Billingshurst Community Partnership Ltd.
Annual General Meeting held on July 22^nd 2007-07-23

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT for the year 2006 to 2007

In presenting this report I once again acknowledge my indebtedness to all those who have supported the work of the partnership throughout the last year as well as the efforts they have put in, in the previous years to make our projects the success that they are. Many, many hours of unpaid time have been given as well as members subsidizing our day to day running costs. I am not so sure that the greater community really does appreciate this effort on our members' part in working on the projects that they head up for the benefit of the community.

I also acknowledge the support we have received from the Parish Council and in particular it's current Chairman and Vice Chairman as well as our District and County councilors who have served us very well in committee; we are privileged to have had them working with us on our management committee. I want to especially thank Geoff Lawes who has now stepped back from the District Council and hope to welcome him back on the team as representing the Billingshurst Rotary club.

Later you will be asked to vote for up to 15 persons to serve on the Partnership's Management committee for 2007/8. This we have to do under our regulations and I thank all those who once again are coming forward to serve on our management committee.

Last but by no means least I want to thank our two officers for all their efforts and especially the support they have given me. They are our new Secretary Sandy Duck and our Treasurer Tony Burke. Sandy has taken over from Sue Gatlands and has worked extremely hard to 'come up to speed' and we all appreciate her dedication to the secretarial role. Tony is of course our stalwart treasurer and continues to keep our financial affairs well under control.

THE PARTNERSHIP

The concept of a Community Partnership still seems to give some people some concern as to our legitimacy! For at least the last six years, or more, we have delivered a number of projects to the community and have raised a considerable amount of funds for these via the various grants providers that other bodies cannot access. This is to the benefit of the community at large and not a narrow few. The Countryside Agency continues to encourage and guide groups like ours all over the country and there are now many such groups actively pursuing their local projects. In the Horsham District there are now six or more such community partnerships and representatives from each group now meet on regular basis to discuss and address issues of common concern. We in Billingshurst have been helped and guided in a positive way by hands on effort coming from Action in Rural Sussex (AIRS) and in particular by their coordinator Les Ampstead. So I would say to any body who questions our legitimacy 'look at what we have delivered before you criticize'.

PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN TO DATE

Those projects delivered so far, and those still very much alive, reflect our support for and active work on - the new Centre for Children; support for BAIT and help for the Elderly. Arts in the form of plays and musical events. Youth as Band Nights and a Youth 'Drop in Centre' at the village hall; the Environment through our work re the Burnt Row woodland project and the Fishing Lake and the Local Economy especially our efforts to regenerate the local Chamber of Commerce. Many of these will be reported on in more depth shortly. In all they represent many hours of dedicated work and the raising of well over £200,000 of grants. Funds that would not otherwise be available to local authorities.

THE NEXT ACTION PLAN

The first action plan is therefore now at a stage where most of the issues have been addressed and I trust that the reports from the project leaders reflects the efforts of many contributing individuals, organizations and authorities that worked together to achieve our aims.

We now need to turn our attention to the next five year plan and to this end we have already circulated the community with a questionnaire and the results of this will be reported on shortly. However suffice it to say that the partnership management team have already said that we see as priority projects the Local Economy; the Centre for Children (C4C) and Youth activities as well as further work to try to address those young people who seem to be intent on creating problems for the community. Here one idea being floated is that of some form of community service (paid or unpaid).

FINALLY

I thank all those who have, through this last year, given unselfishly their time and efforts in bringing the partnership and projects to the point where we are now able to go out to the community and say -here are the results of the first five years ' now what would you like us to do?'. If I have missed someone out I apologize, if I have not emphasized sufficiently the aid and assistance we have had from other groups or authorities this is by omission and not intent and I thank them all for their support and encouragement.

I close by stating what I have reiterated many times 'Working together we can make it happen - divided it will fail'.

Patrick Perks
BCP Ltd
Chairman 2006 to 2007