Wilford Community Group

Minutes of the committee meeting

held on Monday 15^th January 2007

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)

Kate Clark (KC)

Roger Steel (RS)

Stephanie Taylor (ST)

Frank Wakelin (FW)

Guests: PC Nigel Brown (NB)

Councillor Brendan Clarke-Smith (BCS)

One resident was also in attendance for agenda item 9 (Dorothy Boot Homes).

			Action
1	Apologies Ed Armstrong, Brian Clark Absent Jonathan Shewell-Cooper
2	Minutes of 11^th December Committee Meeting Agreed subject to: Amend Any Other Business item d to add, “It was agreed that the lottery licence would not be renewed”. Remove action on SA in Any Other Business item e.
3	Review Outstanding Actions
	a.	Listing of Dorothy Boot Homes See agenda item 9 below.
	b.	Aircraft Overflying / Noise – Letter to CAA Carried forward.	DB
	c.	Fundraising RS reported that work was in progress for a print run of 50 Wilford Calendars. The following decisions were agreed: · RS will obtain photographs of Wilford, with the consent of relevant copyright holders. · The calendars will run from January to December, 2008. · RS will obtain funding for the production of the calendars. · 25 of the calendars will be given to the Post Office to sell, with proceeds being retained by them. · 25 of the calendars will be sold by Community Group committee members, with proceeds being retained by the Group. · It was agreed that the calendar for 2008 would be an exercise to raise awareness in Wilford and to gauge the likely level of sales. In then event of the sale of calendars being successful for 2008, consideration will be given to a larger print run for 2009. · RS to provide the following to the July committee meeting - draft design, to include page size, page layout (including references to calendar sponsor and Wilford Community Group), proofs of photographs to be used, details of type and weight of paper to be used For future calendars, FW suggested including a photograph of the Bowls Club, which might provide sales from there and NB suggested including photographs of Wilford schools for the same reason.
4	Secretary’s Report DB reported that following a planning application by Corridan Properties to demolish 218 Ruddington Lane and build seventeen properties on existing gardens, the same developer has made an application for the demolishment of 238 Ruddington Lane to build six new properties on existing gardens. BCS reported that the City Council does not have set policies on such developments as long as they were in character with the surrounding area. DB reported that the Group had received notification of the consultation period for the Meadows and Southside Regeneration Scheme. There were several documents on the council website running to many pages. The Group was most interested in the plans for a “tower” on the embankment and DB said he would attempt to find details of this. However, if any other committee members were willing to spend some time reviewing the documents to provide feedback to DB, he would be very grateful. The deadline for comments is 21^st February 2007.
5	Website Domain Renewal DB reported that the Wilford website domain name was due for renewal at a cost of £29.38 for two years. It was agreed unanimously that this should be renewed.
6	Report from NET Meeting BH and RS reported that they had held a meeting with NET on 11^th December 2006 to discuss a number of areas and described the responses they had received from NET, as follows: Bader Road Stop – NET’s view was that the distance between a stop at Bader Road and the Wilford Lane stop would be too short to warrant a stop at Bader Road. Access to the Rugby Club – NET said that they had written to the Rugby with access details and they would send a copy of this letter to the Group. RS had once again informed NET of the group’s and the Rugby Club’s concerns that on match days parked vehicles would extend along Coronation Avenue, Vernon Avenue and Main Road. Replacement of Car Park at Coronation Avenue with Bus Turning Point – NET reiterated that the car park would be for “leisure users” only but did not say how this would be enforced. Ruddington Lane – RS and BH reported that the route would now cross Ruddington Lane via a crossing instead of under the existing bridge. The road would be lowered and straightened slightly and the track raised. RS informed the Group that its communications with NET had been instrumental in the decision to run the track to the east of the embankment between Coronation Avenue and Wilford Lane. DB reported that he had emailed NET requesting the promised correspondence but if none was forthcoming he would write to them giving the Group’s version of events.
7	Report from Area Committee Meeting Wilford Library BH reported that the Area Committee has approved the sum of £4,000 to be spent on a development plan for Wilford Library. Councillors Spencer and Gibson are to meet on 1^st February to discuss exactly how this money should be spent – BH reported that the discussions during the Area Committee meeting suggested that this would be simply a survey of library users, but BH had told councillors that this was not required as that information was already available. BCS said that it would be better to get the City Council to give an indication of what level of funding might be available from central funds and the £4,000 be spent on a feasibility study. It was also noted that the possibility of a dual-use building might be investigated. BH also informed the committee that Councillor Price was investigating whether section 106 monies from the Wilford Sports Ground development could be diverted to the redevelopment of the library. FW asked whether libraries should come under the same category as sports and leisure that might make it easier to divert the monies. The portfolio holder for libraries is scheduled to attend the 14^th March meeting of the Area Committee. BH told committee that the previous sum of £10,000 designated by the Area Committee for library repairs was still available.
	Report from Area Committee Meeting (cont’d) 191 Bus Service BH reported that he has agreed that the service would be discussed at the March Area Committee meeting. In the meantime, Councillor Spencer is pursuing the possibility of a large bus for the first service of the day, as this is frequently full by the time it reaches Wilford. BH also reported that Silverdale residents were also unhappy with the service. KC reported that there were continuing instances of drivers being rue to passengers, including refusing to allow them to stand when it was clearly indicated that standing room was available.
8	Parking Restrictions Main Road / Bader Road The parking restrictions will be installed during April 2007. These will disallow parking on both sides of Main Road from the south end of the private road to just beyond the Bader Road junction. In addition, double-yellow lines will be painted along Bader Road to its junction with Cribb Close. BCS reported that the council had received two letters of support for the change and no objections. NB reported that the restrictions will be enforced regularly when the lines are first painted.
9	Dorothy Boot Homes Whilst The Boots Company owns the homes, they lease the land from the owner and this lease runs out in 2007. Residents have been given notice to quit by April 2007. BCS reported that Nottingham City Homes (NCH) are looking to rehouse the residents as a matter of urgency, but this will not in Wilford as the company has only one property in Wilford. Boots will move the residents and their property without charge. BH informed the committee that he had been invited to a public meeting with NCH and suggested that this be publicised to Boot Homes residents. KW agreed to do this. Concern was expressed about what might happen to the site. It is known that the buildings are grade II listed. RS asked BCS to find out from the Planning Department whether any discussion had already taken place with them about development on the site. BCS agreed to do this. RS also suggested that the Group contact the department to request that the Group be consulted as soon as any such discussions take place in case the Group can contribute to any discussions before a formal application is made. DB agreed to do this.		BCS DB
10	2007 Summer Event CA reported that he had approached a number of businesses to provide financial support for the event through sponsorship, but none was willing to do so. Through his own website, he offered to support the event through contributions towards publicity. He also reported that twenty groups or businesses had expressed interest in attending the event. Heart 106 have agreed to attend. RS reminded committee that the date of the event would clash with the Princess Diana memorial event in London. It was agreed that the date would not be changed. The following actions were agreed: CA to discuss insurance with SA CA to establish sub-committee to meet regularly to progress the event CA/sub-committee to provide a full budge breakdown to the February meeting RS to provide CA with details of fairground ride operators who had attended the Rotary Club bonfire event DB to obtain a copy of an application for a temporary event licence		CA/SA CA CA RS DB
11	Any Other Business
	a.	Crime in Wilford NB reported that in 2006 296 crimes had been reported in Wilford and Silverdale. In Wilford itself, there had been 41 burglaries in 2006, the majority of which occurred during the summer months and were opportunist – unsecured doors or windows at the front of the property while the occupant was at the rear of the property. The prime motivation for house burglaries was to obtain car keys – some cases had been reported of keys being obtained by putting a hooked stick through the letterbox to reach keys that had been left near to the front door. BH remarked that recent burglaries on Holy Avenue were all forced entry. NB informed the group that crime was still relatively low in Wilford and that for comparison, there was a period when Clifton was reporting four burglaries a day. NB also reported that Neighbourhood Wardens in the Meadows were now extending their beat to the Coronation Avenue/Vernon Avenue/north Main Road area. Committee asked NB to request the Wilford Neighbourhood Wardens to not restrict their beat to Main Road but to include the side roads as well. The committee discussed the issue of traffic speed in Wilford and BH agreed to bring the issue up at the next Area Committee to investigate the feasibility of illuminated speed reminders for Main Road and Ruddington Lane.	BH
	b.	Notice Boards Advert BH reported that he had received a request from The Social Club to place an advert on the boards for new Social Club members. This was agreed.
	c.	Embankment Footpath BR asked if anyone knew when the embankment footpath would be reopened. RS agreed to provide DB with contact details to obtain the information.	RS
	d.	Graffiti FW reported that graffiti has appeared on the new embankment wall near the Becket School.

The meeting closed at 22:00

Approved………Brian Hardy……. (Chairman)

Date…19^th February 2007………..