Minutes of the Meeting of the
EAST GRINSTEAD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
held in the Meeting Room, Chequer Mead on 27 January 2004 at
7.30 pm
Present:
Don Cooper - Chairman
Edward Belsey - East Grinstead Town Council
Ginny Waddingham - East Grinstead Town Council
Carol Kelly - Manager, East Grinstead CVS
Alan Lord(for Lorraine Dell-Louth) - Age Concern East Grinstead
Kathy White - Churches Together in East Grinstead
Roger Martell - East Grinstead Chamber of Commerce
Dale Bulbrook - East Grinstead Chamber of Commerce
Phillip Coote - West Sussex County Council
Andrew Bass - Secretary
There were 5 members of the public and no members of the press
present.
1. Apologies:
Apologies were received from Lee Marmara, Alexandra Durrant, Lorraine
Dell-Louth, Karen Pickersly
2. Minutes of the last Meeting:
The minutes of the meeting of the 12th December 2003 were approved
with minor factual and typographic corrections.
3. Matters arising from the minutes
There were no matters arising.
4. Reports from the Working Groups
4.1 Social & Community (Co-ordinator - Carol Kelly)
4.1.1 CK reported that a successful meeting had being held on 15th
January. A report was circulated and is attached for information
4.1.2 The group had discussed the possibility of providing a Community
Centre so that there could be additional daytime services for the
elderly, as the current services were ‘under pressure’.
CK said they were going to investigate funding from the “Futurebuilders” programme
for the Voluntary Sector, a programme recently established by the
Government.
GW is to meet with the mid-Sussex Voluteer Bureau to explore possibilities
of getting more volunteers involved in this effort. AL also said
he was pursuing Section 106 monies to ensure that they were being
directed to appropriate projects.
RM asked why was another “centre” being considered
given the WSCC Social Services move from Orchard Way. He was told
that despite that move, Age Concern alone knew of the need for
another location, and was sure other organisations would support
such a project..
4.1.3 The group had also discussed the provision of an Information
Pack as well as the possibility of engaging local employers in
promoting voluntary work among its staff, in particular those
approaching retirement.
4.1.4 Co-optees attended the group’s meeting, and the group
will continue to invite people with special skills or knowledge,
meeting by meeting.
4.2 Local Economy (Co-ordinator - Dale Bulbrook)
4.2.1 DB reported that members had met as individuals and were
due to meet the next day. They agreed that wealth and prosperity
of the local economy is built around the businesses in and around
East Grinstead. The Chamber of Commerce support the aims of the
Partnership but there are signs of an unwillingness (‘ineritia
and indifference’) among some businesses to get engaged in
the Town. This unwillingness existed despite the presence of the
Chambers website and their role in supporting efforts by Sussex
Enterprise and others to provide incentive training and other courses.
4.2.2 DB went on to report that the Town website “EGNET.co.uk” received
up to 400 “hits” from around the world per day. He
felt that the Web site could be reviewed with a view to boost promotion
of the Town is many respects.
4.2.3 There was discussion about identifying skills shortages
and linking with local schools but RM said that East Grinstead
fortunately did not have a high unemployment rate and suggested
that to recruit manual labour was difficult. AL suggested that
the Group contact Pat Strong at the learning centre in Queen’s
Road who would provide lots of quality information about the current
and future plans for adult and vocational learning.
4.2.4 EB suggested that many people worked away from the town.
DB added that people needed to spend their income locally to benefit
the town’s economy even if they did not earn their living
here.
4.3 Local Environment & Transport (Co-ordinator - Edward Belsey)
4.3.1 EB reported that the group had met on 27th January and a
report has been drafted and is attached for information.
4.3.2 The Group had agreed to meet monthly and some topics had
been adopted as ones of immediate concern :
To improve the transport to Hospitals serving the area, involving
Voluntary Sector and to establish the needs in some detail.
To examine the rail services (and to contact someone with expert
knowledge).
To enquire into the use of school bus services and the possibility
that they could be available at other times of the day, (for example,
between start and finish of school day).
To find relevant data about the population in the town so that
a profile could be developed, (with a particular concern for the
identification of the extent of poverty in the town)
To suggest that schools and their students be asked to engage
with the group to express their views and ideas for the future.
To consider the impact of parking on the town shopping and retail
outlets.
They further sought to agree the “area” which the
partnership covered as there were outlying villages which considered
themselves aligned with East Grinstead.
The Chair felt that it would have to be the Local Government boundary
of the Town Council .
GW suggested that the group should try and concentrate on more
specific points ,such as the town expansion, roads, parking as
well as the potential development west of the town.
5 Constitution
A draft constitution had been circulated. Members were asked to
comment and let the Chair have their views before the next meeting.
It is proposed that the partnership aim to adopt a constitution
at the February meeting.
6 Publicising the Partnership
There was a brief discussion about how progress should be made
to let the public know about the partnership’s existence.
Before materials were prepared it was felt that a clear idea of
the partnership and it role would be needed. The “What we
are”, Why we exist”, “What we intend to do” and “How” definitions,
simply stated. All need to stress link to the Health check which
the public took part in.
DB offered to draft a wording to go on EGNET straight away. Other
suggestions included flyers and posters in prominent places around
the town as well as in the press.
Displays in the Library and a stand at May Fayre on 3rd May, were
also mentioned.
DB offered to create and host a web site for the partnership free
of charge. His offer was warmly accepted.
7 Any other business
The Secretary suggested a bank account be established as a grant
was available and expenses would need to be met.
8 Date of Next two Meetings
March 16th 2004 1600hrs - Meeting Room, Chequer Mead
April 27th 2004 1600hrs - Meeting Room, Chequer Mead
|
