Community Services March 2020

22. Community Services - Tuesday 10 March 2020

Present:

Councillor Baptiste Velan (Chairman)

Councillor Liz Clews

Councillor Dennis Dannatt

Councillor Tim Davies

Councillor Chris Lambie

Councillor Keith Panter – ex officio

Councillor James Plastow

Councillor James Ward

 

 

In Attendance:                      

 

Tom Clay                                Town Clerk

Rachel Allbones                     Deputy Clerk / RFO

Sean Alcock                            Operations Manager

 

 

Also Present:                         Councillor Paul Key

Gordon Tulley, Respect Funeral Directors

1 Member of the public

 

 

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

None received.

 

 

2. TO RECEIVE MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011 AND TO RECEIVE ANY APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION

 

Councillor Davies declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 9 as he knows the applicants from Eudaimonia and Bearded Fisherman.

 

Councillor Lambie declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 9 as he knows the applicant from Eudaimonia.

 

Councillor Plastow declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 9 as he knows the applicants from Eudaimonia and Bearded Fisherman and is a resident near GAPA.

 

 

3. MINUTES OF THE PREVOUS MEETING (Paper A)

 

Minutes of the meeting of Community Services Committee held on Tuesday 11 February 2020

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Community Services Committee held on Tuesday 11 February 2020 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

 

Note: Councillors Dannatt, Plastow and Ward abstained from voting on the above resolution.

4. PRESENTATION FROM MR GORDON TULLEY SETTING OUT A PROPOSAL TO UTILISE SPACE IN THE GENERAL CEMETERY CHAPEL FOR MORTUARY & CHAPEL OF REST SERVICES

 

Mr Gordon Tully set out that there was a need for a Chapel of Rest within the Gainsborough Town Council area. Such facilities existed elsewhere, but not in the town and this obviously disadvantaged those without access to a car.

 

He further set out that his company, Respect Funeral Directors, had developed a proposal for members to consider in confidence that would see the General Cemetery Chapel converted into a Chapel of Rest.

 

Some work would be required, but it would not resolve in any major changes and there would be an understanding that the building would be restored and the end of any agreement to use it as a Chapel of Rest. Additional security would be installed and due to the nature of the work site security in general would likely improve.

 

Mr Tulley further set out that the proposal could generate an income stream for the Town Council. He had spoken to other users of the Chapel who had indicated that the proposal had merit and would not interfere with their activities.

 

RESOLVED that the Town Clerk seek advice on the matter as such a request had not been considered before. Following the advice being received that the matter be formally considered by the Town Council in the proper manner. It was NOTED that the proposal should be treated in a confidential manner.

 

RESOLVED under Standing Order 10.a.vi to alter the order of business and take item 14 next.

 

 

14. WHIITTONS GARDEN TOILETS

 

Councillor Velan asked the Committee to consider finding out information about the future of the closed Whitton’s gardens toilets.

 

The Town Clerk advised he had contacted WLDC and they had no plans for the building but would consider leasing the building out.

 

The need for a ‘Changing Places’ facility within the town was discussed.

 

RESOLVED that Councillor Clews would liaise with other Councillors on WLDC with a view to submitting a motion for WLDC to look into renovating the Whittons Garden toilet facility into a ‘Changing Places’ facility along with a general use toilet attached.

 

 

5. WAR MEMORIAL (Standing Item)

 

Committee NOTED that that the application had been submitted to WLDC and that further updates would be given at a future date.

 

 

6. LEVELLINGS IMPROVEMENTS (Standing Item) (Paper B)

 

RESOLVED to defer the item until the next meeting as the document relating to the consult were not made available to members before the meeting.

 

 

7. ARMED FORCES / COMMUNITY DAY (Standing Item)

Committee NOTED the update on the progress of the event.

 

 

8. GAINSBOROUGH IN BLOOM (Paper F)

 

The lack of Grounds Maintenance Operatives was discussed and th impact that stretching resources further would have.

 

RESOLVED that the Town Council at this moment in time are unable to commit supporting the irrigation of the Gainsborough in Bloom planters due to limited staff resources.

 

 

9. COMMUNITY GRANTS (Paper E)

 

Members considered applications received from 01 December 2019 to 28 February 2020.

 

1. Eudaimonia

Grant application to create a pocket park in Gainsborough Town Centre.

The total project cost is £11,500, the request to GTC is for a grant of £1,000.

 

RESOLVED to support the project with a £500 grant.

 

Note: Councillors Davies and Plastow abstained from voting on the above resolution.

 

1. Bearded Fishermen

Grant application from a mental health awareness and suicide prevention group to set up a wellness based internet radio/video podcast station.

The total project cost is £2,170, the request to GTC is for a grant of £1,000.

 

RESOLVED to support the project with a £500 grant.

 

Note: Councillors Clews, Davies and Plastow abstained from voting on the above resolution.

 

 

• Gainsborough Adventure Playground Ltd

Grant application from a children’s adventure playground to fund a unique, natural, sensory outdoor play area.

The total project cost is £875.45, the request to GTC is for a grant of £875.45.

 

A Member stated they had supported the project with their CIF from WLDC.

 

RESOLVED to write to GAPA to clarify where the funding for the project was still needed.

 

 

1. Gainsborough Old Hall

Grant application from a medieval manor house (tourist attraction) to support to Town Council’s new look armed forces & community day, hosting a number of re-enactors within the grounds and inside the Old Hall.

The total project cost is £1,825, the request to GTC is for a grant of £1,000.

 

RESOLVED to support the project with a £1,000 grant.

 

Note: Councillor Davies abstained from voting on the above resolution.

 

 

10. GENERAL CEMETERY MEMORIALS (Paper F)

 

RESOLVED under Standing Order 10.a.xi to exclude the press and public from the meeting in respect of confidential or other information which is prejudicial to the public interest.

 

Members received the report from Memsafe of the failed memorials following testing of 797 memorials in the old part of the General Cemetery.

 

Members were advised that a number of memorials had been laid down by members of staff, but further a contractor would need to undertake the remaining work.

 

Members considered a quotation received from Memsafe to lay down 94 failed memorials.

 

Members were advised that £4,224 of approved budget was remaining for memorial testing.

 

RESOLVED to delegate to the Operations Manager the function of appointing a contractor within budget once a second quotation had been received.

 

 

11. CEMETERY EXTENSION (Paper G)

 

1. Report from the Town Clerk following a meeting with WLDC

 

RESOLVED to NOTE the update from the Clerk following a meeting with WLDC. Members requested that the Clerk pursue WLDC with regards to the covenant of the land and sale to homeowners.

 

3. Draft schedules for a planning submission for the new cemetery; stages 2 and 3. Worst case scenario of costs as further surveys and studies are very much dependent on preliminary investigations; hence the ‘if required’ elements.

 

RESOLVED to NOTE stages 2 and 3 for development of the cemetery extension and worse case costs. Operations Manager to contact Cemetery Development Services to produce a more manageable plan and to remove any items not required.

 

RESOLVED to revoke Standing Order 10.a.xi and allow press and public to re-join the meeting.

 

 

12. AISBY WALK SKATE PARK COMMUNITY EVENT (Paper H)

 

Members considered a proposal from Councillor Lambie to support an event lead by King Ramps Ltd to hold an event with workshops and demonstrations and a competition across multi-wheeled sports disciplines for local youths at Aisby Walk Skate Park.

 

RESOLVED to make a budget virement from the unspent Community Grants budget at year end of £500 to support the event. Councillor Lambie will move this forward as a community event and source additional funding for it.

 

 

13. SANDSFIELD LANE NORTH PLAY AREA (Paper I)

 

Members considered a complaint from a user of the play area about the condition of it and the lack of equipment. A request was made for new equipment to be installed, such as, a climbing frame, swings and slides.

 

RESOLVED to write back advising the Council is exploring all avenues, but defer the item for discussion at the next meeting as some WLDC councillors have also been involved in dealing with the complaint and it was felt they might have further information.

 

The meeting closed at 8.06pm