12 November 2008
BRUNSWICK SQUARE CENTRAL LAWN ASSOCIATION
Meeting Weds 12 November 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 (10.09.08) 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.
Lawn Maintenance
Russell reported that the lawn is in good shape – it may need cutting once more this year. Next year he will apply fertiliser again, roll it and de-thatch it. He will buy what materials (eg fertiliser) he needs and then invoice the BSCLA. Russell also needs to invoice for the completion of his work this year and provide a quote for his work for next year (01.04.09 – 31.03.10)
Russell also to trim the twisted beech on the South side of the Square. It was suggested that he just keep a maintenance log (a simple notebook) of lawn/tree work carried out in the Square for costing and planning etc.
Trees from Gloucester City Council
We have been offered some free trees/hedging trees from Gloucester City Council via the CCCP. Amanda to contact them to request 6x hedging trees (either hawthorns or blackthorns – to be compatible with our native planting plan)
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.
Bromford/Fosseway Housing representation at BSCLA Meetings
Chris will contact Fiona Miller and Ken Bellis to ask if Christine Keen or another representative may be able to attend at least some BSCLA meetings, as it is very helpful to have their input.
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 has spoken with Nick Eaketts who has passed on our query 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 (Street Cleansing Dept) 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 reported that financially the BSCLA accounts are looking quite healthy ie. we are £1700 in credit from this year’s income compared to outgoings. These funds are important to have in hand, however, to pay for ongoing costs such as insurance cover, regular gardening fees, tree surgery and lawn cutting and treatment. Jim needs to remind some of the larger property owners on the Square to forward their subscriptions. Jim also said he would check whether our subscriptions and donations have actually increased from last year – hopefully so.
Everyone offered their thanks to Freda for her hard work in collaboration with Jim in dealing with the accounts.
Constitution and Liability
After some discussion it was agreed that the BSCLA would take some advice regarding our liability should there be any litigation against the Square at any time (eg following an accident). Although we do have public liability insurance (renewed annually) for the Square – we are unsure as to exactly where our responsibilities lie. Does it involve all those landowners who come under the Covenant of the Square (ie all those who own a building on the Square?) If a single consultation with a solicitor costs approx £200 – £300 this could be money well spent. Ursula has contact with a solicitor who is familiar with the Square – so the contact may be best carried out through her.
It may be that we feel we need to revise the Constitution in view of the current “compensation culture” and the outcome of this consultation may help us to revise the Constitution, if need be.
It would also be helpful to retrieve any old or original documents pertaining to the Square (eg Deeds of Covenant) which may help to clarify responsibilities.
Chris said she would contact David Eggleton for his advice too as he has been very helpful to the BSCLA. She will also contact Ken Bellis and Fiona Miller at Bromford Housing to ask if they hold any documents for their large section of the South side of the Square.
Martyn offered to contact Marilyn Champion to see if she might provide any original documents that would be helpful.
Civic Pride Award & Gloucester in Bloom Civic Pride Awards
The BSCLA 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.
We had great success and won
• Winner in the Best Established Garden Environmental Award 2008
• Highly Commended in the Best Communal Space Category 2008
• Finalist place in Community Environment Challenge 2008
Freda Caulkett, Carole Carpenter, Jim & Amanda Procter all attended a civic reception at North Warehouse to receive these awards, including a glass trophy which can be kept in the Square’s garden shed!
Everyone thanked Russell for his good work on the lawn which was so significant to these awards.
Chris will also write to Andrew Pearce to let him know of the Square’s success and to thank him for his sterling contribution to these achievements.
Hartpury College
Terry to contact Hartpury College to see if they have been able to make any progress with regard to the design of next year’s window boxes & hanging baskets and also, most importantly, the design of the wildlife area of the Square.
Christmas Carols
Amanda and Jim to liaise with both CHA Advertising and the Salvation Army, both of whom have shown interest in joining us in a carol singing service in the Square in December (possibly the 6, 13 or 17 of December).
Jim offered to produce a leaflet for the event with which he and Terry might carry out a local leaflet drop.
Car Parking Fundraising
The Rikenel car parking fundraiser on Sat 4 October was very successful and raised £170, which is more again than last year!
Many, many thanks to all of those who gave up their time to do a shift on the day.
Chris has already booked us in for future car park fund-raisers:
Rikenel Sat 10 October 2009
Shire Hall Members Car Park Sat 9 January 2010
Shire hall Members Car Park Sat 5 June 2010
(NB these were the earliest dates we could get booked into the Shire Hall car park, which has only recently started to book out to charities again)
Post of Secretary
Chris said that she would not be standing again for the position of Secretary at the next AGM in March 2009, after three years in that role. People may like to consider whether they would be interested to take up the post at the AGM.
Dates of next meeting(s)
All meetings to be held at 7.30pm at Christ Church
in Brunswick Road, unless otherwise notified
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