10 September 2008
BRUNSWICK SQUARE CENTRAL LAWN ASSOCIATION
Meeting Weds 10 September 2008 at Christ Church, Brunswick Road
Attending:
Jim Procter (Chair), Russell Steel (Vice Chair), Freda Caulkett (Treasurer), Ursula Windsor, Martyn White, Terry Robson, Margaret Robson, Anthea Graham, Amanda Procter, Chris Prosser (Sec)
Apologies:
John Gannon, Carole Carpenter, Eva Harvie, Stephen Prosser
Minutes from the previous Meeting approved
The minutes from the previous meeting in September were approved other than the correction that it was £110 from the sale of Margaret’s cards that was deposited into the Co-Op account and not £120. Terry Robson proposed the approval of the minutes, seconded by Freda Caulkett.
It was also noted that the approval of the previous meeting 11.06.08 had been nominated by Margaret Robson and seconded by Terry Robson (and not seconded by Amanda Procter who had been absent from the June meeting)
Gloucester Community Grant Award
Chris to follow up further publicity for the BSCLA’s £2000 Communty Grant Award for 2008/09, with Malcolm Dunn at the Community Development Dept at Gloucester City Council. In particular, a press release in addition to the Council newsletter. Chris will wait now until December when we will hopefully know what our allocation is for 2009/10 – then the press release can feature the total funding for the first two years.
Tree Survey
Jim to cost and arrange an arborist’s tree survey asap. We should take advice from the arborist on the need for tree surgery and the expected cost.
Memorial to Peter and Beryl Kennedy
David Kennedy is sponsoring an oak tree + plaque for the West end of the Square, as a tribute to Beryl & Peter. Jim to ask Andrew to purchase and then plant a suitable oak sapling/standard – the cost of which the BSCLA can then submit to David. Terry also to contact again Julian Hobbs, Gloucester City Council Tree Inspector for his advice re exactly where to plant the tree.
Chris has investigated locally-produced dedication plaques and has conveyed this information to David who is happy with progress.
Litter from Cars
There seems to be an increase in litter – often food/lunch packaging – dropped out of cars into the road around the Square. If anyone wishes to raise this issue you can email Gloucester City Council at enviro@gloucester.gov.uk or call them on 01452-396396. The more contacts they receive, the more likely it may result in increased street cleaning around the Square.
Storytelling in the Square
Chris to speak to Andrew at Leisure Services Dept, Gloucester City Council re the Square as a potential venue for storytelling activities in the Summer.
Bins
Chris has asked Malcolm Dunn at Community Development Dept, Gloucester City Council for help from the Council to a) empty the bins regularly as a contribution to the running of the Square and b) provide the Square with recycling bins for glass bottles.
Subsequently, Sarah Boon at the City council has been in contact and hopes to have some good news soon in that they hope to be able to empty the rubbish bins in the Square every two weeks.
Unfortunately, the two recycling bins provided by the Council seem to be used as general rubbish bins and so have not been emptied by the recycling lorry.
Finance
Freda is depositing some funds into our new Co-Op account (£500 + £112 from the Tea Party + £120 from the sale of Margaret’s cards)
We are to close our superfluous Nat West account.
Our income through the recent grants from Gloucester City Council, subscriptions and fund-raisers is currently sufficient to meet the maintenance costs. However, Jim needs to remind some of the larger property owners on the Square to forward their subscriptions.
Gloucester in Bloom
Through Jim’s application to the CCCP (City Centre Community Partnership), the BSCLA won one of the Gloucester in Bloom prizes – £500 in Hurrans vouchers – which were used to purchase window boxes, filler and plants for any resident/tenant in or around the Square who wanted them. It also covered a dozen hanging baskets for the lampposts. We did have to pay £90 towards the watering of those baskets throughout the Summer. Everyone agreed that the scheme was very successful and hopefully one to be repeated.
Civic Pride Award & Gloucester in Bloom
The BSCLA has entered the Square into both the City Council Civic Pride Award and the Gloucester in Bloom Awards for the general appearance and community value of the Square and the window box scheme, respectively. No news yet on the results, but the winners will be announced in October.
Hartpury College
Terry may have negotiated some help for us re the development of the wildlife area and the window box scheme through Hartpury College. Some of the students will be visiting the Square soon.
They may remove the topsoil and grass in the fallow area, provide the plans and planting to encourage our wildlife meadow. We will have to pay for the mechanical removal of the turf over that section of the lawn. It was agreed that we would request a Summer flowering wildflower mix to be planted (rather than a Spring/Autumn mix) because that is when the Square is most used. Chris to check the wildflower/grass seed that we have purchased already and pass that on to the Hartpury students.
Car Parking Fundraising
Chris to arrange rota for the Rikenel car parking fundraiser on Sat 4 October. Also, to book us into, if possible, the similar charity car parking sessions at Shire Hall, Members Car Park.
Westgate Community Trust
The Westgate Community Trust has thanked the BSCLA for allowing them to hold their AGM in the Square in July. The weather was fine, the event went well and the Square proved to be a good venue.
Dates of next meeting(s)
All meetings to be held at 7.30pm at Christ Church
in Brunswick Road, unless otherwise notified
Weds 12 November
Tues 13 January 2009
Weds 4 March
Mon 16 March AGM
If you currently receive these Minutes by post, but would be happy to receive them by email, please let me know. Thank you.
Chris Prosser, BSCLA Secretary
10 Brunswick Square, Gloucester GL1 1UG
sprosser1@btinternet.com Tel. 01452-413439