Minutes of the Maintenance Committee
held on Monday 23 September 2002 at 7.30pm in the Community Centre
Present: PK Oldham (chair) EH Baker B Jefferson HM Smith LC Twinn
RLE Waters
The clerk
1 Apologies for Absence - R Day
405/02 2 Election of chairman - PKO was elected chairman.
406/02 3 Declaration of Interest - as members of the MCC Management Committee
HMS, LCT and RLEW declared an interest (item 5).
407/02 4 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 19 November 01 were approved and signed
as a true record.
408/02 4 Village Cleaning Duties
RCT Adams' duties were reviewed in conjunction with SCDC's rota. It
was AGREED that his duties should be amended. The clerk would discuss
the new proposals with RCTA and agree new hours.
Action: the clerk
409/02 5 Grass Cutting Contract 2002
Committee were disappointed at the failure of Herald Contract
Services (HCS) to conform to the contract. Areas of concern:
- Grass area between bowls club and Barnabas Court including weed
spraying
- Weed spraying of boundaries of Coles Road recreation ground and
edges of play areas
- Grass area between 83 Coles Road and the recreation ground
- Weed spraying of play areas on Sycamores recreation ground
- War memorial green including weed spraying
- Cemetery (cutting down of cowslips)
- Grass area at junction of Willow Crescent and High Street
- Shrubs overhanging path near 255 The Rowans and 122 The Sycamores
- Raising of crowns of trees to 2.7 metres above cycle paths
The clerk would compose a letter warning HCS that Council expected an
improvement in his performance in 2003 - for discussion at October
Council meeting. He would also remind HCS that he should complete the
number of cuts as per the contract.
Also noted that dead plants under flowering cherry tree near
199 The Rowans should be cleared up and the area grass seeded.
Action: the clerk
Further reviews would be undertaken in Spring and Autumn 2003.
410/02 6 Issues arising from village tour
Trees
AGREED
To ask for quotations from Burleigh Contractors and Town & Country to:
- cut back the row of trees against boundary fence between the
Sycamores recreation ground and houses 45 - 69 (MPC to take on
responsibility not MCC)
- cut back by 2-3 metres trees at base of "Bovis" part of bund -
at The Sycamores.
- cut down the Goat Willow (against a garden fence) at Hawthorn Hedge
open space to allow for more rapid growth of suckers etc.
- remove three (small) trees at Edmund Green next to 363 The Rowans
and prune cherry tree adjacent 279 The Rowans. (As the ownership of
the cherry tree cannot be established Committee would prune it as a
one off).
- cut back the main central "stem" (trunk) of cherry tree near
199 The Rowans at approx 12' high.
Action: the clerk and PKO
New Trees on Bund - some had taken .
AGREED
not to weed spray any more (reduction in contract weed spraying
figure?)
Russian Vine - HCS to be reminded to cut back Russian Vine at
The Rowans - as part of ongoing work as agreed in 2001.
(397/02) Landbeach Road - a general scheme to erect a gate and
bollards together with some hedge planting was agreed. Clerk to find
out access needed by AWA.
AGREED
not to prevent access to area immediately behind bus shelter unless
further incursions by travellers make this necessary as per Policy
agreed in minute 275/02.
Noted that most of the above work would be met from Commuted funds.
Memorial Green Jubilee Oak
AGREED
to remove the middle shrub behind the seats, plant an oak there and
to erect an inscribed stone/concrete plinth.
The clerk to ask Tom Nicholls to remove unsightly concrete posts on
boundary with Post Office.
Cemetery
AGREED
To ask Town & Country to quote to plant three ash trees at the
cemetery and to ask the Charities for a contribution.
Action (for all the above): the clerk
Fen Road - RD & PKO would fill in the gaps between trees on the
verges beyond the railway crossing probably with alder and field
maple.
Action: PKO
411/02 7 Daffodil Planting
Areas for planting - Ely Road (in agreement with Pi), Fen Road beyond
railway, between the bowls club and Barnabas Court (under trees).
AGREED
To recommend purchase of more daffodil bulbs.
A resident had suggested that Council plant bluebells. It was felt
that bluebells "belong" in woods and fields. Daffodils were enjoyed
as the first colours of spring.
The meeting ended at 9.45pm.