Meetings Minutes: 26 July 2007

Minutes of Grantham Future Board Meeting 26 July 2007

Present

1. Welcome And Apologies

Cllr Nick Craft was welcomed to the meeting, as the new SKDC representative on the Board.

Apologies had been received from Peter Burrows (Autumn Park) and Neil Cuttell (SKDC)

2. Minutes Of The Last Meeting

These were approved as a true record , and signed off by Jackie Smith

3. Matters Arising

All covered elsewhere

Review Of Grantham Future Accounts

Copies of the accounts were circulated to the Board by Duncan Andrew. It was noted that all of the income was from SKDC, the balance having accumulated because of sponsorship to projects which had not materialised, so far. This was for eg the Market stalls/covers and Market Place pedestrianisation scheme. All Board members present agreed that the accounts as presented were satisfactory, and Duncan Andrew agreed to produce the proper accounts after which charitable status would be applied for.

Action: Duncan Andrew

5. Release Of Funds For 2007/2008

The delay in the transfer to GF of the SKDC allocation of funding for 07/08 was questioned by Board members. The board was informed that the proper process needed to be followed and that this could not be speeded up. Lia to investigate current position.

Action: Lia Ibbotson

6. Masterplan Update

The draft questionnaire for the public consultation was circulated to Board members who were asked for their views on the content. They were informed that the Masterplan was now being called ‘Options for Development’.

Comments re questionnaire included the following:

Some discussion regarding the vision wording. It was suggested that the statement was moved to the end of the document and the timescales on some of the projects were noted as being times for completion rather than start dates. Some items eg references to the bypass, were included because of the Grantham Growth Point bid. Board members agreed with this, although Roger Stafford declared an interest. The bus station was included in the consultation as LCC were reluctant to relocate it.

The Board were informed that the 6 week consultation period would start in August . There would be a major spread in the Journal, with displays in the Council Offices, and in other suitable locations, as well as being on the District Council website. Results should be available late this year following collation of results and endorsement by Cabinet.

The Chairman asked if the Growth Point bid was something which required letters of support, and was informed that they could help. Timescales for this were not currently known, but the letters would not necessarily be needed for the initial bid.

Action: Lia Ibbotson to check on timescales.

7. BIDs (Business Improvement Districts)

Lia asked for the Board’s initial thoughts on going ahead with a BID workshop to check if a BID for Grantham would be sustainable. There is no legal obligation associated with the workshop, just a commitment from 3 people for the 3 workshops which would be for 1 day every 2 months. 3 nominees were required – a coordinator (Lia) a District Council representative (Nick Vass) and a business representative. Jackie Smith offered to be the business rep. The board agreed that it should be done, and raised no objections to Jackie being the rep.

Action: Lia to work on this for 31 July.

8. Review Of Action Plan

A draft Action Plan for Grantham Future for 2007 to 2012 had been circulated to group members, for comment. Board members agreed to review at the next Board meeting. It would be possible to include it on the website when this was up and running.

9.Funded Projects

9.1 Website. Lia Ibbotson reported that a Grantham based company, i.net, was building the website, and costs were under budget so far. Copy for the website would be agreed with Board members before being uploaded.

9.2 Cigarette Bins. An email vote of board members had resulted in support being agreed for the encouragement of local businesses to use cigarette bins following the recent smoking ban in enclosed public spaces. These were at reduced cost to the businesses and no funding was required from Grantham Future. SKDC were organising the distribution.

10. Funding Requests

10.1 Shop Local Campaign. This was intended as an aid to encouraging footfall into the town centre, and a document giving options was circulated. A four week period of concentrated advertising was planned.

SKDC had committed funding for this campaign and GF were being asked for a £3k contribution.

The suggested slogan ‘LiveLoveShop’ was thought unsuitable, and alternatives were invited.

Board members agreed to support this project, and agreed the £3k funding, for the 4 week period, further funding may be considered at a later stage if required.

Cllr Craft suggested that it could be timed to coincide with the opening of the new multi-storey car park.  Board members supported this idea.

10.2 Grantham Christmas Market (formerly Sunday Funday) Sunday 25 November 2007.

The event will be a similar format to the old Sunday Funday, with the official switching on of lights at the end of the day, but is hoped to be more ‘upmarket’. The event will include continental and farmers markets as well as cultural elements. Advertising for GF may be possible, Lia to investigate.

A contribution of £3k towards costs had been requested by the Grantham events group. This was unanimously agreed by Board members.

10.3 Christmas Lights. Jackie Smith commented that she had received adverse comments regarding the current Christmas lights and asked if SKDC had any plans to upgrade.

Nick Vass informed the Board that the infrastructure for the lights needed replacing before any new lights could be considered. New infrastructure would cost in the region of £55k. Lights can be leased over a 3 year period, but the infrastructure would still need replacing.

The Chairman suggested that a bid could be made to Lincs Enterprise for this, as an Economic Development project to encourage shoppers to the town; environmentally friendly lights could also be considered.

Board members supported this suggestion.

Action: Lia to research.

(Nick Vass already has audit info on the current lights situation)

10.4 Events Group Secretary. The Grantham events Group had recently reformed and the Christmas Market was its first major event this year. Support had been given by Grantham Future in the past, and was sought again this year. The Board agreed to support the administration of the group at £10 per hour, to an maximum of £1500. NO increase to be considered for next year.

11. Any other business

11.1 Old somerby roundabout. The chairman had received a letter from david holmes of old somerby parish council, requesting support from grantham future/springfield properties with the maintenance of a scheme to improve the roundabout at old somerby. This was required for 5 years at an annual cost of £1000.

Cllr Craft declared an interest in this item.

Following discussion, the board agreed to sponsor the maintenance of the roundabout scheme, as above, to include advertising of grantham future (plus website address).

11.2 Grantham on water. Lia had received a letter from the organisers of grantham on water, thanking gf for its sponsorship. Lia also reported that the event had received good reports despite the poor weather conditions

11.3 Belton cup. Jackie smith was able to report, following a meeting with stuart buntine, that the belton cup event had now achieved international status for next year. The organisers were looking at a bigger, better, more innovative event for 2008. It was hoped that it would become , within 4/5 years, a qualifying event for world cup/olympics.

Board members agreed to look at the possibility of having a presence at next years event, possibly with a sponsors marquee as had been available at the last event. The 2008 event will be 12/13th april.

There was a possibility that the journal business awards which were being reinstated this year, could be run in conjunction with the event.

11.4 Membership. The chairman was asked if any further approach had been made to tim robinson, journal editor, regarding his becoming a member of the gf board. Jackie smith confirmed that approaches had been made, and would be followed up as it was thought that mr robinson would not be averse to this.

11.5 Date and venue of next meeting. The next meeting of grantham future ltd will be held on thursday 27 september 2007, 8 am at springfield house, grantham

Cllr Nick Craft gave apologies in advance for the next meeting