ECCLESHALL PARISH COUNCIL – ENHANCEMENTS AND PRESERVATION COMMITTEE – Wednesday, August 17th 2022 – DRAFT

A meeting of the Enhancements and Preservation Committee was held on Wednesday, 17^th Aug 2022 at Eccleshall Community Centre, at 8.20pm.

  Present were:-  

Councillor L. Dale (Chair)                   Councillor C. Wilkins

Councillor G. Dale                             Councillor P. Jones

Councillor D. Hill                               Councillor S. Perren

Councillor R. Langford                       Councillor J. Jones

Councillor R. Taylor

Mrs S. J. Worden (Clerk)

1).    Apologies:-

No apologies were received.

2).    Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday June 8^th 2022:-

The minutes, which had previously been noted by the Council, were agreed and signed.

Thanks were given to Councillors Perren and G. Dale for recently helping residents at Overton Manor to ensure repairs to the play area were undertaken promptly. new signage was also installed to advise contact details of the relevant management company for future issues.

3).   To consider any recommended remedial works arising from the assets inspections for 2022/23:-

The Clerk requested that outstanding inspections were carried out by councillors and submitted at the earliest opportunity so that any required remedial works could be completed before the autumn.

4).   To consider locations for the memorial bench that used to be situated in front of the Star Café:-

The Star Café has new owners and Cllr. Hill will ask if they wish to site the bench in its original location. Cllr. L. Dale will ask residents near to the Queen Elizabeth playing field for their feedback on siting the bench in this location, should this not be an option.

5).   Parish Owned BT phone boxes at Croxton, Fair Oak and the Washpit:

• It was resolved to recommend approval of the proposal to refurbish the Croxton BT box for use as a book swap and information point, with a budget of up to £150.
• To consider any alternative contractors to paint the Croxton and Fair Oak boxes. The currently appointed contractor is unable to complete the painting for personal reasons. Cllr. Langford has some potential contractors and will ask them to quote. Members were asked to forward details of any other suitable contractors to the Clerk.
• To consider plans for use of the BT box at the Washpits. The refurbishment of the phone box is due to be completed at the end of August, and no painting will be required. There was no long term proposal for the phone box considered at present, but the council may be approached by the Ecclian Society with a proposal for over the Christmas period.

6).   To consider any progress and alternative options regarding the Ecclian/Parish tidying project, including consideration of lengthsman schemes implemented by other councils.

The Clerk provided an example of a lengthsman scheme within another Council, whereby a contractor is retained to undertake works as laid out in a tender document that provides a clear specification of tasks, within a pre-approved budget. It was resolved to recommend that the committee and Clerk work on a proposal to full council that includes a work specification to suit the requirements of Eccleshall Parish and an associated budget for its consideration.

7).   Update on pavement clearance activities within the parish;

Work on the Stafford Road to Blurtons Lane and Newport Road to Wootton Lane is still scheduled for

autumn/winter 2022,  when capacity is available.  Part of the delay is due to the withdrawal of the original appointed contractor. It was noted that litter picking along those routes is not possible until the paths are widened to allow safe access.

8).   Update on public toilets – locks and cleaning.

       A deep clean of the toilets was scheduled for the 12^th August.  New locks have been fitted on the roller shutters and sets of keys provided to the Council to trial overnight shutting of the toilets in order to reduce opportunities for vandalism.

9).  To consider undertaking maintenance to strim the wall on top of Stafford St. wall and approve any costs received.

A cost to trim the vegetation has been requested from the grounds maintenance contractors but is not yet available. It was resolved to recommend that the tidying of this area be added to the tender specification for 2023/24, to be undertaken 3 times during the growing season.

10).  To consider further exploration into availability of banking hubs in Eccleshall.

It was resolved to recommend that if any opportunities arise for Eccleshall to host a banking hub that the Clerk can explore this and submit an initial enquiry for consideration. Cllr. L. Dale will forward recent newspaper articles to the Clerk to review current progress.

11).  Elford Heath pool

• To consider the correspondence received from Staffs Wildlife Trust regarding permission to undertake a DNA survey for crested newts and the possibility of involvement in a project to create an additional small pond to encourage habitation by crested newts. Permission has been granted for the survey to be undertaken and the committee were interested in the proposal for a pond to encourage newts. The Clerk will feedback to the wildlife officer and request a site visit to progress the idea.
• To receive the feedback from the British Dragonfly Society conservation officer and consider concerns about current water levels and suggestion regarding mowing. The committee received the report with interest. It was felt that as the majority of the pool circumference was untouched the small area to the front should continue to be mowed as it provides access to the seating areas. The clerk shared the concerns about water levels with Staffs Wildlife Trust who advised the present levels were not a danger to the pond inhabitants. It was noted that dredging works to the pond were only completed in 2019/20 and no further works are planned at present, as this would disturb the ecosystem which is now recovering well.

12). Correspondence:-

No correspondence had been received.

13).  Items for next meeting

Any items for consideration to be sent to the Clerk.

Thanks were given to the Perry’s team for the excellent job undertaken with the watering of the Bloom displays.

14).  Date of Next Meeting:-  October 5^th, 2022, following the planning meeting.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.50pm.