Friends of Balls Park enhance - preserve - protect – enjoy
Minutes of FoBP Committee Meeting 19th March 2015
Present
Richard Fletcher - Joint Chairman
Ian Groombridge – Joint Chairman
Phillip Burrows – Treasurer
Maribel Anderson - Secretary
Stephen Potter – Henmarsh Court
Peter Jones – Willis Grove
Steve Wansell – Harrison Lane Co-opted
Apologies
John Souter
1. Bank details
In the e-mail to all members with regard to the minutes of the March committee meeting
details of membership payment by electronic bank transfer will be included. Cheques will be
acceptable. A brief statement of the progress of FoBP after 3 months existence will also be
included.
ACTION RF
2. Clean Up Working Party
A proposal to form working parties to deal with litter at Red Lodge and remove debris from
the canal was not received with enthusiasm. It was considered that Encore should organise
this. (Post meeting note – the resident of Red Lodge has cleared the rubbish in that area)
3. Council Adopted Road exiting from Red Lodge
FoBP must lobby the council to take better care of the adopted road.
- To provide litterbins and empty on a regular basis.
- To repair potholes in this area
ACTION SW
4. Simon Balle School
A meeting will be arranged with Simon Balle school to review the shrubs they are offering to
plant on the Balls Park boundary. (Post meeting note - their offer has been reviewed and
declined. Low density planting of mixed shrubs would not provide a suitable demarcation and
would not prevent the movement of wind - blown litter between the school grounds and Balls
Park. Furthermore, Simon Balle School were not prepared to plant the shrubs, as originally
stated).
ACTION IG
5. Security Cameras
There are seven security cameras around Balls Park monitoring the car parks and roadways.
The recordings are saved for 28 days and footage can only be reviewed for criminal
investigations and not by the residents generally.
The design concept behind the security system is to be investigated together with the cost.
ACTION MA
6. Street lighting on driveway to cricket club
Encore report that the street lights on the bridleway to the cricket club cannot be repaired
because the electricity supply comes from Mangrove Road and is under HCC control. This is
unlikely. City and Country should be contacted to establish ownership/responsibility for these
lights with a view to getting them turned on or perhaps removed.
ACTION MA
7. Public Rights of Way
FoBP must instruct City and Country to notify us when the bridleways/footpaths dedication
will be signed off as public rights of way. Also, FoBP must obtain from City and Country their
programme of work and timescale for the upgrade of footpaths and agree appropriate
signage.
ACTION RF IG
8. Conscripting FoBP Members
No report available.
A status report on activities and successes so far is required.
A reminder on how to access the Friends of Balls Park website.
ACTION JS
9. Encore Estate Management
The reply from Encore to the letter requesting the guiding principles for setting budgets and
allocating costs to the various estate funds and the plan of actions was unsatisfactory. A
meeting will be arranged with Encore to obtain satisfactory answers to the information
requested.
ACTION RF IG
An original Parkland Maintenance Schedule of Works might be available
ACTION SW
10. Willis Grove phase 2
The committee voted against any provision of HOLDING AREAS for construction vehicles within
the boundaries of Balls Park. A letter will be sent to Encore confirming this together with
some suggestion for preserving the parkland verges and suggested signage at the main
gate.(Post meeting note – this has been accepted by Encore and City and County)
ACTION IG RF
Minutes of the "meet and greet" session with CALA where an agreed set of questions were
asked will be prepared for agreement with CALA management thereby validating a list of
commitments from the developer.
CALA will be requested to provide:
A copy of the Photographic Parkland condition survey they have conducted.
A copy of their "plans for site operations" that would have been provided to the
council to comply with planning conditions.
The provision and funding of grass verge protection measures (temporary or
permanent) on the drive way from the gatehouse the full length of Harrison
Lane, up towards the Mansion House and on up to the gates of Willis Grove.
The erection of "no exit" signage at the junction at the bottom of Harrison lane
to deter vehicles from turning at this point.
ACTION PJ RF IG
11. UK parking control
To be introduced on Monday. Need to write to Encore to establish parking regime that works
for residents. An element of short term permissible parking for visitors around the fountain is
required. The effectiveness and residents reaction will be monitored for 2 months.
ACTION RF
12. AOB
Request a copy of the agreement between City & Country and the Mercedes - Benz of
Hertford to store vehicles in the underground car park.
Request Encore reinstate the direction sign that has been stolen from the triangular island at
the end of Harrison lane and potentially to seek to recover costs through Estate insurance.
Design Competition - Members of the committee are invited to submit a design and wording
for a sign to be placed on the left hand brick column at the entrance gate, (private property,
speed limit, public access on designated footpaths, dogs must be kept on leads, etc....).
A brief discussion regarding directors of the management companies took place as Encore
would appreciate their appointment. It was suggested that members of FoBP should be
directors. However, the role could prove quite onerous. There are many outstanding issues
which need resolving and insufficient details are available regarding organization, numbers
and selection.
Next meeting 7:30 Wednesday 22nd April 2015 at 51 Henmarsh Court