20 Aug 2025 – Parish Estates Committee Meeting (Minutes)

GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Estates Committee

Wednesday 20th August 2025
Whittle Hall Community Centre

Chair: Cllr Williams
Present: Cllr Simpson
Cllr Catlow
Cllr Lynas

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

1. To receive apologies for unavoidable absence.
Apologies were received from Cllrs Hussain, and Pennington.

2. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd July 2025.
Approved.

PEC/2025/9: To approve minutes of the Parish Estates Committee meeting held
on Wednesday 23rd July 2025 as a true and accurate record.

3. Parish Playing Field Drainage Project:
3.1 to receive notes from the meeting with the contractor and the Grounds
Management Association.
Talbot Landscapes confirmed that they were looking at a potential start date
of 15th September. Work will take 5-6 weeks, depending on weather
conditions. A site visit will be arranged; the council’s Maintenance Officer &
Head Gardener will meet with the contractor to determine access and
practicalities prior to the start of works. It was agreed that the site will remain
closed to the public until Spring 2026 to allow the works to settle and the grass
to recover.

PEC/2025/10: GSPC Maintenance Officer and Head Gardener to meet Talbot
Landscapes to discuss and agree practicalities for the contractors installing the
drainage system on the Parish Playing Field.

PEC/2025/11: Parish Playing Field to remain closed to the public for the duration
of the drainage installation until Spring 2026.

3.2 to consider planning conditions and agree steps to meet these
There are various conditions in the planning permission that need meeting
prior to the start of works. Talbot Landscapes will review these with their
commercial manager and get back to the Clerk on any requirements. It was
confirmed that GSPC can produce the landscape plan to meet the BNG
requirements.

PEC/2025/8 17.9.25
Chair’s signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Estates Committee

Wednesday 20th August 2025
Whittle Hall Community Centre

PEC/2025/12: Clerk to liaise with Talbot Landscapes and GMA regarding details
for the required planning conditions for the drainage installation on the PPF.

3.3 to receive quote for additional gates/bollards
Following the traveller incursion on the Parish Playing Field earlier in the year,
the yellow vehicle barrier had to be repaired and strengthened. The firm also
quoted for an additional barrier to prevent vehicle access from Sankey Hub
car park and for manual rising bollards in front of the main gate. It was decided
to postpone a decision on the additional security and discuss as part of the
ongoing management of the site whilst the grounds works are happening.

PEC/2025/13: To postpone decision on additional security measures for the
Parish Playing Field (gates/bollards) to a future meeting of the Parish Estates
Committee.

3.4 to note items for future consideration
3.4.1 site security
As mentioned in item 3.3, the security of the site will need to be
considered in greater detail, including whether to allow access for the
general public.
3.4.2 pitch strategy
Advice will be sought from the GMA & WBC on the number and
seasonal use of pitches and discussed with WHJFC, the anchor team
on the field. The committee will also explore goalpost options. Talbot
Landscapes suggested it may be prudent to install sockets for the
posts at the same time as the drainage, but there may be an option to
use mobile goalposts to increase the pitch configurations and reduce
goalmouth wear & tear.
3.4.3 grounds management
GSPC is aware that the grounds maintenance will need greater
investment in the future. As well as the standard grass cuts and pitch
marking, consistent maintenance such as reseeding and topdressing
will be required, along with verti-draining. This will require an external
contractor and a tendering exercise to be carried out. GSPC’s grounds
team will undertake the relevant online course for pitch assessments
which need completing twice a year as part of the funding conditions.
The consequent pitch report will inform the maintenance requirements
for the external contractor.
3.4.4 administrative (bookings) management
There will be a need for a clear process to manage bookings on the
field, including use by the occasional teams as well as the anchor team
and including a strategy to prevent overuse. Advice will be sought from
WBC and the GMA.

PEC/2024/9 17.9.25
Chair’s signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Estates Committee

Wednesday 20th August 2025
Whittle Hall Community Centre

PEC/2025/14: Parish Estates Committee to obtain advice to enable clear
processes to be put in place for the ongoing management of the Parish Playing
Field, along with carrying out a tendering exercise for the ground’s maintenance.

4. Estates Office/Childs Wood Field Project
4.1 to receive information on rental options and decide whether to explore
this option further as a temporary measure.
The Parish Estates Committee had previously considered leasing an industrial
unit for the Grounds Team to operate from, but this was considered as a
permanent option. It has become clear that the project to build a permanent
depot will take some years to achieve and therefore it was suggested that the
committee reconsiders an industrial unit as an interim solution. Several units
had been assessed by the Head Gardener, Clerks and Cllr Williams and a
summary of options, with costs for 3-year leases was given.

The feasibility of using the grounds of Bewsey Barn Community Centre was
discussed. It had been identified previously as a Plan B option for building a
new depot but is not suitable as an interim site as considerable work would be
needed on the access and facilities to make it a useable space.

PEC/2025/15: To dismiss the grounds at Bewsey Barn Community Centre as a
suitable site for the interim placement of the Grounds Team.

It was agreed that the lease option on a unit in Penketh Business Park would
resolve the many issues faced by the Grounds Team in their current location at
Whittle Hall Community Centre and give the Parish Estates Committee more
time to move forwards with the plan to build a permanent depot on Childs
Wood Field. This to be a recommended course of action to the Finance
Committee to consider the financial aspect and full Council for a final
decision.

PEC/2025/16: To recommend taking a lease for 3-5 years on an industrial unit at
Penketh Business Park as an interim operating site for the Grounds Team whilst
the project for a permanent base is considered.

4.2 to be updated on meeting with WBC
WBC had been asked to provide costs and timescales for them to undertake a
feasibility study to build a permanent Grounds Office on Childs Wood Field,
including the wider plans to develop the remaining space for community use.
WBC had provided some information following a site visit, suggesting that the
feasibility study would cost in the region of £70-80k. A further meeting was
arranged for councillors to ask about the process, timescales and WBC’s fees.

PEC/2024/10 17.9.25
Chair’s signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Estates Committee

Wednesday 20th August 2025
Whittle Hall Community Centre

WBC advised that GSPC need to provide them with a detailed client brief for
WBC to be able to quote and agreed to provide an example document for
GSPC to follow. Members felt that there appeared to be a lack of clear
commitment to move forwards with the project at this time and concerns were
raised about timescales. It was proposed and agreed that the committee
should undertake a tender exercise for an external firm to undertake the
project.

PEC/2025/17: To undertake a tendering exercise for the feasibility study to develop
Childs Wood Field, with facilities for the Grounds Team as well as community use.

5. Date of next meeting – 17 September 2025

PEC/2024/11 17.9.25
Chair’s signature: