Parks and Open Spaces - Report by Kevin Terry

Equipment

My first observations of all of the Parks machinery is the condition, i.e. age.  The Parks Team have been down to one strimmer and one mower in recent weeks.  I think that it is important that the Council replace some equipment, not just for reliability and productivity but because of the health and safety risks to the operators especially regarding H.A.V.S. (Hand-arm vibration).

As a consequence, one new Pedestrian mower has been purchased at a cost of £1,200 and a new strimmer at a cost of £487.

The existing ride on mower has been repaired after being broken for twelve months, but it is worth noting that it is an old machine which will need replacing at some point in the future.

In this year’s budget a figure of £8,000 has been set aside for a Gator but I feel this is not necessary at this stage and would ask you to consider replacing our basic kit in the first instance.  These items are as follows:

STIHL FS 111 Brush cutter Strimmer £487.68

STIHL KM131R Kombi Engine £429.20

STIHL KM-FS Brush Cutter cord kombi tool head £132.59

STIHL KM-HL145 Hedge cutter kombi tool head £240.50

STIHL Pole saw  £737.10

The price for these would be £2,027.07

Equivalent machines with battery packs, embraces the greener option, i.e. no fumes, very little noise, and lower running costs with savings on fuel and lower vibration.  By choosing this option although initially more expensive, as detailed below:

KMA 135R Battery Kombi engine £298.20

STIHL KM-FS brush cutter cord kombi tool head  £132.59

STIHL KM-HL145 Hedge cutter kombi tool head  £240.50

STIHL FSAR battery cord Brush cutter  £365.40

Pole saw £591.50

Batteries  £201.00 x 6

AL 301-4 Multi battery charger £210.00

AL 500 battery charger £94.50

Total cost £3,138.69

Cost of replacement Mower  £690.00 inc VAT

I will be undertaking a full inventory of all new, existing and scraped equipment.

In additional the Council requires a tow-bar to be fitted to it’s van, at a cost of £540.00.  This is required for transport equipment, for example Three Kings Parade.  To comply with Health and Safety requirements the van requires a beacon/warning lights to be fitted at a cost of £237.60.

By having a tow-bar fitted, it would be more beneficial for the Council to purchase a trailer (second hand) and approximate costs are between £2000 and £4000.

Flower beds and baskets

Summer bedding has been planted and baskets are up around the Town.  Winter bedding has been ordered at a cost £1,052.00.

The winter baskets have not been ordered yet but a quote has been received of £550 plus £30 for every watering that is done.  Winter bedding plants do not really lend themselves to baskets as they do not trail and when they do start to look at their best, they need to be taken down.  A decision is required on this.

There have been a few problems with the new flowerbed outside Stourport Community Centre with cars reversing over it and I am proposing that we do not replant this bed this winter but reseed it with grass.  However, I would like to prepare a new formal flowerbed by the bandstand for next summer.

Lloyds Meadow

At present the Town Council mow a strip around the site as a pathway and the rest of the Meadow is left as rank grass.  There are many self-setting trees that are starting to grow amongst the grass and also a lot of bramble is starting to take hold of the area.  I feel we will loose Lloyds Meadow as a meadow if we do not take some action.  It would be great to see wildflowers along the Meadow in the future, but this would be a long-term vision.  As you may be aware, there are some very nice mature specimen trees on site that are superb but also need some minor attention.  

I think we need to remove some of the larger self-set trees and lift the lower branches on some of the mature trees, this would allow more light into the site and allow the Contractor to be able to get around the main part of the Meadow to cut.  This would enable a cut with a flail towards the end of August/late September and after two to three years this would hopefully stop the growth of self-set trees and brambles and encourage grass species; then a mixed perennial wild flower seed could be sown.

Please note all prices do not include VAT (unless otherwise stated).