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Easton-in-Gordano, Pill & Ham Green Community Forum
Minutes of meeting held on Monday 3rd December 2007 at Pill Community Centre
Present: Jenny Billington Pete Brewer Elspeth Davies Charles Exley Fred Gaskin (Treasurer) Mike Goldsworthy (Secretary) Emily Jones (Rural Officer, Community Action RCC) Paul Kent (Chairman) Ivor King Peter Milner Annie Milton (Community Development Worker, North Somerset Council) Liz Moore Brian Murphy Yvonne Rees Alan Smith Rhian Tooker Sue Tuckwell Jacqui Ward (Parish Plans Officer, Community Action RCC) Ralph Whiting
Apologies: Gerald Ashley Madeline Bickle Ted Edgar Mark Kennedy Bob Langton
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1. Welcome:
PK welcomed everyone to the third formal meeting of the Community Forum especially guests Annie Milton, Jacqui Ward & Emily Jones, each of whom introduced themselves and gave a brief outline of their roles relevant to the Forum’s activities.
2. Minutes of Meeting on 17th September 2007:
AGREED and accepted. Matters arising: a. Nothing further in respect of the application for a fridge/freezer. Deferred to next meeting. b. Actual cost provided by Parish Council of reusable bag project was £1,775, not £1,100 as mentioned at previous meeting.
3. Correspondence:
PK reported the following.
a. No reply from bus company to letter sent following earlier meeting. CE mentioned that we will be affected by the showcase bus route but we are not far up the tree and it is unlikely to go ahead until the end of the decade. b. Circular email received from North Somerset Council inviting comment on the Draft North Somerset Sustainable Community Strategy. AGREED that PK and MG should draft representations on behalf of the Forum. c. Email from RCC regarding workshop on “Sustainable practices” in Parish Plans. MG already agreed to attend and report back.
4. Constitution:
PK asked that thanks to RW for reviewing the draft should be minuted. AGREED that the following further changes needed to be made.
a. Provision for action to be taken on behalf of the Forum between meetings. b. Changes to finance section to provide for bank account. c. Confirmation that membership open to anyone but with numbers to be limited. d. Provision to show “accountability” – Good point. e. Provision for approval – 2 thirds of membership? Issue of quorum – what if low attendance at particular meeting.
RW to revise draft.
5. Membership:
Repeated concerns that inadequate representation on the Forum from corporate and youth sectors. Head boy and girl from St Katherine’s School were due to attend meeting but other commitments. See later items.
6. Corporate Identity / Logo:
CE reported that the lack of a clear corporate identity for the Forum was holding up finalising the Community Website. See later minute.
7. Action Plan Updates:
Health:
TE unable to attend meeting. ED distributed notes [attached] on various issues covered by the Patient and Public Involvement in Health. Orchard View is a big issue with a meeting of the Project Board and Reference Group tomorrow [4th December]. Dentistry is another major issue with a lack of practices prepared to take NHS patients. AGREED that a Practice Newsletter would be a good idea and ED will raise this with TE.
AM referred to the Partnership for Older People project. Should we get Kate Philpott from Age Concern to speak to us?
MG reported that TE had offered to arrange for the MD of the Out-of-Hours doctors company to speak to the Forum. AGREED this would be useful at a later meeting.
Disability & The Elderly:
GA not at meeting to report any new items.
Traffic & Transport:
CE mentioned again the showcase busroute project. Awaiting budget approval this year. 10 routes planned for North Somerset and ours is at 8, 9 or 10. LM reported that there is no longer the original risk of damage to the flower bank.
Environment & Planning:
a. LM reported that all groups in the area were doing a lot of work.
b. JB suggested that more bulbs required on Watchhouse Hill.
c. Reusable Bag project. PM reported that 2,500 bags had been ordered for launch on 6 Dec. All stores on board except top shop. RT reported that launch fixed for 15 Dec at schools. Publicity through local newspapers had been arranged.
d. ST reported that Transition Town status was still being investigated.
e. ST reported on her work with the Fair Trade Foundation and distributed a written update [attached] on progress towards Fair Trade status.
Leisure, Recreation & Education: RT reported on “Cooking Bus” project and that bus going to be at St Katherine’s School. Part of Food for Life government project to promote healthy eating. St Katherine’s School hoping to be flagship school. 7 year waiting list for bus and St K has got it this week.
St Katherine’s School has put in bid for astro-turf and changing rooms, which would be part of facilities available to the community.
Crime & Vandalism:
Nothing to report/discuss.
Facilities:
AGREED that this heading covered issues dealt with elsewhere and that it should be removed.
Business & Employment:
YR reported continuing difficulty in getting any interest in the Forum from the business community. ST suggested that links through Fair Trade may help. AM suggested possible publicity through the Portishead business group.
PB reported that Liam Fox to attend event at the Resource Centre on 18 January – very keen to be involved in local activities.
Community Centre:
AS reported that he had revamped the Community Centre website. North Somerset has pledged £177k for Community Centre and Youth Club but cannot get to the money for some technical reason.
Resource Centre:
PB reported disappointment at response to business meeting to generate support – 50 invitations, 5 replies and only 1 turned up. Working with Ashfield of strategic plan. Centre was due to close at the end of December but now extended to next March. Looking at reducing opening hours, possible funding of £20k from fair share trust, also looking for increased volunteer activity. JW will look at other possible sources of help. AGREED that an application should be submitted to Quartet for remainder of £2,500 grant available to the parish this year – JW to help PB with application.
Community Website:
BM waiting for design / corporate identity for Forum before he can complete project. Need group to design logo – PM to draft something for consideration at next meeting.
JW to discuss with MG how to respond to Quartet’s request for progress report on spending grant.
8. Finance:
FG reported the finances were in good order. Outstanding request for fridge/freezer. Forum bank account to be opened to enable Parish Council Parish Plan funding to be transferred to Forum.
9. Publicity:
AM suggested that a publicity event needed.
10. Any Other Business:
None.
11. Next Meeting:
Monday 21st January 2008 - Meeting just to discuss Finance and Publicity / Corporate identity.
Monday 4th February 2008 – Next normal meeting.
Meeting ended at 9.00pm |