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7.30pm PROMPT Management Meeting.  Members are invited to attend but are not eligible to vote.

FRIENDS OF BEAUMONT PARK LIMITED

Minutes of the meeting of the Management Committee held at 7.30 pm on
Wednesday 14 July 2010  in the Visitor Centre, Beaumont Park.

Present

Peter Turner was in the Chair.  Pat Battye,  Pauline Blackburn, Betty Dawson, Mary Kenworthy, Anne Mallinson, Karen Moyle, Tony Moyle, Michael Rayner, Annie Ross,  Malcolm Taylor and Maryke Woods.

Apologies for Absence

Ken Kaye,  John Pearson, Pauline Tymchak and.Molly Walton, and from Mary Kenworthy for lateness.

Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were signed as a true and correct record on the proposition of Pat Battye seconded by Karen Moyle.

Matters Arising from the Minutes

Maryke feels that the question of a licence for an ice cream vendor on a regular basis is intimately connected with the future development of the upper Park area and merits further discussion within that context.

Yorkshire Day Gala

Anne Mallinson outlined the programme for the Gala and the need for help on the day.  A schedule of events was produced to help volunteers see where help was most needed.  There is some uncertainty over the attendance of the African Drummers but we are still receiving applications from interested stall holders

It was agreed that we should support the Prince’s Trust on the day by offering White Rose badges in exchange for a donation to the Trust.

The flagpole is to be erected at the agreed site and will fly the Yorkshire flag.
A risk assessment is to be undertaken before the official opening.

Green Flag

Our application for Green Flag status unsuccessful. but the report contains many positive comments.  A meeting is scheduled for Friday 16 July to analyse the report in detail and start planning for next year.

Chair’s Report

Peter reported that the HLF bid is nearly finished – the final 10% claim will be submitted.  The next application for the bandstand area has been accepted and decision will be communicated to us in September.

We have a report from the Yorkshire Gardens Trust following their visit earlier this year in which they strongly recommend woodland management – Peter expressed his sadness that we have many reports on this but, as yet, no action.

Planting around the lower pond area has been deferred until Spring because of the drought conditions.

Links with the local schools are strengthening – he spoke of a Junior School garden party, a ‘Dragons Den’ competition at Moor End, preliminary design work on the mosaic to be sited in the circular bed by the Butternab Road entrance after the removal of the diseased tree. A cookery event where volunteers help students to make cakes for sale at events was mooted – Malcolm is to investigate further and liaise with the school.  We are invited to a Virgin V party at Moor End Technical College on 25 November 2010.

Peter, together with Pat and Karen attended a meeting at the University to further co-operation.

The Nature Leaflet, funded by Awards for All nears completion.

Secretary’s Report

Tony and Maryke have produced a letter to be sent to those wishing to provide memorial benches.

Another bench has been refurbished and awaits allocation and payment.

Treasurer’s Report

Mary presented her report setting out our financial position.  Current balance £xxxxx.  Mary talked us through the movement of funds since our last meeting.
 

Visitor Centre

Malcolm informed us that at Events we will provide an outdoor cold drinks and biscuit facility in addition to the cake stall and book stall.  The freezer can no longer cope with the capacity demanded of it.  Whilst it may be possible to swap this for the office fridge/freezer it was accepted that Malcolm should investigate the purchase of a new unit.

The Quiz Night was very successful, showing a profit of £230.  Notes were circulated of future events.  The next funding subcommittee meeting will be 4 August.

Pat reported that she has a quote from Peter Armitage for a larger replacement Visitor Centre in the sum of £38,000 and is seeking further estimates.  Maryke agreed to forward a list of Council-accredited companies who my be of interest.  It is essential that we move on this as we have outgrown the existing building and it is unlikely that we shall get a purpose built building in the near future.

Heritage

Karen reported that they were facilitating the book production.

Park

The meeting on Friday will dissect the report of the Yorkshire Gardens Trust and that of the Green Flag assessors.

AOB

Pat questioned the lack of waste bins at the new play area – Maryke admitted that these had been omitted from the design specification but would be supplied in the near future. She also asked about calendars and was assured the Photographic group had this well in hand.

Malcolm enquired about flyers for visitor centre Saturday opening and was told by Mary that she is producing them at present.

Annie asked about repainting the blue bins – Maryke told us that she has instigated a programme of rolling replacement of these by the new cast variety.

Mary informed us that the Photographic group are holding an exhibition at Newmillerdam on Sunday.  She also explained that we are getting bogged down with offers of help – it was suggested by Maryke that these be passed to Diane Clifford.  Mary also told us that pond dipping equipment is available for supervised groups.  The toilet block is to undergo refurbishment but there is no indication of timescale.

Tony advised us that in future the minutes will be distributed in .pdf format.
He asked that any apologies should be directed to him, preferably by email before meetings.

The next meeting

The next meeting will be 18 August  2010 at 7.30pm

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.48 pm.