Issue - meetings

Report of the Leisure Services Team Manager

     Jason Knight, Leisure Services Team Manager provided an update on the 2020/21 capital projects, the details of which were set out in the report.

     Upon the request of the Chairman, the Leisure Services Team Manager took Members through each item in turn and invited questions thereon.

     Turning to the first item, Thringstone Miners Social Centre Training Pitch, Councillor Everitt advised that the issues surrounding the Club had been rumbling on for quite a while but he was hopeful that a solution would be found and that works could progress.

     Councillor Geary added that Thringstone once had a prime football club within Leicestershire which had rapidly declined and he had been following the circumstances around this very closely over the past few years and he urged caution on the provision of funding until they could prove beyond all reasonable doubt that they were capable of running a stable organisation. The Leisure Services Team Manager assured Members that the Club had now left the site and had no involvement whatsoever, so any funding would go to the Trustees and any resident clubs who would oversee any projects.

     On the issue of the Melrose Road Play Hub, Councillor Everitt asked whether stonemasons, who cut granite as a matter of course, had been contacted to do the work. The Leisure Services Team Manager advised that he could not confirm this but he would find out and report back outside the meeting. That said, he was confident that the contractors would be able to do this work and will be in a position to commence in the next two weeks.

     In relation to Coalville Park, the Chairman expressed his concern regarding the capacity of the park in retaining the ability to hold future events adding that it would be a huge shame to lose this space. Therefore he encouraged any planting to be around the perimeter of the site and not in the centre which would render it incapable of being used to host large events.

     Councillor Black and Councillor Allman echoed these concerns, acknowledging that enhancing green open spaces was vitally important but that this should not be at the expense of the ability to use those spaces.

     Councillor Legrys asked that his thanks and appreciation be passed on to the Parks Team for their efforts in keeping Coalville Park maintained throughout the difficult past few weeks. He asked whether local residents and volunteers could be consulted on the design element of the planting scheme before a final decision was made.  The Chairman gave his assurance that no scheme would be progressed if it did not meet with approval from local residents.

     Councillor Everitt stated that the problem over lack of green spaces was not limited to Coalville as this was replicated throughout the district with even the smallest pieces of land being built on. He endorsed the comments already made.

     Councillor Allman made reference to a protection order for Ashby Baths Grounds and asked whether something similar was or could be applied to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7