MINUTES OF THE PARTNERSHIP MEETING
HELD AT THE BILLINGSHURST VILLAGE HALL

On Thursday 21^st May 2009 at 8.00pm.

Present:
Barnett Jacky	JB	BCP
Braun Gordon	GB	Station Road LAT
Brown Keith	KBr	Station Road LAT
Campbell Denise	DC	Village Hall (Vice Chairman)
Davies Owen	OD	WSCC
Johnson Ken	KJ	Lions (Company Secretary)
Knight Gillian	GK	Billingshurst History Society
Perks Patrick	PP	BCP ( Chairman)
Robinson Alison	AR	WSCC
Spencer Pam	PS	Headway
Terry Carol	CT	Billingshurst Choral Society
Underwood John	JU	BCP

Minutes: Sandy Duck. SD

53.1 Declaration of Interest: - None.

53.2 Apologies for Absence:

Keith Barraclough; Geoff Lawes; Hazel Barnes; Alison Robinson; Dick Southward; Denise Campbell; Sue Samson; John Griffin; Tony Burke.

53.3 Minutes of the Meeting – 19^th March 2009

Agreed

53.4 Matters Arising:

53.11 -AGM is set for Saturday 11^th July please let SD have all nomination forms by closing date of Friday June 29^th. No displays are planned, an adjudicator has been appointed. KJ commented that he was happy to go with a simple meeting as before… all agreed.

53.10 - Sunday Market held on 26^th April was well attended, the Italians were very happy with the outcome. The plans are for a French market in June and an Italian Market in August However at the Directors meeting it was decided not to continue to support these as there is little return for BCP.

53.12 - Burnt Row Wood. We have received an award from Protection of Rural England, presentation will take place Tuesday 26^th May.

52.12 - Billingshurst Carnival. It was decided at the Directors meeting that we should concentrate on the Village Regeneration (Strategic Hub).

52.12 - Duke of Richmond Award. This was publicised in both Sussex Life and Action in Rural Sussex with photographs to support the event.

* Copy of Action in Rural Sussex article and letter of congratulations from HDC will be filled with the minutes.

53.5 Financial Report:

In Tony's absence PP reported:-

Horsham District Council has agreed to provide grant funding of £3,500 each year for two years (2009 and 2010). *Letter will be filed with minutes.

Youth Capital Grant for HDC of £3,000 for youth shelter and play equipment.

Financial Report attached.

53.6. (A) projects: Brief Updates:

53.6.1.

Elderly

John Underwood reported in Tony's absence that the numbers are down, advertising for new members is being placed in the Parish Magazine and Tony has been actively campaigning in the Village. We do have 5 new members but have also lost some through illness etc.

As mentioned in last meeting, Tony has been actively seeking funding from several providers but to date has been unsuccessful; there are sufficient funds in hand for 6months.

Disadvantaged

PS reported Headway has managed to get an assistant appointed for a possible 3 years.

53.6.2. Youth (Tag/ BilliRox /YES)

TAG:

DC - TAG is going well and behaviour has dramatically improved in recent weeks

BilliRox:

DC - An article will be in the next Parish Newsletter asking for volunteers to help re-start BilliRox in the autumn

YES:

DC - We currently have 16 people on the YES project. We are waiting to hear whether we have been successful in getting funding from the Sussex Foundation and HDC Health & Wellbeing Fund.

WSCC Youth Services are arranging a Road Show on 12^th August.

Denise, Keith and Paul have agreed to do a BBQ and all profits would to TAG funds

DC has been approached by POP (Partnership for Older People) and HDC to try and establish a programme of integrational activities. This concept is in its early stages but feel it,s a worthwhile project to pursue and fits in with our Action Plan.

CT asked if YES could be used to look after the Planters outside the Post Office, perhaps if the youngsters looked after them, this might stop the them being vandalised.

DC - Good idea however any of the youngsters helping will need supervision, which may cause a problem, DC and CT to get together to discuss possible way forward.

53.6.3 Economy and Environment

Sustainable Communities Act.

On 23^rd October 2007 the Sustainable Communities Act became law with full cross party support. The Act sets up a new process where local communities and their local authorities can drive central government policy and action, on reversing community decline and promoting local sustainability. Local authorities have been invited to make proposals to central government as to how it can help them promote the sustainability of local communities.

One of the things the Act could help local authorities achieve assistance with under the heading of local economies, are Promoting local shops, local businesses, local public services and local jobs, which are the projects BCP are working on for Billingshurst.

This is now being managed within the larger project Village Regeneration Project formerly known as Sustainable Hub. (B Projects 8. on this agenda).

*The full document explaining the Sustainable Communities Act will be filed with these minutes.

As Sustainable Hub is now part of the larger project Village Regeneration this item is will be removed from the Agenda.

53.6.4 Tourism:

KJ - The 5 Market Towns brochure is has been published and widely distributed over a wide area to include Gatwick and Victoria Station.

As tourism is also being incorporated within the 'Village Regeneration' project, this will now be removed from the Agenda.

53.6.5 Arts & Culture

We are still looking for someone to champion this.

53.6.6 C4C & Sports & Social

C4C - until we formally close this off it has had to stay on the agenda – closing report to WSCC is being sent tomorrow (Friday 22^nd May) Therefore this item can now be removed from the agenda.

Sports & Social

Helen is no longer with us on the committee so there is no news on the Skate Park

Firework Display is planned at Jubilee Fields, details to be advised.

53.6.7 Gardens Project

PP - Disappointingly Heritage Lottery Fund have written to us declining our pre-application enquiry for funding, made on 22^nd April to their Parks for People programme, as we do not meet the criteria.

In order to meet the criteria applicants must demonstrate that their park already meets the definition of a public park and that the park has a strong existing design with some surviving features from this design.

The description and aerial views of the site, which until recently has been used solely for sport, do not demonstrate that the site meets the published definition of a park. There is also no evidence of a strong existing design, for example, historic planning schemes, pathways or landscapes. * Full letter from Heritage Lottery Fund will be filed with the minutes.

The best way forward now would be to divide this project into smaller projects, breaking the work down starting with the ground work etc. and obtain funding for each stage of the work to B.I.F.A for example

KB - Do we apply under BCP or Friends of the Gardens?

PP - We need to ask Gavin Collins how he would like to take this forward, is everyone happy to take this under BCP banner and go for funding. All were happy to take this approach.

B Projects Detailed

53.6.8. Village Regeneration (Sustainable Hub).

KJ - A further meeting between HDC, JU, PP and KJ went quite well, although we still do not have an end result. Have spoken with Roger Paterson and he is very positive, there is a meeting today and we are awaiting the outcome.

The Sussex Downs and Low Weald LEADER programme can provide grants up to £50,000. And we can make application providing our project proposal supports at least one of their themes, and our project does under:- .

Sustainable Community Hubs that bring together a range of services.

Sue Samson has put together an application for funding, and we are cautiously optimistic.

Full details of the LEADER 'Open for Business' programme together with funding criteria will be filed with the minutes.

We do need the Chamber of Commerce to play a positive role in this.

The Chamber held its first AGM this week it was very successful with around 30 people attended. KJ's presentation was positively received.

53.6.9 CYF

JG has picked up this project and is making contact with WSCC to seek their support.

53.7 Membership of and reports from, other organisations or affiliations.

BAIT

KB -Members of the public were present at the last meeting and voiced their concerns regarding boy racers on Friday and Saturdays, and the level of anti-social behaviour in Billingshurst.

Requests have gone to Greg Charman, Community Safety Officer for consideration on the following areas:-

Mobile CCTV

BAIT fully supports the PCSOs attempts to obtain the use of the mobile CCTV in Billingshurst Library Car Park and have requested this to be seriously considered ASAP as there are so many problems in the area.

Swimming Pool CCTV

CCTV system at the Swimming Pool is very good, however we were told that some coverage had automatically been ‘blanked off’ so as not to look towards local properties due to data protection issues. BAIT is requesting the residence concerned can be approached for permission for the cameras to film their properties as part of the overall coverage of the area. This could improve the CCTV coverage greatly in the area.

Community Pay Back Scheme

BAIT would encourage the use of the Community Pay back team in Billingshurst as much as possible. Litter picking and general tidying up would be welcomed, particularly in Lower Station Road, High Street and Jubilee Fields. A works request form needs to be completed for each piece of work required and submitted to Greg Charman, who will liaise with Probation/Youth Offending Service to establish whether the work can be undertaken?

Street Scene Team

DC introduced the work of The Street Scene Team and the great work they do in the community, Greg Charman has been sending wardens to Billingshurst and allowing them as much time here as he can, some really good positives have come out or their recent visits. He will continue to task the team with regular visits, but ultimately Billingshurst could do with its own dedicated warden team.

KB contacted Greg Charman from HDC to obtain details and costing regarding the provision of a Warden Service in Billingshurst.

What is the role of a Warden?

• Provide a reassuring uniformed patrolling presence

• Help to reduce crime and the fear of crime
• Respond to minor incidents and anti-social behaviour
• Encourage the establishment of diversionary activities for young people by working with residents and partner agencies
• Help to conserve the local environment
• Acting as professional witnesses
• Offering advice on crime prevention and fire safety in the home
• Offer support to the community by assisting the elderly, vulnerable and isolated residents
• Ensuring that the village benefits from the full range of services and provisions from both local and national agenda’s
• Undertake a range of local tasks including litter picking, cleaning and maintaining Parish Council street furniture.

Neighbourhood Wardens are NOT

• An emergency service

• Designed to replace the Police resource committed to Billingshurst

Costs

A two person Warden scheme costs £60,000 per year to operate which pays for salaries, a leased vehicle, equipment, training and a small working budget to support specific projects i.e. .Junior Wardens.

Greg Charman is happy to present this subject to the Parish Council meeting.

BCP do support this - next BAIT meeting 4^th June 4pm.

53.8 Xmas Billifest - 2009

Funding from the BPC of £2,000 is in hand, and we are moving on. All Clubs, Organisations and Society’s have been written to with a booking form enclosed to book their space.

Next meeting is 9^th July to set the scene for the detail planning which will start in September.

53.9 AOB

Car Parking Solutions.

KJ -Car Parking, which is one of the projects within the Village Regeneration, is looking to use Jubilee Fields as a mini park and ride. This has had a good reception from HDC and Managing Director of Compass Buses have expressed an interest in running the park and ride, and would be looking to the BCP to subsidise this. He wants to run the 101 on a Sunday - will BCP or PC subsidise this?

Greening Campaign

This is being addressed at PC. Object of the exercise is to receive a piece of paper with 5 or 6 things to help you become more environmentally friendly.

Petersfield handed out these leaflets/forms. When you have completed 5 of the items you place this in your window to show how green you are.

Need to check with the PC if they are to run with this.

Billingshurst Forum

PP - An article recently placed in the West Sussex County Times inferred the FORUM was masterminded by the BCP.

BCP are not paying for the FORUM and never have, or received an invoice for payment.

To prove this statement a letter has gone to the County Times.

The only connection has been the link from the BCP website which has now been disconnected.

Billingshurst Forum will now stand alone as an independent website.

* Copy of the letter to County Times will be filed with these minutes.

WAKOOS

Veronica Sullivan is now the new WAKOOS manager.

Billingshurst Show

DC - At the recent Directors Meeting it was agreed the stand for the BCP needs to be enhanced.

We need to concentrate on the Village Regeneration, we need activities going on to involve and attract people to our stand. Any ideas?

Green Issues

CT -provided a heads up on a project 'Better Tomorrows'

With the mission statement - 'Stop the Rubbish going into the bin and into Landfill'.

This project is all about being aware of what we use and how we dispose of our rubbish, to reduce the amount going into landfill sites.

This is a huge problem, particularly for small and medium businesses who do not have a process like the larger companies for waste disposal, they are responsible for their own waste disposal.

One initiative is to provide waste prevention advisers to speak to small business on how they can mange their waste more environmentally friendly.

Another initiative is to assess food waste in West Sussex, collect the data to see if there is sufficient food waste to provide a food waste digester.

DC suggested DC and CT get together as this could be a good project to take to the Billingshurst Show stand.

53.10. Date for the next meeting Thursday 16^th July 2009 at 8.00pm

Meeting closed -10.00pm

DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION AND STATUS

Title Minutes dated 21^st May 2009

Ref 53

Owner P Perks

Author S Duck

DOCUMENT RELEASE AUTHORISATION

Name P Perks

Role Chair, Billingshurst Community Partnership Management Committee

Release Date ……………………

Signature ………………………….

DOCUMENT HISTORY

 

Version	Date
1	8th June 2009	This document (8 pages)
		Financial Summary (2 pages)
		Letter of congratulation from HDC Duke of Richmond award
		Action in Rural Sussex article - Duke of Richmond award
		Letter -HDC confirming Grant to Six Towns Communities
		Sustainable Communities Act document (2pages)
		Letter - Heritage - Parks for People funding declined for gardens project
		Village Regeneration - LEADER programme funding document and note from Sue Samson x2
		Community Pay Back works request form and criteria
		Letter to County Times re The Billingshurst Forum