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

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

 

1 February 2023

Dear Councillors

You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of the Parks, Gardens, Allotments & Open Spaces Committee on Monday, 6 February 2023 at 7.00 pm in 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     MEETING PROTOCOL

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

2     APOLOGIES

To receive apologies for absence

3     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 their 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.

4     MINUTES

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Parks, Gardens, Allotments & Open Spaces Committee held on 21 November 2022 and authorise the Chairman to sign them

  • DOCUMENT ATTACHED
  • RESOLUTION REQUIRED
5     ACTIONS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

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

  • DOCUMENT TO FOLLOW
6     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 and is at the discretion of the Chairman.

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

The organisers of Bunkfest and Michaelmas Fair will be attending this meeting and may speak under this item or under item .  We have received some public concerns about these events, including noise, emissions, footfall and parking.

7     EVENTS ON OPEN SPACES

To consider and receive updates on the following:

(a)   Annual Wallingford 1155 litter pick

(b)   Coronation activities

(c)    Band concerts

(d)   Carnival 2023

(e)   Michaelmas Fair

(f)    Bunkfest

(g)   Parking at events

Representatives of the Michaelmas Fair and Bunkfest will be attending the meeting and may speak under Public Participation.

8     HEAD OF PARKS & ESTATES

To welcome Mr Duncan Kent, the newly-appointed Head of Parks and Estates, to his first meeting of the Committee

9     GENERAL MATTERS

To receive a general report by the Parks and Estates Manager, including the six-monthly walkaround

  • DOCUMENTS ATTACHED
10     CLIMATE ACTION

To consider and receive updates on the following:

(a)   Update on climate change and ecological pledge

(b)   Low mow areas

(c)    Queen’s Green Canopy and tree scape

(d)   Plant species study by Wild About Wallingford

(e)   Wildflower area for Rec Rooms

11     POLICIES

To approve amendment to two policies: tree/hedges and herbicide

  • DOCUMENTS ATTACHED
  • RECOMMENDATION REQUIRED
12     KINECROFT

To consider and receive an update on the Horse chestnut tree, Coach & Horses

13     BULL CROFT

To consider and receive updates on the following:

(a)   Lighting strategy, including focus group, as part of a wider consideration of lighting in parks requested by the Full Council

(b)   Planning update

(c)    Volunteer and landscape management plan update

14     CASTLE GARDENS

To consider and receive updates on the following:

(a)   Castle ruins – opening, plus a decision on railings or hedging

(b)   Placement of Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tree – to determine a day

(c)    Open and closing times     DOCUMENT ATTACHED/RECOMMENDATION REQUIRED

(d)   Tree map and overview     COPIES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE MEETING

(e)   Memorial bench      DOCUMENT ATTACHED

15     ALLOTMENTS

To consider and receive updates on the following:

(a)   Dog policy and combination lock gate    RECOMMENDATION REQUIRED

(b)   New posts, filling and hedging

(c)    Waiting list

(d)   Update on the new allotments, footpath and track (Highcroft)

(e)   Update from National Allotment Society     COPIES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE MEETING

16     RIVERSIDE

To consider a report from the Riverside Working Party, including the sink hole.  The Head of Parks and Estates will also report on the sink hole

  • DOCUMENT ATTACHED
 17     REST GARDEN

To consider further the installation to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.  The Full Council have lent their support to this and the use of public arts funding but wish to see the designs.

  • DOCUMENTS ATTACHED
  • RECOMMENDATION REQUIRED
18     OTHER OPEN SPACES

(a)   Telephone boxes

(b)     Tree survey review    COPIES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE MEETING

(c)     Tree works update

19     NEW ROAD SENSORY GARDEN

To consider and receive an update from the Parks and Estates Manager

20     BRITAIN IN BLOOM

To receive an update from the Parks and Estates Manager and to ask whether any Committee members would like to be involved in developing the documentation

21     FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

To identify items for future meetings

The following items have already been identified:

  • Working Party review
  • Castle Motte
  • Electric vehicles to replace diesel ones
  • Policy for allotments

 

The quorum for this meeting is 4 Members

The next scheduled meeting of the Parks, Gardens, Allotments & Open Spaces Committee will be held on Monday, 5 June 2023

Distribution: Town Hall noticeboard 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