New Alresford Town Council

MINUTES OF THE RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING

Held at Arlebury Park

at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 14^th November 2007

Present: Cllrs Middleton (Chair), Power, Read, Cattle

Sports Reps: T. Ingram,/T. Young (Football),H.Lewis (Tennis),H.Ogus (Rugby), A.Joyce (Cricket)

Apologises: Cllrs. Luckham, R,McPartland

Press: Margaret Gould, Mo. Farrell, Chris Harris

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DECLARATION OF CLLR. INTERESTS – None MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS of 26^th September 2007 Proposed: Cllr. Power Seconded: Cllr .Cattle (AGREED) ACTIONS CARRIED FORWARD Sun Hill/ Stratton Bates – New equipment installation complete and Open Space Funds claimed. Sun Hill Refurbishment– Refurbishment completed Arlebury Park Balcony – Resolution: To accept the quote of £550 and for work to proceed. Proposed Cllr. Cattle Seconded Cllr. Power (AGREED) Clerk to Action Perins Meeting - Initial contact had been made with Perins. It was felt there was scope for integration and discussions on preferential rates. A meeting to be arranged between Cllr. Read, Middleton and Janice Bernard to discuss these matters together with Perins application for Trust Status. Cllr. Read to arrange Wild Play Area - Item deferred until January when Stuart Dunbar Dempsey has agreed to speak on the topic. Clerk had distributed the Play Strategy and Action Plan to all Cllrs. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (Adjournment) Mr. R. Atkins Q. Stated that Mrs. Steven’s was unhappy with Clerk’s handling of her correspondence. He informed the meeting that correspondence should have the Chair’s attention and that Mrs. Stevens was being victimized as a consequence of working for him. The letters were read out to the meeting and given to the Clerk for office action, as Mrs. Stevens had directed the correspondence to the meeting and not the office. Mr. Atkins told the Committee that Mrs. Stevens had contact the Freedom of Information Dept. in respect of a letter sent to NATC office on the 21^st September that had not received a reply. The Clerk informed the meeting that a verbal response and a written response had been sent within the requisite 20 days. Mr. Atkins stated the response was inadequate. Q Mr. Atkins asked whether the Rugby Club had paid their annual fee. A. The Rugby Club had been invoiced. Mr. Ogus questioned why Mr. Atkins was querying this matter. Mr. Atkins stated that as a member of the public he could query any NATC matter. Q. Mr. Atkins asked what authority NATC had to obtain a £18k loan on behalf of the Tennis Club and quoted regulations pertaining to this matter. He went on to state that the requirement of WCC £20k tennis loan must be considered. A. NATC are able to obtain a Public Works Loan for the Tennis Project Q. Mr. Atkins stated that NATC owed Trevor Ingram £10k and what were they doing about it. He went on to state NATC were acting fraudulently and everyone should know what’s happening and he had asked the Audit Commission to investigate. He stated that the Clerk should act independently and not as Gentry’s PA. SPORTS SECTION Football TI report Reported that all 3 teams were doing well. He went on to report on several problematic issues. He stated the work completed by the Football Club at Arlebury Park had been undertaken in good faith and he was not responsible for NATC not applying to Open Space for reimbursement. He was disappointed that no Recreation member had supported the Football claim for reimbursement. (Clerk to again review the minutes to verify whether NATC had committed to this payment.) He stated that Arlebury Park Sports and Social Club were not adhering to FA rules relating to drinking on the balcony during match times. This would eventually lead to fines which would be passed to APSSC for payment. Illegal Smoking on the balcony continued and this could result in prosecution for APSSC. Debris and damage continued to be a problem due to lack of APSSC control of member behaviour, From necessity AFC were taking responsibility for clearing surrounding area of club litter. Football floodlights had been used for the Bonfire night without consultation with the Football Club, who is the body responsible for this utility, which has resulted in malfunction of lights. Club paint tins had not been removed from the boil room. (Don to remove paint tins) TI believed that allocated bar rooms be beneficial on match days and overall he felt that the small bar was insufficient for sport refreshment requirements. The Rugby Club had cleaned the kitchen at an inappropriate time and more liaisons were needed between the sporting fraternities. (Rugby Club to provide Corgi safety certificate to guarantee cooker compliance.) The Football Club were unable to retrieve the Rugby Club keys from the bar area, due to bar closing hours, and requested the (Rugby Club to leave the keys in the boiler room.) Actions to be taken. Clerk to write to APSSC and Rugby Club regarding balcony restrictions and key retrieval procedure. Arrange for removal paint tins from boiler room. Cost taps for changing room cleaning. Rugby Club to chase Corgi certificate. TY report Reported that the Youth teams were doing well. Lights at Stratton Bates toilets were not working and windows need to be repaired. The cleaning of Stratton Bates had not been carried out for several weeks. Clerk to action repairs and review cleaning. Dog fouling remained a problem and the press were asked to report that prosecution is being sought for offenders. Clerk to write to Dog Wardens requesting prosecution action be adopted for reported offenders. Cricket – AJ reported that the Cricket team had had a mediocre season. He stated that club resources were low and that fund raising events would be arranged next season. Rugby - HO reported that the club had not had a brilliant season due to a transitional period which would be overcome with the oncoming junior players. The club was financially sound. A date for a CPO was requested and HO reported all sites he had visited as potential rugby pitches had been too small. He would forward the site list to the clerk for inclusion onto the site report. Clerk to advise of CPO meeting. Tennis – HO reported that tennis had won a promotion and that remaining teams maintained their positions. Resolution: To approve NATC to fund the Tennis Court Refurbishment from Open Spaces (£36k) and a loan (£18k) and to pass the Recreation Committee decision to Full Town for ratification. Proposed Cllr. Read Seconded T. Ingram (AGREED). Conditions of a tennis loan to be discussed at Full Town Meeting. Resolution: To approve the formal wording of 25 yr tennis lease. (Lease not received from Solicitors. Item to be put on the Agenda upon receipt) PETANQUE - Costs for Terrains not yet received. It was queried whether there was evidence of keenness for this play resource. The Clerk and members of the Committee confirmed community enthusiasm. PARKS AND EQUIPMENT Arlebury Park Parking Bays Parking signs for all commercial bays adjoining the flint wall had been ordered and due for installation. A cycle rack to be installed in Gas meter bay. Resolution: To donate Arlebury Park pitch for a Royal Mail charity football match. Game to be arranged for a Sunday afternoon which does not conflict with Alresford Football Club training or matches. (Resolution unanimously rejected) Clerk to inform Royal Mail Thursday Market Trader Commercial Parking Mr. Atkins interrupted the meeting and inform the Committee that the Town Trust had told market traders not to park at Arlebury Park and that if they do then NATC should approach the Market Manager and not the Town Trust. Clerk to approach Market Manager if traders utilise NATC bays for commercial parking. Vandalism Vandalism at Stratton Bates had resulted in the cost of bench repair. Vandalism at Sun Hill had resulted in the need to repair the soft surfacing. Committee agreed that the implementation of repairs must be carried out. FINANCE Precept Resolution: For the Recreation Budget for 2008/09 to be set at £26k. Proposed Cllr. Middleton Seconded Cllr. Power (AGREED) FURTURE MEETING DATES AND AGENDA ITEMS Wednesday 30^th January 2008, Arlebury Park (Upper Meeting Room) The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.20 pm. Chairman’s signature………………………………………………..date………………………..

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