DRAFT MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT
Carillon Cottage on Wednesday1 Feb 2012 at 18:00.

Present: Councillors Berger, Kent, Konrad (chair), Martel, Martin and Meredith-Hardy
Also in attendance: Two members of the public

Agenda

1.            To receive apologies and reason for absence
None.
2.            To receive declarations of interests on items on the agenda
None.
3.            To approve the minutes of the meeting held 5th October, 2011
Approved.
4.            To determine matters arising from the previous minutes
4.1          Update relating to invitation to the Mount to become involved with environmental improvements in the village
An initial response suggests that the Mount’s time is fully committed with in-house vocational training and educational activities, although they will contact further with a final response shortly.
4.2          To note progress relating to review of the current maintenance regime
See agenda item No. 9.
4.3          To note progress relating to the placing of domestic bins at the entrance to the churchyard
Cllr.Konrad to meet with Revd. J. James within the next three weeks to seek a resolution.
4.4          To note progress relating to replacement of rubbish bins
Discussion centered around which bins were in the most urgent need of repair/replacement and what style of bin should be used where replacements were required. Clerk instructed to provide a short list of heritage type bins for consideration by Committee.
4.5          To note WDC response to clerk’s request to obtain replacement bins from the manufacturers
Councillors were disappointed to learn that District were unable to supply details of the manufacturers and had been using plastic or metal bins for some years.
4.6          To discuss the need for seating at the bus stop by the fire station
Discussion concluded that seating would be beneficial at the bus stop in the lay-by opposite the fire station. Clerk instructed to confirm ownership of the paved area and seek quotes for heritage style seats for consideration by committee.
4.7          To note progress relating to the repairs of the bench at Gloucester Place
Resolved that the Gloucester Place bench should be repaired and approved associated costs of up to £175 + VAT.
4.8          To note progress relating to the drawing up of a maintenance schedule for the duck pond and surrounding area
Members learnt that it had not been possible to include Matt Pitts of the High Weald AONB but that a specification for maintenance work at the Jardin d’Aubers/pond area had been drawn up and would be circulated to members for comment/amendment. Members were asked to respond to Cllr. Meredith-Hardy with comments and names of potential contractors, from whom quotes could be obtained, by the 8th of February, 2012.
4.9          To note response to request of Val Brinton regarding work required to repair the village sign
Cllr. Konrad commented that an amount of mis-information had resulted in bad feeling from a number of residents regarding the replacement of the village sign and stated that, according to Val Brinton, it would be very difficult to restore the sign especially as it had already been restored before. Members were reassured by Cllr. Konrad that a suitable site would be found for the sign and one such site being considered was inside the Commemoration Hall. Cllr. Konrad reminded members that Full Council had resolved to retire the current sign and replace it with one to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee and that it would be designed by a local artist and made by a local blacksmith.
4.10        To note felling of dangerous tree at the fire station
Noted.
5.            Public Forum – time limit 15 minutes
Two members of the public took the opportunity to bring to members attention the need for some work at the Round Oak allotments site to reduce the amount of theft and vandalism suffered in the past and to prevent entry by deer from the recreation ground. See also agenda item No. 16.
6.            To discuss requirements for the 2012 summer hanging baskets
Members agreed that Europlants continued to provide good value for money and resolved that the clerk be instructed to offer them continuance of their contract for a further year.
7.            To note South East Water works at land in front of the fire station
Members learnt that South East Water have postponed the proposed pipe laying work until 2013/14.
8.            To note progress of Burslem’s work at the War Memorial and consider work for the next phase of improvements
Completion of phase one re-pointing noted. Clerk instructed to obtain the ‘missing names’ from Heather Woodward and a new quotation from Burslems to complete work on the existing and new names. 
9.            To discuss quote received for 2012 grass cutting and consider offer from Discovery Landscaping
Members discussed the number of cuttings around the village, agreeing to increase by two the number of cuts at Balaclava Lane/Osmers Hill. Resolved to proceed with grass cutting quote received from Ashdown Garden Services and decline the offer from Discovery Landscaping.
10.          To discuss the protection of trees and hedgerows
Cllr. Konrad stated that Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) and tree work items had been added as a regular agenda item for the planning committee. Members learnt from Cllr. Martin that District had responsibility for TPOs but that the setting up of a tree watch programme might be explored. Cllr. Meredith-Hardy is to obtain details of the High Weald AONB catalogue of woodlands and hedgerows in the area. Cllr. Konrad and Ken Turner (tree warden) will be organising a seminar, scheduled for the autumn, for residents regarding hedgerow/tree maintenance and management.
11.          To discuss ‘Queens Jubilee’ celebrations
Discussion included the replacement village sign and the summer trough planting colour scheme being in the Queen’s colours. Members agreed that Cllr. Meredith-Hardy would contact Ken Turner to review a repair or replacement schedule for the existing troughs, some of which are beginning to look ‘tired’, and to discuss the details of an RHS grant for wildflower meadow seeds for a part of the Jardin d’Aubers. Ken is also, together with Ian Noel, compiling a tree planting list for Cllr. Konrad who, herself, is to meet with Revd. James to discuss ’Jubilee’ activities. The clerk has been instructed to explore the possibility of bunting for the village.
12.          To discuss how this committee should work with the planning committee on the issue of Tree Protection Orders (TPO) and the Neighbourhood Plan
See agenda item 10 regarding TPOs. Cllr. Konrad advised members that discussion of the Neighbourhood Plan would be included as an agenda item for next week’s full council meeting.
13.          To discuss and consider the need for a new village sign, and how it might be commissioned, to the East of the village
Members agreed to review the possibility of a second village sign, to the east of the village, when the results of the High Street Safety survey were available.
14.          To consider additions to the 2012-13 Village Maintenance work list
Members were asked to advise the clerk of any additions to the Village maintenance list.
15.          Budget
15.1        To review spend to date
Spend to date noted.
16.          To consider request from Round Oak Allotment Association
Discussion concluded that the costs of coppicing, as requested, the height and length of fencing that would be required, the position of a gate and the siting of the fence in relation to the hedge would need to be determined before a decision could be made. Members learnt that a quote for the coppicing was already in hand and that the different restrictions applicable to the boundary of the Voelcker field and Allotment field would be examined by the clerk. In view of the allotment members offer to help with the work it was hoped that a proposal could be put to the next meeting of the full council.
17.          Urgent issues at the discretion of the Chairman for noting or inclusion on future agenda
The clerk was instructed to increase the number of times the Washwell Lane dog bin be emptied.