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Earley Town Council |
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AMENITIES & LEISURE COMMITTEE Minutes of a meeting of the Amenities & Leisure Committee held in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices, Radstock Lane, Earley, Reading on Wednesday, 10th January 2007 at 7.45 p.m. Present Chairman – Councillor N Jorgenson Councillors M M Ahmed (from 8.00pm), T Chambers, D D Chopping, T A Holton, Mrs F M Rolls, C Rowden and Mrs E Spratling. Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A T Bradley and Mrs C Swindells (due to family commitments) and Mr Grahame Hawker, Senior Park Ranger (due to a District Council meeting). ____________________________________________________________________________________
58. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the meeting held on 25th October 2006 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman. 59. COMMUNITY CENTRES 59.1 Radstock Lane Community Centre 59.1.1 Play Club Provision Members were reminded that, at Minute 43 of the last meeting of this Committee, it was resolved that the Town Clerk make investigations with other holiday provision providers in an endeavour to ascertain the viability of the continuance of the Play Clubs and that the matter be referred to this meeting. It was further resolved that the Play Club provision remain for 2007/2008 and be reviewed for 2008/2009. Comparable figures for provision within the area, together with a schedule showing use of the facility at the Community Centre in 2006 were attached to the Agenda for the information of Members. RESOLVED that the matter be kept under review and a further report be made after the conclusion of the Summer Play Club. 59.2 Maiden Place Community Centre 59.2.1 Central Heating The Town Clerk reported that, since the compilation of the main agenda for this meeting, it had been necessary to call out the contractors to attend to a breakdown of the central heating system. Whilst the repair to return the heating to working order was relatively minor, the engineer subsequently submitted a report indicating that the boiler at the Centre was cracked and would require replacing with some urgency. A firm quotation was awaited from the contractors, but an initial indication was that the cost would be in the region of £4,000 to £5,000. The Committee was, therefore, requested to note that it was intended to invoke the urgency powers allowed by the Town Council’s Standing Orders, such that the Mayor and the Chairman of the Amenities Committee could authorise the work, and, also, authorise a suspension of Financial Standing Order 11.1(b)(i) which would negate the need for three quotations to be sought, in view of the urgency and specialist nature of the work. It was, also noted that there were insufficient funds within the Centre’s maintenance budget to meet the cost of the work but it might be possible to meet the cost from the anticipated Underspends on this Committee’s overall budget for 2006/07. RESOLVED that 1. the work be approved and financed from this Committee’s Underspends up to £4,000 2. in view of the specialist nature of the work, Financial Standing Order 11.1(b)(i) be suspended. 60. MAYS LANE CEMETERY 60.1 Mays Lane Cemetery Working Party Consideration was given to the notes of a meeting of the Mays Lane Cemetery Working Party held on 12th December 2006, a copy of which is appended to these Minutes for the information of Members. The Town Clerk further reported that a site meeting with a representative from Cromwell (Metalworkers) Ltd was held on 14th December, at which it was confirmed that a single gate would still be feasible at a cost of £1,080.00 + VAT. Members were, therefore requested to consider the quotation and the suspension of Financial Standing Order 11.1(b)(i), thus negating the need for three quotations to be sought, in view of the specialist nature of the work. It was further noted that there was sufficient money within the budget allocation of the creation of the new children’s areas to meet the cost. RESOLVED that 1. the report be received and the quotation of Cromwell (Metalworkers) Ltd be approved 2. in view of the specialist nature of the work, Financial Standing Order 11.1(b)(i) be suspended. 60.2 Burial Fees Members were reminded that, at Minute 45.2 of the last meeting of this Committee, it was noted that the comparisons between the Earley, Woodley and other rates were no longer in proportion to each other in some areas and, accordingly, it was suggested that the Earley fees for headstones (burials), headstones (cremations), tablets, additional inscriptions and kerbs be increased. It was further suggested that the Woodley fees be used as a benchmark with all other fees being apportioned accordingly and, additionally, the costs of a child's plot should be shown on the scale of fees. It was then resolved that a proposed, revised schedule of fees be submitted to this meeting, a copy of which was appended to the Agenda for the information of Members. A Member was of the opinion that the fee for foetal remains should either be less than that of cremated remains or free of charge and the Town Clerk reminded the Committee that the suggested fee included the fee for Exclusive Right of Burial. RESOLVED that 1. the revised schedule of fees, as appended to these Minutes, be approved 2. the matter concerning fees for foetal remains be referred to a future meeting of the Mays Lane Cemetery Working Party. 61. SOL JOEL PARK 61.1 Minutes of the Sol Joel Park Sub-Committee With regard to the Minutes of the Sol Joel Park Sub-Committee Meeting held on 1st November 2006, a copy of which is appended to these Minutes, Members noted that this item had been considered by Council at its meeting on 29th November 2006. It had been resolved at that meeting that the Consultant be asked to proceed with the Planning Application, taking into account the comments made during the discussion and that the finer details, such as the brick colouring and pattern, and the internals be dealt with under Reserve Matters. It was further resolved that, prior to the Planning Application, a meeting of the Sub-Committee be convened to consider the finer details and that the elevations, when received from the Architect, be circulated to Members. 61.2 Pavilion The Town Clerk reported that, since the Sub-Committee meeting, the Consultant had drawn up revised plans based upon the comments made at that meeting. Following which, there was an informal meeting with Councillors David Chopping (ETC), David Lee (WDC), a Planning Officer and the Town Clerk. Arising from this meeting, a number of points had been raised for consideration by Members: § Re-designation of office space adjacent to the ground floor lobby as store § The Planning Officer advised that as much information as possible should be provided with the planning application § Consultations should take place with adjoining properties and with the St Peter's Church and School concerning the proposals. The Committee was of the opinion that internal blinds should be fitted to the first floor windows and external blinds to the ground floor. RESOLVED that the above-mentioned points be submitted to the next meeting of the Sol Joel Park Sub-Committee meeting scheduled to be held on 17th January to enable the plans to be finalised. 62. SKATEPARK/BMX TRACK 62.1 Riverside Park Project Further to the discussion recorded at Minute 58.2.1 of the Town Council Meeting of 29th November, Members noted that the Public Meeting was held on 8th January at Maiden Place Community Centre and was attended by 42 local residents. A number of Town Councillors were, also, present, as were representatives of the Youth Service, the PCSO, several potential users of the site and reporters from local newspapers. The issues raised included concern over disturbance to nearby residents, the potential for anti-social behaviour, parking, loss of open space, possible loss of wildlife habitat and future management and maintenance of the site. Investigations were now under way to try to ascertain how best the concerns could be alleviated and, where possible, remedial measures would be built into the final plans and reports would accompany the Planning Applications, outlining how those concerns raised would be managed. Since the presentation of the draft plans to this Committee at the end of October, meetings had taken place with various officers at the District Council, and the Council’s Landscape Architect had received a response from the Environment Agency relating to the development of the project in the flood plain, and what remedial measures might be possible to remove its concerns, and, therefore, any objection which it might have to the proposal. However, the Agency had, also, advised that it had undertaken a detailed review of the River Loddon, which might have an influence on the plans for the project, and a report of this review was due to be released on 8th January but, the Town Council’s Architect had not yet been able to obtain a copy of the report. Concern was expressed by Members with regard to the current problem of car parking in residential roads by dog walkers and other users of the park. It was further felt that, either a leaflet drop or, a special edition of the Town Council Newsletter should be produced to incorporate a “question & answer” section to inform residents of the Council’s plans for that area. RESOLVED that 1. Wokingham District Council be informed of the current parking problem and be requested to investigate parking restrictions on adjoining residential roads 2. a special edition of the Town Council Newsletter be produced as detailed above 3. any reply from the Environment Agency be submitted to Council at its meeting on 7th February, if received in time. 63. ALCOHOL DESIGNATION ORDER Members were reminded that, at Minute 52 of the last meeting of this Committee, it was resolved that clarification be sought regarding the Licensing Act for one-off events and that the matter be referred to this meeting. The Town Clerk established that Alcohol Designation Orders related to the powers of the police to confiscate drink from anybody within an area which had been designated as being "alcohol free". Alcohol Designation Orders were launched in 2000 and incorporated into the Justice & Police Act 2001 and one of the key measures was to restrict anti-social drinking in designated areas. This did not mean that licensed events in Sol Joel Park, for example, would contravene any provision within the Alcohol Designation Order, since the order would not make it an offence to drink within a designated area. To continue drinking after required not to by a Police Officer was an offence, with a maximum fine of £500. Members were further reminded that Alcohol Designation Orders had to be pursued by a principal authority, in this case Wokingham District Council and, accordingly, consideration was given as to whether to proceed with an Alcohol Designation Order for Sol Joel Park. In response to a question from a Member regarding the consumption of alcohol during cricket matches, the Town Clerk informed the Committee that it would be possible to designate an area of land around the pavilion as licensed premises. RESOLVED that Wokingham District Council be requested to proceed with an Alcohol Designation Order for Sol Joel Park. 64. PUBLICATIONS The Committee noted that the following publications had been received and were available for viewing at the Council Offices:
65. ONGOING MATTERS
RESOLVED that the items concerning Burial Fees and Maiden Place Community Centre – Lower Earley Baptist Church, be removed from future Agendas.
66. ESTIMATES OF INCOME & EXPENDITUREConsideration was given to the draft estimates of income and expenditure for 2007/08 and the revised estimates of income and expenditure for 2006/07. In connection therewith, the Committee noted and approved the details of the financial transactions for the period ended 30th November 2006 included within the report. RESOLVED that 1. the revised estimates for 2006/07 and the draft estimates for 2007/08, as appended hereto, be recommended to the Policy & Resources Committee for approval 2. costings for “in house” grass cutting, including any machinery for the Cemetery, be provided for a future meting 3. the Town Clerk be requested to check the terms of the Cemetery Licence Fee 4. enquiries be made with Swan Lifeline as to how many call-outs per year are made to Maiden Erlegh Park 67. PRESS RELEASES RESOLVED that the items relating to the new Children’s area at Mays Lane Cemetery and the special edition of the Town Council Newsletter should receive emphasis at the appropriate time. 68. TERMINATION OF MEETING The meeting was declared closed by the Chairman at 10.05pm.
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