• 1 Apologies
Sam Gildert, Stephen Cudworth, Danny Allen, Geoff and Sue Heaton
• 2 Matters Arising from last meeting
Christmas do – Shelley to arrange to arrange it with Bare Arts on Friday 26th Jan. Will send an email with more information
Dark Lane – said they wouldn’t demolish it due to costs but suggested we could approach Nick Kennedy about it directly to see if they can make it secure. However, it’s unsafe and its likely there is asbestos on site too. Can the Councillors approach officers at RBC to contact the owners to secure the site and make it safe? RG to write officially from NVCA. Group agreed to this action.
Simone to ask the school again to write a letter highlighting their concern.
PCSOs have been to site but tends to be during the day rather than during the evening when most of the issues take place. SC to check if we have any PCSOs that we could voice our concerns to. Penny to share contact details.
Ask RBC for a truck load of bark mulch for the garden this winter.
RG to ask RBC to cut down the privet hedgerow on Top Barn Lane to allow light onto the footpath.
• 3 New Kirk Fair Update
A date had been set for 9th June but that weekend is going to be ‘Rally in the Valley’ – a scooter event throughout Rossendale! And also, Margaret and Natalie aren’t here either. So, can’t compete with this!
Could we have a stall at their event at Marl Pits? A bottle stall and promote NVCA too?
Decided to change the date to 8th September. We think this works with the 60s weekend again too. RG to check with Barry Hyde.
Wouldn’t be able to use St Nicks Church though as there is a wedding on. But could potentially use the Methodist Church….Simone to look into this. And notify St Peters and St Nick schools too.
• 4 Community Garden Update
£80 still left to spend from the original grant. Check in spring what is growing and what isn’t so we know what to replace.
Larry from the Lions has said we might be able to get a grant from them for the garden but would need to have something specific we needed.
Donated seat – Janet has volunteered Brian to repair this and install it.
Stone – this year’s project will be to try and get a carved stone on the village green. RG to approach highways re consent and try to get a cost estimate together too.
Shirley suggested we could ask for donations for seats in the garden in memory of loved ones. Put something on Facebook and our website to get feedback and interest. There is space for 2 seats in the garden.
RG to ask the council for consent and for a preference of seats.
To look into Neighbourhood Forum grants and Local Member Grants in the new financial year.
• 5 Staghills Play Area
SC to approach RBC (Keith Jenkins) to ask where the official paperwork is up to.
RG mentioned that Proffitts would be keen to be involved and at a discount rate as well as having 50% of our fees paid already from a grant from LCC.
• 6 Planning
Johnny Barn planning consent was passed before Christmas for 30 houses (outline development).
However, £15K Section 106 funding (from the development) would be allocated to the play area at Staghills……
Newchurch Conservation Area – Sebastian Pickles (Conservation Officer) is keen to start the survey work on the proposed conservation area in Newchurch following the draft local plan.
• 7 AOB
Nativity
Thanks to Rev Penny for her innovative ideas for last years nativity which was great! And well attended.
Facebook comments were really positive and people have asked for the same again next year! Nearly 100 people attended (including children).
Water Band have asked if we do it next year that we run through the ‘scenes’ with them in advance of the event.
It was queried at the time if we had permission to hold the event (in terms of road closures etc). RG confirmed that we had an events licence from Rossendale Borough Council in place before the event which detailed the entire evenings activities and each location including moving between the various scenes in Newchurch.
Unanimous vote to hold it again this December.
Members
RG to add Mark Schofield to the mailing list (Margaret to find out his details). RG to put minutes through his letterbox. Keen to be involved which is great. IB has also passed some other details for RG to add to the mailing list.
Living Well, Living Better Pledge Tree
Try to encourage people to volunteer in return for a ‘time credit’. These are a currency and can be used around the country in specific places (eg. Marl Pits, Ski Rossendale, Library Services, Adrenalin Centre in Haslingden, Whitworth Pool, Samantha’s Beauty in Stacksteads and Northern Plumbing and Heating.
www.actionforhappiness.org
www.justaddspice.org/get-involved/spend-time-credits.
Could we use the tree in January as a prompt, as a way to encourage people to think about their community and ways to help.
Could the Methodist Church and St Nicks use the tree and the Kindness Calendar? Shirley offered to contact Pam Barmby at RBC who was promoting the event to see if there was anything similar happening for Easter.
St Nicholas Church Update
The Church are working with Valley Heritage and the Diocese on a project relating to the churchyard and resolve issues with trees, graves, access etc. So much potential. War grave project with school, improved access etc.
Stakeholder meeting to be held in a few weeks’ time on 29th Jan at 5pm to gauge community feedback and gather ideas.
Does anyone want to come? Cherry to ask Danny if he can attend. If not Cherry could come and maybe Shirley too.
Book in Rawtenstall library with all the graves transcribed by Rossendale History Society 30 years ago. Penny thinks she has it on a CD called Volume 2. She will check what this contains. Wilf thinks it only covers a certain time period.
• 8 Next Meetings
Thursday 8th February 2018