Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council Open Spaces

STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET PARISH COUNCIL OPEN SPACES

MINUTES of a meeting of the OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE held at7.45pm on Wednesday 15 February 2017 in the Council Offices, 72 Chapel Hill, StanstedMountfitchet, Essex

PRESENT:Cllr S Dunn (Chairman), CllrsM Caton,C Dean, JKavanagh,R Rands,

F Richards and V Trundle

ATTENDING:Mrs R Clifford (Clerk)

Mr T Lloyd (Assistant to the Clerk)

Cllr J O'Brien

1 member of the public

Gareth Broad, GWB Horticulture, item 7

405TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

CllrsJ Richards and G Sell.

406TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST-none

407TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11 JANUARY 2017

Page 82, item 363, third line, “Dunn” was replaced by “Kavanagh”. There being no further amendments, the minutes were approved as a true record.

408MATTERS ARISING

(366) Cllr O'Brien argued that leaving red litter bags awaiting collection for a number of days in prominent positions was unacceptable. The Clerk agreed to investigate if some kind of container could be put in place which would be less of an eyesore but agreed with Cllr Caton that there was no funding available; sponsorship may be possible.

(367) The Assistant to the Clerk reported on a meeting with the DiocesanAdvisoryCommittee at the Memorial Gardens. They had suggested some changes to the plan and he is now awaiting their formal response.

409CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The Chairman reported that Cllr O’Brien had again raised concerns about the condition of the grass on the Recreation Ground. It has not grown back and there are bare and tufty patches. It was agreed to consult with our grass cutting contractor and also look at using turf mesh in some of the worst affected areas, with a view to budgeting this item in 2018/19.

410GARDENING CONTRACT – TO WELCOME GARETH BROAD, GARDENING CONTRACTOR

There was a general concensus that this was a good time to review the Council’s planting scheme and to be a little more adventurous with choices. A number of suggestions for the summer planting were made and members were invited to send any further ideas by email to Gareth with the Clerk copied in.Gareth suggested that there should be a mix of perennial plants

and bedding plants in the village flower beds. This would be more economical in the long run as well as being more environmentally friendly.

Gareth agreed to go away and draw up a planting plan which the Clerk would then circulate by email as time is of the essence for ordering plants. Councillors welcomed the opportunity to discuss the planting policy and it was agreed that a meeting like this should happen ahead of each planting season.

411TREE MATTERS

The Clerk reported on a request from a resident in Long Croft for the tree on the corner of Long Croft andBentfield Road to be cut back. As it is in a conservation area consent will be needed for this kind of work and the Clerk agreed to approach Ben Smeedon at UDC for advice.

The Clerk reported on an offer to donate a tree in memory of a couple who had lived in the village. The specie suggested was a Rowan with which members agreed as it is attractive, gives colour and berries for the birds. A number of possible locations for the tree were identified and the Clerk will discuss the options with the donor.

The Clerk reported that no consent was required to fell the Hornbeam between the old library car park and no. 70 Chapel Hill so, as agreed at the last meeting, this will now proceed.

412LITTER

As part of a National Spring Clean campaign McDonalds have offered to undertake a litter pick. Areas were identified for them to target and the Clerk will go back to them with the suggestions.

It was agreed that the village litter pick should take place on Saturday 8th April, 10am – 12 noon.

413FOOTPATHS – TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM MR STILES

Due to a combination of illness and poor weather Mr Stiles has been unable to produce a report. He hopes to have a full report available for the next meeting.

414CEMETERY – INTERMENTS AND MEMORIALS

The Clerk reported on the interment of Mary Fuller.

415TO CONSIDER THE OFFER OF LAND AT BENTFIELD GREEN FOR AN INFORMAL KICK-ABOUT AREA - UPDATE

The Clerk is still awaiting a response from UDC planning with a date for a pre planning discussion.

416TO FURTHER CONSIDER A REQUEST RELATING TO PART OF THE LAND AT BENTFIELD PLAY AREA

The Clerk reported on a meeting with The Battlement Trust who own the land. They were not sympathetic to issues raised by the resident seeking to buy the land and are not interested in selling. The Clerk will notify the resident on the outcome of the meeting.

417TO CONSIDER RENEWAL OF THE LEASE RELATING TO BENTFIELD PLAY AREA

The Clerk reminded councillors that thelease which had run for 21 yearswas due for renewal. It was proposed to increase the rent from £50 per annum to £100. There was a consensus that this was still a long way below commercial land prices and represented very good value for money for the Parish.

As part of a new deal The Battlement Trust have requested that the Parish Council fell three plum trees that are now in a poor state. The Clerk will consult with Ben Smeedon to seek his advice on the most appropriate course of action.

418STANSTED IN BLOOM

Cllr Trundle reported that everything was in place for this year's competition and requested an entry form go in the April Link. She furtherreported that she had not found anybody willing to maintain the neglected area by Cooper’s Alley in Benfield Gardens, but this would be included in the article for the Link.

419BIRCHANGER WOOD

The minutes of the meeting of the Trust held on 19 January had been circulated prior to the meeting. The Chairman read an email from Cllr Wallace- Jarvis in her role as Secretary to the Birchanger Wood Trust.

Meeting closed 9.15 pm