PAPER A
MINUTES OF RYDE TOWN COUNCIL’S
FACILITIES AND ASSET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON
TUESDAY 27 APRIL 2021 AT 2.00PM USING THE ZOOM VIDEO MEETING FACILITY AND
STREAMED VIA YOUTUBE
Present:
Cllr Karen Lucioni (Chair), Cllr Michael Lilley, Cllr Sue Lyons and Cllr Ian
Stephens
In Attendance:
Jon Baker, Allan Bridges, Shay Dixon, Shona Parnell and Liam Pearce
14/21
APOLOGIES
No apologies were received.
15/21
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None declared.
16/21
REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS
There were none received.
17/21
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 January 2021 were reviewed.
RESOLVED:
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2021 were agreed.
18/21
GENERAL UPDATES
The committee noted the various activities of the town councils assets and facilities that
was circulated ahead of the meeting as Paper B. These included
Network Ryde
Network Ryde reopened indoor sessions from 12 April 2021, although with a booking
in system in place required to restrict numbers due to the limit on the space at its
headquarters at 147 High Street owing to Covid 19 guidelines. Additional allotment
sessions had also been added owing to the many young people who wished to attend
them.
A Youth Support Worker Kickstart placement had been recruited starting on 19 April
2021and Network Ryde was also advertising for an admin/social media kickstart post.
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An allotment open day was also scheduled for 1 May 2021 which was officially being
opened by the Islands Lord-Lieutenant.
Skatepark
The skatepark reopened after Covid 19 guidelines allowed outdoor activity on the 29
March 2021. However on 9 April whilst Officers inspected the skatepark with a
contractor also on site repairing some of the ramp defects, they discovered that the
large back supporting wall was deemed unsafe for the skatepark to open due to it
potentially falling on users if not supported.
Officers also saw signs of antisocial behaviour of grafting over information signs which
affected the risk assessment standard controls as well as implications for the public
liability insurance.
St Thomas’ Church / Vectis Hall
Members noted that with Vectis Hall the Town Council was awaiting funding which
would provide money for a feasibility study, architect wok, and surveys. This would
then offer a clearer picture on future plans and use.
Regarding St Thomas Church progress being made and significant work was being
carried out to address structural issues such as roof repairs and ivy growth on walls.
Experts in Hampshire were being approached for the survey of the entire building who
would be providing the architects to conduct a complete structural survey. Plans were
however progressing well.
19/21
ALLOTMENT FORWARD PLANS
The following updates were received:
i.
National Allotment Society
The Committee discussed acquiring membership. The Society supported the needs
of all allotment holders across the UK as well as raising funds to ensure the future of
allotment gardening was protected. It also engaged with local authorities and offered
free legal advice to allotment holders as and when they needed it.
RESOLVED:
THAT Ryde Town Council’s membership of the National Allotment Society be
agreed.
ii.
Grant Funding Opportunities to Provide Accessible Toilets and Allotments at the
Quarry Rd Allotment Site
Members discussed the merits of the toilets and agreed that they would be of benefit,
however they did request that all efforts be made to make all of the allotments
accessible to disabled users.
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RESOLVED:
THAT, subject to all efforts being made to make allotments accessible to all
disabled users, research and applications for grant funding opportunities to
provide accessible toilets and allotments at the Quarry Rd allotment site be
agreed.
iii.
Options with the Current Owner Regarding the Acquisition of the Scrub Land
Adjacent to Quarry Rd to Provide Additional Allotments
The committee agreed that additional allotments would be beneficial to the residents
of Ryde providing much needed additional allotments.
RESOLVED:
THAT the exploration of options with the current owner regarding the
acquisition of the scrub land adjacent to the Quarry Rd site to provide
additional allotments be agreed.
20/21
RYDE SKATEPARK
It was noted that owing to the urgent need for repair works required in order to be able to
open up the skatepark to users as soon as possible, it would be of the towns best interests
if such delegated responsibility be granted to officers in order to undertake the necessary
procurement practices and to appoint a suitable contractor to undertake the necessary
reparations to the skatepark.
RESOLVED:
THAT the delegation of responsibility to officers to undertake the necessary
procurement practices and to appoint a suitable contractor to undertake the repairs
to the skatepark, be agreed.
21/21
APPLEY PUBLIC TOILETS
The Committee noted that Appley Park toilets had reopened with the Gents being available
and the disabled (Easy Access) toilets being made accessible to ladies.
Issues with the drainage and leaks persisted and was being looked at. Further work would
require a camera to investigate whether a collapsed pipe was causing the problem with a
possible blockage. Members agreed that further investigatory work was required with more
updates provided in due course.
RESOLVED:
THAT further investigatory work be carried out to ascertain the cause of the
drainage problems at Appley Public Toilets be agreed.
22/21
DONATION OF OUTDOOR GYM EQUIPMENT
Members were advised that the Waterside Trust contacted Ryde Town Council (RTC) to
offer three pieces of outdoor gym equipment that they no longer required. These had
previously been installed at Waterside Pool.
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Discussions had been held with the Isle of Wight Council over the siting of the equipment
at Birdcage Walk with an initial plan to license the land from them and for RTC to maintain
the equipment as a community asset.
However it was felt that siting just three pieces of equipment would be somewhat
insufficient and not be of much benefit to users when compared with other similar sites
across the Island. It was therefore proposed that additional equipment be purchased at a
cost of £2,500 to enhance the facility. There would also be further costs to fence, secure
and insure all pieces of kit.
The other options would be to keep just the three pieces of kit for installation or turn down
the offer and not accept any.
Members whilst in principle agreed to acquiring more pieces of equipment, owing to it not
being currently budgeted for, further exploratory work should be carried out around costs
and a final proposal be presented at the next meeting.
RESOLVED:
THAT further exploratory work be carried out around costs of acquiring additional
outdoor gym equipment with a final proposal being presented at the next meeting
be agreed.
23/21
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED:
THAT the next meeting of the Facilities and Assets Management Committee will be
held on Tuesday 8 June 2021 at 2pm subject to the agreement of the town councils
schedule of meetings at Annual Council on 17 May 2021.
24/21
EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
Owing to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed, the following was:
RESOLVED:
THAT the public and press be excluded for the following item and they are instructed
to withdraw, in accordance with Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s1
(2) and Standing Order no.80.
25/21
DECORATIVE LIGHTING AND DISPLAYS CONTRACT PROCUREMENT
Members discussed the tenders for the confidential item, Decorative Lighting and
Displays Contract.
RESOLVED:
THAT the award of the Decorative Lighting and Displays Contract to Tender A be
agreed
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