Housing and the Environment
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 6th January 2005 at Creswell Groundwork offices, Clowne
PRESENT
Tony Trafford (TT) - Ault Hucknall Environmental
Cassa Townsend (CT) - Hardwick National Trust
Kath Sharpe (KS) - Langwith Society
Glenice Stokes (GS) - Shirebrook Model Village Residents
Hazel Ward (HW) - Bolsover District Council
Lyn Williams (LW) - Village Companies Project
Dennis Kelly (DC) - Pinxton Dev. Group
John Sherwood (JWS) - Bolsover District Council
Martin Wheatcroft (MW) - Bolsover District Council
Ruth Bradley (RB) - Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Anna Evans (AE) - Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Derrick Betts (DB) - New Houghton Community Association
Keith Tivey (KT) - Environment Agency
Val Kripp (VK) - Groundwork Creswell
Cathy Cooke (CC)- Derbyshire County Council
Debbie Court (DC) - Derbyshire County Council
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Steve Bidwell - Bolsover District Council
Keith Taylor - Villagate
Richard Bennett - Bolsover District Council
David Wilson - Government Office East Midlands
Diane Finch - Housing 21
Brenda Kelly - Pinxton and South Normanton Dev. Group
Graham Clarke - Bolsover District Council
Bob Hingston - Leicester Housing Association
Parmjit Atwal - Legal Services
Richard Colgrave - Bolsover District Council
David Herd - Countryside Agency
Jo Parkin - North East Derbyshire PCT
Andrew Locke - Walbrook Housing Association
Neil Wilson - McArthur Glen
Tina Glover - Junction Arts
John King - Hillstown Community Action Group
Tina Wilkinson - Hillstown Community Action Group
It was noted that B Kelly due to other commitments be taken off the contact list.
2. NOTES OF HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT GROUP HELD ON 18TH NOVEMBER 2004
Agreed as a true record
3. MATTERS ARISING
Pg 2 - Item 3 NFR REVISED FLOOR TARGETS
VK had agreed to administer the allocated £3000. Further consideration to be given to its use for the current and forthcoming financial year.
Pg 3 – Item 4 REVISED PSA FLOOR TARGETS
4th Para – It was confirmed that work undertaken by the Countryside Agency would include a conservation area appraisal.
Pg 5 – item 10 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Fire Lighting Scheme
4th Para - JWS clarified that monies had been awarded to formulate a business case for the aforementioned scheme.
4. BOLSOVER COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP
NRF monies had been reallocated resulting in the group having funds to further develop planned activities. The Countryside Partnership (CP) has put in an application in December to the LSP for a commissioned proposal to establish whether the (CP) could deliver an educational scheme to include Walking for Health. Funds had been sought for this and the next financial year.
TT had had confirmation from the PACCT office that this bid would go to the next ESG meeting in January. Monies in the sum of £20,000 - 04/05 and a further £43,000 for 05-06 had been requested.
Discussion took place on the ‘Greenprint for Biodiverisity for Bolsover District’. This was essentially an audit of habitat and species within the area. MW told the group that the document was on deposit and the deadline for comments had been extended to the 17th January 2005.
It was acknowledged that prioritising and undertaking actions would be a cross agency responsibility which in some instances would require additional resources in the form of a dedicated officer to manage and co-ordinate actions and funding from various sources.
DK raised the issue of the Smotherfly Site – a number of wild orchard species had been removed and as yet not replaced. CC to investigate and bring back information to the next meeting.
Sources of mainstream funding was discussed in some detail.
It was agreed that the Biodiversity network and Countryside Partnership should co-ordinate all interested groups and fund identified gaps. A significant impact could be made with a small amount of funding.
A full copy of the Biodiversity document is available from the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust by email or CD. TT offered to copy the CDs as required.
It was further agreed that this project be taken forward in conjunction with the Countryside Partnership to be supervised on behalf of the LSP by the Housing and Environment Action Group.
5. BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN & PROJECT OFFICER
DC was seeking funding or letters of support from all district councils and action groups to continue existing work on the Lowland Derbyshire Action Plan. DC’s remit was to co-ordinate actions and interested groups. A website was in production at the moment which was to be a 1 stop shop and would include a section for smaller local groups. The website could be used as a means of free advertising for local groups with an interest in wildlife issues. DC to leave various documents detailing how to incorporate biodiversity in action plans for regeneration schemes, education, training etc.
KT from the External Relation Team of the Env. Agency spoke about larger funding options which include Heritage Lottery Fund, Aggregate Levy, Landfill Tax and the Environment Agency regional pot.
CC spoke about the difficulty in bidding for initial funds to put staff in post to set up large scale projects which required monies from larger funding pots.
KT to circulate details of bidding process as soon as possible.
It was agreed that TT would write in support of DC.
6. DRAFT HOUSING STRATEGY
A copy of the draft Housing Strategy had been circulated with the minutes. JWS spoke briefly about the document and welcomed feedback.
LW requested that a Board member from MVMP be invited to attend meetings periodically in order to give updates. JWS confirmed that he could do this on behalf of the Board, however, he would invite Janet Bradbury, CEO of MVMP to attend.
TT agreed to put an item on a future agenda when a Board Member was available.
KS commented that it may be necessary to resurrect the Village Forums as a means of receiving feedback for the residents.
7. NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT
Item deferred
8. CRESWELL CRAGS PROJECT
As the outcome of the HLF bid was awaited it was agreed to defer this item.
9. HILLSTOWN COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP – BUSINESS PLAN
Discussion took place on the Business Plan, however, as apologies had been received from TW and JK it was agreed to put an item on the agenda for the next meeting to clarify outstanding queries.
10. PINXTON WHARF
DK reported that despite emails to the Manager of the Countryside Service in Shipley he had not received a response.
CC understood that DK along with other groups (fishing club, Parish Council) had been invited to a meeting in March. CC to liaise with staff at Shipley and request that they contact DK.
11. RECYCLING
TT had received an email from Involve prior to Xmas regarding an issue with recycling. As no further information was available it was agreed that an item would be put on the agenda for a future meeting.
Clarification on which site was to be discussed to be sought.
12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
CC reported that DCC were involved in preparing a ‘Right of Way Improvement Plan’. As part of this process it was necessary to consult widely with interest parties and individuals. CC circulated questionnaires for completion.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
24th February 2005.
TT to circulate dates for forthcoming meetings. It was agreed to continue to meet at Groundwork Creswell, Clowne