Wilford Community Group

Minutes of the committee meeting

held on Monday 18^th July 2005

at Wilford Social and Bowls Club

The meeting was preceded by a discussion with Andy Pendleton (AP) of the Environment Agency about the proposed works on the Trent flood defences. The following points summarise the main points made:

• Current flood defences that are planned to be improved are at the end of their planned fifty year life.
• Current requirement is to build defences with a 100 year life – the Wilford Bee bank now has this planned life.
• To bring other defences up to the level of protection offered by the Bee bank, they need to be replaced and their height increased.
• Work will be carried out as three projects – Wilford railway embankment to Regatta Way, Queens Drive from the Tottle Brook outlet to the Wilford Toll Bridge, and Sawley to Colwick (excluding the Queens Drive section).
• The business case for the Wilford railway embankment to Regatta Way section will be presented to the Environment Agency (EA) board for a final decision in September 2005. Work would then be planned to start in April 2006.
• The EA will work with the developers of the new Gresham fields site to time the works on the embankment to precede those on the new schools. There will be no requirement for construction traffic to pass along Main Road – all access will be through the new school site.
• The EA will also work closely with the County Council to ensure that the schools are protected without needing to move the flood protection any closer to the school site (Emmanuel).
• It is proposed to double the width of the footpath at the rear of Rivermead flats to improve safety and to make this route a joint foot and cycle path to cater for the likely increase in that traffic as the total population of the schools grows. It is possible that lighting will also be installed.
• The works to the Queens Drive side of the Trent in Wilford will commence soon with the defences being raised slightly to give that side of the river the same level of protection as that offered to the Wilford side. In reality, this will mean that the Queens Drive embankment will be slightly higher than the Wilford side to cater for the higher water level that occurs naturally as the river flows on the outside of the river bend.
• AP confirmed that there would be no increased flooding risk to Wilford from these works.
• AP also confirmed that for household insurance purposes, residences in Wilford were designated as having al level of protection of one in 100 years of flood protection with the Association of British Insurers, giving a 1% probability of flooding in any one year.
• It was agreed that the Community Group would invite EA representatives to attend an General Meeting of the group when plans had been approved so that residents could see the plans in more details.

Brian Hardy (Chairman) thanked Mr Pendleton for attending and the committee meeting commenced at 20:00.

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)

Maggie Hamilton (MH)

Stephanie Taylor (ST)

Frank Wakelin (FW)

1 Chairman’s Welcome

BH welcomed the committee, especially new members, stating that he was looking forward to working with everyone in the forthcoming year.

He thanked BR and DB for volunteering to take on the rôles of Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively, and SA for volunteering to continue in her rôle as Treasurer.

BH stated his desire to make the committee meetings open to all residents and to hold regular meetings on pre-defined dates. No that there was a full complement of officers, meetings will not be cancelled or rearranged.

BH also recognised his obligations as Chairman to ensure that where that was lack of consensus, he would not attempt to impose his views but subject the decision to a committee vote whose decision would be abided by.

BH also stated his desire to work more closely with local groups, especially those who took part in the Open Gardens and Fete event on June 26^th 2005 on an ongoing basis to secure more community involvement with the Group.

2 Apologies

Jonathan Shewell-Cooper (JS-C), Roger Steel (RS)

3 Minutes of Previous Meeting (6^th June 2005)

Approved.

Action

4 Review Outstanding Actions

a. Cheque Signatories

It was agreed that the following would act as cheque signatories

on behalf of the Group:

Brian Hardy (Chairman)

Bill Roughton (Vice Chairman)

Dave Boulton (Secretary)

Sheila Atherton (Treasurer)

SA to provide the required forms to be taken to the bank. SA

b. Letter to Diane Topple re school transport

BR to review correspondence sent already and to invite her to a

committee meeting to discuss any outstanding issues BR

c. Contact Housing Committee and Area Committee about boundary

change

DB agreed to make contact with Silverdale Community Association

and the Housing department to plan a consultation with residents DB

affected. BH agreed to provide DB with contact details at the Housing

Department. BH

d. Apply for top-up grant

SA confirmed that the application for the top-up grant had been

received by the City Council and that she would continue to chase a

resolution. SA

e. Distribution of scarecrow forms

DB confirmed that he had delivered forms to the Becket school.

f. Availability of van for Open Gardens Event

No longer relevant.

g. Invite Environment Agency to next Committee Meeting

Done - see above.

h. Rubbish by Sewage Pumping Station

DB confirmed that neighbourhood Services have added the site to their

list of rubbish-clearing sites.

i. Independent Chair

Tim Spencer was unavailable, but Andrew Price was invited and

attended.

j. Area Committee

See item 7 below.

k. Ferry Inn Licence

DB stated that although the letter had been written and approved by

Committee, it had not been sent as the application had been returned

by the Licensing Authority. No further action is required unless/until a

new application is submitted.

5 Secretary’s Report

DB reminded committee that it had been previously agreed that the Group

should write to Nottinghamshire County Council under the terms of the

Freedom of Information Act to seek copies of documents and

correspondence that influenced their decision to run the tram route on the

top of the railway embankment. It was agreed that this request should be

made. DB

6 Treasurer’s Report

SA reported that the Group’s funds stood at approximately £500, which

included monies raised for the Group at the Open Gardens and Fete (see

item 9.2 below).

7 Area Committee Update and Future Group Representation

Due to JS-C’s absence, no update was available.

DB reported an email from RS stating that he no longer wished to represent

the at Area Committee. BH will contact the Area Committee to arrange to

have his name recorded as the Group’s representative. BH

8 Minute Taking

ST agreed to take shorthand notes at subsequent meetings for which the

committee expressed its thanks.

9 2005 Open Gardens and Fete Event

9.1 Announcement of amounts raised for charities

SA announced that a total of £2,571.62 had been raised for donation

to the charities. As agreed, this would be split on a 60;40 basis,

donating £1,542.97 to the National Kidney Research Fund

Nottinghamshire Kidney Units Appeal and £1,028.65 to the Nottingham

City Hospital Burns Unit.

The total amount does not include an outstanding amount of £100

yet to be handed over from the proceeds of the plant stall (see item

9.4 below).

9.2 Announcement of amount raised for the Community Group

SA informed the Group that the Community Group tombola raised

£166.40, half of which was donated to the charities, the other half

(£83.20) was banked into the Group’s bank account.

9.3 Review Meeting

It was agreed to hold an informal “Wine and Nibbles” evening at

BC/KC’s house on Wednesday 3^rd August starting at 7:30. DB will DB

issue invitations to stall holders and those who opened their gardens

and ST agreed to purchase the refreshments on behalf of the Group

subject to an approximate spend of £50. ST

9.4 Outstanding Actions and Correspondence

DB will write a pro forma letter to donors of raffle prizes to pass DB

to KC who will send them. KC

DB will write to others who contributed to the day to express the

Group’s gratitude. DB

SA explained to committee the position regarding the outstanding

amount of £100 from the plant stall. It was agreed tat a letter would

be to the stallholder requesting the return of the money and that a

deadline be imposed. DB agreed to draw up the letter and pass it DB

on to BH who would deliver it in person and discuss the matter with

the stallholder. BH

10 Payment to Roger Steel for the purchase of two 2004 Open

Gardens Banners

It was agreed that £50 be offered from Group funds. DB to contact RS. DB

11 Proposed Boundary Change

It was agreed that DB would contact the Silverdale Community Association

to agree a way forward. DB

12 Future Meetings

12.1 Dates

It was agreed that committee meetings would be held on the

second Monday of the each month except August. It was also

agreed that the summer event would be held on the last

Sunday of June and the AGM would be held on the first

Monday in July. Dates for the 2005/06 year, therefore, are:

12^th September 2005 Committee Meeting

10^th October 2005 Committee Meeting

14^th November 2005 Committee Meeting

12^th December 2005 Committee Meeting

9^th January 2006 Committee Meeting

13^th February 2006 Committee Meeting

13^th March 2006 Committee Meeting

10^th April 2006 Committee Meeting

8^th May 2006 Committee Meeting

12^th June 2006 Committee Meeting

25^th June 2006 Summer Event

3^rd July 2006 Annual General Meeting

10^th July 2006 Committee Meeting

12.2 Venue

It was agreed that committee meetings would be held at the

Social and Bowls Club.

12.3 Open vs. Closed

It was agreed that all meetings will be open meetings with agendas

Published on the notice boards in advance.

13 Any Other Business

13.1 Experian

BH reported items of correspondence from two residents regarding

the noise from the security system at Experian, stating that the

noise was excessive and appeared to be triggered too easily or

frequently. It was agreed that DB would write to convey the

residents’ complaints. DB

13.2 Clifton Lane Speed Limit

BH reported that the same two residents also complained about the

lack of adherence to the 30mph speed limit on Clifton Lane.

13.3 Harvester Licence Variation Application

It was agreed that DB would write to Chancery Court residents to

determine their views and whether they wanted the Group to

convey their views to the licencing authority. DB

The meeting closed at 21:30

Approved……Brian Hardy………(Chairman)

Date………12^th September 2005………….