Minutes of the Play Committee Meeting
held on Wednesday 29 May 2002 at 7.00pm in the Community Centre
Present: M Ellwood (chair) L Henderson CJ Lock A Macpherson HM Smith
D Teeboon RLE Waters
The clerk SJ Daniels
250/02 1 a) Composition of Committee
As there were large areas of overlap between the Play Committee
and ORC there was considerable discussion as to the merits of
combining the two committees for the specific purpose of the
provision and maintenance of play equipment throughout the
village including the two recreation grounds.
Note: ORC would still function in its own right to oversee all
other aspects of recreation facilities on the recreation grounds.
It was AGREED that ORC members should be co-opted on to the Play
Committee with full voting rights.
b) Election of chairman - ME was elected chairman.
2 Apologies for absence - JE Coston C Palmer
251/02 3 Minutes - The minutes of the meeting of 18 February 02 were
approved and signed as a true record.
Skate Park - Club Surfaces had quoted £2130 to re-locate the
cricket nets to the western end of the football pitch thus
leaving an area next to the basketball court for the skate park.
The lottery application for funding had been turned down. Other
applications were still being considered.
It was AGREED in principle to the relocation of the cricket nets.
252/02 4 Play Inspections
Wicksteed - the Wicksteed report was discussed.
New signs needed - Action: Clerk.
RLEW would test the wooden supports throughout for rot and would
discuss necessary works on the recreation grounds play areas with
J Gray
- Action: RLEW.
Rota - The clerk would draw up a new rota for the summer months
- Action: Clerk.
City Services - J Gray had obtained a quotation from City Services
for conducting play inspections - £28 per play area.
It was AGREED to ask City Services to inspect the play areas in
February 2003 and to ask that a member of the Play Committee
accompany the inspector.
If the City Services work proved to be satisfactory the Committee
would continue to use them for inspections rather than Wicksteed.
City Services being local should be able to provide a more
efficient repair service.
253/02 5 Safety Surfaces
It was MCC priority to improve the surface of the toddlers' area
at Coles Road - Action: RLEW to discuss with J Gray.
MCC were in favour of topping up Sycamores area with bark.
It was AGREED that the Committee should have a phased programme
over a period of 7/8 years to replace all bark with a rubberised
surface.
Reason: After the initial expense there would be little on-going
costs (such as topping up bark every two years) and more
importantly it would reduce the dangers of broken glass in the bark.
It was noted that rubber surfaces should be put down only where
there was new equipment eg toddlers' play area Coles Road. The
equipment at The Rowans for example was installed in 1988 and would
probably need to be replaced sooner rather than later.
Action: RLEW and ME to measure The Rowans play area
- the clerk then to obtain a quote for topping up with bark.
254/02 6 Rowans Play Area Fence
(156/02) This was being discussed again in response to a letter from a
resident.
RLEW felt that the Committee should consider fencing all toddlers'
play areas in the village. It was suggested that Committee should
draw up a plan to fence all the areas over a period of time.
Action: ME and RLEW would survey all play areas to assess what was needed
- both fencing and rubberised surfaces.
In the light of the above Committee would meet in November to
agree its budget requirements for 2003/04.
The meeting ended at 8.40pm.