24 January 2017 – Minutes

THAME TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the Community, Leisure & Recreation Committee held on 24 January 2017 at 6.30pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.

Present: Cllrs N Champken-Woods (Chairman), M Deacock, N Dixon (Deputy Mayor), M Dyer, L Emery (Town Mayor), P Lambert, M Stiles (Deputy Chairman) and T Wyse
Officers:
G Hunt, Town Clerk
J Howells, Asset Manager
L Fuller, Community Project Support Officer
A Oughton, Committee Services Officer

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence received from Cllrs Butler (Family), Cowell (Business) and Jones (Holiday).

2. Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

There were no declarations of interest.

3. Public Participation and Public Questions

There were no applications to address the Committee.
There were no questions put to the Committee.

4. Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

5. Budget Summary

Members received the budget summary up to 31 December 2016. A question was raised regarding the amount of money John Hampden and St Joseph’s Primary Schools are charged for the hire of Elms Park and Southern Road Recreation Ground respectively and whether a reduction in the charge could be considered when setting the 2018-19 budget.

6. Reports from Representatives on External Organisations

a) Cuttle Brook Management Committee – Report noted.

b) Thame Carnival Committee – Report noted.

c) Thame Football Partnership – Report noted.

d) Twinning Association – Report noted.

e) Thame Good Neighbour Scheme – Report noted.

f) Cricket Club – update received under item 11 of the agenda.

g) Chinnor RFC – report noted.

h) Music in the Park – Cllr Stiles reported that organisation of this year’s event was running to schedule and all the bands had been confirmed.

i) Red Kite Children’s Centre – Cllr Stiles reported that confirmation had been received from the Charities Commission that, as from tomorrow, the Red Kite Family Centre would become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). From 1 February 2017 the Red Kite Family Centre would be the Co-op’s charity of the year enabling staff to take time from work to volunteer with the Family Centre and all money raised from the sale of plastic carrier bags during the year would be donated to the charity.

j) Sinaia Friendship Association – Report noted.

k) Thame Museum Trust – Report noted.

l) Thame Remembers – Report noted.

m) Towersey Festival – Cllr Lambert reported that correspondence had been received from Joe Heap, Director of the Towersey Festival and a meeting would be arranged in the next few weeks. Feedback from the meeting and plans for this year’s Festival would be reported to Members at the next Committee meeting.

7. Christmas Event

Members noted the report and expressed their thanks to everyone who had taken part and help make the event a success.

8. Music in the Park – 2010-14 Surplus Funds

It was noted that further to the agreement at the Community, Leisure and Recreation Committee on 25 October 2016, and the further representations reported at the Council meeting on 15 November 2016, the Town Clerk has had further discussions with various parties. Relevant further clarity would now be agreed as the monies are transferred, once charitable status is achieved.

9. Open Spaces Working Group / Elms Park Improvements

It was noted that planning permission had been granted for the agreed improvement scheme to Elms Park. A large part of the funding for the scheme was dependent on s106 contributions from the development of the adjacent site at The Elms and the project was now on hold until there was further clarity on available funding.

The Open Spaces Working Group would now focus its attention on more general litter, dog fouling and bye law issues with an initial meeting to commence that work arranged in the near future.

10. Priest End Allotments to Burial Space

Further to the report the Asset Manager advised Members that the Town Council was awaiting confirmation of the date for the archaeological investigation works to commence on site, the cost of which was £6,225.00. The Design Brief / Written Scheme of Investigation was open ended and the Town Clerk drew Members attention to the potential risk of incurring additional costs dependent on what was found.

11. Cricket Club Clubhouse Redevelopment

The report was noted. The funding for the Cricket Club Clubhouse redevelopment was progressing well with an application about to be submitted for LEADER grant funding for up to £35,000. The LEADER application was dependent on confirmation of a long term lease being in place.

12. Shared Access Approach

The Town Clerk had provided updates to all Councillors throughout discussions with Shared Access and further advice on potential negotiating positions. Discussion had taken place with other Town Councils to help establish further facts and the Town Clerk invited Councillors to submit any further comments they may have to him in the next couple of days before negotiations re-opened with Shared Access, in line with the discussions held.

13. Maintenance Report

Members expressed their thanks to the Maintenance team for their continued good work. It was noted that the Christmas lights, especially in and around the Town Hall, had been particularly effective and generated a great deal of positive comments.

The Asset Manager drew attention to the vandalism that had occurred at Southern Road Recreation Ground at the end of November and December.
The meeting concluded at 6.56pm

Signed ………………………….
Chairman, 4 April 2017