PRESENT:            

Councillors: E Burnip, P Harrison, K Henderson, D Morris, T Schmeising-Barnes

Officers: S Saunders (Town Clerk), G Shaw (Treasurer), K Terry (Parks & Cemetery Superintendent)

1.      Appointment of Chairman

It was RESOLVED that Councillor Henderson be appointed as Chairman of the Parks Committee for the current municipal year.
 
2.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
 
Apologies for absence were received from I Schmeising-Barnes.  T Schmeising-Barnes was appointed as a substitute.
 
3.      MINUTES
 
It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23^rd January 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
 
4.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 
There were no declarations of interest.
 
5.      Report from the Parks and Cemetery Superintendent
 
The Parks & Cemetery Superintendent took Members through his report and a robust discussion was held.  Members agreed that the preferred option for new machinery was for the Council to embrace the “green” option at a cost of £3,138.69 plus VAT. 
 
The following was also agreed:
 
The Town Clerk & Chairman would look at options for a battery mower.
A tow bar be fitted to the Council van at a cost of £540 plus VAT together with a beacon/warning light be fitted at a cost of £237.60.  It was noted that by having a tow bar fitted the Council could purchase a second-hand trailer.
Winter baskets would not be ordered.
The flowerbed outside Stourport Community Centre would not be replanted for the Winter but reseeded.  However, a new formal flowerbed would be introduced by the bandstand in the War Memorial Park.
Additional hedgerow planting would be ordered for Lickhill Road, Stourport as it was felt there were too many gaps on the roadside.
Work would be carried out on Lloyds Meadow to remove some of the larger self-trees and plan for a mixed perennial wildflower bed for the future.
 
6.             Verbal update from the Town Clerk on the condition of the Band Stand at the War Memorial Park
 
The Town Clerk advised Members that the some of the welds on the railings on the bandstand in the War Memorial Park had broken and had become loose.  The bandstand had been fenced off but for health and safety reasons, the work was required to be done as soon as possible.  Quotations had been received.  Following a discussion, it was agreed, subject to confirmation by Finance Committee, to go ahead with the quotation for £3,960 plus VAT which was a bolted option. 
 
The Town Clerk also advised she was looking to see if any funding was available for a new roof to be added to the bandstand.
 
7.             verbal report from the Town Clerk regarding Fishing Rights on Lloyds Meadow
 
The Town Clerk advised that the Council had been contacted by a local angling club asking if the Council would rent out the fishing rights on Lloyds Meadow.  Following a discussion, it was agreed that the Town Clerk would meet with the club and the Angling Trust and report back.
 
8.             RIVERSIDE PADDLING POOL
 
The Town Clerk advised that the existing dosing unit at the paddling pool would need to be replaced at the end of the Summer opening.  Members were also advised that a quotation was awaited for the resurfacing of the pool floor as this was wearing away.  It was agreed that this would be presented to the budget meetings of the Parks and Finance Committees in January 2024
 
9.             ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

The meeting closed at 12.22 pm.