Minutes of Stow on the Wold Town Council S Parks & Square Committee Meeting Held on Tuesday

MINUTES OF STOW ON THE WOLD TOWN COUNCIL’S PARKS & SQUARE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 19TH JULY 2016 AT THE YOUTH CLUB CENTRE, FOSSEWAY, STOW ON THE WOLD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL54 1DW AT 7.15 PM

PRESENT: Councillors: S Green (Chairman), B Eddolls, S Clarke & Mrs H Sipthorp, Clerk of the Council & 0 Members of the Public

Also in attendance: Advisors: Messrs N Surman, J Baggott, G Parke & D Wiblin. Also Mr & Mrs Magson representing the Church’s Christmas Tree Festival.

Public Participation: None.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllrs V Davies, J Scarsbrook & M Curtis.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA: None.

3. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 19TH MAY 2016 RESOLVED – That the Chairman should sign the Minutes as a true and accurate record of the Meeting. RECORD OF VOTING – All in favour. Motion carried.

4. CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS – None.

5. CLERK’S REPORT AND MATTERS ARISING FROM ABOVE MINUTES Roots of Tree in Park Street – CDC Tree Officer when next in the area will meet with the Clerk and take a look at the offending lime tree. External Light Sockets for Christmas Lights – S Turner Electrical carrying out this work. Mr Turner and Cllr Curtis will visit the businesses on Monday 25th July 2016 to explain what work is being carried out. ROSPA Play Area Inspections – Clerk to look at reports and take any appropriate action. She had also spoken with CGS who were due to replace the bolts on the roundabout at King George’s Field Play Area but felt they are not qualified to carry out this work. Cllr Eddolls to check the state of the roundabout and if deemed unsafe it would be cordoned off whilst the Council find a company that could carry out the repairs. Registration of Common Land – To be actioned by Clerk. CDC Notice Boards in Car Park adjacent to Tesco and at Maugersbury Road – CDC have agreed in principle that the Council could take over the notice boards but further discussions will take place after Officers have returned from annual leave. Salt stored at Former Stow Agricultural Site – 3 tonnes of rock salt have been stored at the Stow Agricultural site for several years. Clerk has arranged to meet the owner on site to ascertain if the salt is still useable. Shrubbery (on Sheep Street Side) – Canopy has been lifted on holly tree. King George’s Playing Field – Clerk & Cllr Eddolls had briefly visited the site and felt that to add a pedestrian gate (which could be accessed by wheelchairs/pushchairs) would not be a straight forward job. Agreed that Clerk would ask Mr Small to take a look and give advice. It was noted that a tent had been pitched on the field. QEII Field – Clerk asked for clarification on exactly what the fence repair entails. Cllr Green said she would do a site visit with the Clerk. Chaplin’s Circus – Clerk to contact the circus to ask them to return to the site to tidy up the entrance area as spoils have been left as a result of them removing the gate to gain access. The reinstatement had also left a gap which a motorbike or similar could gain entry. Also there are large ruts left in the field when the lorries entered the site which need filling in. Council still await a reply from Chaplin’s as to whether they wish to return next year. Clerk is also to obtain estimates for the supply and installation (separate cost) of two double gates. On the latter the Clerk is to ascertain if 1 | P a g e the circus would be prepared to install the double gates as they leave the site should they return next year. Cha Fair – Poll on Facebook as to whether the Fair should return to the town next year had a 100% vote in favour – so far 138 votes. Clerk had also put a piece into the August issue of Stow Times to ask for the community to let the Council have their views whether positive or negative. Bell Inn – Clerk had spoken and written to the Manager to say that they could continue to use the common land in front of the pub for a maximum of 6 tables providing they keep the area mown and tidy. Tree Bench by Porch House – Has been repaired and put back in place. Wraggs Row – Clerk had instructed CGS to tidy the area and and to put in some extra plants.

Clerk read out a letter from a resident living adjacent to King George’s Field asking for the Multi Use Games Area to be relocated away from the houses. Clerk requested to respond saying that no funds available to do this. Bunting in The Square – A working party was organised for Monday 1st August 2016 at 7.00 pm to take down the bunting. The Union Jacks will remain in place for the time being. Clerk to ask other Councillors who are not on this Committee to help if possible.

6. CHRISTMAS 2016 Mrs Magson was present and spoke about the Church’s Christmas Tree Festival which has its grand opening (invitation only) on Wednesday 7th December 2016 and then opens to the public from 8th to 11th December 2016 from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. Council will organise an event on Friday 9th December 2016 commencing at 5.00 pm in The Square. There will be singing of carols around the tree and then the lights in the town will be officially switched on. This will coincide with the closing of the Tree Festival. Live music, mulled wine and mince pies will be served. Clerk to further investigate the possibility of a German Market and an ice rink. Clerk also to check that this date does not clash with other events in neighbouring parishes too.

7. CLERK’S REPORT ON MEETING WITH TESCO Clerk had met with the Manager of Tesco to discuss the landscaping of their car park and approach to the store. He is going to have all the beds cultivated and the plastic covers removed and plant with wild flowers that would bloom throughout the seasons. He had also agreed that the Council can use one of the large banners on the approach road to the store for advertising community events. He also said he wanted to make their notice board in the lobby more community orientated. A discussion had taken place about bringing the Stow Town Map up to date and pinpointing areas of interest and possibly to include some small advertisements for local businesses who could also be pinpointed on the map too. A fee would likely be charged for this. This could then be turned into a promotional leaflet which Tesco said they would be happy to hand out at the Customer Services Desk. The Manager said they were always being asked for help from visitors. Clerk to discuss this possibility with the staff at Visitor Information Centre (VIC). They also talked about whether the Council would approve one of the cardboard recycle skips located at the Maugersbury Road Car Park to be relocated to the Tesco Car Park. Clerk said that this would be located on the Tesco Car Park rather than the adjacent CDC Car Park but was asked to confirm this is the case. He had also offered the help of the maintenance team to refurbish the notice board on site too. Finally, he said that he would like to see more local attractions place their leaflets in the dispenser located by the toilets in store and Clerk again, will speak to the staff at the VIC.

8. DOG FOULING CAMPAIGN IN THE TOWN This was set to run on 7th, 8th & 9th September 2016. Clerk to find out if PCSO Palmer could get involved at some stage as this comes under his remit. Clerk to advertise for volunteers to come forward to help and also to contact local organisations too and try to get the community involved. An advertisement will also be placed in the September issue of Stow Times. Cllr Smalley had also notified the Clerk that dog walkers in Well Lane were picking up but leaving the bag on the ground instead of disposing of via the dog bins.

9. BONFIRE NIGHT (4th NOVEMBER 2016)

2 | P a g e Clerk reported that the toilets and medics had been booked. Though on the latter the Deputy Clerk has contacted St John’s Ambulance to obtain a quote for them to attend which could save money. G Force, who do the firework display, had also been booked and the deposit paid. Clerk also to investigate costs for a pig roast.

10. PLAQUES IN CELEBRATION OF QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE 2012 Agreed that one of the two plaques would be erected on the side of the Cricket Pavilion where the bins are located. The other sign will likely be located at the entrance via the Fosseway but deferred for the time being.

11. STOW MOTOR SHOW Cllr Eddolls said he would like to organise a Motor Show and after discussion it was suggested this should take place in 2018 as it is the Cotswold Festival in 2017. Likely site is King George’s Field.

12. DELISTING OF STOCKS Stocks continue to deteriorate. Clerk to familiarise herself with all documents/reports and this item will be placed on the Agenda for the next Meeting when decisions can be made as to the way forward bearing in mind the restrictions placed on stocks as they are Listed.

13. ANY OTHER BUSINESS AND ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING Clerk reported that she had met with one of the organisers of the Cirencester March Hare Festival which is taking place from end of March to mid September. They have decided to widen the area up to the North Cotswolds. Essentially business/individuals can sponsor a large or small hare and they are placed on the Hare Trail Map. Organisers would like the Council to give their support to the Festival. At the end of the Festival the hares are auctioned off and last year they raised c£75,000 for Festival. This year’s charity is the National Star Centre. Agreed this will go to full Council for comment at their July Meeting.

14. MEETING CLOSED: 8.55 pm.

15. NEXT MEETING: Monday 22nd August 2016 at 7.15 pm

Signed: ______Chairman

Dated: ______

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