Calendar

7.30pm FoBP Ltd management meeting in the visitor centre.  Items for the agenda to Tony Moyle (Hon. Sec.) by Saturday 13th March please.  Members are welcome to come to the meeting but are not entitled to vote.

AGENDA

1. Apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the last meeting

3. Matters arising from the minutes

4. Transfer of Membership - review

5. Reports:

i    Chairman
ii.  Secretary – transfer of membership  
iii   Treasurer
iv.  Social
v.  Visitor Centre
vi.  Heritage
vii. Park

6 AOB  

Next meeting:  suggested date 21 April 2010

The minutes of the last meeting are below:

FRIENDS OF BEAUMONT PARK LIMITED

Minutes of the meeting of the Management Committee held at 7.30 pm on
Wednesday 17 February 2010 the Visitor Centre, Beaumont Park.

Chairman Peter opened the meeting by bidding welcome to Neil Summers, Sally White and Maryke Woods from Kirklees.

Present

Peter Turner was in the Chair.  Pat Battye, Pauline Blackburn, Betty Dawson, Joan Hanan, Mary Kenworthy, Tony Moyle, Michael Rayner, Annie Ross, Pauline Tymchak and Malcolm Taylor.

Apologies for Absence

Glyn Brooke, Philip Jackson, Ken Kaye, Anne Mallinson, Karen Moyle, John Pearson and Molly Walton.

Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were accepted on the proposition of Michael Rayner seconded by Pat Battye

Matters Arising from the Minutes of meeting on 20 January 2010

Peter reported that the plans and reports need copying to the Green Flag document.

Public Consultation Exhibition

In the absence of John Pearson Pat reported on the event covering the two days of 30-31 January. It was considered a resounding success with attendance in excess of 400. It was necessary to extend the opening time by one hour to accommodate all visitors. Only 17 of those sent personal invitations arrived. 196 questionnaires were completed, all with positive comments and no note of contention detected.  Our aim to encourage all sections of the community to use the Park has moved a step nearer by forging links with the local Asian Community.

Planning permission has been granted for the bandstand.  Emma is putting ‘design and build’ and ‘landscape’ contracts out to tender.   Peter noted that we can still work on the bid whilst awaiting the figures and will liaise with Maryke on this.

Chair’s Report

Each week five students from Moor End will join the Monday gardening club.

It has been established that we can fit another unit to the Visitor Centre providing it is no larger than the existing units as there is a marked change in levels and will be sited close to the hedge. Plans for the permanent Centre have been put back to 2020.  HLF funding for ‘Parks for People’ has dropped of to 1 per annum with a spend approaching £1m.

Secretary’s Report

The secretary circulated draft letters for the transfer of membership to FoBP Ltd.  It was decided that the final document should be a letter with a membership form and gift aid certificate on the reverse.  The next draft will be emailed to all for comments, advice or amendment.  To be sent out by the end of the month.

Annie proposed that the fee for new members be a minimum of £5. This was seconded by Pauline Tymchak and passed.

Treasurer’s Report

Mary presented her report setting out our financial position.  We have £xx of which £xx is restricted.  Toward restoration of the Park Tony Moyle proposed and Pauline Tymchak seconded that we spend some £2000 on planting – passed with one against.  The cost of framing Mary’s photograph was given as £37.

Social

In the absence of Anne Mallinson the secretary gave details of a proposed flower arranging workshop for no more than 20 people to be held on 20 March.
Sally confirmed she has a list of forthcoming events
The ‘Examiner’ will hold a ‘Walk through the Park’ on 23 May – VC and toilets to be open.
2 Brass Band concerts confirmed.
Booking form to be submitted by a lady wishing to film in the Park.
Alzheimer’s Society to arrange a visit.
The Bandstand Marathon this year will be in Greenhead Park linked to the opening.
Rotary’s ‘Gardens in the Park’ booked for 27 June.

Visitor Centre

Malcolm Taylor reported on a successful inspection of the VC by Kirklees Health and Safety together with recommendations which will be implemented.  The next visit (unannounced) will be within 2 years. Two helpers are to attend a level 2 training course and there will be an in-house training session on 24 February. The VC has now started opening on Wednesdays for soup and sandwiches – this posed the question of an extractor fan  The secretary is to seek the advice of our electrician.  We need new plates, dishes, probe, thermometer, knioves, chopping boards and hand-held blender.

There was some discussion on opening times – not yet resolved but the VC staff are aware of the programme of events and can react accordingly.

On the funding side we need to increase membership and/or joining fees.  Donation boxes have been made and affixed.  Larger signs and laminated boards will increase public awareness of the VC.
A Quiz Night has been proposed for 3 July in the VC with max number of 40  ticket price £5 to include jacket potato and sweet.

It is proposed to continue the musical evenings.

Heritage

John Pearson’s book on the History of Beaumont Park nears completion.  It was suggested that John Ross should be contacted for more about the period post 1998

Park

Annie had nothing to report.

Green Flag Status

Maryke reported that the plans had been submitted and stressed that this was a changeable document that required change and updating continuously.  The ‘action plan’  pp55-68 will be sent to FoBP as a separate document so we can sure we are all working to the same aims.

Educational Packs are available for school visits.

Sally advised that outdoor activity items for our use are available at Greenhead Park.

Bids have been submitted to ‘Awards for All’ for pond dipping equipment, copier and leaflets.

A site must be selected for a flagpole for planning permission purposes.

AOB

Michael stressed the need to move quickly on seeking the cost and availability of an additional unit to increase the size of the VC.

The next meeting will be 17 March 2010 at 7.30pm

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.25 pm.

Signed…………………………………………………….date………………………………