Parklands Residents Association.

Summary of Minutes of Annual General Meeting held 01.07.09 Chequers Inn, Maresfield.

Those Present. :

Leanne Black, (LB)

Craig Black (CB) – Chair.

Ellie Boultbee (EB) – Secretary.

Charlotte Savage (CS) – Community Fundraiser.

Bill Miller (BM) - WRAG Liaison.

David Gibson (DG) – Tenant Involvement Officer, Wealden District Council.

Carol Reynolds (CR.)

Fran Davies (FD) – Facilitator, Changing Spaces.

Apologies:

Sharon Scott,

Sheila Scott.

Gwen Fairfax.

Rachel Bowyer.

Paula Black.

PCSO Katie Breeds – Sussex Police.

Abbreviations.

NPRA – New Parklands Residents Association.

MPC – Maresfield Parish Council.

WDC – Wealden District Council.

ESCC- East Sussex County Council.

WRAG – Wealden Residents Action Group.

EAVS – Eastbourne Association of Voluntary Services.

SETUP – South East Training Uniting People.

Raised By	Issue / Item	Action.
EB	Informed those present of the tragic death of Parklands Resident Leon Teale, who’s wife Angela head been an active member of the previous committee. She asked if anyone would like to donate towards some flowers from the Residents Association.	This was agreed by those present who expressed their shock and condolences at the very sad news.
	Meeting Started at 7.35 pm
CB	Welcomed those present and thanked them for their time in attending the AGM of the NPRA.
CB	Acknowledged the receipt of apologies from those absent.
	Chairman's Report
CB	Gave Chairs Report on activities and progress of NPRA in the previous year. Please refer to chairs report.
CB	Handed over to Fran Davies, facilitator acting on behalf of Changing Spaces and supporting NPRA in securing funding from Community Spaces / Changing Spaces from the Big Lottery Fund.
	Play Area Development Report
FD	Spoke about the progress being made by NPRA bid for £50,000 funding from Changing Spaces. He went on to explain why it was taking so long and detailed the requirement to identify and engage a ‘lead professional’ to project manage the development and also to engage the services of a professional landscape architect with expertise in play area design. He went on to explain to the committee that these two services would have be secured and the final design of the play area and planning permission be in place before the stage 2 application to Changing Spaces could be submitted. He assured the committee that NPRA would almost certainly get the funding if these conditions could be met. Fran then went on to explain that some of the funding already secured by NPRA might be required in order to pay for the landscape architect / design process so that the stage 2 application could be completed. He outlined how all steps would be taken to avoid this and reduce as far as possible the amount required.	EB and FD to investigate all other possible sources of funding to pay for Landscape Architect / Design costs. Police Property Fund, WDC Community and Environmental Budget and Tesco Community Foundation.
	Please refer to report by Fran Davies for full details of this proposal. Please also see Play Area Progress report by Ellie Boultbee for details regarding play area development.
CB	Asked those present to vote on the use of funding already secured to pay for design services to secure £50,000 funding.
	There followed a unanimous vote in favour of the use of secured funds for this purpose.
EB	Thanked Fran for all his time and valuable input and for attending the meeting.
	Fran Davies left the meeting.
	Treasurer's Report
CB/ DG	Read the treasurers report. Please see attached document.
	The committee congratulated and thanked Paula Black for her hard work and time in her role as treasurer and for the quality of her report.
	Future Events.
CS	Spoke briefly about the success of the previous events run by the committee. Local people from whole of Maresfield had attended Teddy Bears picnic and the group had received very positive feedback. NPRA has since received a £50 donation towards play area from Maresfield Mother and Baby Group as a result of that event. She outlined the plan for forthcoming events. Fun Run – 18^th July 10am. Summer Party & BBQ and Grand Raffle 22^nd Aug. Halloween Party 31^st Oct Play Area. Christmas party 12^th Dec Village Hall. Stated that more help on these events would be gratefully received.
EB	Confirmed that the village hall had been booked for the Christmas party.
	WRAG Report.
BM	Outlined the aims of WRAG and explained how the group was made up of representatives from different associations and groups made up from tenants and residents from within Wealden. Main issues were to do with housing, rent, maintenance, parking and transport. The group meets four times a year.
BM	Went on to say that he felt he was the wrong person to attend as he was not a council tenant.
CR	Added that she was a WDC tenant and would be willing to attend WRAG meetings with BM.	BM to advise CR of dates.
EB	Thanked CR for her offer.
CB	Thanked BM for attending WRAG meetings on behalf of NPRA, especially as other members were struggling with other commitments.
DG	Added that WRAG had been successful in Awards for All funding which would be used to pay for office rent, website etc. WRAG wants to have a bigger say in how money from WDC rent is spent as currently some is being spent on items which should be funded out of revenue from council tax.
	Stand Down and Election of Committee.
	David Gibson took the chair for this section of the meeting.
DG	Congratulated the committee on the high standard of the reports, and also on the hard work and achievements of the group over the last 12 months. Position of Chairperson – With no further nominations Craig Black stood for re-election, which received a unanimous vote in favour. Position of Secretary – With no further nominations Ellie Boultbee stood for re-election (who stated that should she get a job she may not be able to give up the amount of time required in the last few months). This received a unanimous vote in favour. Leanne Black kindly stood for position of Assistant Secretary, this received a unanimous vote in favour. Position of Treasurer – with no further nominations Paula Black was re-elected in her absence. Position of Community Fund raiser – with no further nominations Charlotte Savage stood for re-election, which received a unanimous vote in favour. Position of WRAG liaison – with no further nominations Bill Miller stood for re-election, which received a unanimous vote in favour. Carol Reynolds will also attend all future WRAG meetings. Andrew Savage was co-opted on to the committee in his absence.
	Those present thanked David Gibson for his help and time in supporting the group.
	Craig Black resumed the chair.
	Future Projects.
DG	Spoke about the possibility of coming up with some ideas on the future of the remaining garage area on Parklands. Currently only two of the garages are in use.	To talk about this idea in a future meeting and involve Nick Redman. DG to invite Nick to next meeting and other WDC officers.
CB	Added he would like to see the area developed into a community garden or allotment.
DG	Group in Heathfield had secured funding from Community and Environmental budget for a community garden. This project had also been aided by Morgan East who did the ground works.
	Those present agreed this idea would have to be work in progress.
DG	Suggested going another resident’s consultation about this.
DG	Also brought up the plan by Buxted and Hadlow Down group for a bus service to local supermarkets.
EB	Stated that she had given this information out, however had received no response from the other group in regards to some questions about the proposed service. Believed there would be good support for this service if people with young children would be given help to get on and off the bus.	DG agreed to look into this and report back.
	AOB
BM	Suggested a shed on the play area to store play area maintenance materials.
CB	This had been considered previously, however it was doubted the MPC would give permission, plus neighbouring properties would not be too keen. Security and health and safety were also important factors.	To be discussed further at a future date.
	Clean up / skip day
CB	This still needed to be arranged
DG	Best person to help with arranging this is Nick Redman	DG to invite NR to next meeting. EB to put clean up / skip day on next agenda.
LB	Thought it would be a good idea to offer to help older residents by offering to cut hedges, clear away waste etc. She thought the previous committee had done this.
	The committee agreed this would be a good way to help residents but would require a lot of manpower.
CS	Suggested trying to get some of the younger residents involved in more activities.	To be discussed at next meeting.
	Support Group
CS	Expressed her desire to help set up a support group or drop in session for parents who are experiencing difficulties for example mental health issues, financial problems etc. She said her idea was still in very early stages, but there was a clear need for some kind of support. She acknowledged that this would require a lot of work and planning.
EB	Suggested talking to Karl Parks at the Uckfield volunteers bureau	EB to give contact details for Karl Parks to CS.
CB	Added his support for the idea.
	Notice Board
CB	Feels strongly that residents need to see some kind of evidence of the progress being made. He suggested that a notice board be put up using the funding secured from Awards for All and WDC Community and Environmental Budget.
EB	Said that she felt it would not be a good use of time and resources to put one up outside the play area at present as it would either get in the way or have to be moves once work commences.
	This was discussed and a possible location on the grass outside the electricity substation was suggested.
	This was agreed as a good location as t would be seen by most residents no matter which side of the estate they lived on	CB to investigate what permissions would be required for this to go ahead
EB	Would be good to have two notice boards, one in this location, one outside play area, each could hold info specific to its location.
	Suggestion Box
LB	Said she thought that a suggestion box located on the estate would be a good way to find out what residents want or are concerned about. It would be anonymous and would maybe get a good response.
	The committee agreed this was a really good idea. It was agreed that a good location would be alongside each notice board.	CS to ask Andrew Savage to build.
	Litter Picking
	A date of Sunday 2^nd of August was agreed to hold the next litter picking day. Meet at the play area at 10am
	There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.25
	Thanks to the Chequers for free use of their meetings room

Dairy Dates.

Sunday 2^nd August - Litter Picking. Meet 10am outside Play Area.

Saturday 22^nd August - Parklands Summer party – details to be arranged.

Saturday 31^st October – Parklands Halloween Party – details to be arranged.

Saturday 12^th December – Parklands Children’s Christmas party – details to be arranged.

Please email info@parklands-ra.org to confirm if you will be attending the next meeting.