Wentworth Partnership Meeting

8^th November 2005

Held at Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estates, Estates Office at 6.00 pm

In attendance:

N Chaplin Chair . The Wentworth Village Community Association

D Hunton Chair . Wentworth Parish Council

A Barber-Lomax Agent . Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estates

L Stevenson Parish Counsellor

1. Minutes of the Meeting held 6^th September 2005 were approved as a true record and signed by ABL.

2. Election of Chairman

ABL was elected as Chair for the meeting.

Matters Arising

1. Village Amenity Issues

1. Street Lights and b. Streetpride Banners

ABL recently met the Chief Executive of RMBC who suggested that the streetpride banners be removed/relocated and that alternative street lamp styles be considered in place of the modern replacements currently appearing. ABL is yet to hear from the various departments of the local authority who should help in this respect.

a. Park Entrance Area

The Estates draft proposals were considered and ABL has met with local business managers to consider access implications. DH pointed out that there were concerns regarding mixing of the public parking and children with farm traffic, suggesting that public parking be relocated within the site and consideration given to not having a pedestrian access gate in the location currently proposed.

b. Village Car Park

DH pointed out that approximately 70 new permits had been issued.

c. Public Houses

The Local Authorities consent to The Rockingham Arms and George & Dragon applications for extension to licensed periods was noted.

d. Cricket Pavilion

NC reported that a Health and Safety audit had been carried out resulting in new fire extinguishers, upgrades to electrics and gas equipment. The Fire Safety Officer is likely to be invited to review current provisions. Spare materials have been removed and a meeting planned with the Cricket Club to consider future use of the building.

The condition of the steps between the two pitches was considered and advice is to be obtained on basic standards required.

It was noted that the Bonfire Night had been its usual success.

2. Partnership Remit and Programme of Meetings

The purpose of the Partnership was considered and concluded to be .to address matters of common interest to the three principle organisations represented (Community Association, Parish Council and Estates) and to consider joint initiatives to secure future advantage for the Wentworth community.

Meetings are to be held quarterly from 6 pm to last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The Chair is to be rotated on an annual basis. Minutes will be circulated to J Ratcliffe representative of the Area Assembly and Councillor Hodgkiss as well as posted on the village web site.

3. Public Health Issues

DH and LS raised the question of initiatives to improve public health. This is to be considered by the Parish Council and Partnership involvement engaged if appropriate.

4. Village Broadband

A brief paper prepared by Frazer Wright addressing the limitations of the existing BT broadband link to the village was considered. Mr Wright promotes the idea of a privately funded local area network either by leased line or satellite receiver linked to individual users which would allow 2 megabites and faster connections.

Whilst those present were content with existing 1 megabite landline services, they indicated support for Mr Wright.s initiative and suggested that he canvasses the views of the wider community by placing an article in the next Wentworth In Focus publication.

5. Date of Next Meeting

Wednesday 8^th February 2006 at 6 pm at the Estate Office. Agreed that both Mr Fellows and Ms Ratcliffe of the Area Assembly should be invited so that opportunities for securing funding for community initiatives can be explored.

6. A.O.B

It was noted that the village policing now fell within Wath as opposed to Thorpe Hesley area and that Andy Poppleton is no longer the local bobby.

The Meeting closed at 7.25 pm.