Minutes of Steering Committee Meeting

Eversden Village Hall

16^th April 2008 – 8.00pm 

Present:  John White (JW), Linda Nicholls (LN), Guy Nicholls (GN), Terence Wheeler (TW), David Farnell (DF), Alison Pritchard (AP), Christine Piper (CP)

 Apologies: Liz Lawrie, Catherine Huntington, Jack McCollum, Abbi Chiswell-White, Mary & Denis Elbourne

Resignations:  Liz Lawrie who is leaving Great Eversden, 

Catherine Huntington due to pressure of work commitments

Minutes of Last Meeting: These were approved         

Finance: £75 has been spent on software acquisition.  £100 has been taken from the monies held by the Parish Council on behalf of the Parish Plan to cover this leaving £25 held by JW for any incidental expenses incurred.  To date £5 has been spent on Hire of the Village Hall and £2.70 on postage for 10 stakeholder letters.  This leaves £17.30 held by JW.

Questionnaire: Much time and effort has been devoted by LN, GN, TW assisted initially by LL, in isolating the specific type of questions relevant to the Eversdens Parish Plan.  Members were each given copies of the questions contained in the Software Village Appraisals Question Menu and the Household Section and up to

Q141 of the Personal Section were discussed in some detail.  A decision on whether or not to split the Parish areas into Great and Little Eversden was postponed although it was emphasised that we have to work on the basis of a split as this can be changed at a later stage but not vice versa.  Progress was made on questions that might be discarded or combined with others.  Each member was asked to look at the remaining questions (Q142 to Q324!) and give feedback to LN/GN/TW.

TW said that data input will be a major task and that a number of data inputters will be required.  JW said that Lindi Wood has said that she would be willing to assist the Steering Committee particularly with computer related tasks.  

               Open Day:  TW had contacted Neville Pritchard immediately following the conclusion of the last meeting and obtained consent for the Parish Plan to have a marquee at the forthcoming Church Fete to be held at the Village Hall and surrounds on Saturday 7^th June. It was agreed that:

               JW will acquire a marquee for that day borrowed from Neville Bidwell

               A computer linked to DVD player (from JW) and screen (from the Village Hall) will show “Eversden Events”

               A separate computer if available will show the Eversden website and its contents/facilities.

               Diarmuid Coyle has offered to man a table where Eversden On-line can be demonstrated and discussed

               Some “inducements” should be offered to attract people into the Parish Plan marquee. JW suggested for children that around 20 photographs of various places in the Eversdens would be displayed, the competition being to identify each specific location.  A suitable prize for the winner (if more than one, a draw will need to take place to produce just one) needs to be agreed.

               GN suggested for adults a prize raffle with ideas for the Eversdens being written on paper slips rather than having numbered tickets.  A suitable prize might be a bottle of wine

               A flip chart, suitable pens and pads (JW to procure) will be needed as will some form of upright, self-standing board(s) to which photographs etc can be attached.           

Publicity: DF has produced updated A4 posters and these are to be distributed or attached to Notice Boards.  He has also updated the Eversden Ahead webpage.

DF has also produced a design for the back page of Tailcorn and is assured that Tailcorn will be out before the Church Fete date.  

JW reported that there had so far been no feedback from individuals via the Eversdens Ahead weblink and only one response from the letters to stakeholders.  This, from Natural England, said they wished us well but had nothing to contribute at this time.             

Groups and Businesses:

            No views so far expressed by:

            Eversden Youth Brass Band

            Eversden Bellringers

            Huddleston Professional Services

            Rider Sale Architects

            Cricket Club

            8 O’Clock Club

            Tennis Club (awaits a decision on its future)

            Eversden Surgery 

Not yet contacted:

            Briar Security

            Traditional Flooring

            Red House Farm

            Patrick Kilker           

Date of next meeting: 8pm, Thursday, 15th May, Eversden Village Hall