Document Date
13/05/2026
Created by
Parish Clerk
Category
Meetings
Wollaston Parish Council
Wollaston Parish Council
Document Date
13/05/2026
Created by
Parish Clerk
Category
Meetings
WOLLASTON PARISH COUNCIL
PLAYING FIELD & PARKS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
Wednesday 13th May 2026, 7.00pm
At The Village Hall, High Street, Wollaston
VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT
Atkinson, Jones, Mitchell, Perry, Savage (Chair), Silsby and Mrs S. Grant (Clerk).
PUBLIC PRESENT
None.
APOLOGIES
Apologies received from Mr Cotter, Mr Green and Mr Hodson.
MINUTES
The minutes of the last meeting from 8th April 2026 were agreed unanimously and signed as a correct record.
FINANCES
Finances to end of April 2026 had been circulated. Yu energy price increase for the floodlights and rising bollard due to Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges to cover the cost of building, maintaining and upgrading the national transmission network across the country. In contract with YU energy until October 31st, 2027.
PLAY EQUIPMENT AND ADULT GYM INSPECTION/MAINTENANCE
Mr Savage confirmed that he had inspected the play and gym equipment and submitted the inspection sheets to the Clerk. The handle has come away on the petal rocker at St Mary’s – Clerk to request a quote. Kangaroo seat at St Marys has split, Mr Savage to apply tape as a temporary fix. Mr Perry highlighted a trip hazard at the London Road play area (bottom of the slide) – Clerk to arrange quotation/meeting with the contractor for the wet pour to be extended as a matter of urgency. This trip hazard needs to be fixed properly and permanently asap. Mr Savage to add soil as a temporary fix in the meantime. There is paint damage on the new wet pour and mobiles at the Pyghtles play area.
Annual audits for St Mary’s and London Road Play areas have been booked for 4th June.
MUGA UPDATE
The Playground Company maintenance Wednesday 13th May for the Acrylic Surface top-up was cancelled due to the wet weather. This is now to be carried out next week, Mr Perry requested assistance the night before to move the basketball hoops and tennis net. Artificial Grass Maintenance due to be carried out on Thursday 14th May.
Mr Silsby to carry out weed spraying around the courts. Gate stops are currently being stored in the cabinet pending repair.
POCKET PARK
Mr Thompson continues to work hard keeping the garden tidy and the brown bin is being emptied fortnightly. Pocket Park bin emptying charges to increase from £55 to £62 this year.
SPORTS ASSOCIATION REPORT
Football – last few home games to be played. Rushden and Diamond under 18’s have one final game and potentially a new Wollaston under 18’s Sunday side to be formed.
Cricket – season has started and off to a good start. There is an under 17’s team this year together with under 11’s/13/s and 15’s. Numbers remain static from previous year. Girls/ladies softball teams have been formed to meet ECB regulations for tier 1. The Scouts will be holding ad-hoc BBQs on a Friday night at the youth training to raise funds for the Scouts.
There is a new memorial bench purchased by the Luck family, and they will maintain this bench. NSport have hosted two school cricket festivals during April and May and they will be donating £100 to the Sports Association.
Wollaston Secondary School will hold a cricket festival on 8th July.
Mr Perry has applied for a Solar panel grant to assist with the high electricity expenditure at the Clubhouse.
It was discussed that the Youth football should take a summer break to rest the field.
PURCHASES REQUIRED
Playground Annual Audits for St Marys and London Road play equipment £420 plus VAT.
Bollard light cable repair £346.24 plus VAT (Mr Silsby offered the Cricket Club to pay 50%).
5 additional fobs for the Bollard (Clerk to obtain quote) (Mr Silsby offered the Cricket Club to pay 50%).
Petal Rocker Handle – quote to be obtained.
Mr Silsby requested a small sit-on mower for the areas on the field that require a time-consuming push mower. It was unanimously agreed that Mr Silby should purchase a second-hand mower at £600 plus VAT.
FIELD MAINTENANCE/MATTERS RELATING TO THE FIELD
Free bleed kit training to be held at the Clubhouse on Wednesday June 17th, 6.30pm.
Complaint received for use of E-scooters on the field and also dogs off lead. Clerk has responded to both asking for more information and has reported the e-scooter riding to local PCSO.
Reports of weed smoking were reported in the wooded area by the nets, Clerk to report to local PCSO.
Mr Jones requested the cut back of the hedge behind the MUGA – Clerk to add to Hayeswood schedule for November with the annual cut.
The large shed in the compound has found a new home and will be removed shortly (no date yet) homes will need to be found for the stuff currently being stored in there (basketball, ropes etc) and the two memorial benches have been agreed to be moved in front of the MUGA courts. Clerk to obtain quotation for the benches to be secured.
Mr Perry to speak to Mr Green regarding rabbit control as there are signs of increased rabbit presence together with a few mole hills.
The wet patch on the grass by the scoreboard appears to be expanding – keep an eye on.
Clerk to check progress of the S106 business application, money is due June/July.
Mr Savage noted the increase in recycle refuse due to the better weather and start of the cricket season.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Wednesday 3rd June 2026 at 7.00pm at the Village Hall, High Street, Wollaston.
There being no further business the Chair thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.15pm.
Signed ……………………………………………………………..
Date ……………………………………………………………….