Minutes of the Committee Meeting

held on Monday 18th February 2008

at Wilford Social and Bowls Club

 

 

Present:            Brian Hardy (BH)                    Chairman                     

Roger Steel (RS)                  Vice Chair

Sheila Atherton                                  Treasurer

                        Stephanie Taylor (ST)

                        Frank Wakelin (FW)

                        Bill Roughton (BR)

                        Josie Foster (JF)

                        Diane Moore, Community Landscape Architect

 

The meeting was also joined by PC Nigel Brown, Councillor Brendan Clarke, Don Bulmer, and Elaine Stenson (our new Area 9 Committee representative) and several local residents.

                       

           

 

 

Action

1.

BH welcomed everyone to the meeting and began by inviting Colin Mee of Bader Road to raise the issue of car parking which had caused problems recently during school opening and leaving times.  He reported that cars had been parked on the double yellow lines on both sides of Bader road and this had prevented an ambulance from being able to deliver a sick child to her home.  Drivers had not responded to requests to move their cars and had also parked across driveways.  Mr. Mee and others had written to the police to request that the double yellow lines be extended further along Bader Road.  PC Brown said that this is really a matter for City parking wardens to deal with but he would raise the suggestion.  It was also suggested that the Head Teacher of the school should write again to parents asking them to park more considerately.  PC Brown also said that if the registration numbers of offending cars are given to the police they will write to the drivers.

 

2

Apologies

Dave Boulton (DB), Chris Allsopp (CA)

 

 

3

Matters Arising from the meeting of 21 January 2008:

 

  • Pork Farms Ammonia Tanks:  there had been another leak on Tuesday 12 February with emergency services in attendance.  DB to write again for reassurance about the safety of Wilford residents.
  • Rear of Co-Op- premises:   No progress. C/F
  • NET:  the committee approved an email be sent from RS and DB proposing land off Wilford Land to be used to store large plant.
  • Litter bins:  3 extra bins are expected in Wilford shortly. 

 

 

 

  DB

 

 

RS

 

RS/DB

     4

 

 

 

 

 

Iremonger’s Pond:  Diane Moore was grateful that funding for her involvement in the project has now arrived with WCG.  She reiterated that the goal is to put in place a management and maintenance plan for the pond site.  It needs to be finally decided what the boundary of the area will be.  BH proposed that a small group of interested people form a group that will ultimately take on a lease or licence from the City Council for a minimal rent (Ł1 per annum).  This group will be a committee separate from WCG with its own constitution.  Julian Taylor is sorting this out.  WCG congratulated the Steering Group on progress made and ST agreed to inform Julian that the idea of a separate committee is approved.

 

 

     5

Library:  the new opening hours began last week.  There had been a ‘celebration’ gathering at the library on Wednesday 12 February but no one from the Library Service had attended and no local councillors.  BH hoped that Elaine Stenson would be supporting WCG’s efforts in respect of the library.

 

 

 

    6

Any Other Business: 

 

1.       Church roof lead theft – all were concerned that there had now been 3 or 4 thefts with no arrests made.  PC Brown said that the police did know the identity of a possible offender but had not been able to find him. Some people had been charged with handling stolen goods (lead) but the Crown Prosecution Service said there was not enough evidence to proceed as all denied any involvement.  PC Brown regretted that the church had not followed up police suggestions of locking the gates at night or providing CCTV cameras.  It was pointed out that planning permission is needed for these on a listed building.  JF reported that the diocese had agreed to felt the roof and that insurance would cover the cost.  The inside of the church has been severely damaged by water now and RS had been interviewed by the local BBC for a TV news bulletin about this.  He had said that WCG wanted lead to be put back on the roof, but this is clearly not the wish of the diocese so it is unhelpful to have said this in public.  There was concern in the group that committee members should not give personal opinions in public as if they are the view of the WCG.  Some committee members felt they had been misrepresented.    In view of the controversy over RS’s TV interview, Elaine Stenson suggested that the group might have organised press releases rather than individuals doing them randomly but BH felt we did not have anyone qualified to act in this capacity.  JF will feed back to David Rowe that the WCG did not disagree with felt roofing and do not want to upset the church.  There have been one or two incidents that have upset them and local residents in the past and we want to avoid this.

2.   Area 9 Committee:  Elaine Stenson introduced herself. She is taking over from Don Bulmer.  She is part of the Neighbourhood Management Team working 3 days a week and will represent Wilford’s interest on the committee.  She wants to hear about issues of importance to Wilford residents and suggested there might be a “one-stop-shop” where residents could meet or drop in to discuss issues.  No one could think of anywhere suitable in the area.  BH reminded Elaine that no 106 money had ever been spent in Wilford and there are very few facilities.  Brendan reminded the meeting that the next Area Commmittee Meeting will be looking at youth facilities and anyone can attend as it is an open meeting.  The church youth worker has been invited

3.       Crime figures:  PC Brown reported that crime levels had remained static with 17 crimes in January in Wilford and Ruddington Lane compared with 17 in December, 22 in November, 18 in October and 24 in September.  By comparison there had been 30 car crimes in Clifton in 10 days.  The problem of car crime at The Harvester seems to have stopped.  Glenford (the local community support officer) is often around in the area on his bike and there is also a Neighbourhood Protection Officer in the area regularly.

4.       Dorothy Boot Homes:  DB had sent a note to the meeting informing us that the listed building planning application had been incomplete so had not yet been accepted.  Any work undertaken at the site would be at the developer’s own risk.

5.       Cycle path:  BR said that the path opposite the Bee Bank is to be renovated for cycling and will be closed until 2 June 2008.

6.       Neighbourhood Watch: a local resident enquired whether there was one in Wilford.  There is a small one on Holly Avenue, Wilford, but no other in the area.  It was noted that any charity vans calling in the area should be registered and the police can check on this.

7.       Notice Board:  SA wanted to ensure that new owners of the wall where the village notice board is fixed are happy with it.  DB was to write.

 

 

The meeting closed at 21.30

 

The next meeting is at The Wilford Bowls and Social Club on Monday 17 March 2008                        at 7.30 p.m.

 

 

Approved……Brian Hardy………(Chairman)      Date……17th March 2008…………….