AOS 2024 Minutes – Market Deeping Town Council

AOS September 2024 Minutes

Market Deeping Town Council – Amenities and Open Spaces Committee

Minutes of a meeting held on Wednesday 11th September 2024 at 7.00 pm held in the Town Hall Chambers, Market Deeping. Cllr Broughton presided over Cllr Miss Collins, Cllr Mrs Jones, Cllr Mrs Steel, Cllr Mrs Sked, Cllr Jayne Reed and Cllr Paul Hanson, also present was the Clerk.

01. Chairman’s Welcome and Introductions

Cllr. Broughton welcomed members to the meeting.

02. To note apologies and accept valid reason for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Hughes and Cllr Mrs Sked (expected late arrival to the meeting).

7.05pm Cllr Mrs Sked arrived to the meeting.

03. Declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011

There were no Declarations of Interest.

04. Minutes of a previous AOS meeting held on the 17th July 2024

It was RESOLVED unanimously to accept the minutes of the meeting as a true and accurate record of the meeting. The Chairman signed the minutes.

05. Clerk’s report and update on work of the Park-keepers

Members had received a copy of the report prior to the meeting.

Agenda Item 5

Clerk’s and Park keeper’s report 11th September 2024

John Eve field

Identified as part of the regular inspection process by the Park-Keepers;

1. Pendulum Swing currently out of action (H & S) due to needing a replacement Basket Seat, Universal Joint Assembly (4 chain), Pendulum Set of 4 Chains, Small Shackle and Sellock Pins and Chain for the Hurricane Button Seat. Once the items have arrived these will be installed by the Park-Keepers.

2. RoSPA visit to the John Eve Field, Children’s Play area and BMX Track was conducted in August 2024, and a report has been received. No Red flags were reported, there are some areas at Amber status and actions are required to follow up, and the rest were reported as Green status.

3. In the process of dismantling the Rocking Rooster as this piece of equipment has disintegrated over many years and is no longer fit for use.

Town Centre

Nothing new to report.

Clerk’s report

Work is progressing with various Risk Assessments.
Working on new signage with the TH &C for the Rectory Paddock and Cemetery Drive.
Installation of the new Defibrillator at the Coronation Hall is expected on the 21st August 2024.
Yearly PAT testing to be arranged for the last week in August (Park-Keepers Shed).
In the process of organising a mandatory Fire Safety Assessment – On going.
The Winter Works Schedule will be drafted in the coming weeks.
‘Legend on the Bench’ A bench reveal took place in Rectory Paddock for the newly installed Listening Bench during August 2024, hosted by the charity, the event was well attended.

06. Correspondence to be noted and resolved upon

Correspondence – Amenities & Open Spaces – 11th September 2024
No.	Received from	Date Received	Subject		Committee Response
1.	Wicksteed (After Sales).	6/8/24	Replacement parts required to the children’s play equipment, due to age, wear and tear. H & S concern until parts arrive, certain pieces of equipment are out of action until repairs can be made.		Clerk response: H & S issue. Chairman authorised. Clerks have ordered parts, expected 6 – 8-week delivery time. Clerks will attempt to negotiate to improve on the lead time.
Correspondence to be Acted Upon – Received up to 17th July 2024
No.	Received from	Date Received	Subject	Committee Response
1.	Local Resident.	27/8/24	Via email: Resident asking if CCTV can be installed in the children’s park area.	Committee Response. Members discussed and all agreed that costs for installing and maintaining CCTV are prohibitive at this time. Members wished to thank the local resident for their enquiry and requested the clerk send a full response to the resident.
2.			Via email: Subject Cherry Tree Park. Summary – There might be an opportunity to MDTC to adopt Cherry Tree Park, in which case it would be determined that the maintenance of the pathway, being the main entrance to Cherry Tree Park would fall to MDTC.	Committee Response. Members discussed. See agenda item 9.

07. Omega reports: Review of performance to date, budget/expenditure/income.

Reports had been circulated ahead of the meeting and there were no questions.

08. Policy – Consideration of a Draft Policy ‘Sponsorship of a Bench/Planter’ Members to provide feedback.

The Chairman asked members if there was any feedback regarding the above policy which had been circulated ahead of the meeting. There was no feedback and the policy was adopted.

09. Cherry Tree Park – Update from a recent site visit from SKDC Bio-Diversity Officer.

The Chairman updated members on a visit that occurred in August 2024, whereby the officer was shown all the areas of the town that the council owns, and in addition the area of Cherry Tree Park which is owned by SKDC.

The officer was shown the area of Rectory Paddock which has extensive areas of Bio-Diversity.

The Chairman also stated that there had been further communication from SKDC (listed under Correspondence), and that there had been a particular reference to the creation of a kitchen garden located within Cherry Tree Park. Members discussed and unanimously RESOLVED that they would not support a kitchen garden being located within Cherry Tree Park.

Members discussed further and the Clerk was instructed to contact SKDC to see if they will be willing to engage in tentative discussions about transferring ownership to the council.

10. For members to consider and discuss any points raised in the Open Session.

There were none.

11. To consider items for inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting of Amenities and Open Spaces committee, to be held in the Town Hall Chambers on Wednesday 13th November 2024.

The Chairman thanked all for their attendance, and thanked the Clerk for their support.

The meeting closed at 7.20pm