Meetings Minutes: 26 July 2007

Minutes of Grantham Future Board Meeting 29 November 2007

Present

1. Welcome And Apologies

Apologies had been received from Peter Burrows and Cllr Frances Cartwright.

2. Minutes Of The Last Meeting

Nick Vass had been mistakenly included in the list of apologies, so should be removed. Minutes otherwise a true record.

3. Matters Arising

Action Plan – no amendments had been received, so this will go to SKDC Cabinet shortly

4. Progress Reports

4.1 Website This was now up and running and receiving about 280 hits per week. More exposure was required, and it will be included on the new run of maps ad letterheads. Inet had advised that it should be linked to other websites eg the Journal, SKDC, Springfield House, and all board members agreed that this should happen. No enquiries had been received through the website as yet.

A letter had been sent to all town centre businesses about the free prize draw, and Lia is updating the minutes on the website. If any partners have any items they wish to add, they should let Lia know.

Action: Board Members

The Chairman commented that the website looked very presentable and thanked Lia for getting it up and running

4.2 Bids Neil Cuttell explained, for the benefit of any new Board members, the background to the Business Improvement District (BID) and the BIDs Academy run by the Association of Town Centre Management. The Academy ran 3 workshops, the first of which was an overview, and the second held at Rugby which was running a successful BID. The final Academy workshop will be Jan 24th which will end with the planning stage. Following this. a Capacity Building workshop will be held at Springfield House in Grantham on 19 February 2008 (involving all local stakeholders) and a steering group would be held in March. Board members were asked to note this diary date.

4.3 Live Shop Grow Lia reported that distribution of the town centre retail maps had been very successful and that a reprint was planned for the new year incorporating all of the amendments.

Posters were being put up advertising the prize draw. Any offers of help to distribute posters would be gratefully received. Approximately 30 businesses were taking part and 10000 draw forms had been printed and distributed. Priory FM and Lincs FM were running adverts also. The draw will take place on 22 December 07 at 1 pm in the Market Place, the Mayor present act as judge and a Grantham Future representative to make the draw. Marks and Spencer had donated a hamper and champagne as prizes for the draw. This was in addition to the £1000 prize from Grantham Future. The Bus advertising campaign appears to be still running, at no extra cost. This is due to no new advertisers for the bus company to replace our ads with so could run indefinitely.

The Free parking was due to start on Saturday 1 December 2007.

4.4 Sunday Christmas Market held 25 November 2007

This event, organised by the Events Group had been very successful with increased footfall from last year. The group had received a number of positive comments including the economic benefit to local businesses. The possibility of extending the Christmas lights switch on to include those other than the Christmas tree was being investigated.

Action: Neil Cuttell to look into with the contractors.

Cllr Craft asked if it would be possible to have the Christmas tree lights in the town switched on earlier in the day.

Action: Lia/Neil Cuttell to check.

5. Grantham Growth Point

Neil Cuttell reported that the Masterplan had finally been approved by the District Council. Neil, with Lia and Nick Vass, was looking to push forward the Masterplan projects within the Growth Point. Lia reported that Greyfriars project had been sent out to tender for the development brief, which it was hoped could be presented in early Spring.

The outcome of the Growth Point bid was expected early in the New Year, and a presentation pack of information was circulated to Board members. It was hoped that there would be more opportunity to work with County Council through the Growth Point Management Team.

Cllr Craft expressed concerns that changes in the planning process which appeared to have sacrificed quality for speed of turnaround for the sake of government targets would affect the progress of projects, especially concerning Wharf Place and reconfiguration of the traffic lights.

Neil Cuttell reported that he was due to attend a meeting with the SKDC Head of Development Control and LCC Highways Officers at which he would raise the group’s concerns on traffic problems in the town such as traffic light phasing at some points in the town.

Action: Neil Cuttell.

6. SKDC Funding

Neil Cuttell reported that a cheque transferring the full amount of the SKDC allocated funding to Grantham Future would be available by the end of November, and that he had requested the same amount in his Service Plan for 08/09.

Jackie Smith confirmed that the accumulation of funds was essential in order for Grantham Future to instigate larger projects in the town. The current balance was because of projects which had been supported but which had not happened. It was also an advantage for Grantham Future to be perceived as separate from SKDC.

Cllr Parkin reported that the Charter Trustees had complained that there was no Grantham councillor on the Cabinet at SKDC, and that the Council were keen on looking at a Town Council referendum next year, although it was thought that a poll was not mandatory.

7. Roundabouts

Neil Cuttell reported that Anthony Hardy was now working on the Roundabout projects and that a design for ASDA roundabout was being prepared. The SKDC DWO dept who would do the work have indicated it could be done in early March 08. Sponsorship would also need to be finalised. Grantham Future had already agreed to maintain Old Somerby roundabout; the go ahead was dependant on Highways approval.

Signs welcoming people to Grantham were supported by Grantham Future, although it was thought that Highways were trying to reduce signage clutter. Neil Cuttell noted that the Stamford signs were maintained by the Town Council.

Downtown was now under new management with extended opening hours and were tidying up their own site so may be amenable to an approach regarding the roundabout close by.

Action: Neil Cuttell/Anthony Hardy.

Public Art at the Next site had Section 106 funding for its provision. The Council were currently working on a procedure for the use of Section 106 funds. The possibility of Grantham Future taking over the provision of artwork using this money was suggested. Board members were supportive of this proposal.

8. Any other business

8.1 Finance.Jackie Smith and Duncan Andrew were liaising with the Charities Commission. There was a Company return to complete and the ‘new’ SKDC members would have to be added.

Action: Duncan Andrew.

Board members were asked if any of their details had changed and it was noted that a cheque for £15 was ready to send with the return. An annual Directors liability of £502 was to be put in place.

8.2An invoice had been received from SKDC for approximately £18K for the car parking fees.

8.3Lia noted that she had an invoice from Grantham Events Group for £3k and that the invoice for the secretarial fees for the Events Group would be sent quarterly. The Priory radio ad had cost £300.

9. Date Of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held at 8 am on 31 January 08 at Springfield House.

Dates for future meetings would be an agenda item.

Action: Lia/Christine Jurd to put list together.