Alsager Partnership Minutes
Meeting: 18th August 2008
Venue: Alsager Civic Center
Present: John Grint, Christine Bates, Terry Fitton, Derek Hough, Jill Bristow, John Molyneux, Lindsay Lewis.
Apologies: Colin Burgess, June Williams, Marion Camm, Sarah Humphreys, Dave Brown, Glyn Chambers, Peter Whiers, Brian Mottram, Carol Jennings.
Minutes of last meeting and matters arising:
Alsager in Bloom – Judges complimentary about the town’s tidiness, commercial input and schools activities. They would like to offer more time next year, and expressed interest in seeing any conservation work, the Salt line and Mere Lake way. Christine had received a letter confirming that Alsager has been nominated to receive an award. Committee will go to an award ceremony on October 7th to receive a certificate. Civic pride judging is still to be completed.
Schools involvement – Jill Bristow explained that whilst the school could not send pupils off the grounds, they were happy to become involved by organising work on their own grounds- improvements to the school boundaries and hedges. There has also a great deal of work in the Grig, which would be of interest.
DH suggested contacting Robert McGarry for advice on planting in school, and also looking at the work on land at Cranberry. JG thanked Christine the Bloom committee and Chamber of Trade for their hard work.
Correspondence with Peter Fahy and Roland Domleo
JG had written to Peter Fahy, and was unhappy with the police response and will write again. Liaise with TF for combined response, as Alsager Town Council wished to ensure that PCSOs were deployed at key times as agreed with Cheshire Police.
Reply from Roland Domleo:
This recorded the request from the Partnership regarding future use of the Town yard to extend/compliment Milton Park, and for and funds raised from sale of land in Alsager to be retained for Alsager’s benefit. Whilst no guarantees could be given, Roland has agreed to support where possible the wishes of the Partnership.
Northolme Gardens. £1000 agreed by ATC for improvements. Site meeting with Robert McGarry required.
CBC funds available. Alsager Town Council has submitted a list of projects, which would benefit from CBC expenditure. – Milton Park, Wood Park and Northolme Gardens.
Advise DH/TF of any further projects
Web site / and footpaths. Editorial group meeting in September to put together information on the walkways for the site. JM and DH are also looking at requirements to enhance those areas.
Representation on the Partnership
The Round Table has nominated Adrian Perry to join the Partnership. Unfortunately on holiday this week, but LL will advise of next meeting date and forward minutes.
Gillian Burgess has been away, and LL will approach again regarding suggestions for candidate. JB requested that a letter be sent to playgroups to encourage young parents to come forward.
JM expressed concern that any new representative should represent more than one area of the town.
DH complimented recent articles in local papers regarding the partnership, and suggested next article should be on who/what is the partnership. He also requested discussion on extending membership. JG suggested proposal for the AGM
3) CBC and Shadow Authority representation
JG reiterated how important it was to have representation from CBC at meetings. It was agreed that Dave Brown’s contribution is essential, although time constraints with the demands of the emerging authority are a problem. Write to new Chief exec or portfolio holder for communities to ensure continued support from Cheshire East
4) Supermarket Development
E-mail from Peter Hall regarding Exec view that they are minded to sell to Kimberley Developments/the Co-op. Peter has requested a meeting with ATC/Partnership, and Dave Brown to discuss implications. Joint meeting agreed and 8th September proposed at 6.30, to be held at Westfields.
Contact DB/PH
Raise with ATC
5) MMU Development Brief
Consultation feedback required by 15th September. JB questioned what legality the brief has, and it was explained that any future plans would have to adhere to the requirements outlined in the brief. Issues raised were as follows:
• The Partnership would like to be involved in developing the plans for the site as they move forward.
• As plans are developed, the Partnership would like to see a public exhibition and full consultation
• There was a query as to why the Hassall Road playground appeared on the plans, and what intention there was behind them. If there was a desire to obtain the playground, would its replacement elsewhere on the site account for the developer’s obligations to provide adequate recreation space?
• There was interest in retaining playing field space for public use should they no longer be required by MMU
Letter to CBC required.
6) AGM date and attendees:
The date has been agreed as Monday 13th October at 4.00pm. Venue to be Alsager Civic Centre
JB suggested that whilst she had no objection to inviting the public to the AGM; felt it was not the most positive way of involving people. Jill requested that we have a more social introduction to the partnership. TF agreed, particularly as press releases have provoked interest in the partnership Agreed All LL suggested we could incorporate a presentation of the Partnership’s vision and strategy. Discuss at AGM All
7) New members – discussed in matters arising
8)Press attendance at meetings - request from Congleton Chronicle to attend meetings. It was agreed that as we have a press officer who regularly sends information out, there was no need to invite them to meetings.
9) AOB
Milton Gardens
JG relayed a request for bandstand in the Milton Gardens This led to general discussion about the need to develop the Town yard site with facilities to support entertainment and socialising. Jill Bristow asked that a more flexible amphitheatre space be developed on the site, and café/bar facilities as enjoyed in Congleton Park. It was agreed that the Town yard and Brookhouse road provided the only real opportunity to achieve this, and it was agreed that there should be focus on developing this as a project. Without such a development, Milton Park would not realise its full potential as a town park.
DH pointed out that the AAP was the key to establishing the development of the Town yard for the public benefit. All expressed concern that the Supplementary-planning document which was supposed to replace this, seems to have lost momentum in favour of completing the MMU development brief.
Letter to lead officer for places on Cheshire East Authority – joint letter from John Grint and Shirley Jones proposed by TF TF/JG
Chamber of Trade
Meeting on 9th September with main focus on Xmas market/lights switch on. New members coming on board.
Road closure essential to this process – support from committee to pursue maximum closure.
Alsager football club to involved this year, and round table keen to support them.
TF offered to ask the Town Council to provide secretarial support for the partnership from the end of March, which would allow the Partnership to function if the Project manager is no longer funded. JG/JB stated that it was important to find a means to allow the project management to continue, which was generally supported.
Next meetings;
8th September, Westfield’s at 6.30pm All
AGM 13th October, 4.00pm Alsager Civic centre
