MINUTES FOR PLAYING FIELD COMMITTEE APRIL 25
TH
2024

PRESENT.
G.Woodcock (chair), J.Miller, N.Roberts, M.Hockley,P.Dent, S.Rothwell,
R.Elmer, L.Matthews.
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
None.
MINUTES.
To approve minutes of 18
th
January as a correct record. Approved by
J.Miller, seconded M.Hockley
MATTERS ARISING
N.Roberts asked about progress on solar panels. M.Hockley to supply
Chris Tuppen with 2023 meter readings for review. S.Rothwell gave details
of a Solar course being held at Copdock May 1
st
. M,Hockley will try to
attend.

PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE
Groundsman’s contract. The contract recommendation 3.5% increase to
Extend the existing contract. In line with Burials committee N.Roberts said
recommendations from CIPD suggest 5%. L.Matthews suggested review of
contract with the groundsman. It was agreed all equipment supplied by
parish. There will be a review in November with M.Hall.
G.Woodcock recommended 5% increase, M.Hockley seconded. Action
G.W.
Recent Playground maintenance inspection summary showed a low to
medium risk. G.Woodcock to forward to committee members.
Wicksteed will be coming to replace rotted timber in climbing frame, free
of charge. This is fortuitous as quoted £900 from elsewhere. Date TBC.

Long Standing Gandish road ground issue.
The Verti draining starting next week is a short term plan for the whole field,
which will allow the field to serve for the next 18 months. The invoice for a
smaller draining exercise earlier this year is outstanding . the committee
agreed to pay the £600 (inc vat). The cost of the new remedial action had
previously been agreed by the SPF and the PC, with £10k from reserves to
cover the impending invoice.
The whole Verti drain system will be required again in 2026. This all
improves the compacted ground and drainage. G.Woodcock explained this
is a short to medium term plan. M.Hockley explained the maintenance of
the pitches (like a Verti drain system) needs to be carried out every 2 years,
and is the norm on all football grounds. This includes sanding, seeding and
composting.
There was further discussion about a long-term plan.
The committee invited Councillor John Price, as an experienced civil
engineer to explain how and why a long term plan should be
considered. The playing field is waterlogged for 3 months of the
season and likely to be an annual event! J.Price shared a coloured
flow chart of a proposed project. Tenders of geographical and
topographical surveys had been obtained. Criteria of geotechnical
course of action included. J.Price gave the committee a thorough
understanding of the geology of the land, including the bore hole,
pond and ditches that would affect drainage. He offered that the
difficulties would require an underground pump. J.Price examined
the economics of a pumping station with a storage unit to be used in
summer dry periods. The problem of ‘running sand’ could be a
problem to be considered. Potential drainage would take the drain
west off the field, under Gandish road, and into the Riber by the
donkey track.
S.Rothwell asked about the variety of the different quotes. N.Roberts
asked one specific difference between 2 quotes from the same
company. J.Price explained that the more expensive quote was the
most thorough and enable us to make the correct decisions.
It was proposed that we agreed in principle to the 2 contractors
recommended by J.Price, and put the proposal to the full council for

agreement. This action was proposed by J.Miller and seconded by
M.Hockley. Action. G.Woodcock to PC.
SPORTS COUNCIL NEWS.
ON receipt of the two CIL applications from East Bergholt (tennis &
cricket), Babergh sent 2 officers, Debby Osak and Catherine M. to
visit the sites. They met with councillors Woodcock, and Hockley,
plus members of the respective clubs involved. They were receptive
to the cricket plans, but were concerned at the tennis plan to use
containers. They suggested a brick build would be preferred but East
Bergholt felt the bespoke units were preferred for a ‘tennis hub’. The
parish council made the CIL applications last October and they are
not considered new ones. N.Roberts asked what the current status
is? The CILs are now with Babergh and could be resolved by
September. The PC/tennis club must submit a Planning Application
as soon as possible. The Cricket CIL is for 60K and the tennis CIL
100K. The Parish Council has agreed to support both and expects to
pay up to 20% of the costs. If the Planning Application can be
sanctioned in time, a response from the Babergh CIL team could be
possible by the end of September.
BROOM KNOLL COMMUNITY
There should be a delivery of the picnic games table next week to be sited
in the East end playing field. This is funded by the Babergh local
community fund.
URGENT COMMUNICATIONS
P.Dent asked if the PC could fund £2k for new shirts for the Bowls team.
It was agreed we could not fund this currently.

NEXT MEETING THURSDAY 18
TH
JULY 7PM LAMBE SCHOOL.