RAOS May 2023 Minutes
DEEPING ST JAMES PARISH COUNCIL
The Institute, 38 Church Street, Deeping St James, PE6 8HD
E-mail: clerk@deepingstjames-pc.gov.uk
Tel: 01778 343266
Webpage: //deeping-st-james.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Facebook: Deeping St James Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Julie Fortnum
Dear Councillors Halls, Hosking, Rose, Shinkins-Hoppe, Smith and Stevens.
The minutes of the recreation & opens spaces committee meeting held at 8.00pm on Tuesday 30 May 2023 in the meeting room at the Institute 38 Church Street Deeping St James PE6 8HD.
Present: Councillors Halls, Hosking, Shinkins-Hoppe, Smith, Stevens and one member of the public (Les Green).
24.1 To note that Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe is the Chairperson for this committee (resolved at the annual meeting of the Parish Council on 16 May 2023)
Noted
24.2 To receive apologies of absence.
Councillor Rose was not present
24.3 To receive declarations of interest.
None declared
24.4 To agree the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 11 April 2023.
Agreed and signed.
24.5 To receive the Clerk’s report.
- The Parish Clerk has telephoned both Linchfield and Deeping St James Community Primary School following up the email asking if they were interested/able to organise and run the summer playscheme and both Schools have advised that are not able to help. An email has been sent to Madcaps out of school club based at Market Deeping Community Primary School to see if they can assist as they have done so well in the past and the Parish Clerk is awaiting a reply.
- As reported to Council on 16 May 2023 the completion of the transfer of ownership of Jubilee Park is still ongoing however this does not impact on the use of the park or the Parish Council’s intentions to install additional assets (CCTV and an installation for an illuminated Christmas Tree) but may hinder grant applications for funding to improve the play area.
- The Council’s decision of to apply for adverse possession of the section of the riverbank that they have added assets to, planted and cut the grass on has not yet been processed however Councillor Bowell has searched and found some documentary evidence that can be used and the Parish Clerk intended to make some time in the course of the next month to delve further into the archives to see if further and older supporting evidence can be sourced.
- Members of the public have contacted the Parish Council office with concerns about the length of the grass at Jubilee Park and the fact that there is no signage on the gated play area to say that no dogs are allowed. The Clerk has made enquiries with the ground’s maintenance contractors, EnvironmentSK, about the grass cutting and asked South Kesteven District Council as they remain the present owners and therefore responsible party, for more signage.
- Due to the better weather use of all the play areas and open spaces is increasing and with that the volume of litter and minor anti-social behaviour (graffiti and over-turned bins) which the maintenance team are managing.
- Again, due to the improved weather the maintenance team are busy keeping the public rights of way link footpaths and Millennium Wood accessible.
24.6 To consider whether to re-place the dead Rowan Tree, on the green at Churchgate, which was planted as part of the Queens Green Canopy.
The Clerk advised that the dead Rowan Tree had now been removed as had the plaque stating it had been planted as part of the Queens Green Canopy.
Rather than another tree it was agreed that some shrubs should be planted on the green at Churchgate and Councillor Stevens volunteered to obtain advice on what shrubs would be most suitable.
It was agreed that the Clerk should contact South Kesteven District Council to find out what species the two trees that had been planted on the land between Burchnall Close and Fraser Close were and if permission would be granted to plant an additional one. Once this was established an additional tree would be purchased and the plaques could be placed under it.
24.7 To consider instructing tree maintenance work to be carried out during Autumn 2023 on the Willow Trees on the Riverbank.
It was agreed that quotes should be obtained from appropriate companies to cut back the trees on the Riverbank in Autumn 2023.
24.8 To consider the Parish Council’s attendance at the Rose and Sweet-Pea Show on Saturday 24 June 2023.
The Clerk confirmed that a pitch had been booked at this event.
Councillors Hosking, Shinkins-Hoppe and Stevens confirmed that they were available to staff the gazebo and the availability of other Parish Councillors would be confirmed at the Council meeting on Tuesday 20 June 2023. It was agreed to meet at the Institute at 11am to collect the gazebo (including sides) noticeboards, tables and chairs.
The Clerk was asked to source some 30MPH bin stickers to hand out at the event and open up the opportunity to speak with members of the community
24.9 To consider the Parish Council’s attendance at the Deepings Carnival on Sunday 25 June 2023.
The Clerk confirmed that a pitch had been booked at this event.
Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe and Stevens confirmed that they were available to staff the gazebo at this event and the availability of other Parish Councillors would be confirmed at the Council meeting on 20 June 2023. It was acknowledged that use of the Parish Council truck to transport the gazebo noticeboards tables and chairs to and from this event would be needed.
Councillor Stevens volunteered to speak to Oakwood Insurance to see if their large buzzer game could be borrowed for this event to use as a hook to get members of the public to visit the gazebo and talk to the Parish Councillors.
24.10 To consider the Bark in the Park Dog Show to be held on Jubilee Park on Sunday 2 July 2023.
Councillor Stevens advised that the date had been re-arranged again and the event would now take place on Sunday 30 July 2023. The Friends of Jubilee Park were contacting individuals to act as Judges and seeking sponsorship. It was agreed that the Parish Council should have a gazebo at the event offering tea coffee and squash as this was something that was missing last year.
Again, the availability of Parish Councillors to staff the gazebo would need to be confirmed at the Council meeting on 20 June 2023
2.11 To agree the route and refreshments for the footpath walks to be held on Monday 17 July 2023 and Sunday 10 September 2023.
The Clerk confirmed that the Walnut Tree had agreed to provide a buffet at 8pm on Monday 17 July following the Linchfield walk which would start from the Linchfield School car park at 7pm
Councillor Hosking volunteered to contact the Exotic Pet Refuge to ask if they could provide a buffet after the Deeping Lakes/Eastgate walk which would start at 2pm on Sunday 17 September 2023 and if so to arrange for participants who arrived in cars to park at their site.
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe advised that sections of public right of way 12 were not passable as crops had been planted over the footpath. The Clerk advised that the volunteer footpath warden should pick up on this and report it to countryside access at Lincolnshire County Council.
23.12 To note the date of the next meeting
8pm on Tuesday 11 July 2023.