Dukinfield East. Residents Association.

Committee Meeting held on 6th January 2014 Present: John Heywood David Bottomley John Bevan Angela Carr Kathy Inglis (JH) (DB) (JB) (AC) (KI) Chairman Treasurer Committee Member Committee Member Secretary

Guests: Simon Blomeley (SB), Neighbourhood Coordinator for Gorse Hall, New Charter. Sarah Chilton (SC), Neighbourhood Coordinator for Gorse Hall, New Charter. Linda Whyatt (LW), Resident Involvement Officer. Preamble to Meeting: JH confirmed that there were sufficient members present to form a quorum, under the rules of the constitution. The meeting, therefore, proceeded to the agenda.

Review of previous meeting

Affiliation with New Charter JH we have now affiliated with New Charter. LW Hunters Court have now become a residents group with a constitution. SC the clean-up day was a success and collected about 2 tons of rubbish on Chester Avenue. SB a resident had asked about a summer clean-up event. SB caretaker team did help some residents with taking things to the skips The path between 139-141 Chester Avenue and the Circle Area had become overgrown. SB this was cleaned up on 25th November, Green Charter will cut back up as requested. SB spoken to man who had been cutting trees back on the wooded part of the circle area, he has been told not to do that anymore. SC later this year, perhaps, planting a Christmas Tree around an event involving the local children, getting them to make decorations for the tree. The tree would need to be in a permanent location and must be planted on New Charter land. Financial Report DB Account balance 495.67, 3.20 in petty cash. There are some amounts to be returned to The Big Lottery, You Choose & the Seed Fund, we have sent off details of expenditure to them and await reply. The road tax fund is due for renewal at the end of January. There is 86 to be paid to Astley as our share of the 2 sets of key cost. Yew Tree Shop Bins SC will chase up with Kevin Garside, Neighbourhood Services, TMBC, over the bins, there are rumours of a project on the front of the shops. New Charter have said that they will pay for the closed bins. One issue is closed bins require locks, TMBC staff will not use keys. Minibus KI will write to Cheshire Vehicles regarding the information given regarding disabled access conversion. JH has cleaned the bus & put various warning signs on. The bodywork needs some patching & paint. LW will advise all their groups about availability of the bus. JH has emailed a copy of the leaflet about the bus to LW for distribution. JH will check if the School need a section 19 license or are exempt.

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JH we need a new log book for the bus. JH will produce a check list to be completed before the bus is taken out. SB offered to provide a copy of the one they use. KI we need to make a note of all the faults on the bus. JH will take photos of dents & scratches already present. JH KI to issue receipts for hire money (receipt book required), pay funds directly into out account, DB to be advised by KI of payments into account. JH will check once a month that the 1st aid box is full. JH master file of documents, DB will keep all the financial documents, KI will deal with the bookings. KI currently the Tachometer is in Km & the trip is in Miles, look into changing so both same. Demise of the Dukinfield Diary & Fund Raising Concert JH email from Bob Story, due to lack of funds these are no longer going to happen. Notice Board Requires new locks after one was broken by vandals, we now only have one key. SC will contact Garcias who provided the notice board. Auditing of 2013 accounts LW will arrange audit of our accounts for 2013. Email her when ready for collection. Future Projects We are still looking for an area to create a play area for the children. New Charter will not build play areas due to insurance & maintenance costs. SC New Charter are looking at the former garage area between Rowan Crescent & Lyne Edge Road, requires a lot of work to tidy up, the residents up there are asking for half to be grassed or Astroturf area for football with fencing & half to be a garden area. This will require consultation with the local residents. SB on Stanhope they have setup a community garden involving local children in growing their own food. SC during the cleanup day residents who visited the bus were given a questionnaire asking what was the one improvement they would like to see in their area. Dog fouling & a place for kids to play were consistent answers. The area would be ideal for a community play area. SC in March/April setup a couple of Gazebos on that land & leaflet the locals to come along and have their say about development of the land. SC was prepared to take committee members up to look at some of the community gardens projects in the Tameside. JH we have long term plans for a community garden in Chester Avenue. SC/SB would need to look into access to the area. SC Mark Story, Astley Sports Village has put a bid in for funding to do extra sessions for the younger kids in the area. A decision is due soon on this. Maybe DERA would support this. JH we would like to support this to keep kids occupied & out of trouble. Please advise us of the outcome. Publicising the January DERA public meeting. LW will design a leaflet for our meeting and assist with delivery to local households. Under the new constitution we need to hold 2 public plus the AGM, we currently hold 3 plus the AGM. SB use the April public meeting as the official launch of the Minibus, inviting Tameside Radio & local papers to promote it. Any other business SC we are due to have another meeting soon with the Hunters Court group and would like members of the committee to attend. Date of next meeting Public: 7.00pm, Monday 20th January, Astley Sports College, 7:00pm. Committee: Monday, 3rd February, Astley Sports College, 7:00pm.

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