Works continue on Andreas Commissioners new play area

The local authority will be installing a new gate and more drainage

Andreas Commissioners had an update about the new children’s play area which is being developed.

Plans for extra drainage are being drawn up by contractors after some issues were identified.

The board also agreed that a vehicle access gate will be needed to allow a lawn mower to cut the grass in the park.

Clerk Maureen Callow said it would cost £836 including fittings, but not labour, to install.

It was suggested that hinges could be added to a panel of the fencing due to be installed to create a vehicle access but this was not supported as an option.

The board also agreed to thank the contractors for the hire of harris fencing.

Also on the agenda was a debate about the Local Government Amendment Bill and a meeting request from Bride Commissioners.

Chair Jackie Faragher said the board should meet with Bride and that it should come with ‘force’ about the bill.

Concerns about the bill included the lack of consultation on some of the clauses, a potential for performance reviews into the clerks as well as possible changes to joint committees like the Northern Swimming Pool board.

The clerk said some of the implications of the bill on local authorities are ‘scary’.

The commissioners declined to comment further about the issue.

A drop in session will be organised for people in the parish who are thinking about standing in the Local Authority Elections in April.

The clerk said she is putting together candidate packs which will be available from 13 March when nomination papers are released.

Mrs Faragher said a lot of people probably don’t know what the commissioners do, and a drop in session could help with that.

She added that most people only need the local authority when something is going wrong, but if everything is running ‘tickety boo’ then residents don’t know the commissioners ‘exists’.

Andreas Commissioners will next meet on Tuesday, 8 April.