Minutes of the Open Spaces Committee Meeting

19 January 2021, 7.00pm

Via Zoom

Present: Cllr Selena Levermore (Chair)

Cllr Lesley Hill

Cllr Colin Ginger

Cllr John Last

Cllr Bing Boast

Cllr David Bailey

Cllr Mary Anne Woolf

Mrs Hannah Everett-Spearing (Facilities Co-ordinator)

1. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Last and agreed that Cllr Levermore be appointed Chairman of the Committee.	Action
2. PUBLIC FORUM No members of the public were in attendance.
3. APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Cllr Cooper.
4. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 21 JANUARY 2020 AND WALK AROUND ON 28 SEPTEMBER 2020 Agreed as a true record.
5. MATTERS ARISING Community Orchard Benches/Sponsor a Bench – 21 January 2020 Due to the Covid-19 restrictions last year these have been put on hold. To be looked at again in the near future. Orchard Event/Easter Egg Hunt – 21 January 2020 Again due to the Covid-19 restrictions last year these events were put on hold and to be looked at again in the near future (2022). Community Orchard/Nature Boards – 21 January 2020 Report given in item 9. Victory Road Recreation Ground Corner Railings with Haylings Road – 21 January 2020 This was taken to the Highways Committee. No further action required. Haylings Pond – 28 September 2020 The works were approved by full council and a full report given in item 6. King Georges Avenue Recreation Ground – 28 September 2020 New signs have been displayed for the play areas with regards to Covid-19 restrictions and advice. Community Orchard The wild flower meadow and the picnic benches issues were both taken to the Grounds Maintenance meeting. No further action required.	Action
6. UPDATE ON HAYLINGS POND PATIO AREA Mrs Everett-Spearing reported that the works on the patio area have been put on hold due to the water level in the pond and the restrictions imposed by the Government due to Covid-19. Mr David Buggs (for LYCAS) will keep Mrs Everett-Spearing informed as to when the works will begin. It was highlighted that we needed to ensure we have a risk assessment in place for Haylings Pond which includes Covid-19. Mrs Everett-Spearing will action this.	HES
7. FOOTPATH BY PRIMARY SCHOOL Cllr Last reported after heavy rain large puddles were forming on the new footpath beside the Primary School, making some of the footpath not useable. Mrs Everett-Spearing confirmed TMS will drill small drainage holes into the tarmac which will help drain the water. Cllr Bailey voiced his concerns that this would be a short-term solution and asked if a new topping on the path with correct drainage would be a long term solution, although costly. Cllr Levermore suggested that during the development of the cycle path through the town, some money from this could be used to improve the footpath, further investigation would be required to see if this could happen.
8. PLAYGROUND/PARKS WASTE CLEARANCE Cllr Last raised concerns over the amount of litter being left in the public waste bins and asked if we could obtain a schedule of emptying. Mrs Everett-Spearing will action. It was noted by all Councillors that the bins were not being emptied regularly and some being missed for more than 3 weeks, it was agreed that a formal letter be sent to NORSE raising their concerns. Mrs Everett-Spearing reported that she was advised by Norse that the bins were emptied every Monday. Mrs Everett-Spearing also reported that the bins are now the responsibility of the Town Council, but she will investigate further on this issue. POST MEETING NOTE: Just to clarify this point there is no change to the bin schedule and no additional cost to the Town Council. However, if a bin becomes broken and needs repairing/replacing it will at the discretion of the Town Council to decide to replace/repair and pay for it. Cllr Woolf suggested perhaps bigger litter bins would be cheaper. Cllr Boast reported that the litter bin on Buller Road was removed as it was reportedly used as someone’s personal dog bin and asked for a dog bin be put up. Mrs Everett-Spearing to investigate further.	HES HES
9. UPDATE ON THE NOTICE BOARDS FOR COMMUNITY ORCHARD/HAYLINGS POND Mrs Everett-Spearing reported that information has been collected for both notice boards, but due to the Covid-19 issues last year, this project was put on hold. It is hoped that designs for these boards will be ready for approval by the next meeting. Cllr Hill suggested that we should check the costs of the notice boards with Harry Stebbings to see if they were still available at the price that were original quoted for. Mrs Everett-Spearing will action this.	Action HES
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Wildlife Conservation Areas in Leiston Cllr Corbett was invited to present her report on the ‘Leiston makes space for wildlife’ project. Cllr Last praised Cllr Corbett for the work she had put into the proposed strategy and that it was a good starting point, where ground rules can be laid from. After much discussion it was agreed that this project was worth taking forward and presenting to full council, for approval, allowing any interested members to form a small working party to report to the Open Spaces Committee. It was proposed by Cllr Levermore and seconded by Cllr Last to co-opt Cllr Corbett onto the Open Spaces Committee. Dog Waste Bins Cllr Last asked if a replacement dog bin could be installed at the top of Seaward Avenue. Cllr Levermore reported that the dog bin near the Leisure Centre has been removed but not replaced. Mrs Everett-Spearing will investigate and action. Woodland Trust Fight Against Climate Change Cllr Levermore informed the Committee about the Woodland Trust – Fight against climate change, free tree/hedging initiative. The Woodland Trust were donating trees or hedging to communities and schools with two opportunities throughout 2021 to apply for the free trees/hedging. Cllr Levermore thought we should apply for the Autumn slot, which would allow plenty of time to ensure the trees/hedging was planted in the correct places. Cllr Levermore suggested that the hedging could be used around the sports field and maybe the Community Orchard. Cllr Levermore to investigate further and gather required forms.	COUNCIL COUNCIL HES SL
11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING A walk around is scheduled for Monday 19 April 2021 at 5pm meeting at Victory Road recreation ground.

Meeting finished at 8.10pm