Minutes May 2006
Minutes of meeting held at Butt Lane Community CentreTuesday 9th May 2006 at 7.30 p.m.
Present: Graham Sutton (Chairman) Michael Moore (Vice Chairman) Kath Viles (Secretary)
Correna Gallagher (Treasurer) John Gallacher, C Brough
Guests: Clr. Sylvia Burgess (Town Mayor Kidsgrove) Clr John Evans Clr M Leese P C David Woodward PCSO Colin Stepney Tina Evans (Secretary Talke Residents Ass.) Local Crime Community Services Kath Reader + 4 Team members
Margaret Boon - Clough Hall School
Residents: 46 Apologies: B. Collis, K. Lee F & G Gibson
Minutes of meeting held 28 March 06 were circulated and accepted as a true record
Proposed as a true record Sue Fisher Seconded John Nield
WELCOME/INTRODUCTION and THANKS
1. Chairman opened the meeting. Welcomed everyone, very good turnout of residents with a few new faces - would still like to see more. Welcomed the Guests - L.C.C.S. and Margaret Boon.
2. The Charity Dinner would now be held on 24th May at the Clough Hall Hotel - 4 spaces left.
3. Lottery Bonus Ball. We have got 36 people interested - still require more, if not, continue with 36 numbers only.
The Chairman introduced Margaret Boon - Clough Hall School - Intergeneration Mentoring.
Margaret introduced herself to the meeting, as Head of Year 7. Gave a very interesting talk on mentoring with pupils of Clough Hall School. Looking for people who have spare time - just a couple of hours per week, etc. to help with breaking down barriers and supporting pupils. Introduction to pupils, pairing up mentor with pupil. Now looking for volunteers to start in September. If anyone is interested - please give name and phone number to Graham Sutton.
Graham introduced L.C.C.C - Kath Reader and 4 team members.
A very interesting topic/slide show on Community Sentence. A questionnaire was handed out to Residents to part complete.
Mr Mike Jolley - Staffs. Probation and Mrs Pauline Wall banks - Magistrate gave a very interesting discussion on Crime in the country. Highlighting, criminal justice - Are sentences long enough for the crime committed? Their aim - to improve public confidence in sentencing and to raise awareness of effectiveness of Community sentence.
Acted out a typical case in Magistrates court. explaining the referral to Probation Services for full report of accused, to ascertain circumstances, I.e. acceptance of guilt, previous convictions, education, etc. before returning report to Magistrates, before sentencing. Showed video highlighting cost of keeping someone in prison, as to alternatives of Community Rehabilitation Order, Community Service (unpaid work) or DTTO (Drug treatment & Testing Order). The different alternatives to prison sentence were explained.
Question from a resident - "Can community (unpaid work) be done in this area"? Answer was work can be done - you need to apply for it.
PC Dave Woodward gave short talk on ‘Community Policing' . PCSO Colin Stepney has left leaflets with Graham regarding smoke alarms. Anyone interested in getting a smoke alarm - see Graham.
Chris Brough asked questions Re: Office Support Officers - Are we getting any more in the Butt Lane area? PC Dave Woodward informed him we will not have increased the team until possibly 2007.
Any other Business
Graham informed residents he had received a letter from Staffordshire Police regarding neighbourhood policing. He has been informed that Clough Hall & Butt Lane are two separate areas.
Westmorland Unit
An increase in incidents around Westmorland unit. Next surgery - Wednesday 10th May at 6.00 p.m. Would like to see more residents at the surgeries.
Graham Sutton & Chris Brough were invited to the Recycling Plant at Burslem. Jane Finneymore asked if any residents wanted to pay a visit - contact Graham and arrangements would be made. A very interesting visit.
Graham Sutton has a meeting had a meeting with Steve Middlehurst (environment) on Monday 8th May to look at the lake between Park Avenue and Kinnersley Avenue. Testing is being done but they suspect raw sewage is going in to the lake. Talks on clearing brooks and lakes, overhanging trees in Park Avenue, area where they want to situate dog waste bins in park. Burnt out trees behind Clough Hall Road - not serious enough for cutting now, should be done early Autumn. Steve Middlehurst donating seeds and bulbs to put in areas around Clough Hall.
Graham informed meeting the Charity Dinner would be held on 24th May at Clough Hall Hotel, 7.30 - 8.00 and not 31st May, as previously suggested.
Kath informed residents of ‘scams' that had been received from Trading Standards. Unfortunately, not enough information to hand out.
We have been given a grant of £500.00 from the ‘Robbie Williams - give it sum' scheme.
We have received a donation of £25.00 - from an anonymous resident - Thank you very much.
Next litter pick - Sunday 21 May. Tony Mottram asked could the litter picks take place another day, other than a Sunday? Graham commented that Sutton Trust residents have informed Graham they are delighted with results of litter pick.
Talke Pits Residents Association - Next meeting 6th June - talk by H Ireland - Criminal Prosecution Services.
Steve Middle Hurst (environment) is very impressed with what the Clough Hall Residents have achieved and using us as the ‘model for all Associations in the Area.
Graham thanked Tony Mottram who has created two web sites for CHRA, which have been regularly visited.
John Evans congratulated Kath Viles (Secretary) on the achievement of completing the 'Killer Mile'
Graham thanked the Guest Speakers and Residents and closed the meeting.
Clough Hall Residents Association - web site address:
www.kidsgrove.info/forum/viewforum/php?f=108
and
http://beehive.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/cloughhall
Next Meeting:
Tuesday 20th June 2006 - 7.30 Butt Lane Community Centre