Minutes of Steering Committee Meeting

Eversden Village Hall

5^th March 2008 – 8.00pm

Present:         John White (JW), Linda Nicholls (LN), Guy Nicholls (GN), Terence Wheeler (TW), Mary Elborne (ME), Desmond Elborne (DE), David Farnell (DF), Catherine Huntington (CH), Jack McCollum

Apologies: Liz Lawrie, Alison Pritchard, Sally Oliver, Abbi Chiswell-White

               Village Planning Software: JW had purchased the software which was with LN and GN, members of the questionnaire sub-committee. The committee agreed that the questionnaire should contain around sixty questions.

               Finance: The Steering Group’ budget of £1,500 was held by the Parish Council and, as the project is not a charity, a charge would be levied for each transaction. The Committee decided that, as these transactions would be few, the costs could be deducted from the fund, and that it was not worth setting up a separate account at the present time.

Publicity: The committee agreed that publicity continues to a key aim in eliciting views on village issues and topics for the questionnaire.

Website:

JW reported that there had so far been little feedback from individuals via the Eversdens Ahead weblink. 

Groups and Businesses:

The Committee received feedback from members deputed to contact local groups and businesses:

            The Vital Spark Theatre - was due to fold

            The Eversden Gunners - would consider their ideas and liked the idea of an open day.

            Insitu – Clive Dalton mentioned the need for more facilities for small business units.

            Book Club – suggested cycle path to Comberton, possibly along the line of the old railway for part of the route. This led to discussion of the possible need of a path from Eversden to Barton and of a bus from Comberton to provide a service for children involved in after-school activities.

            Friends of Eversden Churches – expressed support for the proposed plan and hoped it would acknowledge the need to protect historic churches.

            Eversden Car Scheme – it was felt that villagers did not make enough use of   this scheme but those who did expressed gratitude that it was on offer.

            Village Hall – needs more storage space, though this was complicated by it being a listed building.

            ‘Tailcorn’ – DF expressed need for feedback on villagers’ views on the magazine’s readership and content.

            No views so far expressed by:

            Eversden Youth Brass Band

            Eversden Bellringers

            Huddleston Professional Services

            Rider Sale Architects

            Cricket Club

            8 O’Clock Club

Not yet contacted:

            Briar Security

            Traditional Flooring

            Tennis Club – CH to contact

            Red House Farm

            Patrick Kilker

            Lesley Fotherby

            Eversden Surgery – DF to contact

Stakeholders:

JW reported that no responses to his letters had so far been received.

Open Day:

Possible dates were discussed and the Committee approved a suggestion by CH that this be combined with the annual Church Fete.  [Date subsequently confirmed as 7 June]. The Committee would set up a display, possibly with website connection, to promote the Parish Plan and invite comments and views. JM and DF would investigate power and laptop connections. It was agreed that it was important to keep the scale of the presence in keeping with the overall aims of the fete.

Noticeboards: DF had put up posters at the locations agreed at the previous meeting and these had attracted interest. He would replace them with revised versions, with an additional copy in the Eversden Surgery. He would also explore the possibility of a display on the back cover of Tailcorn.

Post-Plan Action:  The question was raised about feedback received after the plan was drawn up. It was agreed that ample opportunity would be offered for comment before this stage was reached. The Committee discussed how action would be taken when the plan was complete and targets defined. JM pointed out that the plan itself gave a ‘larger voice’ to the community. JW said that ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) could also advise.