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Dukinfield East. Residents’ Association.

Affiliated with New Charter Housing Trust Group

Committee meeting held on 15th June 2015 Present: John Heywood (JH) Chairman, Kathy Inglis (KI) Secretary, Linda Whyatt (LW) Resident Involvement Officer Simon Blomeley (SB) Neighbourhood Coordinator for Gorse Hall, New Charter. Apologies David Bottomley (DB) Treasurer Angela Dickson (AD) Committee Member

Arnold Hodgkinson (AH) Committee Member Khadeja Begum (KB) Neighbourhood Coordinator for Yew Tree Estate, New Charter. Preamble to Meeting: JH noted that there were insufficient members present to form a quorum, under the rules of the constitution. The meeting, therefore, proceeded to the agenda, but no votes were taken.

Review of Previous Minutes

Gorse Hall Park Play Area As noted in the previous meeting, Councillor Dave Sweeton had forwarded an email from Nicola Marshall from The Parks Department of TMBC. Basically, she was saying that; if the project were to go forward it would need the involvement of residents to physically assist with the establishment of certain play features and then their ongoing maintenance. JH proposed that the members of the Friends of Gorse Hall (TFGH) should try to get their residents involved and DERA would work with the Residents of the Tennyson Avenue estate where ex-committee members resided.

It was agreed, at that time, that DERA would work with TFGH and, in turn, New Charter would support DERA particularly with fund raising as the play area would benefit the Gorse Hall neighbourhood. Various examples of play equipment and costings had been sent by TMBC and the next stage was be to contact TFGH to see if they wished to proceed with the project and then arrange a meeting to discuss options. Since the last meeting, JH had sent numerous emails to Christine Clough, the Secretary of TFGH to arrange a meeting. However, there had been no response. Only that day had he managed to phone Christine, who explained that she had been on holiday and was catching up with her backlog of work. She would get back to JH as soon as possible,

Lyne Edge LW felt that it would be difficult to progress the Lyne Edge garden project, since few local residents had expressed interest and, in the meantime, due to a lack of parking spaces of the road, the area was being used for additional parking. JH felt that, if the Gorse Hall project were to go forward there would be enough for DERA to cope with, anyway.

Dukinfield Festival

The next planned event is the Dukinfield Partnership Festival on the 4th July. DERA is to participate demonstrating

how to design and build flower baskets, using materials supplied by New Charter; the finished items to be sold at an

economical price (say £5 each) the money raised to go to DERA general funding. KI expressed interest in supporting

this initiative, along with family members who had a keen interest in gardening.

Mel Kearns, (MK) Regeneration Officer for New Charter is organising the event which will be attended by GMP, TMBC,

Fire and Rescue Service etc.

KI queried whether private business could attend; she will contact MK about this.

DERA to deliver leaflets advertising the event alongside their public meeting publicity.

General

Loxley House on Birch Lane have moved from council run to community run. However, KI expressed the opinion that

they were charging far too much for the use of rooms and facilities and it was, therefore, unlikely to be well utilised.

JH had no further update regarding bins for dog mess around the Gorse Hall / Macauley Close area. He will follow up

with Dave Sweeton.

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KB had previously advised that there was to be a weekly multi agency meeting which is taking place, attendance by

invitation only. SB is to enquire whether community organisations would be eligible. The Community Gathering has

yet to be arranged.

KB: The notice board at the shops still needs to be replaced. LW to progress with KB.

Mini Bus

KI updated the meeting regarding the appalling mistreatment of the minibus by Astley Sports College (ASC) pupils

such as breaking a seatbelt, removing the rear cover of a seat and refilling the space with empty cans and crisp

packets, burn-marking a seat and writing graffiti, plus leaving assorted litter in the vehicle.

The minibus facility had been withdrawn from ASC and the vehicle was then securely parked at Trinity School site,

Stalybridge. They were to be allowed use of the bus FOC for offering this facility written into a special agreement.

In the meantime, the bus had been safety checked and passed without any major issues and few ‘Amber Warnings’.

An estimate was obtained for repairs to the damage caused to ASC and cleaning, totalling £399. KI had written a

strongly-worded letter to the Headmaster regarding the issues and their liability for repair costs, delivered by hand,

that evening.

KI had modified the original minibus terms to reflect the change in the law whereby green copies of licences are now

cancelled.

KI advised of six possible additional bookings between June and August.

The insurance would be due again in August, last year costing £1414 including interest charge for paying by

instalments. LW suggested that New Charter might be able to contribute funds when the time comes.

Accounts

Balance on the accounts was £1,700.23, Money was still to come from N.C. £165 for Minibus Tax, promised the

following week.

New Charter

JH remarked on the improved appearance of the shopping precinct due to the flower gardens and thanked KB for her

efforts.

Suggestions for developing a large grassed area near Sandringham Drive still to be considered.

Public Meeting 29th June

We agreed on a new approach for this meeting, whereby attendees would be split into small groups and circulate

amongst invited guests who would update them on latest developments in their area of expertise and then answer

questions.

Guests committed to attend are:

Karolyn Schofield GMP PCSO Sangita Patel TMBC Neighbourhood Project Officer Dave Sweeton TMBC Councillor Representatives from New Charter and DERA. Leaflets to be designed and printed ready for distribution from Thursday 25th June. JH to contact AD ref projector.

AOB

KI advised the meeting of a youth scheme over the next 12 months whereby young people were trained to sail a ship

at sea. KI would like DERA to participate and she would champion the project, driving the minibus etc., as

appropriate; email details to follow.

Date of next meeting

Public Meeting: Monday 29th June. .