Wilford Community Group

Minutes of the committee meeting

held on Monday 8^th May 2006

at Wilford Social and Bowls Club

Present: Brian Hardy (BH) Chairman

Bill Roughton (BR) Vice Chairman

Dave Boulton (DB) Secretary

Sheila Atherton (SA) Treasurer

Chris Allsopp (CA)

Brian Clark (BC)

Kate Clark (KC)

Roger Steel (RS)

Frank Wakelin (FW) – from item 4

Invited Guest: Andrew Nembard (AN), Neighbourhood Warden Team Leader

			Action
The meeting was preceded by a discussion with Andrew Nembard, the new Neighbourhood Warden Team Leader. The following points were noted: Mr Nembard emphasised that Wardens are there to help and support the community and any help or information that residents could provide to them would help in the resolution of problems in the community. Wardens are based at Clifton Police Station. Wardens currently work shift patterns of either 10:00 to 18:00 or 14:00 to 22:00. AN explained that he was attempting to increase the numbers of hours that wardens patrolled (i.e., earlier starts and/or later finishes) and is also trying to increase the number of wardens for Area 9 (currently 4), although new recruits will be allocated initially to high priority areas such as Sneinton and The Meadows. Neighbourhood Wardens now have the power to issue fixed penalty notices for cycling on footpaths, dog fouling and littering. They do not have the power of arrest, although they do have the power to detain, to enable Police officers to attend and deal with the problem. Wardens also act as professional witnesses, collating information for the Police in the event of a prosecution being brought from information supplied by the wardens. Residents can contact a warden to deal with fly-tipping, graffiti and abandoned vehicles; the wardens work closely with Neighbourhood Services and this can speed up the clearing up of these items. BH pointed out to AN that although recent statistics showed crime levels in area 9 below those of the City average, where all other areas were experiencing a downward trend in crime, Area 9 was the only one experiencing increases in crime. The issue of inconsiderate car parking outside South Wilford School was also discussed and AN agreed to try and send wardens down Main Road at school run time when possible. The committee thanked Mr Nembard for attending and he agreed to send DB contact details for himself and the wardens so that they could be publicised in the notice boards and on the website.			DB
The committee meeting then started at 20:00.
1	Apologies Jonathan Shewell-Cooper. Absent Maggie Hamilton.
2	Minutes of 10^th April Committee Meeting Approved
3	Review Outstanding Actions
	a.	Neighbourhood Wardens See above.
	b.	Embankment Planting DB reported an email from John Lee saying that budget constraints had prevented the planting from taking place as promised last winter and that it would be attempted again this winter.
	c.	Main Road / Damage to Bee Bank DB reported that he had written to the Council with photographs and was awaiting a response.
	d.	2006 Summer Event DB reported that the Nottingham Emmanuel School had not been in contact, but the consensus of opinion was that the cost (around £160) would be prohibitive. BH confirmed that the band Whirligig had been booked for a Barn Dance at an approximate cost of £200. SA confirmed that the raffle tickets have been ordered. DB confirmed that the Temporary Event Licence was ready and only required confirmation or otherwise from the Ferry Inn about the pay bar. BH agreed to chase up the Ferry Inn manager.	BH
	e.	South Wilford School Traffic DB emailed BR and he has forwarded these on to the appropriate school governor.
	f.	Big Lottery Funding DB reported that as he had no response from JS-C, this item was not put on the agenda.
4	Chairman’s Report BH reminded committee about CA’s email about the possibility of the latter moving house outside Wilford. CA stated that although he would prefer to remain in Wilford this may not be possible, but if possible, would like to continue to be involved in the Summer 2007 event. DB advised committee that the constitution allowed for co-opted committee members from outside the area and this would facilitate CA’s involvement in the committee. BH reported that there was now no Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator at Nottinghamshire Police. BH advised committee that he would not be at the next meeting and requested that BR take the chair if available.
5	Secretary’s Report DB reported that he had received an email from the Group advising that he would be away from 14^th May to 12^th June and to contact Sergeant Phillip Matthews in the meantime. DB reported that following an incident where a bus had been delayed for some 20 minutes due to parked cars on Vernon Avenue, he had written to Nottingham City Transport requesting their support for a bus turning area where NET had proposed a car park and for the route of Service 3 to be changed so that it did not come down Vernon Avenue and Coronation Avenue. He also reported a response from NCT that said that residents on Vernon and Coronation Avenue would need to be surveyed before and proposed changes could be considered. DB agreed to draw up a draft communication that he would circulate to committee officers for approval. DB reported that planning permission was being sought to build 24 new homes at the rear of properties on Ruddington Lane. This would involve the demolition of 218 Ruddington Lane and the construction of 2/2½ storey homes on the exiting gardens of five homes. Committee agreed that it was likely that the residents had agreed to sell their land and unless any residents came forward to seek support from the Group, no correspondence would be entered into. However, DB also reported that the planning documents showed that an S106 agreement would be in place “to contribute to local parks, equipment an play areas” but that it is also the developer’s understanding that “there is no contribution requirement for development of physical or social infrastructure with health or education contributions”. It was agreed that DB would write to the City Council pointing out that an S106 payment for the development of Wilford library should be considered instead of a contribution to playing fields and that there been no infrastructure development in Wilford despite permission being given, so far, for 160 new houses and the possibility of a further 120 (approximately) on Ruddington Lane and at the current Becket school site. DB reported that an S106 payment of £300,000 had been secured by the City Council in respect of the Wilford Sports ground development and that only £133,000 had been spent so far. The Council had until September 2007 to spend this money. It was agreed that DB would write to the City Council requesting that consideration be given to the balance of the monies being given over to the redevelopment of Wilford library. DB suggested that the Group write to the City Council to discuss the naming of roads on the Sports Ground development to attempt to give them a more local relevance (John Deane, Benjamin Carter, William Wilberforce, The Smith Family). This was agreed. DB reported that subsequent to previous discussions with regard to the monitoring of road traffic speed in Wilford, there had still been no response from the Police and that the companies he had contacted about hiring equipment no longer provided that service. He informed committee that a new, fully-guaranteed speed gun could be purchased for £78. DB also reminded committee that a number of residents had expressed their concerns about traffic speed. BR agreed to provide DB with contact details of a Colston Basset resident who had carried out a similar exercise to determine how this was done there. DB reported that following representations made to the City Council, a drain has now been installed to take away standing water at the junction of the private road and Main Road and that markings had been placed at the end of Leander Close where the high drop kerbs had been reported.		DB DB DB DB BR
	DB reported that a response had been received from the City Council with regard to the proposed Ozone development on the embankment. It was explained that the project was on the Big Lottery’s long list and work was being carried out to get the project moved onto it short list by ay 2007. Following that, a decision on funding would be made on the basis of more detailed plans. The Environment Agency is one of the bodies involved in the project Wilford Community Group has been added to the list of consulted parties.
6	Treasurer’s Report SA reported that the Group currently has a bank balance of approximately £1,000. She also reported that the accounts were now with the auditors.
7	Library Update DB reported that there had been only one email received from residents about the library requesting more details about any possible development/refurbishment. BH reported that he had attended an Area Committee meeting where it had been stated verbally that any surplus from the sale of the Wilford Youth Club would be made available for the library. This had not appeared in the written minutes and BH agreed that he would attempt to get the minutes amended. BH also encouraged members to obtain a library card to increase the numbers of members.		BH
8	2006 Summer Event DB reported that the Church Halls had been booked at a cost of £70. DB showed some early drafts of tickets and publicity and it was agreed that tickets and publicity should link the raffle to the Air Ambulance rather than the event as a whole. The tickets and publicity should make more emphasis of the date of the event. It was agreed that the event would be called a “Barn Dance”. BH, DB, SA and ST agreed to decide what would be required for the Ploughman’s Supper. KC reported that Boots had offered a large number of small tombola prizes or a smaller number of large prizes. It was agreed that the larger prizes would be requested.		BH DB SA ST
9	2007 Summer Event CA reported that he had emailed a number of local companies about the event and had received eight positive responses to date. RS had emailed the Chair of the Rugby Club to secure the use of the field for the day and was awaiting a response. CA was attempting to secure the help of South Notts College students who might be willing to help with the event as part of their course studies. Following discussion, it was agreed that an entrance fee would not be charged as this would require the hire of fencing. CA pointed out that this might require the pitch fee to be increased. It was suggested that CA establish a sub-committee to progress the organisation of the event without having to wait for monthly committee meetings. This was agreed and Ca will call on individual committee members as and when required. Major decisions, particularly those involving financial expenditure would still be referred to full committee meetings.
10	2006 Annual General Meeting DB was confirmed that this would take place on Monday 3^rd July. BH confirmed that the Social Club had been booked for the meeting. DB reported that he had emailed Andrew Price to request that he act as independent Chair for the meeting but had not received a reply. BH agreed to ask him at the next Area Committee meeting. DB agreed to produce a draft newsletter, to include details of the Barn Dance and to promote support for the library refurbishment/replacement.		BH DB
11	Any Other Business SA reported that the sign at the junction of Holly Avenue and Main Road was still positioned in a way that blocked drivers’ views along Main Road. DB agreed to write to the City Council once again. FW reported that he had contacted the City Council requesting that the Bell Lane road sign be replaced. RS reported that consultation was taking place with regard to the Draft Development Plan for Nottingham East Midlands Airport. He said that he had received representations from some residents about aircraft appearing to deviate from the required flight path and flying directly over Wilford. It was agreed that DB would write on behalf of the group requesting clarification of the flight path and contact details for residents to make any complaints.		DB DB

The meeting closed at 21:40

Approved…Bill Roughton.…….(Vice Chairman)

Date……10^th June 2006………..