Playing
Fields
Committee
Meeting
Agenda
Thursday 17
April 2025, 7.00pm
at The Lambe
School,
Ga
sto
n
Str
eet
,
Ea
st
Be
rgh
olt
OPEN PUBLIC SESSION.
1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Full attendance
2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS-
None
3. MINUTES –
Proposed JP Second BE, Unanimously
4. MATTERS ARISING/UPDATES –
Matters to be dealt with in the meeting
5. SPORTS COUNCIL
Updates from the last meeting. Dennis McGrath resigned after 7 years as
chairman of the Sports Council.
John Hambrook, currently part of East Bergholt cricket club committee,
unanimously invited
to accept the invitation to be chair and is in place now. He will be coming to
meet us.
John would like to work on bringing together with all organisations on the
Sports
Council.
Two leading voices of tennis club also resigned from the Sports Council
.Paul Cansdale & Mark Anderson were part of the initial Tennis
improvement project.
The anti-social behaviour incident was discussed and the ground was
repaired. Those involved were known to the police and we need to be
aware but may be
involved with serious crime incidents elsewhere.
The issue of security was discussed about ladies who return form late night
tennis around the darkness in corner of car park. A suggestion that a PIR
security light at
the corner of the pavilion. GW asked if he could ask Parish Council could
offer finaical support. JP has asked if Sports Council could provide this
money.
GW will seek a quote. Action GW
There was a discussion about funding. NR assumed that the upgrade of the
kitchen was a capital project money which was spent on consumables;
some of the items
seemed unnecessary (wine schooners, dish clothes, cork screw,
saucepans £50 each etc). How clear were these items in the budget when
the individual items would
be definitely? MH suggested that it is difficult to itemise each point. JP
noted the difference between capital budget and consumables. JM noted
that all capital items
need to be on the asset register.
JM said a point for clarity: that no committee can spend money unless it
has been agreed by PC and followed all procedures
There followed another discussion at looking at ways to provide extra
parking for all the users of the sports facilities.
NR suggested a sensible solution to include all stakeholders and have real
collaboration between all user groups. JP suggested a workshop. JM added
that a workshop could go ahead even before the next meeting, including all
members of
the SC and possible residents from Gandish road.
Action by Next SC meeting ?
6. PAVILLION UPDATE-
The state of the blinds was poor and was discussed. It was too costly to
replace. So currently it was agreed that this would be left .
7. LATEST SPORTS CLUB PROJECTS-
Bowls club
The bowls club hut has a concrete base
GW proposed that we support the bowls club for the CIL bid to SPF:
unanimously agreed.
Cricket club Project to begin on the 27
th
May. The ground work has been
completed.
Tennis Club.
GW provided a programme of works schedules of work to be undertaken
with the new development of the build. It has been given to all
others on the SC to warn them in advance of upcoming upheaval.
MK is concerned about trenching but was told this would be back filled
when on-going. Trench will be covering a big section of playing field and
near children’s
playground.
GW suggested that this was to do with companies not collaboration on the
development.
8. SOLAR PROJECT-
Three Tenders shared with Chris Tuppen who researched them. GW, CT NR
and Louise Smith had met to discuss. They agreed on using Lanman and
have
Invited them to carry out the work. Initially it was £17, 800 now stands at
£19,000.
There will need to be a 25% deposit to begin the project. GW has
approached the Football Foundation but they do not help with solar
projects he is also looking for
English Cricket Board. He has spoken to Copdock Sports and Clare Ling
who recommended Energy Resilience Fund
JM suggested GW contact Simon Lanning at Babergh to gain support for
grant funding
GW wished to say thank you to Chris Tuppen for invaluable information
that has allowed us to progress with the project, a project that would last
for many years
9. PLAYGROUNDS AND PLAYING FIELDS-
Sports ground Improvement Project latest.
JP contacted consultants and is writing a classification to form a tender
The maintenance work during winter has helped. Some tests have been
made and with some additional calculations will be needed.JP fully
explained that a further test
to complete the information would need to go to tender. It would cost an
extra £2K.
we have spent £8k.
The was a long discussion about the viability of whether to progress with
the project.
So much of the action on the field is dependent on weather, climate
change, drainage, permeability of soil, and the careful maintenance of the
ground with spiking
and sanding. MK offered some statistics about the full maintenance of the
pitch ; 2 x vertical drains, re seeding, weed control etc
GW asked we need to agree whether we need a proper drainage system
against the cost of proper ground maintenance. JM suggest this can be
calculated.
GW proposed the decision was to halt all work on the ground. It was agreed
unanimously.
Playground improvements no actions to report
10. URGENT COMMUNICATIONS –
GW has said that he will be standing down of the Playing fields committee
at next
AGM.
Closed 8.10pm
D.O.Next meeting Thursday 7.7.25