2025-26 Minutes (Playing Field Committee)

MINUTES OF MEETING OF HOGSTHORPE PLAYING FIELDS COMMITTEE

HELD ON Thursday 4th December 2025

1. Present: Cllrs E Smith, D Hanson, F Wilson. Greg Ainsworth , Matthew West & Annie Maynard (Clerk)

2. Apologies: Mrs J Ainsworth

3. Minutes of the meeting: The Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 6th November 2025 were approved and signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record.

4. Finance: Hogsthorpe memorial recreation and playing field account 01-30 November 2025

Balance as at 1st December 2025 for account ending 0860 £1904.41

5. Car Boot report & Car Boot signs

Cllr Smith will put up the Merry Christmas signs at either end of the village for December and will also source new signage for March 2026 onwards.

There will be no Car Boot sale on Sunday 14/12/2025 and the last Car Boot of the year will be 21/12/25, returning Sunday 29/03/2026 from 09:00-13:00.

Car Boot stalls are still fully booked and have benefited from the neighboring village closing its hall due to roof repairs.

Cllr Smith has given stall holders a letter informing them about the price increase in 2026.

6. Maintenance – progress update

a) Bent bar – one side of this has been done and waiting for the other side to be done with specialist equipment – the weather has been too wet for this to be completed.

b) Clear up and clean changing rooms - Greg Ainsworth will put the bins out for collection this weekend and take the excess to the tip after Christmas.

c) Clear out of shed – this will be incorporated with the above.

d) Replacement of bulbs in changing rooms and outside light – electrician to complete next week.

e) Playing fields sign – as detailed above Cllr Smith will source new signage.

7. Risk assessments for changing rooms (including checking of showers, PAT testing, lighting progress update – Greg Ainsworth reported the PAT testing, lighting and checking of the showers will be completed by the electrician next week. The Clerk will complete the Playpark risk assessment forms and report back at the next meeting.

8. Report on Unsafe Equipment of Playing Field (Att/PPC/08/DEC25) – this letter was read out by Cllr Wilson, Chair of Hogsthorpe Parish Council and stated that the piece of wood in question appears to have been missing prior to May 2025 and this was not picked up in any safety check. The area has been cordoned off with safety tape and a “do not use” notice, and this will be inspected and repaired as soon as the weather allows. The complaint has been dealt with and the complainant is happy with the result.

9. Resignation – Cllr Diane Hansen formally resigned from the Playpark Committee with immediate effect; this was accepted by the Chair. The Chair thanked Cllr Hansen for their contributions to the committee.

10. Next Meeting – 5:00pm Thursday 08 January 2026, Church Hall (St Mary’s), Hogsthorpe.

Forward Planning – Greg Ainsworth asked if there could be a Salvation Army clothes bank or similar depot point to be installed in the village for unwanted clothes/shoes. The Committee unanimously RESOLVED not to pursue this, as there are already many clothes banks around the country which are are overflowing. This means that the clothes get wet and ruined, and end up in land-fill, thus defeating the purpose.

This meeting was concluded at 17:30