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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, 25th October 2006 at 7.45 p.m. Present Chairman – Councillor T Chambers (Vice-Chairman in the Chair) Councillors M M Ahmed (from 7.53pm), D D Chopping, T A Holton, Mrs F M Rolls and Mrs E Spratling. Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A T Bradley, N Jorgenson (Due to holiday), Prior to the commencement of the formal agenda, there was a presentation ceremony, by the Town Mayor, to Mrs S Christopherson the winner of this year's Best Allotment Competition. 42. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the meeting held on 6th September 2006 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman. 43. FINANCIAL INFORMATIONThe Committee noted details of the financial transactions for the period ended 30th September 2006, a copy of which is appended to these Minutes. A Member asked about the overall loss in the Playclub income & expenditure and the Town Clerk reminded Members of his report at Minute 37.2 of the last meeting of this Committee. Members further noted that when this Council first decided to operate Play schemes, there was a shortage of holiday play provision in the area but there had been a dramatic increase in various schemes during recent years. In response to a suggestion by a Member, that consideration should be given as to whether or not to continue running the Playclubs, the Town Clerk requested the Committee to take into account the attendance figures, nature of provision and the result of Ofsted reports prior to making a decision. He informed Members that some schemes were primarily sports based and felt that there was a need to examine the qualitative as well as quantitative aspects. RESOLVED that 1. the Town Clerk make investigations with other holiday provision providers in an endeavour to ascertain the viability of the continuance of the Playclubs and the matter be referred to the next meeting of this Committee. 2. the Playclub provision remain for 2007/2008 and be reviewed for 2008/2009. Consideration was given to major projects with which this Committee would wish to proceed to be financed from the 2007/2008 budget and, also, future projects for the following two financial years as part of the three year financial planning scheme. The Town Clerk reported that there had been several letters received from hall hirers, and a Councillor, requesting the Council to consider the installation of a new air conditioning system in Maiden Place Community Centre. RESOLVED that
High Priority Sol Joel Park - Play Equipment Replacement Medium Priority Interpretation Centre - Heating
RESOLVED that the Sol Joel Park Sub-Committee be requested to consider including an amount, for an electrical supply to the Skatepark/Sports Courts area, in the specification for the new pavilion. Note: Councillor D D Chopping declared a personal interest in the Maiden Place Community Centre Air Conditioning item and took no part in the voting on that item. 45. FEES & CHARGES REVIEW Consideration was given to necessary amendments to the fees and charges for 2007/08 as follows:- 45.1 Hall Hire RECOMMENDED that there be no increase in the Hall Hire fees for 2007/08.
Members 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. RESOLVED that a proposed revised schedule of fees be submitted to the next meeting of this Committee. RECOMMENDED that the allotment fees be increased by an inflation rate of 3%. 45.4 Fishing Permit Fees RECOMMENDED that there be no increase in fishing permit fees for 2007/08. 45.5 Playclubs RECOMMENDED that there be no increase in Playclub fees for 2007/08 and that consideration be given to the introduction of a discount for regular users. 45.6 Sports & Skate Park Fees Members noted that there had been no exclusive bookings to date, possibly due to lack of floodlighting. RECOMMENDED that there be no increase in the Sports and Skate Park fees for 2007/08.
The Town Clerk advised Members that last year’s increase rounded up some of the fees and increased the charges by more than the cost of inflation and, accordingly it was RECOMMENDED that there be no increase in Sports pitch fees in 2007/08. 46. COMMUNITY CENTRES 46.1 Maiden Place Community Centre 46.1.1 External Doors from Main Hall Further to Minute 30.1.2 of the last meeting of this Committee, Members noted that enquiries had previously been made about the possibility of fabricating the external doors in UPVC. However, the advice received indicated that, because of the size of the doors in question, UPVC would not be an option as it would be subject to sagging and distortion.
Members noted that, apart from lawn seed growth, the Muslim burial section was now ready for occupation and, in respect of the Children’s area, gate designs were awaited. It was further noted that a resident had complimented the Town Council on the changes and condition of the Cemetery and expressed her thanks for all the hard work undertaken to achieve the current standard. 48. MAIDEN ERLEGH LOCAL NATURE RESERVE 48.1 Disabled Fishing Platforms Members were reminded that the platforms were now fully accessible. They were, also, asked to note the contents of a letter sent to the Head Bailiff from the National Manager, British Disabled Angling Association, a copy of which was attached to the Agenda for the information of Members. The Town Mayor stated his intention to send a letter of thanks to the Bailiffs. 49. SOL JOEL PARK 49.1 Boundary Hedging Members were advised that, at Minute 48.2 of the Town Council Meeting held on 4th October, a Member had queried the maintenance of the Wokingham Road hedge and was reminded that it had been previously decided that the hedge be allowed to grow in an endeavour to close off the current "desire line" access into the park immediately opposite Maiden Erlegh Drive. It was then resolved that the future maintenance regime of that hedge be discussed at the next meeting of this Committee. The Town Clerk further reported that repairs to the fencing had been broken and prickly shrubs had been planted in an endeavour to prevent access in places. There was, also, a difficulty in removing litter from any of the densely planted hedgerow. RESOLVED that the current maintenance schedule be continued. 49.2 Pavilion Members noted details of an incident which had occurred on Saturday 7th October that had involved a fire at the rear of the pavilion which caused charring to the rear and side of the building and damage to the floor and toilets. 50. SKATEPARK/BMX TRACK – RIVERSIDE PARK Further to Minute 33 of the last meeting of this Committee, Members noted that Neil Thomson, Landscape Architect, had been appointed to draw up plans for the project and, in due course, submit the Planning Applications. Meetings and other communications had taken place between Town Council Officers and Mr Thomson since September and the first draft of plans for the project were submitted to this meeting. Members further noted that the plans would also be subject to consideration by potential users of the facilities, prior to Mr Thomson being asked to prepare the more detailed drawings. In response to a question concerning car parking, the Deputy Town Clerk informed the Committee that there would be no permanent vehicular access other than for maintenance vehicles. It was felt that most users would skate or cycle to the facility but those being brought by car could be dropped off nearby and could access the site via the pedestrian crossing in Rushey Way. The Deputy Town Clerk had spoken with the Thames Valley Police Authority which was in favour of the project and it was anticipated that CCTV would be installed and that there would be a presence of PCSO’s and Youth Street workers. 51. EARLEY DRAFT TOWN PLAN Members were reminded that, at Minute 36 of the last meeting of this Committee it had been resolved that consideration of the Earley Draft Town Plan, with regards to items relating to this Committee, be deferred to a future meeting. Subsequently, at Minute 32 of the meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee held on 20th September, it was resolved that a Town Plan Working Party be constituted to consider proposed amendments from the Standing Committees, input received from local residents and presentation of the final draft of the Plan to the Town Council. In view of the subsequent resolution, Members were requested to consider how they wished to proceed with the sections of the Plan that were originally referred to this Committee. RESOLVED that the Working Party be informed that this Committee had no further comments at this stage but reserved the right to comment further at a later date. 52. ALCOHOL DESIGNATION ORDER Members were advised that Wokingham Town Council had stated its intention to pursue an Alcohol Designation Order for all its parks and skateboard areas due to the unusually high amount of vandalism, anti-social behaviour and under-age and excessive drinking that had taken place in those areas during the summer. Alcohol Designation Orders had to be pursued by a principal authority, i.e. Wokingham District Council which would have to consider the "displacement" of trouble to other areas. In view of this, Councillors were asked to consider whether Earley Town Council might also be involved in an Alcohol Designation Order for its parks and open spaces, particularly as there was already a problem in Sol Joel Park. Concern was expressed that such an Order could affect the sale of alcohol at certain “one off” events such as a Fun Day and, accordingly, it was RESOLVED that clarification be sought regarding the Licensing Act for “one off” events and the matter be referred to the next meeting of this Committee. 53. FINANCIAL REVIEW 53.1 Fishing Permits and Angling Contests The Committee noted the following details of income from annual fishing permits and angling contests: Est. 05/06 Act. 05/06 Est. 06/07 Act. 06/07 (to 30/9/06) £2625.00 £2924.60 £2795.00 £2322.53 Income, additionally, from the sale of day permits: £250.00 £225.54 £250.00 £202.54 Costs of Angling Contests, including organisation and prizes: £50.00 £119.15 £120.00 NIL £550.00 £470.00 £550.00 £505.00 Overall, this part of the Council's activity showed a surplus based on the above figures of £2560.99 in 2005/06 against an original estimate of £2275.00. In the current year, the prospects appeared reasonable because the fishing season would run until March 2007. A provisional surplus to 30th September stood at £2020.07 against the whole year estimate of £2375.00. Members were asked to note that the cost of angling contests was still outstanding because the invoices for the various trophies had not been received by the end of September. On the income side, indications from last year suggested that around a further £300 would be received from the sale of permits before the end of the financial year. 54. PUBLICATIONS The Committee noted that the following publications had been received and were available for viewing at the Council Offices:
55. ONGOING MATTERS
RESOLVED that the item in respect of the Maiden Place Community Centre Air Conditioning be removed from future Agendas. 56. PRESS RELEASES RESOLVED that the items relating to the winner of the Best Allotment competition, Ecological Heating for the Interpretation Centre and Boundary Hedge at Sol Joel Park should receive emphasis. 57. TERMINATION OF MEETING The meeting was declared closed by the Chairman at 9.55pm. |