17 Sep 2025 – Parish Estates Committee Meeting (Minutes)

GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Estates Committee

Wednesday 17th September 2025
Whittle Hall Community Centre

Chair: Cllr Williams
Present: Cllr Simpson
Cllr Pennington
Cllr Lynas
Cllr Muqeem

In Attendance: K. Carter (Clerk)
A.Nugent (Head Gardener)

1. To receive apologies for unavoidable absence.
Apologies were received from Cllr Hussain.

2. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20th August 2025.
Approved.

PEC/2025/19: To approve minutes of the Parish Estates Committee meeting held
on Wednesday 17th August 2025 as a true and accurate record (LGA 1972 Sch12,
para 41(1)).

3. Parish Playing Field Drainage Project
3.1 Planning Requirements
There are several pre-commencement conditions to be fulfilled and approved
by WBC prior to the drainage works starting through a Discharge of Conditions
form. Officers have completed the Landscape Scheme, the GMA is producing a
report for the contaminated land condition, and the contractor will provide the
construction management plan. Once the application has been received and
verified by WBC, it may take up to 8 weeks for approval to be granted to begin
work.

3.2 Publicity
The Football Foundation have provided a publicity toolkit including press
release templates as well as social media graphics and suggested wording.
Press releases and site signage will be arranged once the start date is known.

PEC/2025/20: Resolved: To provide signage on site and online publicity for the
PPF drainage project once the start date is known (LGA 1972 s142).

3.3 Draft agreement WHJFC
Deferred to future meeting.

3.4 Maintenance requirements
One of the conditions of the grant from the Football Foundation is that the
pitches are kept to at least the Pitch Quality Standard (PQS) of ‘Good’. To
achieve this, the Grounds Team will need to undertake the Grounds
Management Association Level 1 Football Grounds Maintenance course and
PEC/2025/13 19-11-25
Chair’s signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Estates Committee

Wednesday 20th August 2025
Whittle Hall Community Centre

carry out pitch assessments using the football Foundation PitchPower tool at
least twice per year. The resulting Grass Pitch Assessment Report from the
Pitch Advisory Service will inform the maintenance required on the pitches.

PEC/2025/21: Resolved: GSPC Grounds staff to undertake the GMA Level 1
Football Grounds Maintenance course and undertake twice-yearly pitch
assessments for the PPF (Open Spaces Act 1906 s10).

Quotes for ongoing maintenance from sports pitch contractors will be sought
for decision at a future meeting.

PEC/2025/22: Resolved: To obtain quotes for the ongoing sports pitch
maintenance for PPF (Open Spaces Act 1906 s10).

The council recognised that consideration must be given to the number of
games/training that the pitches can withstand and any recovery time needed
within the year when setting booking terms and conditions.

It was suggested that the pitches could be protected long-term by closing off
the site to general public use; however, after discussion, it was agreed that this
was not desirable and that the field should be accessible by residents. An
option to fence off the pitch areas was proposed using low-level (hip-high)
fencing; this suggestion to be explored further.

PEC/2025/23: Resolved: To explore the possibility of fencing around the pitch
areas to provide a measure of protection for the playing surface (Open Spaces
Act 1906 s10).

3.5 Goalposts/pitch configuration
Different options for goalposts were discussed – permanent or portable.
Portable posts may be more affordable and could help with managing the usage
of the pitches, particularly unofficial use. However, storage will be required
when the posts are not in use, and this will need to be considered as well.

There are also options for pitch sizes and configurations. Previously different-
sized pitches were overlayed and marked for use by different age-groups. It was
agreed to discuss preferences with WHJFC before deciding on the
configuration. This will also impact the goalposts required.

PEC/2025/24: Resolved: To liaise with WHJFC regarding team numbers (overall
pitch usage), pitch configurations and goalposts (Open Spaces Act 1906 s10).

PEC/2025/14 19-11-25
Chair’s signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Estates Committee

Wednesday 20th August 2025
Whittle Hall Community Centre

4. Estates Office/Childs Wood Field Project
4.1 Proposal from Council Officers for temporary operations unit.

A query had been raised about the previous month’s decision to dismiss Bewsey
Barn Community Centre as a suitable site (PEC/2025/15). This was reviewed and
the reasons for its unsuitability fully explained and accepted. The decision was
upheld.

PEC/2025/25: Resolved: To accept that Bewsey Barn Community Centre is
unsuitable as a base for GSPC’s Grounds Team on operational and health and
safety grounds (Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 s2).

The recommendation from the last meeting that the council takes a 3–5-year lease
on an industrial unit as an interim operating site for the Grounds Team was
referred back to the committee by full Council. Two queries had been raised;
whether the installation of the mezzanine floor on the preferred unit was
necessary or if the unit was viable without it, and the cost of the mezzanine.

Officers confirmed that, for the specific unit under consideration, the installation
of the mezzanine to provide office space would be necessary. The committee had
considered other available larger units, but these were double the rental cost. The
installation cost for the mezzanine would be in the region of £6-10,000.

Officers also referred the council to their statutory obligations under both
Employment Law and Health and Safety legislation and the operational necessity
of suitable premises for the council’s grounds team.

The committee was advised that lease negotiations would be made through a
solicitor to protect the council as fully as possible. There is no commitment to go
ahead until this process is completed and documents signed.

PEC/2025/26: Recommended: That the lease for an industrial unit at Penketh
Business Park is reconsidered by full council based on the following:
• That the council has statutory obligations under Employment Law and
Health and Safety legislation
• That there is an operational necessity for suitable premises for GSPC’s
Grounds Team
• That, for the current unit under consideration with a rental cost of
£12,800pa, it will be necessary to install a mezzanine floor for office space
with costs in the region of £6-10k
• That lease negotiations will be carried out by a solicitor to protect the
council’s interests and there is no commitment to proceed until this
process is completed and documents signed.

PEC/2025/15 19-11-25
Chair’s signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Estates Committee

Wednesday 20th August 2025
Whittle Hall Community Centre

(Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 s2)

4.2 UKSPF grant & WBC work program

Since the previous meeting WBC’s Infrastructure Delivery Team (IDT) had
confirmed that there was some funding available through the UKSPF, although the
application had to be made immediately and any funding spent by the end of the
financial year. This was completed and a grant of £15k awarded to GSPC. The IDT
suggested the following works should be possible within the timeframe and
budget,
• Topographical survey & Ground Penetration Radar Survey (GPRS)
• Ground Investigation -desktop study
• C1 stats investigation (layout plans)
• If any fee left 2D prelim layout
• IDT services to coordinate.
WBC suggested that the grant could either be managed through GSPC and the
UKSPF Team, or internally with the IDT. The committee voted for the former
option and to request a monthly progress report from IDT.

PEC/2025/27: Resolved: That the UKSPF grant is managed through GSPC and the
UKSPF Team (Accounts & Audit Regs 2015 reg. 4).

5. To receive updated risk assessment for Grounds Operations
Received and noted.

6. Date of next meeting
To be decided.

PEC/2025/16 19-11-25
Chair’s signature: