RAOS July 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
The minutes of the meeting of the recreation & opens spaces Committee held at 8.00pm on Tuesday 11 July 2023 in the meeting room at the Institute 38 Church Street Deeping St James PE6 8HD.
Present: Councillors Green, Halls, Rose, Shinkins-Hoppe, Smith and Stevens.
The minutes were taken by the Parish Clerk.
24.13 To receive apologies of absence.
No apologies were received.
Councillor Hosking was not present.
24.14 To receive declarations of interest.
None declared.
24.15 To agree the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 30 May 2023.
Agreed and signed.
24.16 To receive the Clerk’s report and any update on matters arising from the previous minutes.
Places for the Parish Council funded Summer Forest School sessions and Art workshops have now been allocated.
Booking for the Parish Council funded playscheme run by MADCAPS based at Market Deeping Community Primary School closed on 10 July 2023.
A quote for the installation of CCTV and required groundworks at Jubilee Park has been obtained. In order to be compliant with Standing Orders efforts should be made to obtain at least two further quotes. The Clerk advised that meetings had now taken place with two more suppliers and meeting with another supplier was arranged
A quote for the pollarding of the Willow Trees on Riverbank has been obtained and a further 4 companies have been contacted so that the Parish Council is compliant with Standing Orders. Whilst visiting the site with prospective contractors it has become apparent that the Willow trees have an LCC tag on them so contact has been made to with Lincolnshire County Council to find out why. Their Arboriculturist advised that although the riverbank is unregistered land it is the responsibility of LCC as it is part of the highway and the trees had been assessed and no work to them was planned. The Clerk has now contacted the legal department to obtain clarification on ownership/responsibility as the parish council have cut the grass for 25 years and are investigating an adverse possession claim for the land.
The safety surface round the climbing frames in Jubilee Park play area has once again shrunk leaving a large gap between it and the soil around it meaning the kerb edging it loose. This has been reported to SKDC the current owners who have patched it up previously but whether more work will be completed now that ownership is being transferred is unknown.
The wood securing the metal gate at Skatepark has been damaged but since repaired by one of the maintenance team.
The Walnut Tree will provide a buffet for 20 (£4 per head) after the Linchfield walk on Monday 17 July 2023 and the Exotic Pet Refuge will provide a buffet for 30 (£5 per head) after the Station Road/Deepings Lakes walk on Sunday 10 September 2023
The Clerk has approached SKDC about planting a third tree on the land between Fraser Close and Burchnall Close and placing the Queens Green Canopy plaque beneath it (after the Rowan Tree planted on the Green at Churchgate as part of this initiative failed)
The Clerk has completed some investigation to find paperwork to support an adverse possession claim for the unregistered Riverbank and has found evidence in the form of the cash book to confirm that a contractor was paid from 2008 to cut the riverbank however copies of invoices are only available to support this back to 2017 as there is no requirement to keep accounts any longer than 6 years. The Clerk has contacted Double and Megson to ask whether this will be sufficient and if not whether a Statement of Truth (with supporting statements from long term local residents in the vicinity) could be provided as an alternative way to move the claim forward.
The Clerk has signed up to the Love Parks week initiative organised by the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign which runs from 28 July to 6 August 2023 and posters have been printed to be put on the noticeboards promoting not only cleaner parks and open spaces but safer parks and open spaces.
24.17 To consider how to progress the improvements to the play equipment at Jubilee Park.
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe opened the conversation saying that she felt there were two choices – to remove everything and start again OR to leave the equipment that was still in good order, repair the soft play surfaces, extend the area and add new equipment to it. After some discussion suggesting that a budget should be agreed and that play equipment providers should be contacted as they would come up with a design and also suggest grant funding pots, Councillor Smith volunteered to meet with Councillor Rose and put together a vision for the area incorporating what was missing from the park and taking into account ecology and disability issues. The Clerk could then contact some play equipment providers sharing the vision from the committee and asking form them to provide design ideas.
24.18 To finalise details for the Linchfield footpath walk to be held on Monday 17 July 2023 and the Station Road/Deeping Lakes walk on Sunday 10 September 2023.
The Clerk advised that Councillor Bowell had provided a map showing a 5km route which incorporated as many of the public right of ways and link footpaths around the Linchfield estate, The Walnut Tree had agreed to provide a buffet and that the walk had been advertised on the noticeboards, Webpage and Facebook page. The Clerk was asked to promote it further encouraging as many Parish Councillors to attend.
24.19 To finalise details for the Bark in the Park Dog Show to be held on Jubilee Park on Sunday 30 July 2023.
Councillor Stevens advised that she had several stall holders booked and hoped to get more. Councillor Rose would organise the Rosettes, Guess the Name game, Guess the weight of the Cake and Tombola stall for which more prizes were needed. The Parish Council office were asked to hire a portable Toilet, place an advert in the local free paper, contact the Ice Cream van to get them to book a pitch, print off winning certificates and provide hot refreshments from the Gazebo on the day. The Clerk was asked to check if a Maintenance Worker was available to transport items to and from the Institute using the Parish Council’s vehicle. Volunteers to help run this would be needed.
24.20 To consider whether to pitch the gazebo at the Raft Race on Sunday 6 August 2023.
It was agreed that providing sufficient volunteers come forward to help set up, clear away and manage the gazebo that the Parish Council should be present at this event. Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe agreed to ask at full council for volunteers.
24.21 To consider whether to pitch the gazebo at the Duck Race on Sunday 3 September 2023.
It was agreed that providing sufficient volunteers come forward to help set up, clear away and manage the gazebo that the Parish Council should be present at this event.
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe agreed to ask at full council for volunteers.
24.22 To consider organising a Remembrance Parade along Church Street on Sunday 12 November 2023.
It was agreed that a Remembrance Parade should be organised and the Clerk was asked to register the event and apply to a traffic regulation order to close a section of Church Street and divert traffic. The Clerk was also asked to contact the Beaver, Cub, Scout, Brownie and Guide leaders as well as the Deeping School encouraging them to send representation. Any other arrangements could be agreed at the meeting on Tuesday 5 September 2023.
24.23 To consider the organisation of the Carols in the Park on Friday 15 December 2023.
Councillor Stevens volunteered to contact the Salvation Army Band to confirm that they are available to attend. Other arrangements could be agreed at the meeting on Tuesday 5 September 2023.
23.24 To note the date of the next meeting as Tuesday 5 September 2023.
It was noted that the agenda should include an item considering the management of the small open spaces in the parish particularly the Manor Court Gardens outside Manor Way shops, Priory Farm Corner on Broadgate Lane and the Green on Churchgate