The Committee was updated on various maintenance and management issues relating to the Green.

With regard to the grass treatment and reseeding programme, the work had been carried out, however, the scarified moss currently remained onsite due to an vehicle/contractor issue.   Once a new Parks and Green Spaces Manager had been appointed the moss would be removed as soon as possible.

The matrix paving had been ordered and delivered.  Officers were waiting for the delivery of soil to back fill the dip under the bench. The Corporate Head of Environmental Services had contacted the Crown Estate and requested permission to install the matrix paving.  The paving would be installed if permission was granted.  It  was noted that the matrix paving would be infilled with grass not gravel.

Officers reported that the second and third prospective bench donors had changed their mind.   Officers would contact the Englefield Green Residents Association to ascertain if they were aware of anyone who would be interested in being a bench donor. 

At the Committee meeting on 9 April 2024, Officers were asked to go back to the Crown Estate to advise them there were already some composite posts insitu on the Green and composite posts had previously been procured by the Council and were held in readiness for installation.   The Crown Estate came back to Officers and confirmed that in view of the existing stock, composite posts could be used but following the use of these timber posts should be used thereafter.   It was agreed that the last remaining composite posts should be used in areas at risk of traveller incursions.   Officers would meet with Councillor Berardi to discuss the strategic placing of the remaining composite posts.

At the 9 April 2024 meeting Officers had also been asked to seek advice on whether local residents could source their own 3^rd party contractors to undertake work on the Green (i.e. contractors sourced by Committee Members but whose appointment was subject to the approval of Council Officers and would be supervised by Committee Members).  The Committee was advised that this was not permitted.   Committee Members were appointed to a decision making body only, and did not have the standing either as Committee Members or Councillors to source contractors or enter into contracts on behalf of the Council.  

The Committee noted the current staff vacancies.  The Corporate Head of Environmental Services reported that since publication of the agenda interviews for the position of Green Spaces Manager had taken place and an offer had been made.

With regard to income from events.   Officers confirmed that income generated by activities on Englefield Green including events and filming was credited to the parks revenue account.  Income from all events and the income generated from letting of sports facilities across the borough was used to offset the cost of managing Runnymede’s open spaces.  Income was not retained within individual open space budgets.  Whilst the Committee understood this process they asked Officers to check with finance whether the freehold of Englefield Green being Crown Estate land justified the Council running an individual budget for the Englefield Green rather than a common budget with the open space land in the freehold ownership of the Council.   Officers would look into this and report back to the next meeting.

The Corporate Head of Environmental Services asked the Committee to notify her of any additional maintenance items they would like added to the next agenda via the Chair of the Committee by no later than 1^st September.  This would give Officers time for research and where necessary to seek quotations.