RUSHMERE COMMONERS COMMITTEE

Registered Charity No. 274900

 

Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday 15th November 2023 at Rushmere Golf Club commencing at 6.30pm

Present

 

Trustees

Mike Gilson (Chairman)

Alison Pledger (Vice Chairperson)

Ray Whymark

Kev Driver

John Adams

Mike Shields

Diane Grayston

 

Also present

Chris Kendall (Clerk)

Bob Gosden (Warden)

 

 

  1. Minutes of the last meeting held on Monday 31st July 2023

            Agreed.

 

  1. Matters arising from the meeting held on Monday 31st July 2023

            Dog bin near Humber Doucy Lane – Mike, ongoing.

            Overalls for GLT – Bob is still awaiting contact from GLT.

            Risk assessment – Mike G is happy with the risk assessment produced by Mke S. Mike S will liaise with Mike G about some questions before the document is shared with all the committee.

            Fundraising – The grant of £1980 has now been received from Ipswich Borough Council.

            What3words – Chris and Bob have labelled most of the dog bins on the common. Some of the locations were not correct so Chris will write the location on those bins in indelible ink.

            Online banking – Chris reported that she is awaiting her PIN and she will then ask  Alison and Ray to contact Barclays Bank to sort out their authorities.

            Risks re dogs on the common – This risk is to be included in the Risk Assessment document by Mike S.

            Greenways – Kev has met with James to talk about stumps, flails etc.

            Volunteer days – Kev reported that these are going ahead every other Thursday and that the saplings near the crossroads have been cleared. A Risk Assessment for the volunteers been completed.

            Email from commoner – Mike G has corresponded with commoner to address their questions. Mike G explained that the ‘stick and flick’ option is not preferred but can be used as a last resort.

            Greenkeepers pay increase – Chris reported that the increase to £1500 each fixed for the next 3 years had been accepted by the greenkeepers.

            RGC dog issue -  has been dealt with by Chris.

            RGC driveway -  the decision has been given to RGC by Chris.

            RGC minutes  -  these have been sent to RGC.

            GLT – Kev reported that GLT will assist with the work near the 1st, if they are around on the day.

            Pinetree Close and Yewtree Grove – Chris has advised the resident regarding the common’s boundaries here.

            Tower Hall -  has been booked for the AGM.

            Laptop for clerk – the trustees agreed to pay ½ the cost of the laptop which is £190.

 

  1. Management of the common

            Tarmaced driveway 96 Woodbridge Rd – it was agreed, in 2020, that the existing tarmac could be replaced with new tarmac but it should be like for like. As it appears  that the tarmaced area has been increased and a concrete edging added, Chris is to look at the original email to establish exactly what was agreed.

            Volunteers insurance – as we are now using volunteers on the common, Chris looked at the cost of getting insurance to cover them.  The insurance brokers have quoted £588 and the trustees agreed that we should go ahead with this insurance.

            Kev has obtained insurance, for his employer, and feels that we are paying ‘over the odds’ so Chris to contact Community Action Suffolk to see if we can obtain a better deal ahead of next year’s insurance policies being due. 

            Burnt area project – James Baker, Greenways, will let Kev know when the digger and driver are available to start work on this area. RGC may also be able to assist with the work.  We can also improve the paths from the oak tree to the 1st green.

            65 Linksfield tree and boundary – a prospective buyer of this property has queried an oak tree on or near to the boundary.  We have established, from our tree surgeon, that the oak tree is safe but has a branch which overhangs both numbers 63 and 65.  Chris to advise the buyer that in spite of who owns the tree as it is considered safe, if any branches   were to be removed this would be done at the  expense of the owners. This work to be done by a qualified tree surgeon.

            What3words – Chris and Bob have found out the What3words locations for all the tees and greens and the spreadsheet has been given to the golf club.  We have suggested that RGC put a laminated copy on their buggies as well an electronic copy on their app. Chris to send spreadsheet to Alison so that she can put it on our website.

 

  1. Heath warden’s report

Tents on the common – Bob found 2 tents near the 12th green and after he left a note the owners cleared everything away.

Treehouses – Bob has had to dismantle 2 treehouses lately, beside the 10th green.

Dog bins – Patrick has given Bob a list of dog bins that either need replacing or repairing. Alison will take photos of them so that we know which models they are and so that we can do an audit. Kev suggested that we may be able to secure some funding from district or county councillors.

Pond – a commoner made contact as the gulley is not directing all the rainwater towards the pond. The dip on the path is silted up but him and Bob did a temporary repair.  It would be best for a digger to dig more out of the gully.  We will bare this mind when a digger is on the common.

Greenkeepers Christmas box – Chris to give Bob a cheque for £270 (£90 x 3) for the greenkeepers.

Pumpkins – Bob has seen on Countryfile that pumpkins are harmful to hedgehogs so he has been removing them from the common.

RSPB -  Bob has contacted RSPB requesting information on how to manage heath/golf courses but has not yet receive a response.

 

  1. Golf club matters

            Plan of work – referring to the notes of ‘ride round’ on 27th September, everything on the plan has been agreed to. RGC also want to clear, LHS of the 18th before the path by taking the gorse back 2 metres and this will be discussed another meeting.

            Traffic management by RGC – RGC have erected green poles and ropes to manage traffic.  As this is not visible enough Chris to ask RGC to attach high visibility tags to make it safe.

            Minutes of RGC and RCC meeting -  the minutes of the meeting held on 18th October have been agreed and can now be sent to RGC, by Chris.

 

  1. Green Light Trust

            Has already been discussed.  There are usually 2-3 people most weeks.

 

  1. Finance report

Agreed.

 

  1. Any other business

            Linksfield 1 – there is a blocked drain at Woodbridge Rd end and Kev asked history of this drain.  Mike S said that it is a soakaway.     

            Linksfield 2 – Kev stated that the ‘utility area’ has been cleared and that it has been banked up around it.  It was agreed that this is a good solution.

            Linksfield 3 – LMG have asked if they can reinstate the posts, that were near the bus stop, at their expense and put seed around it.  Agreed by trustees.

            Linksfield 4 – LMG asked if the speed limit on the track could be reduced from 15mph to 10mph.  Agreed that the existing signs can be amended.

            Bird box memorial – Chris received a request for a memorial bench on the common but has advised the family that as we cannot allow benches, she would seek approval for a bird box from the trustees. The location to be near the Blackdown Ave entrance.  Agreed by trustees.

            Path from Brendon Drive – this path needs to be cleared and Kev will ask Cut N   Clear It to do this on one of their visits.

 

  1.  Date of next meeting

            Agreed to be Wednesday 17th January 2024 at RGC. Chris to book room.

 

 

 

Meeting ended at 8.35pm.

 

Mrs Chris Kendall

Clerk to Rushmere Commoners