Minutes of the meeting of the ENVIRONMENT AND OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE
Monday 5 March at 11.30am at Launceston Town Hall
Present: Cllrs Gordon (Deputy Mayor), Mrs Geach, Harris, Keighley, Sandercock,. In attendance: Town Clerk (Rita Skinner), Property Manager (Steve Fry).
The committee made site visits from 9.30am.

1203/19 Apologies for Absence
Cllr Tremain sent his apologies for both parts of the meeting, Cllr Harris sent his apologies for the site visits.

1203/20 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Sandercock declared a prejudicial interest in the Kensey allotments.

1203/21 Minutes of the last meeting
It was resolved to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2011 as a true record.

1203/22 Kensey, Dutson and Grammers Park allotments
Visits were made to all three allotment plots. All three were in good order and a number of allotments had recently been re-allocated. It was decided to allow the tenant of Dutson 5 another 3 months to bring her allotment up to standard. Anyone who had not paid would forfeit their allotment. Cllr Sandercock continued to express concern about greater public access to the Kensey site.

1203/23 Play areas and open spaces
Visits were made to Grammers Park and King’s Field, both of which looked well cared for. The picnic bench at King’s Field had been graffitied, Mr Fry would arrange cleaning. The bench needed a hardwood slat to repair the back, Cllr Gordon said he had a suitable piece of wood. The two Springies at Grammers Park would be placed at the lower end of the play area, by the slide.

1203/24 Cornwall County Playing Fields Play Survey 2010
The committee received the report, which Launceston Town Council had contributed to.

1203/25 Launceston cemetery and Dockacre closed cemetery
The cemetery looked tidy, as did Dockacre closed cemetery. The Deputy Town Clerk had written a report which would be taken to the meeting of the Burial Authority on 20 March.

1203/26 Stourscombe Vale
Cornwall Council had written on 20 February to offer the transfer of s106 funds for the ongoing maintenance of grass areas, hedges and footpaths at Stourscombe. The committee had visited the site earlier, and after discussion it was agreed that the Council would continue the negotiations but not on the terms offered.

1203/27 Grass Cutting Service Level Agreement
A draft agreement had been received from Cornwall Council. The Town Clerk and Property Manager, together with the Chairman of the Environment Committee, would provide a costing for approval by the Council.

The new agreements provided an opportunity to review the Council’s working arrangements, and to see where greater efficiencies could be achieved. It was likely that another ride-on mower would be needed.

1203/28 Urgent Items
There were no urgent items to note.

1203/29 Date of the next meeting
The next meeting would be held on Monday 11 June 2012 at 9.30am. The committee would make site visits at 9.30am and the meeting would follow immediately afterwards. The meeting would be held at the Town Hall.

The meeting closed at 1220pm.