Minutes of July 2008 - AGM

 

 

CLOUGH HALL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

 

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 22nd JULY 2008 AT HOLLINWOOD SHELTERED HOUSING at 7.30pm.

 

 

PRESENT:-

COMMITTEE :- G Sutton, J Gallacher, C Brough, T Dale,  C Gallacher, C Brammer.

GUEST SPEAKERS :- PCSO C. Stepney, Philip Leese,

GUESTS :- Clr J Evans, Clr J MacMillan, Clr L Griffiths, Clr S Burgess, Mr Rex Burns, Mrs T Evans, Mr Colin Williamson NVCS.

RESIDENTS :- 56

TOTAL ATTENDANCE :- 71

APOLOGIES :- B Collis, M Collis, C Poole, M Moore, H Hammond, M Westridge, M Leese.

 

 

The Chairman opened the meeting and thanked everyone for attending CHRA's 3rd AGM, and he also thanked Philip Leese, the guest speaker. He explained that a police representative would be arriving to speak about alcohol-free zones, and he thanked the police and residents for their support during the last 3 years. He added that brochures and copies of the minutes of the last meeting, the Chairman's Report and the Annual Accounts were available for residents to take later.

 

The Chairman then provided details of the following:

 

  • Litter pick - to take place on Sunday July 27th at 10am for 2 hours; meet in the wooded area which separates Park Avenue and the Football Club. The Chairman thanked Clr Silvia Burgess for arranging for the grass to be cut in the wood, and for ensuring that a vehicle would be available to take the litter away on Sunday.

 

  • Quiz Night - to be held at the Cricket Club on Wednesday Sept 3rd at 8pm; tickets cost £2.50 including refreshments.

 

  • Clough Hall School - anyone interested in giving short talks at the school during morning assembly was asked to speak to the Chairman.

 

  • The next meeting will be held on Sept 9th, and Mr John Robbins

         (who spoke on ‘The Law is an Ass' at the June meeting) will be

         back to give a further talk.

 

The Chairman then stated that there is still much for CHRA to achieve; he focused on the following issues:

 

  1. The Young Persons' Assessment Centre in Westmorland Avenue - there have been major improvements during the last year, and Social Services have now made a decision on the future of the Unit. Further decisions are required by the Cabinet - Staffordshire County Council, when Chairman receives final outcome he will relay information to Residents.

 

  1. The dredging of Clough Hall Lake - We have obtained private quotations for this; it seems the cost will be approx £280,000, but then the lake would not need to be dredged again for another 50 years. We do have some support from Borough Councillors to finalise this project.

 

  1. The parking issues at the top and bottom of Clough Hall Rd - this has been flagged up by Planning for Real (PFR).

 

  1. The introduction of road signage and a speed restriction of 20 mph in Clough Hall - this has also been flagged up by PFR.

 

  1. Policing - the number of police is still an issue, but the Chairman emphasized that CHRA has good relations with Kidsgrove Police, and he congratulated PCSO Colin Stepney who has been named PCSO of the Year for Staffordshire, and Sgt Stuart Snape who has received an Achievement Award for 30 years' dedicated service.  He also commended PC Dave Woodward for the support he has given to CHRA, describing him as ‘a tower of strength'.

 

  1. The relationship between CHRA and Clough Hall School - there have been positive changes at the school, and CHRA will continue to support Mr Tait and the staff and to develop a closer working relationship.

 

  1. The good relationship between CHRA and Streetscene/the Recycling Dept continues, Jane Finnemore provides us with regular updates in respect of recycling..

 

 

The Chairman then gave further details of the following:

 

  • The costs of running CHRA, which have increased in 2008, eg the hire charge for the room has increased, and some of the quality speakers we try to attract are now asking for a fee to be paid.  The number of meetings is to be reduced from 9 to 6 each year, but extra meetings can be held if necessary.  Committee meetings are to be opened to residents who wish to flag up any issues/problems.

 

  • The intention to build on links with PFR (Graham is a member of the Steering Committee) and the 50+ Forum.

 

  • The financial position of CHRA - the Chairman thanked the Treasurer, Correna, and Kidsgrove Town Council who have given another grant this year from the Community Chest. He also thanked Tony Mottram who has audited the accounts, and then gave some details of income and expenditure from the Statement of Accounts - copies of this were available for interested residents to take away. The account balance carried forward to next year is £2025.12.

 

 

 The Election of Officers - the Chairman said that all the current Committee members make a constructive contribution to CHRA, which has a good name with a number of important agencies; Mr Lee McManus has asked to join the Committee, and the Chairman asked if anyone else was interested.  The Chair of the Sutton Trust Community Group, Mary Martin, indicated that she would like to work with CHRA and she is now Co-Opt'd to CHRA Committee.

 

 

The Election of Officers then took place - please see attached listing which clearly shows Committee Members duly elected at this AGM Meeting.

 

 

Following this, PCSO Colin Stepney answered questions raised by residents:

 

  1. Can the wooded areas in Clough Hall be designated as alcohol-free zones?

          •A.      PC Woodward is currently looking at the boundaries of alcohol exclusion zones; if they are extended further then anyone   in the area would be subject to police stop.  Under-age drinkers, and adults supplying them, can be dealt with under existing police   powers.

 

  1. Where do the alcohol-free zones start and finish? And if any adult here was carrying unopened alcohol then that wouldn't be an issue.

          •A.      Any parks are alcohol-free; if drinkers are under-age then they will still be dealt with whether or not they are in an alcohol-free zone.

 

  1. Asylum seekers have been placed in the home in Lower Ash Road - is this temporary? Is

there a question of planning permission?

          

           Clr Silvia Burgess explained that there have been complaints regarding the re-opening of      the home; the Home Office and the Immigration Service are involved and the landlord has given permission, but the Borough Council and the County Council had no knowledge of this.         

 

 One of the residents explained that he had previously worked for the company involved (United Properties Management), and that the target occupancy for the premises was 26 single, male asylum seekers of multi-national origin. The premises had been empty and for sale for 6 months, but had not been sold.      

 

Clr Burgess asked who is funding this, since the Borough Council has no funding for the asylum seekers - this is under review.    

 

 Clr John MacMillan said that the existing licence is for 20 children or  women at the home, and the Borough's Enforcement Officer has indicated that retrospective planning must be applied for because of the change of use of the premises.        

 

The Chairman asked the Councillors present for support on this issue. 

 

He then gave details of a table-top sale on behalf of the Sutton Community Group, to be held on Saturday July 26th at 10am on the grassed area at the top of Clough Hall Road. All proceeds to go to the Group.

Residents were also reminded of the CHRA website - www. cloughhall.co.uk

 

The Chairman then introduced Philip Leese, who gave a very interesting and entertaining talk on the History of Clough Hall from the building of the first Hall, circa 1400, to the demolition of the third and last Hall in 1927. Everyone very much enjoyed Philip's talk, and some members who had personal memories of the last Hall added their own contribution.

 

The Chairman thanked Philip, and, following the raffle, closed the meeting and invited everyone to share the buffet.

 

Signed G Sutton (Chairman) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   

           

See associated page ' Chairmans Report'

 

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