Wentworth Partnership Meeting

8th February 2006

 

 

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

 

In attendance:

 

N Chaplin (NC) Chair – The Wentworth Village Community Association

A Barber-Lomax (ABL) Agent – Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estates & Meeting Chair

L Stevenson (LS) Wentworth Parish Council / Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estates

J Ratcliff (JR) Wentworth North Area Assembly Support Officer

R Fellows (RF) RMBC Community Planning Department

K Wright (KW) Yorkshire Rural Council

 

Apologies:

 

D Hunton (DH) Chairman – Wentworth Parish Council

 

 

1. Minutes of the Meeting held 8th November 2005

 

Approved as a true record and signed by ABL.

 

2. Matters Arising

 

See below.

 

3. Social and Welfare

 

a.       Wentworth News

 

NC mentioned the latest publication. General appreciation and support for the publication was voiced with thanks due to Editor, Julie Gill.

 

b.      Email addresses

 

Despite circulating Village occupants with a request for details of email addresses, ABL reported that only around a dozen had been provided. Accordingly, this method of communication is as not yet a plausible avenue within the community.

 

4. Governance

 

LS reported that the most recent Parish Council meeting was attended by new community Police Officer Melvin Spur.

 

5.                  Built Environment

 

a.       Street Lighting

 

ABL had met with M Jackson and A Lewis of RMBC Streetpride and A Lewis indicated that he would prepare a survey of existing street light furniture so that consideration could be given to replacement with more effective furniture of a nature acceptable to the partnership. ABL to follow this up with a request for the initial survey and JR to find out if funding is part of this year’s devolved budget. Hooton Pagnell was sited as a good example of a similar scheme. NC pointed out that street lighting had been an issue for at least 10 years. LS pointed out that the light fixed to No. 73 Main Street has not been working since September 2005.

 

 

 

b.      Park Entrance

 

ABL reported that the Estate’s draft proposals had been amended following consultation and that architectural assistance was currently being obtained for the design of new pillars and gates.

 

c.       Cricket Pavilion

 

NC reported that the Fire Officer had yet to respond to requests for a visit to be made and expressed thanks to the Parish Council for their assistance with repairs to the steps and clearance of bushes to the rear. Consideration is now being given to possible improved storage facilities either in addition to or replacing an existing panel garage. It was concluded that any additional replacement would likely require Conservation Area consent and ABL indicated that the Trustees of the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Amenity Trust, as landowners, would wish either to see a carefully designed permanent structure or wooden style garage to replace the existing structure.

 

d.      Clayfield Lane – Hedge

 

LS pointed out the Parish Council was shortly to replace the Clayfield Lane roadside fence and gap up the hedge.

 

e.      Sundry

 

ABL indicated that the Estate was currently addressing some business signage issues within the Village and that plans would shortly be submitted for providing additional car parking space at West Hall Fold.

 

6.                  Any other Other Business

 

RF outlined Rural Community Funding opportunities and provided forms for filling in to identify availability of funds. Owing to the Parish falling outside the European Objective 1 Area, Rural Target Funding is not available.

 

KW facilitates funding outside Objective 1 Area’s and jointly with RF raised the question of the development of a Community Action Plan or Parish Plan representing a further step from the Wentworth Village Appraisal involving further consultation with the community and addressing the interests of each the Partnership representatives. This would include Harley, Nether Haugh and other settlements within the Parish. Funding is currently available for such an initiative.

 

Problems with some apathy amongst residents was referred to and NC pointed out that some ‘quick win’ projects might help to engage future support.

 

It was concluded that RF would provide a written outline of the initiative as well as identifying the personalities that would be involved so that this could be considered by Partnership members in their own community fora before responding via the Partnership to RF. Additionally, RF will provide some community planning packs to the Village Post Office. He also left a customer care questionnaire which is to be completed and returned to RMBC by the 17th February.

 

7. Date of Next Meeting

 

Wednesday 10th May 2006 which JR and RF are invited to attend.