The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 10th October 2024 with topics including:

• The need for more ‘robust’ equipment for the handymen,
• Planning for Hedge Cutting during October half term,
• Potential VE Day celebrations in 2025,
• Preparation for potential 2025/26 budget needs.

Environment & Highways Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 10th Oct 2024 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

Members present:	Cllrs Harry Stone (HS), David Short (DS) and Andrew Savage (AS)
Also present:	1 member of the public

1.     Welcome & Apologies

Apologies – Cllr Katie Pulford, Manya Barrow and John Gili-Ross

2.     Declarations of Interests

None.

3.     Minutes & actions from previous meeting

The minutes of the 12th Sept 2024 were agreed by all and there were no actions carried forward.

4.     Public participation

The one member of the public present was there, as an interested observer of proceedings.

5.     Handymen’s report:

A full report was not available due to unforeseen circumstances, but it was reported that the Handyman had carried out their full range of routine duties.

6.     2025-26 Budget and/or Env. Committee projects

Cllr. Gili-Ross had provided a list of potential additional provision for future maintenance to equipment and in particular to the requirement for more robust equipment/tools/ machinery etc., this in light of the fact that it may be the case that CCC will further curtail their grass cutting programme in 2025.

7.     Ponds

It is understood that Cllr. Pulford is researching an appropriate window of time to undertake spraying of the ponds which will be carried out by the suitably qualified handymen as discussed at the September meeting. Next year’s budget for the pond maintenance was discussed but see Para. 11 below.

8.     Annual hedge cutting.

The contractor has confirmed that routine hedge cutting will take place during the October half-term, precise dates yet to be advised. Clerk has contacted CCC to arrange for a sweeper to attend following completion of the work. The handymen are to be present to drop the various barriers in order to allow access for the tractor flail. The residents of Henderson Close are to be advised of the relevant date as previously discussed.

9.     Flagpole

Completion of this project is in hand.

10.  VE Day celebrations

The Parish Council was invited by Bruno Peek the nation’s Pageantmaster to participate in the forthcoming celebration of VE Day on 8th May 2025. The celebrations will mainly consist of beacon lighting, church bell ringing, choral singing and band playing. Whether or not West Bergholt will participate is yet to be decided and placed before the full PC, but in the meantime Cllr. Stone and Short will sound out various organisations and individuals to ascertain the level of interest in participating and will report back to the Env.Com. in due course.

11.  Upcoming items

Consideration should be given to requirements for the upcoming Parish council budget to include such items as the purchase of new tools for the handymen (see Paras. 7 and 8 above). It was decided that the Env. Com. would undertake detailed discussions in order to present to Cllr. Savage and the PC, the committee’s recommendations (which are anticipated to be substantial), for the forthcoming budget.

12.  Date of next meeting

The next Environment Committee meeting will be on Thurs 14th November 2024, at 4.30pm in the SC Meeting Room.