Minutes from Extraordinary Meeting February 2021

Shobrooke Parish Council

Minutes of Extraordinary Parish Council meeting held via Zoom on

Wednesday 3 February 2021 

The meeting commenced at 7.30pm 

Members Present

Cllr C Furse (Chair)      Cllr A Jones (joined 8.30pm)

Cllr C Boult                  Cllr A Ripper

Cllr B Curle                   Cllr L Pitts       

Cllr J Ingham                                                               

In attendance:

J Hole, Parish Clerk

Public Participation

There was none

Formal Business

01/02/21     Apologies  

Cllr M Boult (working)    

02/02/21     Declaration of Interest

None noted 

03/02/21     Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 20 January 2021

Agreed and to be signed as a true record 

04/02/21     To consider the Councils compliance with the Insurance Policy relating to the play park

Cllr C Furse reported, that as agreed at the last meeting, weekly inspections were taking place.  Cllr C Furse would be away during half term week and Cllr A Jones would carry out the inspection that week.

Cllr L Pitts suggested a Councillor rota for carrying out inspections.  It was agreed to put a note in the Brooke asking for volunteers.

Cllr J Ingham asked what the inspection involved and how much knowledge the person doing the inspecting needed?  Cllr C Boult had previously trained volunteers and showed them what to look for which was basically any wear and tear or anything that could be dangerous.  The annual inspection by ROSPA was a more detailed inspection by a trained person.  Cllr B Curle was concerned that if an accident occurred and the insurance company would not settle the claim, the competency of the person doing the inspections may be questioned.  The current insurance requirement states that the equipment must be inspected at least every seven days, but makes no mention of any training or competency required.  In addition, Cllr J Ingham was concerned that if the insurance company would not settle a claim then individual councillors would be jointly and severally liable and could individually be pursued for payment of a claim. 

After discussion it was agreed that the Clerk would:                 

• Contact our current insurance company and ask what are the requirements for the person carrying out the weekly inspections?
• Find out if the Parish Council could take out an insurance that would cover Councillors liability when carrying out the inspections
• Contact other insurance companies to compare policies and find out their requirements for play park inspections
• Ask other Parish Councils, who own their play parks, what their arrangements for inspections are (question to be asked at Raddon Hills Group)
• Ask MDDC for advice and their inspection regime for MDDC play parks
• Find out about training courses available 

Cllr J Ingham proposed, seconded by Cllr B Curle that the play park should be closed until the above questions had been answered and considered.  A vote was taken with three votes supporting the proposal for closure and three votes against with one abstention.  The Chair’s casting vote was for the park to remain open. 

05/02/21     Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda

Clerk to put a note in The Brooke asking for expressions of interest for quoting for the installation of the new play equipment. 

06/02/21     Date of next meeting: Wednesday 17 February 2021, at 7.30 pm, via zoom

End of formal business 

The meeting closed at 9pm