if he could email any changes to the Town Clerk. A question was raised as to whether training sessions were still being held at Potterne. This was correct. Mr.Watts reported that a manhole cover had been found on the ground which was raised, but was not sure where and would email the position of the cover to the Town Clerk. Discussion took place regarding drainage on the Recreation Ground and the safety barrier which is erected during matches. Mr.Watts said he would investigate whether there was another solution for a barrier as the netting was not ideal. It was proposed, seconded and

RECOMMENDED that Rossgarth Football Club be given permission to use the Verwood Recreation Ground and that this matter would be reviewed at the September meeting of the Committee, at the beginning of the football season.

356/06 Charlotte’s Place Play Area.

Three schemes had been received from play equipment companies for the replacement of

equipment at Charlotte’s Place Play area, which were from Sutcliffe Play, Record Playground Equipment Ltd. and Hags. All had been given the same specification with a £40,000 budget. The Vice-Chairman, Mayor, Town Clerk and an officer from East Dorset District Council had examined all three schemes and felt that the Sutcliffe scheme was more robust and challenging for the age group. A disabled piece of equipment had been added to the scheme as had two rockers from another company and installation would be carried out by a separate company. After discussion, which included, money allocated to the Play Repair and Renewal Fund for the next financial year and the hope that the next renewal project would be the Play Area in the Verwood Recreation Ground within the next two years, it was proposed, seconded and

RECOMMENDED that the scheme put forward by Sutcliffe Play with the additions of the extra equipment, the matta surfacing and the installation be accepted at the total cost of £43,000, which will be taken from the Play Repair and Renewal Fund.

(114)

357/06 Picnic Bench in Verwood Recreation Ground Play Area.

(Mins 210/06(d), 130/06(f) & 44/06(c)) Members discussed the siting and the condition of

the picnic bench and two suggestions were put forward, which were, to replace the table and lay a base for it or re-site the existing bench and if necessary replace it. The Town Clerk was instructed to investigate moving the table to another site in the play area and if the table was in a poor condition, because of moving it, the Clerk would purchase a new table. Members agreed that once discussion began on renewing the equipment in the Verwood Recreation Ground Play Area different types of material for a picnic bench would be investigated.

358/06 Other reports.

a) A question was raised on the progress of the return of the Skysurf piece of equipment at

the Three Legged Cross Recreation Ground. It was reported that this piece of equipment had been replaced by the contractor with another piece of equipment and no further information had been received.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.46 p.m.

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Vice-Chairman