grovefieldsresidents

Minutes for Committee meeting held in 2019

Grove Fields Residents Association

Committee Meeting

Date

24/03/19 at 7:30pm

Version

0.1

Attendees: Keiron Wybrow, Tony Johnson, Belinda Goss-Lambourne, Dimitri Patrikios, Bob Winter and Graham Bright

Apologies: None

Purpose:

To take stock of where Dacorum are regarding the development of the local plan.

Agenda:

Current Status of development of the local plan
Current financial position
Neighbourhood Plan for Tring
Rights of way across Grove Fields
Ideas for updates to the website
Update for members
Committee Structure from May 2019 to April 2020

Agreements:

GFRA to remain engaged with Dacorum to ensure that when the draft local plan is shared for consultation in August 2019 we receive it promptly
The association will find someone to independently audit our bank account to reconcile expenditure, income and the current balance
We would like Tring Town Council to secure neighbourhood plan status to help the town influence the development of the local plan
Any evidence that members can find regarding rights of way across Grove Fields should be identified
All current members of the committee would like to remain on the committee for the period May 2019 to April 2020
Keiron Wybrow would like the committee to find a new Treasurer for him to handover responsibility to.

Actions:

Action Actioned by Due date

1

Current Status of development of the local plan.

The current timetable is:

Draft local plan to be shared for consultation in August 2019
To submit the plan to central government for examination in February 2020
For the plan to be adopted in December 2020.

There are plans across South West Herts to develop a joint strategic plan for housing in Hemel Hempstead

and across the borders with Three Rivers and Watford. The timetable for this is:

Public engagement on developing the plan in September 2019
Draft local plan to be shared for consultation in August 2020
To submit the plan to central government for examination in October 2020
For the plan to be adopted in July 2021.

There are no plans in place for working between Dacorum and Buckinghamshire or Bedfordshire

ACTION: To ensure we have access to the consultation portal and ensure we keep in contact with the planning team. Graham Ongoing

2 Current financial position

The current balance in the GFRA bank account is £2,369

ACTION: To find someone to do an independent audit of our bank account. Keiron April 2019

ACTION: To find out the process for handing over Treasurer responsibilities to a new committee member. Keiron April 2019

3 Neighbourhood Plan for Tring

Tring Town Council believe it is too late to develop a Neighbourhood plan for Tring
They stated that Hemel Hempstead has been identified as one of 5 new garden towns in England
They stated that Hemel Hempstead is expected to take 11,000 new homes
They are meeting with James Doe (Director of Planning at Dacorum) and they will call a meeting with us
and interested parties once they have more to share

ACTION: Offer capacity to Tring Town Council to draft the application for Neighbourhood Plan Status. Graham April 2019

ACTION: Continue to engage with Tring Town Council to ensure our goals remain aligned. Graham April 2019

4 Rights of way across Grove Fields

There is a time period (by 1st January 2026) where Rights of Way can be registered
There are a number of helpful websites where you can search for previous rights of way to register them
All members that back on to the Grove Fields should check their House deeds to see if it states they have rights of way or access to the Grove Fields – Netherby Close, Albany Terrace, Wingrave Road and Bulbourne Road

ACTION: Check to see what rights of way Dimitri has through the large gate in to the field Dimitri April 2019

ACTION: Check with Neighbour on Wingrave Road Tony April 2019

ACTION: Include a request to check deeds and look in to rights of way in the Members Update Graham April 2019

ACTION: Share website links with Committee Members Graham April 2019

5 Ideas for updates to the website

Need to ensure the website looks up to date so we cannot be challenged by Dacorum that we have become a dormant association

ACTION: Ensure all Updates are uploaded and visible on the website Bea April 2019

ACTION: Ensure all Minutes are uploaded and visible on the website Bea April 2019

ACTION: Add in a countdown clock and work with Bea to help with the website. Tony April 2019

6 Update for members

It was agreed that the following items should be included within UPDATE 9 for Members:

Confirm the Committee met to take stock of what lay ahead in the coming year
Share the expected date for when we will next be consulted on the plan – August 2019
The current balance of our fighting fund
Request help for researching any access rights or rights of way
Explain that all Committee members would like to remain – May 2019 through April 2020 inclusive
Request that any members that would be interested in becoming involved on the Committee put themselves forward before the end of April. We have a specific need for a new Treasurer.

ACTION: Draft the Member Update and share with Committee members for comment Graham April 2019

7 Committee Structure

It was explained that all committee members should, if interested, put themselves forward to continue as committee members for another 12 months (period May 2019 to April 2020 inclusive)

All current committee members put themselves forward for another 12 month period
All current committee members were unanimously accepted to continue for another 12 month period by the other members of the committee

ACTION: Include a request, in Member UPDATE 9, for additions to the Committee from the membership Graham April 2019

Meeting closed at 8:45pm

Date and time of next meeting will be confirmed via email by committee members

Grove Fields Residents Association

Minutes for 2017

Committee Meeting

Date 20/07/17 7pm

Version 0.1

Attendees Keiron Wybrow, Belinda Goss-Lambourne, Dimitri Patrikios and Graham Bright

Apologies Tony Johnson and Bob Winter

Purpose:

To review progress against Committee actions and to make the necessary preparations for contacting politicians.

Agenda:

Review of progress against actions
Progress made on the leaflet drop and door knock
Review of membership numbers and the future plan for increasing numbers
Amend/Approve Business Plan
Committee statement as to 'why not Grove Fields'
Engagement plan for politicians
Agree the content for 'UPDATE 1' to the Membership
Process for accepting donations
Latest development on the FoI request
Discuss and agree any changes to FB and Website
AOB

Agreements:

Minutes and actions from previous meeting were agreed.
A new simple ‘call to action’ leaflet after the summer break will be developed
Engage the wider membership to help with a ‘door knock’ follow-up to the leaflet drop
A poster or sign (similar to estate agent sign) will be developed
Engage with Tring Living to publish an article
To send the ‘Why not Grove Fields’ statement to MP, Councillors and Francis Whittaker
To send the first update to all members
To provide simple instructions on the website as to how make a donation
Make agreed changes (detail below) in to the website
Blaine Close is to be included within the scope of GFRA

Actions:

ACTION ACTIONED BY DUE DATE

24th May, 2017 Committee Meeting

2 ACTION: Investigate how to set up a bank account for the residents association. Keiron COMPLETE

4 ACTION: Develop the response email to be sent to people confirming they are now a member Graham COMPLETE

5 ACTION: Identify the Dacorum Councillors Graham COMPLETE

ACTION: Identify a full list of all politicians Graham COMPLETE

ACTION: Set up a drop box facility for the residents association Bob JUNE

ACTION: Understand the process for raising and securing funds from the Town Council Keiron and Tony JUNE

8th June, 2017 Committee Meeting

6 ACTION: Revise the constitution to reflect that Belinda is the new Secretary and arrange for

Keiron, Belinda and Graham to sign the constitution Graham COMPLETE

ACTION: Update the website to reflect the change in Secretary Bea COMPLETE

13th June, 2017 Committee Meeting

7 ACTION: The three signatories to attend the bank to show their ID and sign the paperwork

to set up the account. Graham, Bea, Keiron COMPLETE

20th July, 2017 Committee Meeting

8 Progress made on the leaflet drop and door knock

Confirmed that all leaflets have now been delivered
Soft copy of the leaflet should be sent to membership so they can share with neighbours

ACTION: Send soft copy of the leaflet to membership with UPDATE 1 Graham COMPLETE

9 Review of membership numbers and the future plan for increasing numbers

As of 8th September, 2017 the GFRA has 229 registered members
Membership growth has slowed – 194 in June, 33 in July and 2 in August
Agreed that a new simple ‘call to action’ leaflet after the summer break is required
Agreed that we should engage the wider membership to help with a ‘door knock’ follow-up
Agreed that a poster or sign (similar to estate agent sign) would be a good idea
Agreed that we should engage with Tring Living

ACTION: Design a new leaflet – “Your opinion matters” Dimitri SEPTEMBER

ACTION: Engage with Tring Living to see if they can include an article in a future issue Dimitri SEPTEMBER

ACTION: See if any of the members would be prepared to have a poster or sign at their property Bea SEPTEMBER

ACTION: Produce a sign and/or poster TBC SEPTEMBER

ACTION: Engage with membership to request a ‘door knock’ follow-up with the existing/new leaflet Graham SEPTEMBER

10 Amend/Approve Business Plan

Business plan approved by the Committee

11 Committee statement as to 'why not Grove Fields' and engagement plan for politicians

Statement shared prior to the meeting and discussed at the meeting
Committee asked to provide any amendments before the end of July
Agreed to send the statement to Councillors and MP and then forward on to Francis Whittaker
ACTION: Incorporate amendments from Committee and email to MP and Councillors Graham COMPLETE
ACTION: Forward the correspondence on to Francis Whittaker Graham SEPTEMBER

12 Agree the content for 'UPDATE 1' to the Membership

Update shared prior to the meeting and discussed at the meeting
Committee asked to provide any amendments before the end of July
Agreed to send the Update before the summer break

ACTION: Incorporate amendments from Committee and email to membership Graham COMPLETE

13 Process for accepting donations

A number of members have expressed a willingness to donate funds
A number of members have suggested that securing a planning consultant with funds would be a good idea
A simple process for making a donation will be explained on the website i.e. provide account number and sort code for members to make a donation. Send an email to confirm receipt of their donation

ACTION: Update the website with the process explaining how to give a donation Bea SEPTEMBER

14 Latest development on the FoI request

Dacorum continue to refuse to release the minutes from the meeting with RELX
The Council lawyer has concluded that FoI has been applied appropriately by Dacorum
The email from RELX to Dacorum offering to ‘pay for meetings’ was released at the third request
The new trees in the field were planted prior to the green belt review being published stating that the boundary should be strengthened i.e. what triggered RELX to do this

ACTION: Escalate the complaint to the Information Commissioner Graham SEPTEMBER

15 Discuss and agree any changes to FB and Website

Under the ‘Minutes’ heading load the committee minutes in addition to the Grove Road School meeting
Include a page for ‘Supported by’ in the menu offering the opportunity for local businesses to advertise
Include a page for ‘How to Donate’ in the menu
ACTION: Incorporate the changes above in to the website Bea SEPTEMBER

16 AOB

Blaine Close is to be included within the scope of GFRA
GFRA should be more active in using twitter and FB for engaging with Dacorum, Herts, MP and Councillors
Set up a social event in the Autumn (post the publishing of the Issues and Options paper)
Need to follow up wildlife and soil surveys with Chiltern Society
Need to follow up the leads on publishing articles in the CS magazine and Daily Telegraph

ACTION: Investigate how best to engage with Twitter and FB with Dacorum, Herts, MP and Councillors Bea SEPTEMBER

ACTION: Follow up on wildlife and soil surveys Bea SEPTEMBER

ACTION: Follow up on the article options with CS magazine and Daily Telegraph TBC OCTOBER

ACTION: Make arrangements for a social event TBC OCTOBER

Next Meeting date and time: Wednesday 20th September, 2017

Grove Fields Residents Association

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