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To the Members of the Parks, Gardens, Allotments & Open Spaces Committee

 

  • Councillor Sue Hendrie
  • Councillor Steve Holder (Chairman for 2021-22)
  • Councillor Katharine Keats-Rohan
  • Councillor Mike Kidley
  • Councillor Rosslyn Lester (Vice-Chairman for 2021-22)
  • Councillor Christian Sinkinson
  • Councillor Deborah Whelan
  • The Mayor, Councillor Marcus Harris (ex-officio)

Officers:

  • Scott Wells, Acting Parks Foreman
  • Tracey Collins, Senior Local Government Officer

 

20 July 2022

Dear Councillors

You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of the Parks, Gardens, Allotments & Open Spaces Committee on Monday 25 July 2022 at 7.00 pm at Wallingford Town Hall for the transaction of business as set out on the attached agenda.

Apologies for the meeting should be sent to meetings@wallingfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Michelle Taylor

Town Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer

AGENDA

 

1          ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN FOR 2022-23

To elect a Chairman for the 2022-23 Municipal Year

  • RESOLUTION REQUIRED
2          ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR 2022-23

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the 2022-23 Municipal Year

  • RESOLUTION REQUIRED
3          MEETING PROTOCOL

The Chairman to advise those present of the protocol to be followed for this meeting

4          APOLOGIES

To receive apologies for absence

5          DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

A councillor with voting rights who has a disclosable pecuniary interest or another interest as set out in our Council’s Standing Orders Code of Conduct (Item 13) in a matter being considered at a meeting is subject to statutory limitations or restrictions under code of conduct and his right to participate and vote on the matter.  Guidelines are available at the meeting and all councillors have received a copy prior to the meeting.

6          MINUTES

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Gardens, Allotments & Open Spaces Committee held on 24 January 2022 and authorise the Chairman to sign them

  • DOCUMENT ATTACHED
  • RESOLUTION REQUIRED
7          ACTIONS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

The Chairman to run through the list of items to check for completion or receive an update

  • DOCUMENT ATTACHED
8          PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

To hear from members of the public on any matter on the agenda

We welcome members of the public at our meetings.  A total of 15 minutes has been set aside for this.  The maximum length for an individual contribution is 10 minutes.

See also agenda item 18c below which is a reference from the Tourism & Economic Development Committee on 27 June 2022 concerning public representation.

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting should email the Meetings Officer at meetings@wallingfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

9          TERMS OF REFERENCE

Co-option of Non-Councillors

To consider and agree our policy.  The Committee’s terms of reference allow for the co-option of two non-councillors (in addition to two officers, including the Parks Foreman) but these additional members will not have voting rights.

  • RESOLUTION REQUIRED
10        POLICIES

To consider and approve the following policies

  • DOCUMENTS TO FOLLOW
  • RESOLUTIONS REQUIRED

a.         Tree planting

b.         Memorial benches

c.         Weed control

11         CLIMATE ACTION

a.         ‘Low mow’ areas: Castle Gardens with mown path, Bull Croft under trees, Kinecroft edges [see also agenda item 20c]

Councillors Holder to update

(i)               Wild About Wallingford: potential volunteer role

(ii)             Extending areas for 2023

(iii)           Relevant statistics and benefits

b.         Queen’s Canopy & Treescape

Wendy Tobitt and Councillor Keats-Rohan to update on Jubilee Tree in Castle Garden

Also to consider whether a tree should be planted by The Mayor

  • DOCUMENT ATTACHED
12        BIANNUAL WALKAROUND

Councillor Holder to update the Committee

  • DOCUMENT ATTACHED
13        KINECROFT
  • RESOLUTIONS REQUIRED

a.            Coach & Horses Pub, Horse Chestnut Tree

To determine next steps in the light of the Full Council’s discussion on 18 July 2022 (Minute 153/22).

b.            Ownership of strip of land on west side

Councillor Hendrie to update the Committee

  • DOCUMENT TO FOLLOW

c.             Triangle of land

Councillor Holder to update the Committee

d.            Giant Hog Weed and Japanese Knotweed

Acting Parks Foreman to update

14        BULL CROFT
  • RESOLUTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED

a.         General update

To receive an update from Councillor Holder on behalf of the Working Party

b.         Rec Rooms

Councillor Holder to update the Committee

c.           Earthworks/Ramparts

Councillors Holder to update the Committee

15        CASTLE GARDENS
  • RESOLUTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED

a.         Castle Ruins

Councillor Keats-Rohan to update the Committee on this project

b.         Reinstatement of wall

To report the completion of this project

c.         Memorial benches

Councillor Holder to update the Committee on the placement of two benches

d.            Band stand

To consider the installation of a band stand with arts monies

e.            Water feature

To consider the replacement of the water feature and agree next steps

f.              Steps & lion castle wall

Acting Parks Foreman to update

16        ALLOTMENTS
  • RESOLUTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED

a.            General update, including allotments waiting list

To receive an update from the Senior Officer

b.            Highcroft (Site B) allotments

To consider future management measures, including timing (February/March 2023)

c.             Winterbrook Meadows (Site E) allotments

To consider future adoption and management measures, including timing (2027/2028)

d.            Hogweed

Acting Parks Foreman to update

e.            Filming

Senior Officer to update

f.              Trophy

Senior Officer to update

g.             Annual meeting

Senior Officer to update

17        RIVERSIDE
  • RESOLUTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED

a.         General

To receive an update from Councillor Whelan on matters relevant to this Committee (the Working Party also reports to the Tourism and Economic Development Committee)

b.         Winter moorings

To determine our approach

c.         Anti-social behaviour

To receive an update and consider what further action may be necessary

d.         Refurbishment of benches

Acting Parks Foreman to update

18        OTHER OPEN SPACES
  • RESOLUTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED

a.         Britain in in Bloom

To consider steps that need to be taken for submission in 2023

  • DOCUMENT TO FOLLOW

b.         Weed control around the Town Hall

  • To consider and determine our approach, as per Item 10 (c) above

c.         Wallingford in Business: reference from Tourism & Economic Development Committee

To respond to the concerns of Wallingford in Business about the ‘scruffiness’ of the town centre, including poor weed control outside shops.  This is a reference from the Tourism & Economic Development Committee whose meeting on 27 June 2022 was attended by Elaine Hornsby of Wallingford in Business.

Councillor Holder to update

d.         St Leonard’s roundabout

To receive an update on solar lighting

e.         Noticeboard and bench by LIDL

To receive an update from Councillor Lester

f.          Market Place sockets

To determine necessary action, as per Action Log

g.         Rest Garden opposite Waitrose

To consider the space for potential public art works in collaboration with the Arts Working Party

h.         New Road green space

To consider whether this space should be offered to the Arts Working Party for possible new artwork, a bench installed and a potential sensory garden

i.         Ball and Colegrave summer 2023

To receive an update

j.          Biannual tree health survey

To receive an update

k.         Christmas tree and lights

To receive an update

19        EVENTS

To note the following events being held on our open spaces over the coming months

Kinecroft

o   26  April to 27 October 2022 – 966 (Wallingford) Air Cadets – Sports Evenings

o   2, 3 & 4 September 2022 – Bunkfest

o   17 September 2022 – AV Events – Outdoor Cinema

o   19 to 25 September 2022 – Michaelmas Fair

o   5 November 2022 – 1155 & Illusion Fireworks – Bonfire and Fireworks Display

Bull Croft

o   9 June to 24 September 2022 – Body Training Studio for Outdoor PT

o   1 September 2021 to 22 July 2022 – Wallingford and Crowmarsh Youth Football training/matches

o   School summer holidays (date to be agreed) – Litter Bug Trail

Castle Gardens

o   7 August 2022 – possible Band Concert

o   14 or 21 August 2022 – possible Band Concert

Market Place

o   September 2022 – Big Green Week

20        PARKS TEAM
  • RESOLUTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED

a.         General update

To receive an update from the Acting Parks Foreman on the recent activity of the team, in particular a trial of winter hanging baskets, plants for the winter and the riverside moorings

b.          Staffing structure and job titles

Councillor Holder to update the Committee

c.           Vehicles and equipment  [see also agenda item 11]

To receive an update, including on the purchase, delivery and use of the Mini Flail Mower Collector for the ‘low mow’ areas (Full Council Minute 158/22 – July 2022)

d.            Upcoming seasonal work schedules

Councillor Holder and Acting Parks Foreman to update the Committee

e.            Bulb planting in in autumn 2022

Councillor Holder and Acting Parks Foreman to update the Committee on plans

f.              Poles and lantern

To receive an update

21        FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

To identify items for future meetings

The following items have already been identified:

o   Allotment policy

o   Committee meetings – frequency and timing

 

The next scheduled meeting of the Parks, Gardens, Allotments & Open Spaces Committee will be held on Monday 21 November 2022

Distribution: Town Council noticeboards and website

Non-confidential supporting documents may be made available upon request.

We welcome members of the public at our meetings.  Any member of the public wishing to speak at the meeting should contact the Meetings Officer in advance by emailing meetings@wallingfordtowncouncil.gov.uk