Minutes of a meeting of the Town Projects Committee held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Thursday 16 th February 2010

PRESENT: Chairman - Cllr R W A Miller

Members - Cllrs Mrs A J Boyle, Mrs M Cox, B Edwards, P Hames, R Johnson, C Langton, R H Osborne

together with Mr Martin Moore of the Allotment Association

1. Minutes

The Minutes of the Town Projects Committee held on 14 th January 2010 were approved and signed.

(Vote: Unanimous)

2. Burrough Farm Fields

(a) The Chairman reported that Cllr Johnson and himself had met the representative of the Football Club and that a new lease would be necessary from May of this year. The Club currently pay rent of £120 per annum. It was agreed to ascertain what the Club currently lease and to further consider the new arrangements.

(b) Allotments – Mr Moore, for the Allotment Association, advised that the area required had been marked out and that this allowed for the general public to walk around the site. The site was based on 20 full sized plots but that the actual plot size being offered on the site was half full size with some prospective allotment holders requesting quarter plots. It was thought that the site would cater for the current waiting list. Mr Moore further advised that it would be necessary to spray the area with herbicide and then to plough the area in order to prepare it for the allotment holders. Concern was expressed on the use of herbicide and the view expressed that the existing growth should be ploughed in. Following a discussion, it was RESOLVED that the initial spray would be permitted in order to prepare the land but that the agreement between the Association and the Town Council would include a clause to the effect that no herbicides would be permitted to be used on the site.

(Vote: 6 For, 2 against)

The Town Clerk advised that he had a copy of the Bideford Town Council allotment agreement and it was agreed that this would be circulated for Members to consider. There was then some discussion on vehicular access which currently would be through the Swimming pool car park and there was some discussion about car parking on the Football field site using environmentally friendly reinforcement for the soil. It was also agreed that the existing trees within the area to be used by the allotments would be re-located to a suitable position in another part of the field. Mr Moore advised that temporary fencing would be needed whilst the spraying and ploughing took place and that once this had been done a permanent chain link fence would need to be erected on the boundaries of the allotments. It was thought that the cost of providing the temporary fencing, which would be erected by the allotment holders, the ploughing and the spraying, would be less than £1,000 and it was agreed to proceed as soon as possible.

3. Grants for Solar Panels for Community Purpose

Cllr Hames sought clarification on how the monies set aside in the budget for Sustainability purposes was to be spent. It was agreed that this should be done by way of a specific project and not by seeking to award grants to third parties.

4. Any other matters

Hanging baskets – It was agreed to obtain samples of hanging baskets for consideration.