Minutes of a meeting of the Leisure & Cultural Committee held at the Chandler Day Centre, Bagshot Road, Sunninghill on Tuesday 12 June 2012, commencing at 6.30pm.
Members Present: Councillors R Ellison (Chairman), P Deason, B Hilton, S Humphrey, S Jones, L Roberts, J Yong.
In attendance:Elizabeth Yates, Clerk to the Council
4988 TO NOTE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Councillors Christine Lester, Ajay Nehra,Luke Roberts, Allison Sharpe and Michelle Turton.
4989 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
The Chairman asked to receive any Declarations of Interest in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct. None were given.
4990 MINUTES
The Minutes of the previous meeting, held on 24 April, were approved as a correct record and signed as such.
4991 FOOTBALL COACHING PROPOSAL
Richard Lloyd, from Bracknell Rovers, gave a presentation regarding the use of Victory Field for football coaching and training. He informed the committee that he was developing a series of football coaching sessions for children at Victory Field. These were beginning with free coaching sessions on Saturday mornings for eight weeks, aimed at 5 – 12 year olds. Starting in June, 40 children had signed up for these sessions. Dependant on their success, Mr. Lloyd was planning to run a summer holiday course, with an associated charge. It was agreed that the Parish Clerk would contact Mr. Lloyd regarding this so as to arrange a hire basis for the use of Victory Field. The coaching was to take place adjacent to the football pitch. Furthermore, Mr. Lloyd informed the committee that Bracknell Rovers had entered into an arrangement with the Parish Council for the use of this area for training for the Senior Team during the 2012/13 season. The Chairman thanked Mr. Lloyd for attending and welcomed the initiative as a means of increasing the use of Victory Field and providing additional opportunities for children within the Parish. The Clerk went on to add that this initiative complemented the provision of tennis coaching at Victory Field.
4992 GROUNDSMAN’S REPORT, SITES UPDATE AND RoSPA REPORT
The report was discussed. The Clerk was asked to chase up the outstanding RoSPA report. The impact of the weather on the grass cutting schedule was noted as were difficulties with the planting scheme atSouth Ascotand drainage problems at Victory Field.
4993 THE DIAMOND JUBILEE
The Diamond Jubilee Beacon Event was reviewed and considered to be a great success. Many parishioners attended, the press coverage was positive and some of the set up costs had been recuperated through the sale of beer, ice cream and the raffle. The logistics were successful and the Chairman thanked all those who had helped.
The committee considered the possibility of holding an annual summer event at Victory Field, following the success of the Beacon Event and in response to resident’s requests. It was agreed that such an event would be recommended to full Council, based upon the concept of a Mid-Summer’s Party. Starting in the afternoon and going on until dusk, this Party could involve music, a BBQ, food, beer tent, ice cream van and aBouncyCastle. Community groups and local traders would be involved. Councillor Barbara Hilton suggested that next year’s event could co-inside with the Queen’s Coronation on 2 June 2013. Councillor Jeffrey Yong reminded the committee that such an event would need the agreement of the Trustees of Victory Field.
4994 TREE WORKS AT VICTORY FIELD
The first phase of tree works involving dead, dying or dangerous trees and branches was approved, following an external inspection by a tree surgeon, necessitated by winter storm damage.
4995 BLYTHEWOOD AND SECTION 106 FUNDING
Suggestions for a Section 106 application for playground and landscaping improvements were discussed. It was agreed that the application for improvements to play equipment for young children, including two springers, two wooden animal sculptures and ‘mushroom’ seating; as well as the extension of the wood chip path and related landscaping works, be submitted to the Borough for their consideration.
4996 CEMETARY MAINTENANCE
Following the Council meeting held on 15 May (minute 4975), the maintenance of the Parish council’s cemetery was considered and it was agreed that no contract would be entered into with the existing grave diggers until one of the Parish Council’s existing landscaping contractors submitted a tender, which was due within twelve weeks.
4997 THE VICTORY FIELD REFURBISHMENT PROJECT
The Chairman handed out the plans that had been drafted for a replacement Pavilion in 2003. These were discussed in detail and it was agreed that the Clerk would distribute the Plans to all the Parish Councillors for further consideration at the next Council meeting, to be held on 26 June. Once the draft plans, site use and layout had been agreed, the Parish Council would then be in a position to take forward the necessary fund-raising for the project and the related financial and operational processes involved.
4998 OTHER BUSINESS
The Clerk reminded the committee that the Parish Council Allotment Shield was due to be awarded. She was asked to arrange this with Michael Hunter (the former Parish Council Chairman, in whose service the Shield had been named) and the Fuel Allotment Trust for late July/ early August.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.15pm.
——————————————–
Councillor Robert Ellison, Chairman