Agenda and minutes

Venue: Kaposvar Room - Guildhall, Bath. View directions

Contact: Marie Todd  01225 394414

Items
No. Item

36.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

It was noted that Sujata McNab had resigned from her role as Independent Member of the Trust Sub-Committee.  Members were grateful for the work that Sujata had undertaken and agreed to write a letter to thank her for the time she had given to the Trust.

37.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the Agenda.

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Officer explained the emergency evacuation procedure.

38.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTION

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Mark Cassidy, Team Manager, Parks and Bereavement Services.

39.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

40.

ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS

Minutes:

Tony Hickman, proprietor of the Alice Park Café, spoke regarding the use of the small grassed area next to the patio area by his premises.

 

Mr Hickman explained that over the past nine years he had been under the impression that the area up to the end of the fence, just beyond the patio was included in “his area”.  As such, this had been used on occasions during the summer for parties and putting up a marquee for the Christmas market.

 

Mr Hickman stated that he would like to offer the Alice Park Trust a one off payment of £250 to allow him use of this area as if it were part of his current lease.  He would use the area for occasional private parties, Christmas market, charity marquees, DJ and acoustic performances.

41.

TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIR

The Chair will announce any items of urgent business accepted since the agenda was prepared under the Access to Information provisions.

Minutes:

The Chair had agreed that one item of urgent business should be discussed at the meeting relating to the use of the small grassed area next to the patio area by the café.  This matter had been raised at the previous meeting and at this meeting by Mr Tony Hickman under public questions/comments.

 

The Sub-Committee discussed the suggestion put forward by Mr Hickman for the use of this area.  Members noted that the use of the area would require a variance of the existing lease which would involve obtaining a valuation from a surveyor.  This was likely to cost more than the £250 being offered by Mr Hickman.

 

It was suggested that Mr Hickman could use the area on an ad hoc basis on payment of the current hire rate.

 

Members supported the work of the café in Alice Park but felt that more information was required before making a decision on this matter.  It should be considered as part of the wider schedule of events in the park alongside details of fees, charges and lease values.

 

RESOLVED: To defer consideration of this matter until the next meeting as further information is required.

42.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 5 FEBRUARY 2018 pdf icon PDF 97 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2018.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2018 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

43.

SKATEPARK DESIGN BRIEF AND IMPLEMENTATION pdf icon PDF 100 KB

To consider a report by the Team Manager, Parks and Bereavement Services, regarding the proposed installation of a skatepark in Alice Park.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a report regarding the provision of a skate park in Alice Park.  The following issues were discussed:

 

·  Cllr Norton expressed some concern about the proposed height of the skate park and felt that it should be no more than 1m in height.

 

·  Paul Hooper highlighted the need to build in controls regarding the contract including the provision of a risk register.

 

·  Cllr Ward explained that he had visited the other skate parks located in the B&NES area.  He had some concerns regarding litter and graffiti and hoped that this could be avoided at Alice Park.  He also drew attention to paragraph 3.5 of the report which stated that the Trust should be prepared to contribute financially to any identifiable shortfall from its own resources/income stream.

 

·  Cllr Appleyard pointed out that the skate park would be the Council’s facility and, as such, would be included in the regular inspections and cleaning regimes.

 

·  Paul Pearce, Team Leader, Parks and Trees, explained that the site would be inspected twice a week and that litter would be picked and any graffiti removed using specialist equipment.

 

·  It was noted that the £30k to be provided by private donors will be held by the Trust and released to the Council once the lease has been finalised and before the contract with the provider has been entered into.

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)  To agree the following brief to allow commencement of the skate park project:

 

(a)  The skate park should be located in the lower corner of Alice Park by the play area.

 

(b)  The skate park should ideally be 200 sq m in size – but not limited to this allowing for a 10% variance and based on the design produced by the contractor.

 

(c)  The skate park should ideally be 1m height – but not limited to this and based on the design produced by the contractor.

 

(d)  To consider an opening in the corner for easier access.

 

(2)  The upper age limit for skate park usage is 14 years so the design should reflect this.

 

(3)  To ask for the best design for the skate park which will be brought back to the Sub-Committee for scrutiny.

 

(4)  To arrange for the transfer of the £30k into the Trust’s account by 30 April 2018 or thereafter.

44.

SAND PIT REPLENISHMENT pdf icon PDF 40 KB

To consider the attached motion from Cllr Rob Appleyard.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a motion put forward by Cllr Rob Appleyard regarding the replenishment of the sandpit in Alice Park.

 

The level of sand in the sandpit had reduced through natural causes and additional sand is now required.  The total cost of replenishment would be £2,412.60 +VAT.

 

Paul Pearce, Team Leader, Parks and Trees, confirmed that the sand provided a safety surface and that there was a potential health and safety risk if the sand was depleted.

 

RESOLVED: To instruct the B&NES parks department to supply and fill 20 tonnes of play sand immediately.

45.

ALICE PARK POND pdf icon PDF 39 KB

To consider the attached motion from Councillor Rob Appleyard.

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a motion put forward by Cllr Rob Appleyard regarding the refurbishment of the pond in Alice Park.

 

The following issues were discussed:

 

·  Cllr Appleyard explained that following feedback from park users and the wider community the condition of the pond had been highlighted as a cause of concern.  He stressed the need to keep the pond and its benefits to park users and, therefore, to agree to start a refurbishment programme.

 

·  Paul Hooper felt that a clear plan was required for any refurbishment.  He suggested that some fencing be provided to address any health and safety concerns relating to the pond.

 

·  Cllr Norton felt that this matter should be considered in greater detail at a future meeting.

 

·  Cllr Patterson stated that she would not wish to see the pond barricaded by fencing or being made to look unnatural in any way.

 

·  Paul Pearce, Team Leader, Parks and Trees, explained that there were a number of different priorities for work within Alice Park.  He advised members to consider the design and purpose of the pond with the possibility of carrying out a more comprehensive modification.

 

·  Cllr Ward felt that the skate park should be the Parks Team’s main priority for the time being.  He proposed that any pond refurbishment should be considered in the context of wider park improvements taking into consideration the management plan for the park.

 

·  It was noted that there was no immediate health and safety concern with regard to the pond in Alice Park.

 

RESOLVED: To defer consideration of this matter until the next meeting.

46.

ALICE PARK FOOTPATHS pdf icon PDF 43 KB

To consider the attached motion from Councillor Rob Appleyard.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered a motion from Cllr Rob Appleyard regarding the provision of footpaths in Alice Park.

 

Cllr Appleyard explained that the Alice Park survey had shown that a key concern of users was the inability to navigate around the park using connected footpaths.  Cllr Appleyard had spoken with officers from the B&NES Parks Department and it had been suggested that two sections of additional paths would create the desired connections and allow circular travel around the park.

 

Cllr Appleyard also informed the Sub-Committee that a successful bid of £43,200 had been made to the Bath City Forum and was now awaiting sign off from the cabinet member.

 

The following issues were then discussed:

 

·  Paul Hooper supported this proposal but felt that the path should go behind the tennis courts.  He suggested a site visit before any firm decisions were made.

 

·  Cllr Norton stated that this was an excellent idea but noted that the Sub-Committee should be mindful of officers’ existing commitments.

 

·  Paul Pearce, Team Leader, Parks and Trees, pointed out that additional paths would require ongoing maintenance from the Council.  If members agreed this proposal then it would be dealt with by the Project Delivery Team and would be considered in the context of the management plan for the park.

 

·  It was noted that the actual funding had not yet received sign-off from the Cabinet member and that further information was required before making a firm decision.  Members were generally supportive of the proposal to provide additional paths in the park.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)  To accept, in principle, the award of £43,200 from the Bath City Forum Community Infrastructure Fund for additional paths within Alice Park.

 

(2)  To consider this matter at the next meeting when further information is available.

47.

FUTURE MEETING DATES

To consider setting meeting dates for the remainder of 2018 as follows:

 

Monday 11, 18 or 25 June 2018

Monday 8, 15 or 22 October 2018

Minutes:

RESOLVED: To agree that future meetings will take place on the following dates:

 

Monday 25 June 2018 – 6pm

Monday 22 October 2018 – 6pm