MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE RECREATION AND OPEN
SPACES COMMITTEE held on Thursday, 9 February 2006 in the Parish Room, Village
Hall,
PRESENT: Cllr G Piller
(Chairman)
Cllrs
P Bradley, M Powsey, R Valentine and I Wescombe
IN ATTENDANCE: C Allart, Parish Clerk
Derek Chambers and
Peter Elcombe, Horton Kirby FC
Andrew and Deborah
Abery
APOLOGIES FOR
ABSENCE: None
DECLARATIONS OF
INTEREST: None
RESOLVED
that the Minutes of the last meetings held on 8 December and 26 January be
approved and signed as correct records.
Asbestos Survey
The clerk reported
that this had been carried out and estimates for removal were awaited. Cllr Wescombe
reported that there were no grants available as far as he could find out.
Appearance of
Litter Baskets in Westminster Field
Mr Abery told the committee that he had put the bins in the
field as a result of a request by a resident of
Garden Area
It was noted that
the Village Hall Committee and the Parish Council had overridden the decision
and decided on paving in the garden area.
Jumping Jacks Dog
Club
In response to a
question from a member who had not been at the last meeting, it was explained
that the use by the dog training club every Sunday would be in conflict with
the general public’s use of the field because of the noise generated.
Graffiti
It was agreed that
this Committee wished to have a general policy of taking action to recover the
cost of making good in the case of graffiti and other criminal damage from any
perpetrators caught by the Police. A
letter would be sent asking for compensation for the appropriate amount stating
that prosecutions would follow if the money was not paid within 21 days.
Top Paddock –
Grant for Tidying Works
The clerk reported
that these works would not be the subject of an application for grant from the
Representatives
of Horton Kirby Football Club attended the meeting and put forward a list of
items that they wished to raise, namely:
1.
HKFC
to keep control of the pavilion all year;
2.
HKFC
to have control of the pavilion for a minimum of 5 years;
3.
permission
to erect a fence to protect the building in the “L” shape;
4.
window
grilles to protect and prevent graffiti;
5.
removal
of a redundant internal wall to open up the lobby;
6.
installation
of CCTV; and
7.
permission to change the colours of the internal
decorations.
There
was much discussion on all these topics.
It was pointed out that CCTV was not ideal as a means of prosecuting or
even identifying offenders and it involved a lot of work to keep changing the
tapes etc. The football club re-affirmed
that there would be no problem for other occasional users using the building
during the summer.
RESOLVED
that
1.
Horton
Kirby FC be asked to get a report on the building from the Crime Prevention
Officer; and
2.
once that had been received and circulated to
Committee members, a site meeting be arranged.
Members discussed
with Mr Abery, the initiator of the litter baskets, various
aspects of his bins both in Westminster Field and throughout the area. He said that they were all well used and that
he is able to recycle 95% of all the litter he takes out. Members agreed that his actions were
commendable but asked that the baskets and posts in Westminster Field be
improved visually by being painted black.
Members
decided on remedial action following extensive damage caused by 2 stolen cars
on separate occasions being driven into Westminster Field and burnt out.
1
Entrance
Gate
The clerk reported
that this has been damaged beyond repair but is still lockable at the moment. Options are to replace with same (metal) gate
or wooden gate. Prices are much the same
but there are pros and cons for each.
Wooden gates can’t
be lifted off hinges but can be stolen and are more likely to be. Wooden gates will shatter if rammed but the
posts would probably still be usable. It
would be more difficult to use a close-shackled padlock.
Metal gates can be
lifted off their hinges unless welded.
Once welded, it is more difficult to replace with a new gate and the posts
have to be renewed as well. It is easier
to use close-shackled padlocks (which can’t be cut and don’t need a chain which
is vulnerable to being cut).
RESOLVED that
2
Barrier
at 100 Year Wood Entrance
Following a site
meeting on 28 January, it was decided to replace the chicane with similar metal
barriers and use the panels to form a fence up the bank to the farmer’s fence
and extend the fence along the present line for approximately 12 metres to the
thick brambles. The cost would be in the
region of £1200. It was also agreed that
2 very large rocks would be placed each side of the footpath near the A225 to
prevent any further car invasion. The
clerk reported that there was a good chance of receiving a grant for both of
these from the Clean Kent Campaign funds.
The boardwalk also needed repair.
3 Post in
Pathway by Pavilion
RESOLVED that a
collapsible lockable post be installed in the middle of the gap in the low rail
fencing to allow pedestrian access to the front of the pavilion but still
prevent vehicular access to replace the concrete bollard damaged by the stolen
car.
Members considered
a suggestion for a trim trail in the Wood.
RESOLVED
that an item be placed in the next parish newsletter asking whether such a
facility would be used.
BRICKWORK TO STAND
Members received a
quote from Andrew Abery for brickwork to The Stand
and agreed that further quotes were needed.
Members
considered a request for a dog ban.
RESOLVED
that it is not practical nor appropriate to ban dogs
from the whole area but signs be erected informing all dog owners to clear up
after their pets and to use the dog bin.
Members considered
an enquiry from this junior football club to run football at Heathside. They
would need 1 pitch and 1mini soccer pitch for their 11 teams and would run it
all themselves.
RESOLVED that
Dartford JFC be informed that Westminster Field is the appropriate location for
football in the parish and they be invited to approach Horton Kirby FC to see
if this was a possibility.
KEYS
Cllr Bradley
suggested that a locking system that used only one key for all the different
padlocks and locks used at Heathside be investigated
and considered at a future meeting.
To
consider the proposal from Andy Abery that he be paid
to supply and empty his own dog bins rather than the much more expensive SDC
service. Mr Abery
said he would get a price before the next meeting for supplying the bins for a
monthly rental including emptying.
54 ANY
OTHER BUSINESS
Co-opted Member
Cllr Bradley asked
whether any members knew of anyone suitable for co-option to the committee.
Kissing Gates
Cllr Wescombe remarked that several kissing gates along the Darent Valley Path as well as the one in
100 Year Wood near the A225 had been carefully altered so that they
opened outwards. There was some debate
about whether they had been installed incorrectly or subsequently changed to
allow access for certain purposes.
The meeting ended
at 9.40 pm.
Chairman
Date