MINUTES OF THE PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT MEETING
HELD AT THE BILLINGSHURST VILLAGE HALL
Thursday 24^th November 2011 - at 7.30pm.

* co-opted members

Minutes: Sandy Duck - SD

67.1 Welcome / Declaration of Interest:

67.2 Apologies for Absence:

John Griffin; Peter Woodman; Tony Priestley; Owen Davis; Gordon Braun; Amanda Jupp

67.3 Minutes of the Meeting: - 15th September 2011

Agreed and Signed by OD

67.4 Matters Arising:

No matters arising.

67.5 Financial Report: AB

Very little to report -

Billifest is up and running, artwork and printing of programme for the day is going to prove more expensive this year as HDC can offer no support as they have done in previous years.

£727.79 - received for EYE Project.

Comment: - Village Re-generation, money spent will come from SEEDA.

67.6 (A) projects: Brief Updates:

67.6.1 Community (Elderly / Disadvantaged)

Elderly: -AB

Luncheon Club continues, numbers relatively stable, outing on Monday to Pulborough Garden Centre. Saturday 26^th November. 9 members of the club will be attending the performance of Inspector Drake & The Black Widow at the Community Centre, transport has been arranged. Christmas Party on 11^th December entertainment has been arranged. - Return on January 9^th.

Disadvantaged: - PS

No report. - Now that sadly Pam is no longer with us, we will need to find someone to fill this gap to ensure the disadvantaged continue to be represented. If anyone knows anyone who is working in the community and would like to join us, please let us know.

67.6.2 Youth: - DC - report sent in via email in her absence to read out at the meeting.

YES

Ticking along nicely, some have left as they have found Saturday jobs.

TAG

Doing well, we have a group of 20 with a good balance of boys and girls.

Youth Council:

Nothing to report at the present. There are plans for them to get more involved with the EYE project after Christmas...

67.6.3 Arts & Culture: GK

There is currently a project involving a couple of days filming around the Village, hoping this will be all worth while.

67.6.4 Sports and Recreation: TP

Fire Safety Inspection:

Re-inspection has taken place and passed successfully.

Fireworks:

Great success: there were 3,500 tickets sold - 1,000 more than in 2010

The event income:
Fireworks £1,000
BBQ £1,000
Bar £1,500

Distribution:
£1,000 - BRSA
£500 - Chestnut Tree House

Bucket collection in aid of Chestnut tree house - £860.86

After costs, the remaining £967.50 surplus is to be held over for next year.

Agreement has been made to run the event on 20^th October 2012.

(B) Projects (Detailed)

67.6.5. Village Regeneration - (to include LDF/HDC/Sustainable Strategy/Economy Tourism & Parking Solutions. - KJ

Partnership Shop:

On hold for a while but was to be taken on by Clair Cutler-Casey (see below) as part of her remit. Another possible ' lead' person had been identified and Claire was to talk to her.

Enterprise Skills in Rural Areas:

A research document carried out by Lindsay Simpson of Simpson Consulting Ltd on behalf of W.S.C.C., who had asked that she develop the research conclusions with Billingshurst.

Main aim of the work was to:

• Review the current strength of business n the Billingshurst area.
• Produce a ' Unique Sales Point' (USP) for Billingshurst

Both these issues were proceeding well - the next meeting would be in the Community Centre on 12^th December at 6.00pm.

Invites via emails would go to BCP and C of C Committees, plus those on the Economy Sub Group and some retailers. This work is being funded by W.S.C.C. direct

Enterprising Billingshurst:-

A substantial piece of work being funded via:

• SEEDA £20,000
• Women' s Wisdom £15,000
• B.C.P £ 5,000

Agreed ' outputs' are:

• Interview 250 young unemployed, unemployed and ' entrepreneurs' and local business to find the problems between being unemployed and businesses employing more people.
• Run 12 workshops based in the finding from interviews
• Produce a retail plan for Billingshurst
• Market Billingshurst better via:-
• Better Signage
• Production of an Info Centre
• Production of brochure and leaflets
• Greater business publicity
• Launch of a ' shop local campaign.

A fully qualified Business Advisor will be seconded to the community for 12 months. The person involved will be Claire Cutler-Casey.

Social Enterprise Award:

K J indicated he would be putting BCP forward for this award.

10 prizes of £5,000 are available.

Localism Bill:

KJ referred to the fact this had now gone through Parliament and there was a ' Plain English' guide to the Bill which was quite good.

Enterprise Zones, Local Variants:

A new ' beast' , of which little was currently known, recently launched by Government. It may be beneficial to business in Billingshurst and KJ was to attend a conference on 15^th December and will report back.

Listed Buildings in Billingshurst:

KJ passed a map around sowing centre of Billingshurst which documented 33 different listed buildings and suggested this might be a good publicity for walks item.

Comment:

GL: Retail study sometime in December - as part of this there is a need to look at Industrial Areas to investigate if we should move all to a new industrial site out side Billingshurst.

DC: How is Lindsay Simpson going to reach and create her data base, for her research document to include all home based businesses, which may not be registered on any directory?

KJ: She will make contact with all known home based businesses, and network with people who know others to promote Billingshurst as a centre of creativity.

67.6.6. E.Y.E. (Education Youth Enterprise) Project: -JG

Following the out come of the October Parish Council meeting refusing to allow us to use the site in Station Road, the project team are currently considering the options available.

67.7 Membership of and reports from, other organisations affiliations:

67.7.1. 6 Towns: - KJ

There was no report.

67.7.2. Garden Project: - KB

Funding:

We are pleased to report our application to Biffa was successful.

Orchard Project:

We recently had a site meeting with Anne-Marie Burr of AIRS and agreed the site position of the orchard. This has been approved by the PC. Our agreed planting date will be the 10^th January, 32 children from Billingshurst Primary School will be involved in the planting of the trees. Also on the day AIRS have arranged fro a chef to visit the school to cook the children various apple dishes.

We also attended a class discussion with the children who belong to their gardening club, this included apple tasting and identifying the different types of apples. All children enjoyed the discussion, and are very keen in continuing to be part of the orchard project.We have reached agreement with the council to install 2 BBQ stands and 3 picnic benches in the garden close to the ball court and youth shelter. These will be installed once the funds are in place.

67.7.3. B.A.I.T - PP

There was no report

67.8. MOU (Memorandum of Understanding between PC and BCP)

This is work in progress with the Directors and there is nothing to report at present.

67. 9. Publicity / Chat Room OD

There was nothing to report as Owen is on holiday.

67.10. Broadband: PP

A workshop will be held in January to listen to key people who are working on the project for this area. PP will send out invites once the date and time has been set. There is £24m available to fund the roll out high speed broadband for West Sussex, and it is proposed that by 2015 every house in WS will have 50mb. However the map provided does not include Billingshurst.

67.11. Woodland Burial: PP

Parish Council have agreed in principle. Hazel Barnes and Gillian Knight will be working on the project with PP.

67.12. CCTV: PP

The CCTV which is proposed is portable and can be moved to cover and monitor any problem areas we have in Billingshurst - so High Street one week, Car Parks another, Business Parks if appropriate.

The system is real time with a radio link back to the control centre at Haywards Heath so as soon as a problem occurs action can be taken.

Capital has been provided - and PC has agreed £5,000 towards annual maintenance costs. Next step is to write to all businesses to see if they are willing to contribute towards the annual costs. .

67.13. Billifest: AB

All going ahead, everything is in place, we need help on the day and AB thanked all those who have volunteered their time. A rota will be drawn up as a guide. All set for another successful event.

67.14. AOB:

1 - Pam Spencer Memorial Bench

A proposal that BCP should contribute £500 for a bench in memory of Pam Spencer was agreed by all with no descents.

2 - Wendy Wright - retirement from the PC

It was agreed that all would make individual contributions to the current collection taking place.

3- HDC Retail Study - GL

There will be £25,000 to support this project.

4. BilliBiz the Show: MS

This was an extraordinary success for the Chamber of Commerce, with 34 exhibitors and over 200 visitors. WSCT was one of the sponsors and it was great success all round.

5. Learn to play the Ukuleles work shops DH

These are being held in the 6 Bells 2^nd Wednesday of each month. ' BilliUk'

6. Forum JU

Advised the Forum has been taken down.

67.15. Date of next meeting - Thursday 19^th January 2012.

Meeting closed at 9.00pm

Title Minutes dated 24^th November 2011

Ref 67

Owner Owen Davies - Chairman

Author S Duck

Name Owen Davies - ( Patrick Perks acting Chair at this meeting)

Role Chair, Billingshurst Community Partnership Management Committee

Release Date 10^th January 2012

Signature………

Owen Davies………………………………………………….