enhancing our community meeting notes
	MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE STEERING GROUP ON SATURDAY 09 FEBRUARY 2008 AT 10.00 AM IN THE VILLAGE HALL PRESENT: James Lilwall (Chair), Jayne Bown (JB), David Cockburn (DC), Alex Kirby(AK), John Mallen (JM), Graham Swain (GS) and Janet Cockburn (JC) (Minute Secretary),. Alan Rawlings (Architect) also present, by invitation. APOLOGIES: Marietta Menzies JL opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING The minutes of the last meeting were taken as read and agreed. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES JC is to send invitations to users of the village hall and other outside interested parties. Action: JC A letter is still to be written to the Acting Head of Bawdeswell School inviting her to join the Committee. Action: JC/JL WORK STREAM UPDATES Hall and Access Sub-Group AK invited Alan Rawlings to give overview of the drawings of the new layout for the recreation field and the village hall. The committee discussed the type of drawing, its contents and the need to keep to the principal concept rather than getting involved in too much detail. This Presentation is only the first of two, the second of which will present the completed design. It was suggested that designs of other village halls should be on display at the presentation. Also, a poster listing the relevant results from the survey that directly relate to areas of the new scheme. A short Power Point Presentation will be given but the main objective is that the residents are given the opportunity for consultation and discussion. It is hoped that through this the community will be more engaged/inspired/enthusiastic. DC will take photographs at the event. Action: DC Need to ensure that the residents of properties adjoining the field on the western boundary are visited and personally invited. Action: JC The Village Hall Work Stream, with Alan Rawlings, will prepare the presentation documentation and materials in time for a ‘run through’ at the next meeting on Saturday 8 March. Action: AK Play Areas/Young People and Children GS informed the meeting that SMP are the manufacturers and installers of the recycled equipment from Coltishal. A meeting with a representative from SMP will be held on site on the 20^th February to establish if some or all of the equipment can be modified and installed to safe standards that can be maintained. If some or all of the equipment cannot be used, three quotations for replacement equipment have been requested. The Work Stream will be in a position to submit applications for funds if necessary. Action: GS Post meeting note: RoSPA Play Safety replied to an email enquiry re this equipment as follows. “What matters is the safety of the user. If the equipment met BS 5696 it is probably be OK. We would inspect it to the new standard BUT only advise action where this makes a measurable difference to safety. We could inspect the equipment as it is and advise but this would cost £185 plus VAT (or £395 plus VAT if required urgently). The chances are that you would be OK using this equipment. EN1176 is not mandatory so you don’t have to comply with it. For info a change in April will allow grass as a “safer surface” for falls of up to 1.5m. You should be able to install it” Activities Sub-Group JC reported that a meeting of the Bawdeswell Activities Group (BAG) was held on 7^th February. All is in place for the events at half-term this week. In addition, plans were afoot for the Village Hall to be open certain days during the Easter school break, with a couple of organised events included. JC confirmed there will be a Family Quiz Night to raise funds specifically for the matting surface for the cricket practice net on Saturday 19^th April. With respect to adult activities, the afternoon Bingo sessions did not draw enough attendees on a regular basis. It was suggested that if Bingo evenings were likely to be more popular. However, BAG is holding a ‘games’ afternoon on Monday 18^th February which will include board and card games, along with the opportunity to play table tennis and pool. It is hoped that in time the current ‘over 60s’ group who meet on Thursday afternoons in Bawdeswell Church would hold their sessions at the Village Hall, particularly if transportation is provided. JC informed the committee that there is an opportunity, through Norfolk County Council and our Rural Youth Representative, for a free Girls Kickboxing Course to be held during term time. Funds had been allocated for a group from Litcham and surrounding areas to attend a course in 2007. Their course has been completed and there are funds still available that could be used elsewhere. The instructor is available on Wednesday and Friday evenings. An interest in the course has already been established amongst the young teenage girls in both Bawdeswell and Foxley. Currently, the hall is booked on these two evenings and JC is attempting to negotiate one of the parties changing to Tuesday evenings in order to be able to get this course up and running for the beginning of the summer term. Action: JC Playing Field – No report Heath and Environment – No report FUNDING JL reported that there is £1,140.05 in the project account. However, there are 3 bills to be paid. DC is to give the bills to Delia for payment. The Parish Council have allocated £3,000 from the 2008/9 Precept to Project Bawdeswell, plus an additional £3,000 to the Children’s Play Area. JL passed details of a course being run by the NRCC specifically for people involved in children’s play areas to Graham Swain. (Neither DC no JC could attend the dates of the course). JL also mentioned that there is a Village Hall Loan Pack that can be obtained from Breckland Council. JC to contact Veronica Savage and request a pack. Action: JC PRESENTATION JL asked committee members to personally invite people whenever the opportunity arose and not rely on the printed invitations alone. JB confirmed that arrangements were in hand re supplying the food and drink. DC confirmed that details of the presentation will be printed in the next edition of the Reeves’ Tale. BUSINESS PLAN JC outlined three different models of a business plan but no specific detailed plan had been produced to date. AK showed the committee a different type of business plan and suggested it might be useful to produce our business plan in a similar design. AK was asked to bring a draft to the next meeting. Action: AK ANY OTHER BUSINESS AK reported that she had attended the last Village Hall Committee meeting with respect to requesting funding assistance. JB confirmed that when Project Bawdeswell needed additional funds, they submit details of how much and what the funds would be for, and they would look at the request. JL asked DC to make a note of any village hall booking requests that had to be turned down due to other bookings being held. Action: DC DC informed the committee that he had booked 2009 Project Bawdeswell meetings for the second Saturday of each month. NEXT MEETING To be held in the Village Hall at 10.00 am on Saturday 8^th March 2008. Back to top