Clough Hall Residents Association

Minutes of July 2009 - AGM

 

CLOUGH HALL RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 14th JULY 2009 AT HOLLINWOOD SHELTERED HOUSING at 7.30pm.

 

PRESENT:-

COMMITTEE :- Mr G Sutton, Mr C Brough, Mr T Dale, Mr M Moore, Mr D Martin, Mrs M Martin.

GUEST SPEAKERS :- Gavin Web - Beat the Cold.

GUESTS :- Mr Rex Burns, Mrs T Evans.

COUNCILLORS :- Silvia Burgess.

RESIDENTS :- 25

TOTAL ATTENDANCE :- 35

APOLOGIES :- Mr B Collis, Mrs M Collis, Mr J Gallacher, Mrs C Gallacher. Mrs C Brammer.

 

 

The Chairman opened the meeting and thanked everyone for attending CHRA's 4th AGM, and he also thanked Gavin Web - Beat the Cold, the guest speaker. He explained that Gavin was standing in for Jules Hill and also explained that Mike Firth - Douglas Macmillan would not be joining the Meeting due to illness. 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:

 

• Quiz Night - which we were organizing for the 22^nd July is CANCELLED, all monies have been returned to Members who had purchased tickets. We do intend to re-organize and details will be available at our September meeting.

 

• Bat Walk - We are still intending to organize a bat walk with Ged Ryan on Friday the 4^th September. We are holding a list of names of Members who are interested in joining this walk and we will let members have further details when available.

 

• The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 29^th September, two speakers will be providing talks :-

                                                                                    Jane Finnemore - Re-Cycling

                                                                                    Rev Paul Howard - Money Management

 

At this point the Chairman then introduced Gavin Web from Beat the Cold who gave a very interesting and informative talk and covered a number of subjects :-

 

Beat the Cold offer independent energy advice to households in Newcastle Borough. Working with NHS North Staffordshire, they support anyone seeking to improve the warmth of their home and to reduce energy costs. They can be contacted on a free-phone number 0800 3892258 Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4.30pm. At other times a message can be left and they will call back.

 

Gavin then talked through the following:- Warm Zone - to repair a boiler, grants can possibly be obtained, for those over 70, or, are on benefits, of between £2700 / £3500. For Residents not in these categories around £300 can be obtained. In addition Gavin went on to explain Social Tariffs, for those on disability or other benefits could save up to 20% off bills simply by shopping around for the best deals. Warm Front provide estimates for fitting boilers, but they choose the installer. Social tariffs, pre-payment meters and service offered by Stay Warm were also explained.

 

At this point Gavin provided free energy plugs to Members.

 

 

Useful contacts are listed :-

 

• Health Advice 24 hours a day

NHS Direct                                                                 0845 4647

• Health Advice about local NHS services

Patient Advice and Liason Service                            0800 3898832

• Social Care

Newcastle area office                                                01782 296290

Out of hours (emergencies only)                               01785 354030

• Check benefits and tax credits

Citizens Advice Bureaux                                           0870 1264049

Pension Service                                                        0845 6060265

• Advice about fuel companies, complaints, and

threats of disconnection

Consumer Direct                                                      08454 040506

• Practical help for families with a child under 5

Home Start                                                               01782 740388

• For older people and those with a disability

Age Concern                                                           01782 713822

Disability Solutions                                                  01782 683800

 text phone                                                        01782 683804

 web                                             www.disability-solutions.net

• Winter Fuel Payment Helpline 0845 9151515

text phone                                                        0845 6015613

• If you smell gas

Emergency Freephone                                           0800 111999

• Gas safety

The national watchdog. Any gas installer must be registered.

CORGI                                                                    0870 4012300

• Grants for heating improvement and repair and for

Home installation.

Warm Front                                                            0800 3166012

• Minor home repairs and Handyperson

Also Home Fire Checks (including the fitting of

smoke detectors)

Beth Johnson Home Improvement Agency           01782 203566

• Housing in Newcastle

Energy efficiency advice                                         01782 742513 

Private sector housing advice                                01782 742563

Tenancy relations matters                                      01782 635200

North Staffordshire Warm Zone                             01782 238443

 

 

Following this talk, Chairman then introduced the AGM process.

 

• Chairman's Report - is attached to these Minutes; this gives a flavor of CHRA activities during the past 12 months. Chairman went through this report and was supported by Vice Chair Mr. Chris Brough who provided details of a further free Computer Course which will be provided by Clough Hall School. This will start on Friday the 9^th October and will run on a weekly basis until the 4^th December.

 

Chairman drew attention to the following -

 

• Next Surgery in respect of the Westmorland Unit is on Wednesday 22^nd July at 5.30pm here at Hollinwood.
• Chairman thanked the Committee for all their hard work during the past 12 months, there is still much to be done, funding is a real problem in respect of some items, but we will continue to pursue such items until we reach satisfactory conclusions.
• Chairman thanked Kidsgrove Police, in particular PC David Woodward, for helping to facilitate the excellent relationship between members and the Police and for providing regular updates at our Meetings.
• Thanks were also given to the organizations that have supported the Association with Grants, Community Chest, Staffordshire Grassroots and Give it Sum.
• Chairman thanked all who have continued to support our Residents Group, there are so many, too many to mention in these Minutes.
• Treasurers Report - Tony Mottram talked through our audited accounts. Chair thanked Tony for auditing our Accounts and also thanked Correna Gallacher for doing such a good job in looking after our accounts.
• 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 and was pleased to announce that all the current Committee were prepared to stand for another 12 months term, all current Committee Members were proposed and seconded from the floor. Our current Committee for the next 12 months is as follows :-

Mr Graham Sutton ( Chairman )                                Mr Chris Brough ( Vice Chair )

Mrs Carol Brammer ( Secretary )                              Mrs Correna Gallacher ( Secretary )

Mr Terry Dale ( Officer )                                            Mr Brian Collis  ( Officer )

Mr John Gallacher ( Officer )                                    Mr Michael Moore ( Officer )

Mr Dave Martin ( Officer )                                        Mrs Mary Martin  ( Officer )

 

 

 

Chair then opened the free buffet and organized the drawing of the Raffle.

 

Meeting was then closed.

 

 

Mr Graham Sutton..................................... Chair Clough Hall Residents Group.

 

See associated page - Chairmans Report