AFOS January 2021 Minutes
Minutes of the virtual Allotments, Footpaths and Open Spaces Committee on Thursday 21st January 2021 at 8:00pm.
Present: Councillors Bowell, Fowler, Hall, Halls, Robinson, Shinkins-Hoppe, Stevens (District), Thomas (District) and Dilks (District).
Geoff Hurst – Allotment Association Chairman, Diane Rose – Friends of Jubilee Park.
Julie Fortnum, Parish Clerk and Louise Brown, Assistant Clerk
30.20 To receive apologies for absence.
None were received.
31.20 To receive declarations of interest, if any.
None were received.
32.20 To adopt the minutes of the meeting held 17th September 2020.
The minutes were agreed and Councillor Bowell will sign and return them to the office.
33.20 To receive reports from the Clerk.
The trees donated by The Woodland Trust, were shared and some planted by Cllr’s Bowell and Dilks at the allotments, the rest were offered to the owner of the property on the corner of Broadgate Lane and Spalding Road to support/compliment his Hawthorn.
The perimeter hedge at the allotment should now have been trimmed and we are awaiting confirmation that this has happened.
A skip from Mick George, was provided in October for tenants to clear their plots.
The problem parking issue at the allotment, seems to have been resolved after a final letter was sent.
A QR code has been displayed providing a link to the National Allotments Society’s webpage and their advice, keeping allotment holders up-to-date.
A local tree services contractor has been contacted with regard to trimming a tree near the back of the allotments close to plots 62/63 and they plan to attend to this during the Winter before nesting begins.
Two allotment plots are currently being reallocated, after investigation into the National Allotment Society Coronavirus guidance stating reallocation should not happen while we are in lockdown was reconsidered, if it can be done in a COVID safe manner.
The Flagpole has been purchased and will be installed nearer to Summer when the weather is better.
Two dog waste bins on Sandy Lane and Jubilee Park have been removed as they were causing problems. Dog walkers have been advised to use nearby waste bins instead.
A suspected sewage leak on Public Right of Way 14 had been reported by the landowner. Anglia Water and LCC Countryside Access are aware and dealing with the situation. Signs have been put up at either end of the footpath advising walkers.
34.20 To receive and discuss the report from the Allotments Association and make any recommendations to Council.
A report was previously circulated to the Councillor’s, provided by the Allotments Association. It was stated that the first two points are items to be spoken about on the agenda today.
35.20 To consider repairs to Car Park and roads at the Allotments.
We have an Allotments Improvement Fund set up to ensure we have enough to undertake these jobs without being subsidised by Council Tax Payers. There should be a budget of £5,000 from the beginning of April to begin improvements.
Councillor Fowler has done some estimated calculations and was able to advise on the best materials to use. It was agreed that Councillor Fowler and others, if required, should prepare a tender document to be agreed by the Parish Council to be used to obtain quotations for the work.
36.20 To discuss the movement of a water tank at plot 63, at the allotments.
It was noted that work was required to repair and move the water tank to avoid further damage. The Parish Council Maintenance staff will be asked to complete this work and to meet with the Chair of the Allotments Association prior to any work being done.
37.20 To discuss the order in which allotments are allocated.
It was proposed by Councillor Stevens that the priority order for allocating plots is as follows: -
1st. Deeping St James resident.
2nd. Plot for DSJ resident requiring a second plot.
3rd. Non-DSJ resident.
4th. Plot for non-DSJ resident requiring a second plot.
This was seconded by Councillor Fowler and all Councillors agreed.
Market Deeping residents who enquire about Deeping St James allotment plots should continue to be encouraged to contact Market Deeping Town Council to request that they provide allotments for their residents.The Allotment Association asked that they be consulted before second plots were allocated out so that they can provide some perspective.
38.20 To consider the consultation for rewilding parts of Jubilee Park and Woody Heights.
South Kesteven District Council, had forwarded a consultation document to the Parish Council concerning a proposal to rewild areas on land owned by them – Jubilee Park. Both Councillor Bowell and Councillor Dilks had shared this information on social media which has resulted in a mixed response.
The benefits of re-wilding were noted by the Committee however, concerns were raised as to what was meant by re-wilding as areas had been left untended in the past which had not been successful, how such areas would be managed and whether the proposed locations were the most appropriate as they were areas that suffered from anti-social behaviour and areas where community events are held.
The Committee voted 6 against and 2 for re-wilding these areas and agreed to RECOMMEND to Full Council, to explain why they did not feel Jubilee Park was suitable and to suggest alternative locations.
39.20 To consider adopting a tree maintenance plan for the Parish.
It was agreed that a tree inspection and maintenance plan was required and that as none of the Parish Council Staff or Councillors were tree specialists, a professional tree services company would need to be appointed to work with the Council to agree an inspection time table and recommend what work needed to be undertaken. A document listing all the trees the Parish Council are responsible for needed to be drawn up from earlier work completed by Councillor Halls, Hardy and Shinkins-Hoppe and former Councillor Blessett. This could be used to obtain quotations from tree service companies.
40.20 Dates of the next meetings –
17th June 2021 and 23rd September 2021
Copy sent to: Geoff Hurst/ Hilary Gentle (Allotments Association)
Diane Rose (Friends of Jubilee Park)