Minutes of Steering Committee Meeting

Eversden Village Hall

16^th January 2008 – 8.00pm 

Present:         John White (JW), Liz Lawrie (LL), Christine Piper (CP),

Linda Nicholls (LN), Guy Nicholls (GN), Terence Wheeler (TW), Kevin Howe (KH), Dave Farnell (DF), Melanie Baker (MB) (ACRE)

Apologies: Jack McCollum, Alison Pritchard, Catherine Huntington, Sally Oliver,

Abbi Chiswell-White

Election of Officers: As there is still no volunteer for the post of Secretary it was agreed that this position will be filled by rotation.  JW agreed to fill this until the next meeting, LN volunteered to do so for the next rotation.

Finance: MB handed the ACRE grant cheque of £1500 to JW.  It was agreed that the Parish Council be requested to look after the Parish Plan banking for the time being.

JW reported that he had looked at the University of Gloucestershire Village Appraisal software package and recommended that it be purchased at a cost of £75. This was agreed and JW will organise the purchase as soon as possible.

KH said that he could possibly obtain an advantageous rate for printing of the Questionnaires and eventual Parish Plan.

Task Groups: The following Group was agreed:

Questionnaire – LN, GN, LL, TW

Publicity: It was agreed that publicity was of prime importance and the following actions were agreed:

Tailcorn – JW to write article for the next edition

Groups & Businesses - Groups and businesses are to be approached to seek their opinions on Eversden pros and cons.  These are views of the organisations not of individuals within them.  Those immediately identified and the Steering Group member allocated are:

Stakeholders – JW agreed to make initial contact with all the stakeholders identified by ACRE

Open Day – An open day in the Village Hall is to be arranged for late April or early May.  If timing is right an advert and/or further article in Tailcorn should be placed describing this event.  Ideas for the day included a display of Eversden photographs (with perhaps a children’s quiz with prize to identify the various locations?display of the footpaths accessible from our villages showing their numbering and route, invitation to clubs and groups with facilities for them to show their “wares” and encourage additional membership if appropriate, suggestion boxes for young people to express wants & dislikes plus possible volunteers for young people supervisors if new facilities are provided. Progress reports on the Plan and any ideas for inclusion.

Notice Boards – DF agreed to produce A4 size posters for the village noticeboards, Eversden, Comberton and Bourn surgeries, Village Hall, Recreation Ground Pavilion

Web Site – DF has provided a dedicated slot on the Eversdens website.  Event publicity can be incorporated here.

Eversden On-line – this should be explored as a means of contacting Eversden residents by e-mail.  Perhaps JW and DF can investigate?

A.O.B.  JW mentioned that there would be a Police Liaison Meeting on 23^rd January held at Orwell Village Hall at 7.30pm where Highways Authority representatives would also be present.  This was of importance to the Eversdens as it provided a significant opportunity to promote our case for traffic speed limit reductions and A603 junction improvement.  A request was made for the Parish Council to consider ways in which such meetings can be publicised now that we have no shop or pub.  Notices put on the various noticeboards would help. JW undertook to report this to the PC (perhaps this is one of the first actions emanating from the Parish Plan?)