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Easton-in-Gordano, Pill & Ham Green Community Forum
Minutes of meeting held on Monday 4th February 2008 at Pill Community Centre
Present: Gerald Ashley Madeline Bickle Jenny Billington Pete Brewer Ted Edgar Tom Elrich Director of Operations, Harmoni Fred Gaskin Treasurer Mike Goldsworthy Secretary Paul Kent Chairman Bob Langton Peter Milner Elizabeth Moore Brian Murphy Yvonne Rees Alan Smith Rhian Tooker Sue Tuckwell Claire Weatherall General Manager, Harmoni Ralph Whiting
Apologies: Elspeth Davis Charles Exley Ivor KIng Annie Milton Fay Powell Parish Plans Officer, NSC
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1. Welcome:
PK welcomed everyone to the meeting and, in particular, Tom Elrich and Claire Weatherell. He suggested that the agenda for the meeting be rearranged to allow our guests to give their presentation at the beginning.
2. Presentation on out-of-hours doctors’ service:
Tom Elrich gave an outline of the Harmoni organisation and its history and Claire Weatherell gave a summary of the service in North Somerset.
Harmoni was set up originally to serve the West London area and by 2004 it had 600 GP’s on its books. In April 2006 it took over responsibility for North Somerset and by April 2008 it will be providing a service throughout regions of the country to 5 million people [1/10th of the population]. In North Somerset it provides local contacts, not a central call centre, with clinics at Weston-Super-Mare and Clevedon and 2 vehicles providing visiting services. In response to a question from TE the speakers agreed that there had been a problem with connectivity as the out-of-hours telephone number was provided by the ambulance service, there had been an inevitable “industrialisation” of the out-of-hours service following the GP’s decision in 2004 to withdraw the service and only “immediate” care could be provided as the OOH doctors were not allowed access to patient’s GP notes. A visit to one of Harmoni’s clinics could be arranged to see how the service worked. Following a discussion it was AGREED that the Forum should assist in the preparation of a guide to the OOH service, which should be distributed to all households in the Parish, as it was clear that there was a lack of understanding of the service.
PK thanked our 2 speakers and TE for arranging the presentation. The meeting then returned to the formal agenda.
3. Minutes of Meetings on 3rd December 2007 and 21st January 2008:
AGREED and accepted. Matters arising:
a. GE was concerned that his message that the fridge/freezer for the retired mens’ lunch club was not required had not been reported. PK explained that the item had been deferred as GE was not present at the December meeting. b. RT clarified that no bid had yet been submitted for astro-turf at St Katherine’s – see later item.
4. Forum Projects:
As previously agreed, progress would no longer be reported following the subject headings in the Parish Plan.
AS suggested that criteria need to be set down for considering applications for financial support. The main consideration needs to be that the project is mentioned in the Parish Plan or can be linked to an item in the Plan. RT suggested that a basic proforma for applying for support should be prepared. MG to draft.
PK reported that the only projects supported so far this year were the cotton bags, which had been self –financing, and the Resource Centre, which was through a Quartet grant. The Forum had not, therefore, committed any of its funds and it was essential that the Forum actively progress new projects before the end of the current financial year.
The following projects identified at the 21st January meeting and others added later were discussed:
a. Fridge/freezer for Retired Mens’ Club – The club now has one and this item can be removed. b. Disability Awareness [Ian Hawkins] including traffic issues affecting the disabled – AGREED that this should be supported. c. Fair Trade publicity – AGREED that this should be supported. d. Environment Group publicity and support for next village project [possibly low energy light bulbs] and for attending training events on developing local environmental initiatives – AGREED that this should be supported subject to receiving requests in respect of specific projects. BL reported that it was premature to send anyone from the Environment Group on a “Transition Town” training course. e. Resource Centre – PB reported that the Quartet grant of £2,200 was to be allocated to a specific CAB project. Funding was now in place to keep the Resource Centre open to the end of the year. AGREED that this was a valuable facility for the community and should be supported. f. Litter pickers – The proposal is for the purchase of a number of litter pickers to be distributed to a network of volunteers in the community. Suggested that the Neighbourhood Watch schemes could possibly be used. AGREED that this should be supported. g. Footpath improvements – AGREED that this should be supported. PM reported that the footpath on top of the seawall had been cleared and suggested that a specific project could be the provision of a seat at the end of the footpath including possibly some planting. A hide was already intended to be provided. h. Publicity event jointly with Parish Council – This was not considered to be a high priority for the Forum although RW did suggest the need for Forum projects to be publicised, possibly at the Regatta or other local events. i. Watchhouse Hill improvements – Proposal to use section 106 money to carry out improvements. Unlikely that financial support would be required from the Forum but AGREED that this should be supported. j. Tree planting – Low priority. Await formal request for support. k. St Katherine’s School Sports Facilities – RT reported that the school wanted to provide an astro-turf pitch and improve changing rooms. It would be intended to open the facilities to the community but needed help with the cost of a feasibility study. AGREED that this should be supported subject to receipt of a firm proposal and costs. l. Freecycle Project – AGREED that publicity for this should be supported. m. Village Character Statement – BL reported that the Parish Council was considering the need for a Character Statement as the lack of one could hamper decisions on planning applications. Premature to consider if the Forum’s support would be required. n. Traffic Improvements – RW suggested that this was an important issue in the Parish Plan and had, so far, been neglected in the Forum, which should be acting as a lobbying group. In particular, flashing speed signs, as recently provided in Abbots Leigh, should be pursued. MG to check with Abbots Leigh procedures. o. Doctors’ OOH Service – AGREED, as noted earlier, that assistance should be provided to publicise the OOH service to all households in the Parish.
PK requested formal requests for support for the above and any other projects in time to be considered at the next meeting.
5. Community Website:
PM reported that he had not finalised the logo following comments from the last meeting. AGREED that the wording needed to be changed to accord with the name of the Forum but that the design could remain as drafted for artistic reasons.
6. Finance:
Nothing to report.
7. Any Other Business:
MG reminded members of the Parish Plans workshop being run by Community Action on 15th February and a Transition Towns workshop on 7th March. Further details could be provided to anyone interested.
8. Next Meeting:
Monday 7th April at the Community Centre.
Meeting ended at 8.55 pm |