Paulton Parish Council
Minutes of the meeting of the Parks Committee held on
25 April 2012 starting at 7.00pm in the Meeting Room at the Village Hall
Attended by Mr T Bridgeman, Mr M Colliver (Chair), Mr G Dix, Mrs S Long, Mrs A Lyons,
Mr B Newton, Mr H Warren and Mr L Wild.
Also in attendance was the council’s groundsman Paul Davison.
Apologies for absence were received from Mrs M Barrett, Mrs L Madden and Mrs M Wild (refer to
attendance register for detail of apologies).
Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
Minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2011
The minutes of the above meeting were approved by the members as a true record and signed by
the Chair.
624.
Grave digging
612
The groundsman advised members on matters arising, with regard to health and safety and
the burial process, from the Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme he had attended. He
successfully completed the course in July 2011.
He spoke about the issues that will need to be addressed and the equipment required if the
council decides to manage ‘in-house’ the digging of graves in the cemetery. Members
agreed, considering the costs that would be incurred in purchasing the equipment
required in relation to the low number of burials in the cemetery, not to take-on the digging
of graves but to continue with the existing system with the funeral directors organising the
task.
It was noted that health and safety issues for the cemetery, including the Safety
Management Plan, will be addressed as part of the review of the council’s procedures by
Ellis Whittam.
The groundsman advised members that he has been trained in the correct procedures to
follow when testing the stability of memorials and in future he will be able to carry out this
task in the cemetery. The Clerk will query if it is possible to borrow a memorial testing
gadget from Bath & North East Somerset Council.
625.
Memorials
It was noted that since the last meeting applications for memorials have been approved for
the late Elizabeth Catherine Andrews, Glen Pritchard, Brian Geoffrey Headlong,
Mona Valerie Loaring, Thelma Lillian Hardman, Beryl Warren, Rita Kilburn, Joanne Patricia
Wilcox and Helen Georgius Camp. Additional inscriptions have been approved for Joan
Brickell, Eileen Emma Davis, Albert Toogood, Rex James Newton, Daisy Irene Stevens and
Olive May Lewis and a memorial tablet for Jane Maggs.
626.
Cemetery Lodge
616
The groundsman advised that he will finish decorating the gutters at the Lodge when the
weather improves. With regard to the windows Mr Bridgeman agreed to advise on the works
that are required.
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627.
Memorial Park - former basketball area
618
Members agreed that the landscaping of the former basketball area in the park i.e. remove
the tarmac and grass the site should be carried out in the autumn.
628.
Purnell Sports Netball
607
Clerk read email received from Alison McLaclan, Purnell Sports Netball, explaining that the
netball club is looking for a new venue to play their home matches on Saturdays. The park
is the most obvious and perfect choice but the surface of the tennis/netball court is not good
enough. There would be approximately 10 home games per season plus any cup matches
and the court would be hired for 2 hours for each match. It is envisaged that as the club
progresses there will be two teams which will increase the hire need.
The Chair advised that the surface of the court is beginning to wear out in places and it will
need resurfacing before it starts to break-up. The Clerk suggested to members that part of
the s106 funds held for the construction of formal play facilities could be used for this
purpose. It was agreed that the Clerk should obtain a quotation from Springfield Road
Surfacing for the resurfacing of the court.
629.
Tree planting
Clerk read email received from Mark Cassidy explaining that his son attends Paulton
Scouts and the group would like to donate and plant a tree in the Memorial Park to
commemorate the Jubilee. The Clerk advised members that Mr Cassidy is an Arboricultural
Officer for Bath & North East Somerset Council and carries out the tree inspections for the
authority in Paulton.
The Clerk had responded asking for advice on the species of tree he would like to plant and
where. Mr Cassidy has advised that the council should be thinking about re-stocking to
allow for a succession of trees to replace the existing as many of the central path side trees
will not last 10 years. He would also suggest having larger trees around the edges,
particularly near Park Road, and smaller trees near the paths/neighbouring properties. He
has a Betula jacquemontii (flaky barked birch) that is attractive and small that could be
planted (with a mesh guard).
Mr Cassidy suggested that a “tree donations wanted” advert could be placed in The Paulton
Letter with a view to local business helping to fund some tree planting next winter and the
scouts could help with the planting.
Mr Wild said that Rev Guy Edwards has advised that a parishioner has some trees in pots
that she would like planted in the parish. It was agreed that the Clerk should make
arrangements for the groundsman to collect the trees and she will liaise with Mr Cassidy
about the planting, if they are an appropriate species.
630.
Toilet – Memorial Park
The Clerk reported that Mr Humphries has been working on the design of the building and
he will report to the next meeting. Information is being obtained from the Equalities Officer,
Bath & North East Somerset Council, about the requirements for the access and fittings for
the building.
631.
John Lawson’s Circus 606
Clerk read letter received from John Lawson stating that the planned visit of the circus to
Paulton in June has been cancelled due to increasing fuel costs. They will try and arrange a
visit for a future tour.
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632.
Expenditure budget for the year 2012/13
The Clerk circulated a breakdown of the actual expenditure on grounds maintenance, the
recreation areas and the cemetery in 2011/12 and the estimated expenditure for 2012/13. As
previously agreed by the council, funds that were allocated for expenditure on specific works
in 2011/12 and not spent have been carried forward for expenditure in 2012/13/. The
committee agreed that the sum allocated for new machinery should be increased to £8,500 to
cover the cost of the new Kioti Mechron truck and a new trailer. The revised budget will be
presented at the council meeting on 8 May 2012 for discussion and approval.
The Chair advised that he is liaising with the groundsman on the model of trailer to purchase.
Members authorised expenditure on the purchase of a new trailer up to £1,500
633.
Health & Safety
The Chair advised that there are occasionally problems with motorists wanting access
through the cemetery when there are vehicles parked, of necessity, in the driveway i.e. when
gravedigging is in progress. He suggested that a removable bollard should be installed in
the drive, near the track leading to the allotments, to prevent vehicles being regularly driven
through the cemetery. This agreed by the members.
The Chair advised that he will be repairing the kick boards in the tennis court that have been
vandalised.
Members agreed that the kerbings etc that have been removed from graves to the bottom of
the cemetery, near the allotments, should be placed in the grass bank. This will improve the
access to the allotments and also the appearance of the area.
The meeting ended at 8.30pm
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