Wilford Community Group

Minutes of the committee meeting

held on Monday 10^th April 2006

at Wilford Social and Bowls Club

Present: Brian Hardy (BH) Chairman

Dave Boulton (DB) Secretary

Sheila Atherton (SA) Treasurer

Chris Allsopp (CA)

Brian Clark (BC) – items 4 to 8

Kate Clark (KC) – items 1 to 8

Frank Wakelin (FW)

Roger Steel (RS) – from item 4

One resident of Coronation Avenue attended for items 1 to 9.

			Action
1	Apologies Bill Roughton, Jonathan Shewell-Cooper, Stephanie Taylor Absent Maggie Hamilton
2	Minutes of 9^th January Committee Meeting Approved
3	Minutes of 23^rd February General Meeting Approved
4	Review Outstanding Actions
	a.	Boundary Change / General Meeting All outstanding actions had been completed in time for the General Meeting and newsletters delivered.
	b.	Neighbourhood Wardens DB reported that a voice message had been left with the Team Leader informing him that the March meeting had been cancelled and inviting him to this meeting. No response had been received. BH informed committee that the Team Leader sometimes attended the Area Committee meetings, the next of which takes place on Wednesday 12^th April, and he would try to speak to him there. Otherwise, DB will attempt to make contact by phone once again.	BH DB
	c.	Wilford Library BH and JS-C attended the meeting and BH subsequently may an informal presentation to an Area Committee meeting where early impressions seemed to imply that there may be some support among councillors for a refurbished or new library.
	d.	Main Road Traffic Speed DB reported that he was still waiting for a response from the Police Road Safety department and he had asked Nigel Brown to chase on the Group’s behalf.
	e.	John Deane Cannon BH reported that he had received an email from US historian Richard Warner with details of the cannon. At this stage, it was agreed not to pursue this issue at this stage, but it was agreed that should attempts to rebuild the library be successful, the cannon could form a centre-piece to the library entrance.
	f.	Main Road / Leander Close Road and Pavement Surfaces DB reported that a letter had been sent to the City Council, with accompanying photographs.
	g.	Bulb Planting This took place as arranged, although SA reported that there still remained a small number of bulbs.
	h.	Resident’s Concerns about Wilford Lane Traffic Lights and Main Road Telephone Box. KC has informed the resident of the reasons why the traffic light phasing will not be changed and why the telephone box will not be replaced.
	i.	2006 Open Gardens As the event has been cancelled, these actions are no longer relevant.
	j.	Proposed Meadows / Embankment Development DB has written to the City Council expressing the Group’s concerns and disappointment at the lack of consultation with Wilford residents. He reported that he had received a response saying that the Group will now be included on the list of interested parties for future consultation and correspondence.
5	Chairman’s Report BH thanked the committee for their support in securing the boundary change and for supporting the talk given by Andrew Pendleton of the Environment Agency. He also reported that he had walked by the Sewage Pumping Station recently and there continues to be no evidence of the planting promised by the City Council Footpaths Officer. DB agreed to pursue the matter once more. NH reiterated his concern and disappointment at the lack of community support for this year’s Open Gardens and Fête event, but was hopeful that an evening event may go some way to restoring this.		DB
6	Secretary’s Report DB reported that subsequent to discussions at the General Meeting about the state of the kerbs and embankment as a result of traffic mounting the kerb to pass, he had been informed by Andrew Pendleton of the Environment Agency that responsibility for this has reverted to the City Council as the banking does not form any structural part of the flood defences. DB agreed to write to the Highways department at the City Council to investigate the feasibility of increasing the height of the kerb and possibly widening the road at the “pinch-point” near Bader Road.		DB
7	Treasurer’s Report SA asked for approval to appoint the same auditors as last year for the 2005/06 accounts. This was approved unanimously. SA reported that the Group has now received a £500 top-up grant for running costs. This will free up some £400 that has been raised by the Group to be used for its own purposes.
8	2006 Summer Event Update It was agreed that the holding of an evening event such as a ceilidh would be appropriate. The following actions were agreed: Investigate costs of hiring the Emmanuel School hall. Investigate costs of alternative bands. Arrange purchase and printing of raffle tickets. Complete licence application form in preparation for event. It was also agreed that: The emphasis of publicity should be placed on it being a Wilford Community event and that the sale of tickets would be concentrated on (although not confined to) outlets in Wilford. CA offered to sell tickets through some branches of Connaught House. Ticket pricing should be based on discouraging numbers of very young children from attending.		DB BH/SA SA DB
9	Library Update BH reported that he had received a telephone call from the Nottingham Evening Post (NEP) saying that he had heard that Wilford Library was to close. BH had contacted the Library Service who denied that this was the case, but did state that all library provision was under review. BH informed committee that he had also contacted Area 9 councillors to seek their knowledge of this, and they would be reporting back to him in the coming days. BH would attempt to discuss this with councillors once again at the Area Committee meeting on 12^th April. In the meantime, the NEP reporter said that he would be writing an article for the coming Friday’s edition and requested that committee members attend the library at 6:30 on 12^th April for photographs. BH also informed committee that he had been informed that although the Wilford Youth Club had been run by a charitable group, that land was owned by the City Council and that he would be lobbying for at least some of the proceeds of any sale to be made available for a library development.
10	South Wilford School Traffic Update In the absence of BR, DB reported the contents of an email received from BR on the subject, following his discussions with school governors and action he had taken in conjunction with other parents. This had resulted in better driving near the school entrance although there continued to be some persistent “offenders”. DB reported that the week commencing 22^nd May was National “Walk to School” week and suggested that the Group support the school in this event by actively discouraging parking near the school that week. He suggested that “No Parking” cones could be placed outside the school at school run times and that Neighbourhood Wardens and/or the local Beat Officer be requested to be present to monitor driving. It was agreed that DB would ask BR to discuss this with his contact at the school.		DB
11	Big Lottery Funding In the absence of BR and JS-C, it was agreed to carry this over to the next meeting.		DB
11	Any Other Business CA suggested that given the cancellation of the 2006 summer event, thought should be given at this early stage to an event in 2007 with the emphasis moving away from “Open Gardens” to more of a fête-type event with stalls, rides and displays. This would require less organisational effort on the day by the committee and monies would be raised by the sale of “pitches”, sold in advance and base, if possible, on the rugby ground. CA showed the committee a mock-up of a leaflet he had created with some suggested events. It was agreed unanimously that although this sort of event might not raise as much money as previous events had, it would not rely on “community spirit” alone for its success but on the commercial desire of external parties. It was also agreed that this kind of event did not need a charitable cause to justify people attending and this could be a regular source of funds for the Group if so desired. However, although CA agreed to lead the organisation of this event, it was agreed that ALL committee members will need to make a contribution in terms of time, effort, ideas, contacts and experience, especially those who had previous experience of organising such event. It was agreed that this would be a standing agenda item for future committee meetings. The committee thanked CA for his commitment and enthusiasm.

The meeting closed at 21:40

Approved…Brian Hardy.…….(Chairman)

Date……8^th May 2006…..