Minutes of December 2010 - AGM
CLOUGH HALL RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 7th DECEMBER 2010 AT HOLLINWOOD SHELTERED HOUSING at 7.00pm
PRESENT :-
COMMITTEE: - G Sutton,C Brough, T Dale, B Collis, J Gallacher, C Gallacher, D Martin,
M Martin, M Moore, C Brammer.
GUEST SPEAKER: - Marilyn Cannings, Scott Lawton, Ella Mason.
KIDSGROVE POLICE:- Inspector L Jarvie, PC D Woodward, A Newman.
COUNCILLORS- Cllr S Burgess, Cllr J Evans. Cllr K Robinson, Cllr D Richards, Cllr G Locke.
GUESTS - Phil Maskery S.P.C.A., Tina Evans.
RESIDENTS: - 20
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: - 43
APOLOGIES: - Cllr Mary Maxfield, Mr John Rogers, Mrs Sandra Rogers, Mrs K Viles.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that Cllr Mary Maxfield was unwell and unable to attend; however she had asked the Chairman to explain that gritting had taken place in Kidsgrove town centre, and some on surrounding estates. She was able only to pass on requests for areas to be gritted, but grit bins requested previously were now being delivered. Anyone needing one should let the Chairman know, and the request would be passed on to Cllr Maxfield.
The Chairman then explained that minutes of the last meeting, the 50+ Forum newsletter, and Trading Standards information were available for residents to take. He welcomed Marilyn Cannings, Scott Lawton (head boy) and Ella Mason (head girl) from Clough Hall School and thanked them for coming, and also welcomed Inspector Jarvie, PC Woodward and Amanda Newman from Kidsgrove Police, and Mr Phil Maskery from Staffs Parish Councils Association. (Mr P. Vigurs who was also to have attended was stranded in Barcelona.) Correna Gallacher and Mavis Collis were thanked for providing the buffet, and residents were reminded that the Christmas Carol Evening with the Salvation Army would take place on ‘The Green' on Monday December 13th at 7pm.
The Chairman then invited Marilyn Cannings, Assistant Head Teacher at Clough Hall School, to speak.
Mrs Cannings introduced Scott Lawton and Ella Mason, and explained that Clough Hall is a community school which aims to promote community cohesion. There followed a Powerpoint presentation on ‘A Year in the Life of Clough Hall School'; this included events during the last twelve months such as the Kidsgrove canal clean up, the railway project, trips to Germany and the Gambia, the sponsorship of two children in Haiti and the senior citizens' Christmas party. The school's new uniform, new logo and new website also featured in a very impressive presentation. Copies of the school's newsletter ‘The Buzz' were left for residents to take.
The Chairman thanked Mrs Cannings and the students, stating that the Residents' Association will continue to support the school.
He then introduced the AGM process stating that an Annual Chairmans Report has been completed as required, and announcing that he is to stand down as Chairman - firstly, for health reasons, and secondly, because after five and a half years he feels that it is time for a new face. He said that residents' groups are very important, and can be managed by the community in different ways; the Clough Hall approach has always been a conciliatory one. Anyone dissatisfied with this approach should look at the website and the constitution of the Association; he himself has no political bias, and the Residents' Association is a non-political group. He then went on to thank councillors who have offered their help during this time, and to say that from an extensive list of local issues five years ago all except one (Clough Hall Lake) have been completed. There have been many successes, which include
- the constructive, solid rapport with Kidsgrove Police; he thanked PC Woodward and PCSO Stepney for their support, and expressed his gratitude to Inspector Jarvie;
- the Westmorland Unit - this proved to be the most difficult and improvements were slow; it has been closed after a great deal of prodding by CHRA, and, once a change of use has been granted, 3 and 4 bedroomed detached homes will be built on the plot;
- Clough Hall School - community involvement has increased, and there have been many positive changes at the school which the Residents' Association will continue to support
- litter picking in the local area - members who have taken part were thanked for their help in improving the environment.
The CHRA committee were thanked for their support, as were other organisations too numerous to name. The next years will present more difficulties, with the rise in unemployment and the decrease in police numbers, which could result in an increase in crime. Attendance at CHRA meetings has reduced in the last twelve months, but hopefully this will rise again to the levels seen in the past. Focussing on CHRA accounts, the Chairman said that these are in good order and that CHRA has a solid financial base; he thanked Correna and John Gallacher for running the Lottery Bonus Ball Competition which has raised almost £3,000. Grants have also been received from organisations such as the Community Chest and Give It Sum. Correna was also thanked for her efforts in her role as treasurer, and Tony Mottram was thanked for auditing the accounts.
Finally, he said that it was a pleasure to have served as the Chair of CHRA over the last five years.
Tony Mottram then explained that he has audited the accounts since the Association was formed, and that the accounts are all in order. Giving out copies of the last statement of accounts, he went through some of the details and thanked Correna for doing an excellent job.
The Election of Officers - the Chairman was pleased to announce that all the current Committee members were prepared to stand for another twelve months' term, and that a new member, Mr John Rogers, would be joining them. The new Chairman, Mr Chris Brough, was proposed and seconded from the floor, as were the other Committee members.
The Committee for the next twelve months is as follows:
Mr Chris Brough (Chairman) Mr Graham Sutton (Vice Chair)
Mrs Correna Gallacher (Treasurer) Mrs Carol Brammer (Secretary)
Mr John Gallacher (Officer) Mr Terry Dale (Officer)
Mr Brian Collis (Officer) Mr Michael Moore (Officer)
Mr Dave Martin (Officer) Mrs Mary Martin (Officer)
Mr John Rogers (Officer)
The Chairman then handed over to the Police Consultative Committee, chaired in Mr Vigur's absence by Inspector Louise Jarvie, who gave an overview of her role in Kidsgrove and the surrounding area and then answered questions from the floor.
The Chairman thanked Inspector Jarvie and the other Police Committee members; he opened the free buffet, and following this the raffle was held and the meeting closed, with all members being wished a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year by the new Chairman.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday January 18th 2011.
Signed C Brough (Chairman) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .