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OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE
Members of the council are summoned to attend the meeting to be held on Tuesday 3 September 2024 at 7.30pm at the Council Office, Cock Lane, Tylers Green, High Wycombe Bucks HP10 8DS
Committee membership: Cllr L Willis (Chairman) Cllr I Forbes
Cllr L Webb (Vice-chairman) Cllr C Jordan
Cllr J Gurney Cllr S Digby Cllr L Johncock Cllr H Darch Cllr S Herron Cllr D Johncock
Cllr K Wood (ex officio)
AGENDA
1. Apologies for absence
Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires members who cannot attend a meeting to tender apologies to the Clerk.
2. Declarations of members’ interests in Items on the agenda
To receive any pecuniary or non-pecuniary declarations of interest and confirmation of any relevant dispensations.
i) Under the Localism Act 2011 (sections 26-37 and Schedule 4) and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, Members are required to declare any interests which are not currently entered in the Member’s Register of Interests or if he/she has not notified the Monitoring Officer (Clerk) of it.
ii) Should any Member have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in an item on the agenda, the Member may not participate in consideration of that item unless a Dispensation has first been requested (in writing) and granted by the Council.
3. Delegated Actions
4. Allotments
4.1 Allotment Competition Winners
5. Play Areas
5.1 Straight Bit Recreation Ground, Flackwell Heath
5.1.1 Straight Bit Car Park
5.1.3 Accident Claim
5.2 Boundary Road Recreation Ground, Loudwater
5.2.1 Safety Surface
5.3 Ashley Drive Recreation Ground, Tylers Green
5.3.1 Safety Surface
5.3.2 Replacement Springy
6. Derehams Lane Recreation Ground
6.1 Loudwater Bowls Club
7. Tree Works
8. Memorial Plaque Project, Tylers Green Common
9. Committee Site Visit Feedback
10. Committee Budget 2024/25 Initial Discussion
11. Committee Finances
11.1 Income and Expenditure Month 4 (July)
12. Questions from council members and the public
13. Accounts for Payment
AGENDA ITEM 3
Delegated Actions
Members are asked to NOTE the following delegated actions since the last committee meeting in May 2024;
Tree work:
Elmshott Close, Tylers Green – removal of dead Oak tree £750.00
15 Hillside Road, Tylers Green – removal of overhanging branch and dead Beech tree £475.00
Boundary Road, Loudwater – removal of Sycamore and 2 Ash trees £675.00
AGENDA ITEM 4
Allotments
Members are asked to NOTE that following the inspections undertaken in May and June – 28 letters in total, across both sites, were sent out to underperforming allotment holders. Since then, 5 have been returned at Chapel Road and 3 at Ashley Drive. The allotment renewals have been sent out which may also result in further allotments being given back.
Members are also asked to NOTE that the track at Chapel Road will be inspected by the grounds team with view to organising remedial work to the potholes.
4.1 Allotment Competition
Following the judging by Cllr Webb and Cllr Wilks that took place on Saturday 20 July, members are asked to NOTE the winners attached at APPENDIX A
Members are also asked to NOTE that the BBQ at Flackwell Heath (11 August) was a great success, and the Picnic at Ashley Drive is due to take place on Saturday 7 September.
AGENDA ITEM 5
Playgrounds
5.1 Straight Bit Recreation Ground, Flackwell Heath
5.1.1 Straight Bit Car Park
Members are asked to NOTE the car park has been successfully resurfaced and marked.
5.1.3 Accident Claim
Members are asked to NOTE that there is currently a claim being made for damage sustained to a car windscreen at the above site.
5.2 Boundary Road Recreation Ground, Loudwater
5.2.1 Safety Surface
Members are asked to NOTE that the safety surfacing has been completed.
5.3 Ashley Drive Recreation Ground, Tylers Green
5.3.1 Safety Surface
Members are asked to NOTE that the safety surfacing has been completed.
5.3.2 Replacement Springy
Members are asked to NOTE that the new springy is still on order but has been prioritised for installation
AGENDA ITEM 6
Derehams Lane Recreation Ground
Members are asked to NOTE that the pre-planning advice is still awaited. Repeated requests for a response have been made via the architect.
Members are asked to NOTE that there has been interest in rejuvenating the Orchard at the site. The clerk to provide a verbal update.
Members are asked to NOTE that a meeting with a company called Padel House, who are promoting Padel (APPENDIX B) a game played in doubles on an enclosed court. Cllr Webb to provide a verbal report.
6.1 Loudwater Bowls Club
Members are asked to NOTE the letter received from the Bowls Club in July asking for guidance on the removal of their clubhouse, along with the confirmation that the club will be dissolved (APPENDIX C). Information received from Cllr Jordan, who has been attending the club meetings, suggests that there has been interest in the site from a neighbouring bowls club. Members are asked to CONSIDER the contents and suggest a response.
AGENDA ITEM 7
Tree Work
Members are asked to CONSIDER the quotations received for tree work along the Railway Land. These works are requiring a climber and are outside the expertise of the grounds team.
Quote A Quote B
Railway Land- Holly Place £1,050.00 £950.00
Members are asked to CONSIDER works to the footpath leading from Straight Bit to Cherrywood Gardens in Flackwell Heath. The surface of the path is looked after by Buckinghamshire Council, however the verge between the path surface and the property fences is in ‘no man’s land’. The office has received a couple of phone calls asking for assistance with the hedges that are now extremely high and encroaching on the path and the overhead cables, making it feel unsafe. An initial quote has been obtained to gauge the potential cost:
Option 1 – cutting branches away from cables only £600.00
Option 2 – cutting branches as above and trimming sides along the alleyway £1,650.00
Option 3 – cutting branches as above reducing the width and height of hedge £4,250.00
Members are asked to APPROVE the next course of action.
AGENDA ITEM 8
Memorial Plaque Project, Tylers Green Common
Members are asked to NOTE that the first 11 stainless steel replacement plaques have been completed at a cost of £418.00 – these are for the trees along Track 6 (opposite the village hall). The next batch will be sent off shortly.
AGENDA ITEM 9
Committee Site Visit Feedback
Following the committee site visit in July members are asked to NOTE the completed works that had been highlighted;
Tylers Green Commons
• Trees on the back Common crown lifted
• A survey has been undertaken for the replacement of posts around the Common and these are on order
• A replacement Rowan for the Back Common will be ordered.
• Cllr Forbes has started to refresh the Management Plan (APPENDIX D)
Members are asked to CONSIDER and, if so minded, APPROVE the work to the footpaths on the Back Common and on the triangle opposite the village hall. Both jobs will be undertaken by the grounds team.
Railway Land
• Overhanging branches have been removed and trees crown lifted
• The path has also been opened up
• Contact has been attempted with Sustrans – our contact has left the company.
• A land survey of the site has not yet been instigated – quotes will be obtained
Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath
• Car park was inspected
• Cllr Johncock highlighted the requirement for a refreshed look at a zip wire for the play area
AGENDA ITEM 10
Committee Budget 2024/25 Initial Discussion
Members are asked to bring along suggestions for projects for the new financial year so that at the next meeting at the end of October a draft budget can be agreed.
AGENDA ITEM 11
Committee Finances
11.1 Committee Finances
Members are asked to NOTE the income and expenditure for month 4 (July) APPENDIX E
AGENDA ITEM 12
Questions from committee members and the public
A maximum of fifteen minutes will be given to members of the public, who may make representations, ask and answer questions and/or give evidence in respect of any item of business included in the agenda. Members of the public wishing to speak at the beginning of the meeting should inform the Clerk of this request as soon as possible.
AGENDA ITEM 13
Accounts for payment
Accounts for payment will be circulated at the meeting for consideration by councillors.
Date and time of next meeting: Thursday 31 October 2024 @ 7.30pm