Wilford Community Group

 

Minutes of the committee meeting

held on Monday 10th October 2005

at Wilford Social and Bowls Club

 

 

Present:            Brian Hardy (BH)                                Chairman

                        Bill Roughton (BR)                           Vice Chairman

                        Sheila Atherton (SA)                            Treasurer

                        Stephanie Taylor (ST)

                        Frank Wakelin (FW)

                        Brian Clark (BC)

                        Kate Clark (KC)

                        Jonathan Shewell Cooper (JSC)

 

Guest:              Councill            or Tim Spencer (TS)

 

The committee meeting was preceded by a visit to the Eastcroft Energy from Waste Plant. The Group was given an informative talk and a tour of the Plant.  They explained about the strict regulations governing operation of the Plant and discussed plans for expanding it in the future. It was noted that there has only been one excursion of dioxcins in its history (this was in 2005) but this did not affect Wilford.  The Group was given booklets and advised to visit the website for further information. The website address is www.wrg.co.uk/eastcroft.

 

The committee reconvened at the Bowls Club at 9.30 p.m.

 

1)       Apologies

         Chris Allsopp (CA), Maggie Hamilton (MH), Roger Steel (RS)

 

2)       Minutes of previous meeting (12th September 2005)

         Approved.

 

3)       Review Outstanding Actions            Action

a.       Cheque Signatories

All documentation is now complete

b.      School Transport

               BR is due to meet Diane Topple.  It was suggested that the new head of the

                  Nottingham Emmanuel School, who is very interested in the scheme, could

               be invited to a future meeting.  She could also be contacted re the Open

                  Gardens day.

c.       Boundary Change

Cheryll Rawlins sees no problem in changing the constitution. A general

meeting will be needed to achieve this. DB to progress with Silverdale

Community Association.                                                               DB

d.       Apply for top-up grant

No forms received yet.  Carry forward.         SA

e.       Ferry licence application

The premises had been closed one day last week because the licence

had expired – a confusion when the landlord changed.  DB has sent a

letter expressing the Group’s objections.  The panel meeting has been

postponed until the last week in October.  TS told the group that the

objections will carry more weight if a Group member attends the meeting.

He will let us know the date of the Meeting.         TS

e.   Letter to Experian

               DB has written to Experian.  Reply awaited.

f.       Speed limit on Clifton Lane

Carry forward. RS had sent details of changes to speed limits on the Ring         CA

Road but this doesn’t affect Wilford.

g.      Summer Event

      Meeting was confirmed for 17th October and invitations had been sent.

 

 

4.             Chairman’s Report

         BH thanked group members for maintaining their interest in and commitment to

         Wilford Village.  CA had been particularly helpful in providing information and this

         is much appreciated.

 

         Work is now underway to improve flood defences along the river.  BH suggested

         the Group should contact Andy Pendleton again once the plans have been agreed

for improvements to the south side of the river.  A public meeting could be called to communicate the plans to residents and DB suggested that this be tied in with the

changes to he Group’s boundaries.

 

         BH suggested that the Group have a Christmas dinner for members and partners

         (and Josie) at the Boat House (next to Sainsbury’s on Castle Marina).  Everyone          

         was in favour of this.

 

BH is looking forward to the first open gardens meeting next Monday17th

October at 7.30 p.m. at The Bowls Club.

 

5.             Secretary’s Report

         Committee members had been alerted to incidents of stones through windows

         at the rear of properties on Vernon Avenue.  A letter had been sent to the school

         pointing out that we are aware of these and asking for reassurance that action

         has been taken to prevent this happening again. PC Nigel Brown is involved too.

 

         DB had contacted Dave Stretton about the standard of hanging baskets this

         year and enquiring about the cost of new ones next year.  This would be £224

         to cover the cost of planting, watering etc. for the first one which was felt to be     

         rather a lot.

 

         Pat Lister has confirmed that speeding on Main Road will be discussed at a future

meeting.  It was agreed that we should invite Nigel Brown (or possibly someone

more senior) to come to a committee meeting once CA has provided all the

accident information.   Agenda for next meeting.  DB

 

Details of committee members is almost ready to put on the website. BR will finalise

this.         BR

 

6.             Treasurer’s Report

         SA is still pursuing reduced cost insurance.

 

7.             Planning Application – The Old Vicarage

The owner has submitted plans for a new access road running between The Ferry

and the neighbouring property and to build a 3-car garage.  There are concerns about

possible increase in traffic and the proposed felling of trees. There should have been

an application for a change of use in respect of the driveway but this was withdrawn.

A digger has been working on the driveway.  DB has received various phone calls.

There is considerable concern in the village and in the committee that acceptance of

a change of use would set a precedent and could mean that further housing

development is possible.  There is no current planning application for such

development, however. The committee is unwilling to become involved in personal

disputes but does have an interest in the planning issue.

 

8.             Summer 2006 Event Meeting Agenda

         DB will draw up an agenda to include a general review of last year’s event, ideas

         for possible beneficiaries and activities.  Suggestions will be considered by the

         committee and a decision made.    JSC pointed out that 2006 is the 200th anniversary

         of the abolition of slavery and that the WI will be having an anti-trafficking of women

         campaign.

 

9.             Any Other Business

         (i)  KC had received a letter from the Burns Unit thanking the Group for the donation

         and including a photograph of the presentation.  BH had received a similar letter

         from the Kidney Unit.

 

(ii)  FW had attended a recent Local Area Committee meeting.  He reported that the

LAC is about to spend £5,500 on advertising its existence.  He compared this with

the reluctance to spend money to improve the library.

 

(iii)    Bulb planting – JSC had contacted City In Bloom and will be getting more bulbs –

he still has 100 left from last year.  We need around 500 and these will arrive during 

the first week in November.  Planting is needed outside The Maypole, on the Bee Bank

and the bank opposite The Ferry.  Willing committee members will meet at 10.30 a.m.

outside The Maypole on Sunday 6th November.  The committee was reminded that the Nottingham Crocus Grows on Wilford Sports Ground and is being moved.  These need

to be nurtured as they are rare.

 

(iv)    TS asked if we would like to invite the Neighbourhood Wardens to a meeting?  We

agreed this is a good idea. DB will contact Green Lane Community Centre for names of               DB

individuals.

 

(v) JSC wanted to know whether there was any news about the library.  Nothing further

to report but we could invite a speaker to our December meeting.  TS said that Andrew

Price had been discussing the situation with officers.

        

(vi) BR reported that the footpath on the embankment behind Chancery Court has

been officially moved to the top of the bank.

        

         (vii) SA wanted the committee to consider raising money to replace trees in the

Village.

 

 

The meeting closed at 10.35 p.m.  

 

 

 

Approved………Brian Hardy…………….(Chairman)

 

Date…………14th November 2005…………….