BWCT Minutes – 13 June 07
Present:
Mike Harris; Peter Jenkins; Clive Myatt; Sylvia Tilford; Mike Walker.
John Gundry attended for item 12 onwards.
1. Apologies for Absence:
John Horton, Tom Sumner
2. Minutes of 18 April Meeting
These were accepted as a correct record and were signed.
3. Matters Arising
· A message has been received from Mary Wood. An application to a charity able to give support outside the UK had resulted in a £5000 grant towards the classrooms in Tereli.
· Treasurer's Report. It was noted that the Parish Newsletter included an application form for Trust membership. BS thanked the parish council for including it.
· AOB - Coffee Mornings. Future coffee mornings will be held in the new Parish Centre, beginning on Saturday 16th June. The current rota runs out with the July date and BS will produce a new rota for the coming 12 months. Helpers are reminded that they must find a replacement if they are unable to attend and cannot rely on "someone turning up".
4. Correspondence
BS reported:
· Copy of Briefing Bradford, the newsletter for voluntary groups.
· A ballot paper for community and voluntary sector representatives on the Building Communities Partnership. BS has not been involved for several years and did not feel justified in returning the ballot.
· Information about the Make a Difference (MAD) Project to help volunteer organisations and those wishing to be volunteers. This will be covered at the Neighbourhood Forum for those interested.
· Notification of Burley Millennium Theatre Group AGM on 20th June. They are seeking a new treasurer.
· SCAPAG dates received. BS has resigned from membership, feeling that the village is well represented by parish council members on that body, but is willing to assist if BCC input is needed regarding Burley House Field.
5. Treasurer's Report
MH circulated accounts for BCC for the year ending May 31st. These will be presented at the Neighbourhood Forum on June 21st . MH pointed out that the majority of funds had been transferred to BWCT as reported earlier. There had been a number of small amounts of income to BCC over the year and after expenditures there was a balance at the end of the year of £452.83. He explained the reason for the Tereli grant appearing in income and expenditure.
The BWCT Accounts Summary was also circulated and MH commented:
· Currently there were three vacancies for the 100 Club. This will be announced at the Forum meeting if places are not taken up before this.
· The Pavilion electricity account was a balancing one bringing us up to date.
· Income from the duck race will increase current funds.
MH gave his apologies for the Forum meeting and BS will give his report.
6. Neighbourhood Forum
June is the normal date to hold the BCC AGM, but with the organisation being dormant this will be a short report, including accounts (MH), and a short report from the Trust.
Existing members are willing to stand again other than Tony Thompson who has tendered his resignation.
7. Website Report
Development of the site continues and the Committee feels satisfied with the changes and new layout. The contact link at the bottom of the front page will be restored. New software has been purchased to enable comprehensive analysis of site use that will give our webmaster helpful information towards future layout and design. We are grateful for the continued support of Palmedia. More news items are sought for the website.
8. Scalebor Sports Facilities
There has still been no response from David Wilson Homes or the Greenbelt Company concerning the septic tank, field maintenance, etc. BS will follow up. CM will also follow up through another contact.
TS and BS cut down and removed weeds along the rear and west side of the pavilion to improve the appearance and the car park area. Weed killer will be applied later in the summer.
9. Pond on Cornmill Lane
It has been agreed with Mr. and Mrs. Carruthers that supervised opening of the pond will be arranged on Duck Race afternoon, as in previous years. PJ and ST will be in attendance. The owners of the adjacent property have been informed.
10. The Round House
Coffee Mornings continue two days per week and remain popular with a small clientele. A proposal to open on an additional day will be looked at and the service kept under review when the new Parish Centre opens fully. There has been no new lease to sign and no response to the suggested purchase by BWCT (see April Minutes). MH reported that the subsidised rent had gone up from £50 to £100 a year.
11. Pudding Tree Garden
A new lease is still awaited. However, MH and BS have cleared leaves and weeds from the garden and around the tree, removed the broken seat from the beck and tidied the general area. Hanging baskets are now in place and arrangements made for watering from The Original Malt Shovel. A cheque for £214 has been received from Burley Probus Club towards refurbishing the central feature, but we will not begin that work until the lease is signed.
12. Burley House Field
JG reported:
Our barrister Nigel Clayton (NC) has communicated on the issue of making a third application for village green status for Burley House Field. Further to the Court of Appeal judgement on the Oxford case and the new Commons Act of 2006 the law under which the judgements at the first two inquiries were arrived at has been changed. The whole basis of decision making on village green status has changed in our favour. We have until July 2008 to put in any third application. NC would like to have our decision as soon as possible and recommends making any new application by December 2007. JG also reported on the positive meeting with Mike Bell, Asset Management, BMDC about the length of the promised lease to the Parish Council for the use of the field as recreational open space. A period of 20 years (or longer) was mentioned. The farmer who currently holds the lease has to be given a year's notice and the next leaving date is June 2009. MB agreed to ask him if he would agree to an earlier termination.
It was agreed that a separate meeting of BCC will be needed after hearing what the parish council reports at the Neighbourhood Forum on 21st June. A date in late August/early September was suggested.
13. Any other business
BS raised the matter of minimum attendance of Trustees at BWCT Committee meetings. 50% attendance was agreed. In order to make significant decisions 5 trustees should be present with 4 for routine management tasks. Following resignations the BWCT would like to recruit 2/3 more trustees. Anyone interested should contact BS.
Jennings bequest
Volunteers are invited who would be willing to undertake routine care for the garden in front of Jake Wright's. The request will also be made at the Forum. Funds are available for plant purchase etc.
Duck Race
Marshalling: CM and MH agreed to do this and the CPSOs would be asked to provide further support.
Roundabouts: Following a request from BWCT the Parish Council had asked BMDC if it could bring forward the cutting on the roundabout (scheduled to take place over the next two weeks) to maximise visibility when large numbers of people are crossing the road at this point. Their response would be available on the following day.
14. Date of next meeting
Wednesday September 5th 2007
The meeting closed at 9.0pm
Sylvia Tilford: Hon Secretary