WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

 

RECREATION AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

Of a meeting held on Wednesday 1st June 2011 at 8pm

in the Council Chamber Town Hall Welshpool

 

Committee

Cllr E Bleivas, Cllr J Corfield, Cllr G Cross, Cllr A Crowe,  Cllr M Douglass, Cllr H Evans, Cllr A Holloway, Cllr J Meredith, Cllr Dr J Morgan, Cllr P Pritchard, Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.

 

Remit

All matters relating to the Maes y Dre Recreation Grounds, the Scansis Pitch, Brookfield Road open space and play area, Little Henfaes Lane play area, Dol y Felin play area, Tourist Information Service and all other matters related to recreation and leisure in Welshpool

 

Authority

To deal with the above following a recommendation approved by Full Council.   The Committees authority is limited to making recommendations to the Full Council and following Councils approval to implement such decisions.

 

Present were:

Cllr T Squibb (Chair), Cllr John Corfield, Cllr E Bleivas, Cllr A Crowe, Cllr H Evans, Cllr A Holloway, Cllr J Meredith, Cllr Dr J Morgan and Cllr S Squibb.

In attendance

Robert Robinson Town Clerk.

 

1. Apologies for absence.

There were apologies for absence from Cllr M Douglas, and Cllr G Cross.

 

2. Minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record.

 

3.    Election of a chair for the ensuing year

The meeting elected Cllr T Squibb as chair for the ensuing year for the Recreation and Leisure Committee.

 

4.    Election of a vice chair for the ensuing year

The meeting elected Cllr J Corfield as chair for the ensuing year for the Recreation and Leisure Committee.

 

5. Remit of the Committee

The remit of the Committee was confirmed:

 

Meetings

The Committee to meet on the first Wednesday of the month at 8pm in the Assembly Room.

Area of responsibility

Recreation grounds, play areas, The Armoury Recreation Centre, Tourist Information and all Leisure and Recreation related matters.  Christmas Lights, Remembrance events and Mayors Sunday.

Remit

To make recommendations within the area of responsibility to the Full Council and following Council‘s decision to ensure the decisions are enacted.

Authority

The Committees authority is limited to making recommendations to the Full Council and following the Council’s approval to implement such decisions.

 

6.    Declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest as follows:

 

            Welshpool Town Football Club – Cllrs S and T Squibb.

 

7.    Tourist Information Centre

An update was given on the TIC including the figures for the last month.

The Committee is keen to see the sculptures taken forward for both the TIC and the Fountain. Both will be discussed at the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting.

 

8.    Playground at Maes y Dre

The planning application has been submitted and there are no apparent problems with the equipment or layout.  There is only one piece of equipment that needs consent and this is installed last.

The works on the playground commence on 6th June and end on 30th June.

There will be an opening ceremony which is being prepared with the Mayor.

 

9.    Recreation Grounds Review

The agreements to regularise the uses have been prepared and are gradually being sent out and returned.

Welshpool Town Football Club will need a longer term lease for the ‘Tegwyn room’ and the ‘catering building’. These were both built or purchased by the club and the lease would be on a ground rent basis only.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that a new 10 year lease at a peppercorn rent be granted to Welshpool Football Club for the Tegwyn Room and the Catering Unit.

 

10.  Open Spaces

The open spaces (flower beds and area around the TIC) are being transferred and solicitors are instructed.

 

11.  Outer Park

Following the Council decision on 25th May 2011 the lease has been entered into for a further 10 years allowing public access to the site.

 

12.  Country Park

As part of the LDP submission the Town Council identified a site for a country park by the ‘Flash’.  The County Council has not problem with this and the notation in the LDP is likely to reflect this. 

The Committee considered what sort of proposal they would be looking for and this included a new playground, picnic benches and a nature trail.

The Town Clerk is to progress this project.

 

13.    Dol Y Felin Playground

The Town Clerk has just received notification that a grant of £4,500 has been awarded for the replacement swing at Dol Y Felin.

The cost of the works in total is £7,000 less the grant (maybe less if surface is repaired and not replaced as per quote).  Net cost max of £2,500.

Recommendation

The Committee recommends that the new swing be implemented at the playground at a cost of £2,500 net.

 

14.     Welshpool Town Football Club

The Football Club is only fielding one main team in the current year plus the reserves.  The request is for a reduction in fees for the year.

Waterloo Rovers pay the same rate for the pitch and they have a 1st team and a reserve team.  The Football Club would be reverting to the same.

The Committee agreed that their should be no change in the fee rate.

 

15.      Signage at the Tourist Information Centre

The Committee considered that signs with the TIC emblem on it together with disabled parking should be located at the entrance to the car park along the new road.  The Town Clerk is to approach PCC to see what can be done.

 

16.      ROSPA Report

The Rospa reports for Little Henfaes Lane and Dol Y Felin are fine.

The report for Maes Y Dre shows some work needing to be done, however with the new playground going in on 6th June this no longer is an issue.

The Brookfield Road play area needs some urgent work on the posts to a climbing frame; this is to be temporarily repaired until it comes out of use in the late summer.

  

17.     Brookfield Road Football Area

The dips in the ground around the goal are to be looked at and filled as necessary.  The Town Clerk is to ask the Ground Staff to complete the work asap.

 

18.     The Armoury

The advertising campaign at the Armoury has done well.  Progress is being made and the use much more than it has been for many years.

The operator (CV Gym Services) is looking to de-register for VAT.

The lease to the new operator for the Drugs and Alcohol Unit is to be put in place asap.