16-01-20 Open Spaces Committee Minutes

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CHEPPING WYCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

Report of the meeting held on Thursday 16 January 2020 commencing at 7.30pm
in the Council Chamber, Cock Lane, Tylers Green, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 8DS

The meeting is open to members of the public and press

Present: Cllr L Willis (Chairman) Cllr I Forbes
Cllr L Johncock (Vice-chairman) Cllr C Jordan
Cllr J Gurney Cllr M Wilkes Cllr B Kin

Also present: Cllr C Dodds, Cllr A Barron, Cllr White, Mr G Christie (CWPC warden) and 3 residents from Tylers Green

OS/19/054 Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received and approved from Cllr Wood (meeting), Cllr Darch (family) and Cllr Digby (holiday)

OS/19/055 Declarations of members’ interests in Items on the agenda
There were none.

OS/19/056 Delegated Actions
Members were asked to note that since the last committee meeting in October there had been no delegated actions taken by the chairman of the committee and clerk.

The chairman of committee suspended Standing Orders and asked for approval to re-order the meeting as follows. Approval was unanimously given.

OS/19/057 Tylers Green Common
1 Track 4

Members received a short update from Mr Barclay (resident of Track 4). He advised that the first quotation received in the sum of £22,500 this would cover the track from the Rays Lane junction to May Cottage a stretch of 100 metres, the contractor advised that this would leave a porous surface therefore further drainage would probably not be necessary. He also advised that he had seen two further contractors and would like to present the quotations at the next Open Spaces meeting in March.

Some progress had been made with the possible change to a smaller waste lorry and the long awaited no through road sign was being chased.

The residents thanked members for their time and left the meeting at 7.47pm

OS/19/058 Allotments
Members were asked to note that the following vacancies existed at the allotment sites:

Chapel Road – 4 full plots
Ashley Drive – 2 full plots and 2 half plot

There was no-one currently on the waiting list.

1 Hedge/tree works to Scout Hut/Allotment path
Members were asked to consider one of the quotations obtained for the work required to the hedge running down the side of the Scout Hut site at Chapel Road.

It was RESOLVED that;
Quote A be approved for the works to the hedge.

OS/19/059 Magpie Wood
Members were asked to note that Cllr Jordan was continuing to keep the wood tidy.

OS/19/060 Straight Bit Recreation Ground, Flackwell Heath
1 Flackwell Heath Bowls Club Car Park
Following the meeting in October when the committee resolved to obtain a ‘ballpark’ figure for the 11m by 60m area for a single row of parked cars, members were asked to consider the costing obtained of between £30k – £35k for the works with a view to determining the feasibility of the project.

It was RESOLVED that;
the committee were not able to commit to the project and the clerk was asked to contact the Bowls Club to advise that the project would not be going forward.

2 Recreation Ground car park pothole repairs
Members were asked to consider one of the quotations obtained for the repair of the potholes currently in the car park.

It was RESOLVED that;
Quote A be approved and the works be ordered.

OS/19/061 Tylers Green Common
1 Track 4 & Track 2
Members were asked to note the ongoing problems with potholes on the above tracks. Remedial pothole filling would be undertaken to assist with the uneven surfaces.

It was noted that the clerk was asked to write to the residents of Track 2 advising of the Village Green status of the tracks.

2 Pothole repairs – Bank Road & Rays Lane
Members were asked to consider one of the quotations obtained to repair the potholes at the above sites.

It was RESOLVED that;
Quote A be approved and the works be ordered.

3 Tylers Green Management Plan
Members are asked to NOTE the extracts from the Management Plan showing works completed and in hand for the year 2019/20 in Compartment 1 and works scheduled for 2020/21 in Compartments 2 and 3.

It was noted that the replacement for the chestnut in Compartment 2 would probably a copper beech to match with the two existing trees. Also, it was suggested that a formal path be created in Compartment 2 along the road side, however the clerk advised that if there had not been an historic path marked at that point it would not be possible due to the Village Green status. This area to be part of the Site Visit in July. Also the muddy areas of the path leading up from New Road were highlighted as needing attention.

4 Tree works
Members were asked to consider one of the quotations obtained for the works to the Memorial trees on the Front Common.

It was RESOLVED that;
Quote B be approved and the works be ordered.

OS/19/062 King’s Wood, Tylers Green
Following the last committee meeting in October when members were advised that works would need to be started on the removal of ash trees suffering from ash die back, members were asked to consider one of the quotations obtained for the following works;

King’s Wood boundary with Cock Lane/depot and picnic area
It was RESOLVED that;
Quote A be approved and the works ordered.

Fifteen Ways Car Park
It was RESOLVED that;
Quote B be approved and the works be ordered.

OS/19/062 Loudwater Bowls Club
Members were asked to note that the Bowls Club had requested a repair to the slope leading from their car park. The Clerk and Warden will visit the site and report back to the committee at the next meeting with their findings and possible solution.

OS/19/063 Playground Updates
1 Ashley Drive Recreation Ground
Members were asked to note that the play equipment had now been installed. The play area fencing would now be re-addressed due to the position of one of the pieces of equipment.

It was noted that Cllr Willis apologised for not organising a meeting of the Flackwell Heath play equipment work party and he advised that a date would be arranged.

OS/19/064 Orchard Green Hedge
Members were asked to note that the contractor started the next phase of the hedge removal on Monday 6 January. The new hedging would be replanted by the grounds team at the first opportunity weather permitting.

OS/19/065 Railway Land
Members were asked to consider one of the quotations obtained to complete the tree work to the rear of Bay Tree Close.

It was RESOLVED that;
Quote B be approved and the works be ordered.

OS/19/066 Tree Planting Programme
Members were asked to consider a suggestion that, as part of the tree planting programme, that trees could be planted along the back common boundary behind the doctors’ surgery up to Church Road, also in the cemeteries and on the allotment sites. Members were encouraged to bring suggestions along to the meeting for areas that need new or replacement trees.

It was RESOLVED that;
the suggestion of trees being planted along the back common boundary would be put in the next newsletter to act as part of a consultation process. Tree planting at the allotment site and in the parish cemeteries was rejected.

It was noted that Cllr White brought the idea of creating a wooded area at the bottom of the Gomm Valley development – he was asked to follow this up with the clerk.

Cllr White thanked members and left the meeting at 8.55pm

OS/19/067 Environmental Policy
Members were asked to consider the draft policy with a view to recommending it for adoption at full council.

It was RESOLVED that;
The policy should be taken to the Works & Services committee in the next instance and brought back to the next committee meeting.

OS/19/068 Committee Finances
Members were asked to note the committee income and expenditure to Period 8 (November) which was showing that the committee was on target for the end of year.

OS/19/069 Questions from committee members and the public
 Cllr Johncock asked about the removal of tree/hedge growth from around the lighting column on the path leading from Straight Bit to Hedley Road in Flackwell Heath. Cllr Johncock thanked the team for organising the cleaning up of the path.
The clerk advised that the lighting contractor had been asked to provide a quote for the works.
 Cllr Forbes highlighted the entrance to King’s Wood from Kingswood Avenue as being very muddy.
 Cllr Gurney highlighted that the lights at the Tesco roundabout were not working and who should he contact.
He was advised by Cllr Dodds to contact Transport for Bucks as they were Bucks County Council lights.

OS/19/070 Accounts for payment
Accounts for payment were circulated at the meeting for consideration by councillors.

It was RESOLVED that;
the accounts for payment be approved and cheques numbered 10050 to 10067 be signed and that the BACS payment to Payflow and direct debits to Barclays, Castle Water, EE, E-ON, Shell, SEE and Unicom be approved for payment.

The chairman thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.47pm

Date and time of next meeting to be confirmed.

Signed: Dated 27 February 2020