ECCLESHALL PARISH COUNCIL – ENHANCEMENTS AND PRESERVATION COMMITTEE – Wednesday, April 3^rd 2024

A meeting of the Enhancements and Preservation Committee was held on Wednesday, 3^rd April 2024 at Eccleshall Community Centre, after the Planning Committee meeting, at 8.10pm.

  Present were:-

Councillor S. Perren (Chair)                 Councillor G. Dale

Councillor D. Hill                                    Councillor C. Wilkins

Councillor R. Langford                          Councillor D. Hall

Councillor P. Jones

Mrs S. J. Worden (Clerk)

No members of the public

Observers: Cllr. A. Reid.

 1).    Apologies:-

Apologies were received from Cllrs. Ryan-Bloor and Taylor.

2).    Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7^th February 2024:-

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

3).   Asset inspections:-

Members were provided the 2024 asset inspection sheets for completion. Condition reports are to be submitted to the Clerk at the earliest opportunity to allow for required remedial works during fine weather. There were some unallocated assets and these were assigned as follows:

Benches:

• Top of Kerry Lane – Cllr. Wilkins
• Bottom of Kerry Lane, Church St. 1 and High Street opposite church – Cllr. Perren
• Churchfield Road – Cllr. Hill
• Circular Blue Bench – Cllr. Taylor
• Washpits – Cllr. Dale

4).   Refurbished BT boxes:-

• To receive an update on any responses to repurposing of the BT box on the Washpits

Cllr. Hill will contact Bishops Lonsdale PTA to see if there is any interest in displaying children’s artwork in the box and will report back.

• Defibrillator education session:

A session to demonstrate how to use a defibrillator and key first aid information has been arranged for Wednesday 10^th April at 7pm, Broughton Parish Rooms. At present there are at least twelve attendees. Cllr. Langford will attend to take photos and provide a short summary for the summer newsletter.

5).   Croxton Play area and outdoor gym:

• Review of the latest inspection report and consider any actions arising:

Members considered the interim inspection report conducted by HAGS. The main issue was the log walk. Action has been taken to smooth the posts as required. There is a log that is very slightly loose – it was noted that the log is only moving fractionally and is safe to use at present. It was resolved to recommend approval of a quote for £120 plus VAT for remedial works.

• Repainting of the perimeter woodwork and bin

Quotes have been received from two contractors to include the rub down of the entire perimeter fence and bin casing to remove mould and debris, and to undertake 2 coats of preservative. A third had not provided a quote within the time period.

It was resolved to recommend approval of the quote of £906.65 to sand down and repaint the perimeter woodwork, and an additional cost of £85 to replace two rotting posts.

6).   Update on overgrown hedge – Pershall Lane

The Clerk advised that the agent for the property is in the process of obtaining quotes for cutting the hedge back.  It was noted that due to the length of time it has taken to get to this point, it is now likely the cut would have to be undertaken after the nesting season.

7).   Bloom Watering Contract 2024:

Members considered the quotation received for watering the planters and baskets in the town centre. Stafford Borough Council had not submitted a quote, however, based on last year’s price, members considered it would not have been competitive. It was therefore resolved to recommend approval of the quote for £7860 by Perry’s of Eccleshall to undertake the watering contract for 2024/25, with a discretionary option to extend the watering contract by a further two weeks if required.

8).   Repair to the coach and horses railings by the Little George:

The Clerk advised the railings had been damaged as a result of a lorry reversing into them on Weds March 13^th. There were eye witnesses, but the registration of the vehicle is not known, so proving the liability is difficult. Two quotations have been received, but one is only an estimate of the base level of work as the contractor does not wish to commit to how much of the railings will need replacement until the work commences. It was resolved to recommend submission of a claim via the councils insurers for repair of the railings, and to recommend approval of the quote from Paul Cartwright as the preferred contractor.

9).   Beech Road Play area:

• Update on progress of leasing of Beech Road play area:

The lease documentation is still being progressed by the Borough Council.

• Beech Road working group

The group membership has been finalised and includes a number of community members who are well positioned to represent user groups and residents local to the site. The first meeting of the group is planned for either the 11^th or the 15^th April, depending on the availability of the majority of the group.

10).  Lengthsman Scheme – feedback on recent activity and collate any new work requests.

• It was resolved to recommend continuation of the contract with G-TEC grounds maintenance. The work undertaken has been of excellent quality and the committee are happy to proceed.
• Recent activity and collate any new work requests. The team have been asked to dig off the tarmac pathway between Badgers Croft and footpath 17.

11). Correspondence:

• There was no public correspondence to receive.
• Concerns were raised about the deterioration of the newly installed footpath 13 surface following the remedial works by Staffordshire County Council. The clerk will forward photos to the officers and ask for urgent works to address the drainage problem before the surface erodes further.

12).  Items for next meeting:-

Any items for consideration to be sent to the Clerk.

13).  Date of Next Meeting:-  June 5^th 2024, following the planning meeting.

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