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MINUTES OF THE HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD ON 24TH MAY 2011
Present: Cllr Boulton Cllr Winney Cllr Harwood Cllr Hinton
Apologies: Cllr M Jones Cllr Mumford
H01 To elect a Chair of the Highways committee
Cllr Harwood proposed Cllr Boulton as Chair of highways, Cllr Winney seconded. All in Favour.
H02 Declarations of Interest: None declared
H03 To confirm the Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 22nd March 2011
The minutes of the meeting held on 22nd March 2011 were signed as a true and accurate record of the proceedings.
H04 Review of Matters Arising from previous minutes:
• Ramp at Broadboards bridge: There has been no progress to date.
• Market Place bus shelter roof: Fairford Roof Tiles has offered to provide the tiles free of charge and Mr J Nicholls has offered to fit them also free of charge. This should be done in the next few weeks.
• Metal mobility gate: Public Rights of Way has agreed to fit a mobility gate near Snake Lane, The final position needs to be agreed on site. Radar keys allow disabled access.
• Path to Dilly’s Bridge: Public Rights of Way has agreed to surface this path, but there has been no progress to date. ACTION: The Clerk to chase Mike Barton for a start date.
• Welcome to Fairford Beds: Fairford Gardening Club withdrew their offer to tidy up the Welcome to Fairford beds. Coln House School has agreed to do the work in exchange for two flag poles.
• Bollards around Green at Coronation St/Milton Street junction: County Highways was not in favour of permanently fixing the concrete bollards as this would increase the possibility of damage to vehicles if they hit one.
H05 To receive income and expenditure for Highways committee
There had been little expenditure to date. The figure for grass cutting of the verges and Walnut Tree Field needs to be split to the separate categories.
CHURCHYARD/BURIAL GROUND
H06 To review actions following discussion with Rev Atkinson regarding the risk assessment
• Roles & Responsibilities: The PCC had intended to discuss Roles and Responsibilities at their may meeting, but this was cancelled. The next meeting will be on 8th June.
• Headstones: All the headstones that were laid flat during the risk assessment have now been re-erected with the exception of the Anne Rose memorial. Rev Atkinson has asked a Conservation builder to quote for the repair. Unfortunately the headstone has been further damaged. The possibility of asking an independent assessor to look at the memorial was discussed. ACTION: The Clerk to gain a cost estimate for a specialist to look at the stone.
• Liability of Headstones: According to the Legal Advisory Commission of the General Synod, the primary responsibility for the safety of a monument in a Closed Churchyard rests with the owner of the monument. If the owner defaults, a secondary responsibility is imposed on the body having the duty to maintain the closed churchyard. ie in this case: Fairford Town Council. Clarification is needed on whether any family of Anne Rose, still exist.
• Catholic Church: At the Catholic Church, the responsibility for the headstones lies with the family. If no family can be found, the Church body has authorisation to lay unsafe headstones down.
• Letter: A letter of apology has been sent to Rev Atkinson concerning the above.
• Church Wall: The wall is being repaired at the moment. This work cannot be claimed on insurance.
H07 Review of Burial Ground Regulations
There were no changes required.
HIGHWAYS
H08 To agree a response to the GCC Bus Network Review
The following concerns were raised:
• Connecting buses is a good idea but links must be guaranteed and clear publicity on how routes can be put together.
• A service covering Horcott is necessary
• Better co-ordination of bus times needs to be carried out
• Who is to drive the ‘Flexible Service’, it would be a lot of work to expect volunteer drivers to carry out.
• The Kempsford to Cirencester Service could possibly include a pick up from Horcott
• Clarification on the current 75 & 76 service is needed.
H09 To review recent pre trial parking survey (High Street and Market Place) and agree dates and procedures for trial surveys to take place
A brief summary of the pre-trial survey was circulated. The information required and how to present it, needs to be agreed at the next meeting.
It was agreed that further surveys would be carried out during the weeks commencing 6th June, 4th July, 8th August, 5th September and 10th October. ACTION: The Clerk to circulate times of next survey for Councillors to sign up for survey times.
The second Public Consultation will be included in the October Newsletter.
H10 To discuss the way forward with improving the surface of the Town Car Park
The resurfacing of the Town Car Park has been put on the ‘wish list’ for planning gain, in the event of any large developments taking place in Fairford.
The options for resurfacing are to be discussed at the next meeting to allow for feedback from Cllr Mumford.
H11 To decide whether to ask GCC to review the current parking restrictions along Milton Street
Cllr Hinton reported that the double yellow lines on the south side of Milton Street were put in place to allow safe entry and exit from Waterloo Lane. The road is also very narrow from Waterloo Lane to the Town Bridge and changes to allow more parking would make this a further problem. It was agreed that there was not a need to review the parking restrictions along Milton Street.
H12 To retrospectively approve cost to replace 5 flower tubs at £28 per tub
It was RESOLVED to approve the cost of £140 for 5 flower tubs.
H13 To approve quote from Coln House School for £270 to plant up flower tubs in Market Place (provisional date to carry out work 8th June)
It was RESOLVED to approve the quote of £270 for Coln House School to plant up the flower tubs in the Market Place. ACTION: Cllr Winney to check on numbers of plants in each tub to gain a better idea of costs involved.
MAINTENANCE
H14 To agree the way forward following the Illman Bros pulling out of Churchyard grass cutting and footpath maintenance contract
The option of purchasing a Town Council ride on mower was discussed. There is likely to be significant financial saving in the long term. There is a second hand mower available and it was agreed that the committee should meet to view the mower and assess whether it would be suitable. ACTION: Cllr Winney to contact Mike Parker to arrange a viewing of the mower.
It was RESOLVED to continue to appoint Beds and Baskets to cut the Churchyard grass until the Town Council is in a position to take over. Cost per cut is £166.47. FTC would need to give Beds and Baskets one month notice.
It was RESOLVED to appoint Gordon Lawrence to carry out footpath maintenance for 2011 at a cost of £15 per hour. There a number of footpaths that now need attention.
ACTION: The Clerk to confirm appointments for Beds and Baskets and Gordon Lawrence.
H15 To consider purchasing a small gritting machine
It was agreed that the Town Council would not purchase a gritting machine due to practicalities of management and it would be difficult to cover all of Fairford.
H16 Items the Chair considers urgent:
• The co-ordination of work on the multi-use path needs to be discussed at the next meeting. A group site visit would be beneficial.
• The drain along Park Street, opposite the Cricket Club needs to be reported as it has sunk and is a hazard. ACTION: item to be reported to Highways.
• FTC is waiting for permission from County Highways to re-install the seat outside the Hospital
• Quarry Alley has become overgrown with nettles and Albert will tidy this up in the near future. FTC is only responsible for part of this land, some belongs to the neighbouring property.
• There is concern about the amount of rubbish that is likely to be generated during the Beer Festival in the Walnut Tree Field. FTC should not be responsible for clearing this up. ACTION: The Clerk to contact the organiser to ask that they take responsibility for rubbish over the Festival weekend.
• Cllr Hing has requested that the dropped kerb opposite the library footpath is looked at, as it is not in line with the new path, making a tight turn for wheelchair/scooters. The dropped kerb opposite the footpath link between Courtbrook and Moor Lane is blocked by a railing. ACTION: items to be reported to Highways.
• Cllr Hinton asked about progress with the many signs along Horcott Road. The Clerk has spoken to CDC and the signs on the football club are on private property so no action can be taken. The enforcement officer is going to carry out a site visit regarding the Horcott Industrial Estate as this is a Planning issue.
H17 Date of next meeting – Tuesday 28th June 2011
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