OAKDALE AND PENMAEN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP MEETING

Held at 6.30pm on Wednesday 11 th February 2004 At Oakdale Community Centre

1. Welcome

Roger Evans welcomed those present to the meeting. Mr Peter Gomer (Head of Leisure and Lifelong Learning) was also welcomed to the meeting.

2. Community Planning

For those not present at the last meeting the discussions were summarised.

Councillor Rob Gough talked about the community planning process and how consultation with local communities is a key part. In order that communities become integral to the process partnerships have been set up throughout the County Borough.

There are now 29 community partnerships, all different and specific to that local community. For any new partnership setting up they will receive support via a number of organisations including the Police, GAVO, CCBC, Groundwork Caerphilly and local health groups.

From these discussions it was agreed to push forward with a partnership for Oakdale and this meeting had been set up to officially launch it.

3. Area Forum Money.

Councillors Allan Pritchard and John Evans explained about the Area Forum money available. The partnership was asked to choose from a 'shopping list' of items including litterbins, dropped kerbs, signage etc. A list of what has been identified was circulated at the meeting.

Councillors Alan Pritchard and John Taylor will take the list forward to CCBC. Some of the improvements identified on the list are already in the pipeline and have already been budgeted for. These include improvements to signs (2 larger signs for Oakdale, 2 signs for Penmaen and 2 signs for Woodfieldside). Councillor John Evans will also be following up on getting litterbins and dog bins enlarged and emptied. There wi11 also be new bus shelters provided throughout the ward over the next financial year.

There wi11 be an extra allocation for footpaths and rights of way. Overgrown shrubs have already been removed from near the cenotaph in the square as a security issue.

There will unfortunately be no more community skips however.

4. Partnership Committee

Roger enquired as to the ideal size of a partnership's membership as the attendance at the Oakdale meetings has been quite high for both meetings.

Tim Peppin discussed how other partnerships have been set up and the number of officers required. It was advised that four officers be elected and that anyone wishing to attend the meetings continue to do so. Experience from other partnerships show that attendance can often decline with time or alternatively if the attendance remains very high a number of sub-groups can be established. Roger asked those at the meeting if they would like to continue coming to the meetings to which all agreed. Minutes and invites will therefore be sent out to those who have attended. It was also agreed that in future agendas be sent out with the minutes.

5. Election of Officers

Peter Gomer chaired during the election of officers. It was agreed to decide the elections with a show ofhands. The results were as follows:

Chairperson: Mr Roger Evans was proposed, seconded and duly elected. Vice-Chair: Mr Robert Onions was proposed, seconded and duly elected. Secretary: Mr Granville Hale was proposed, seconded and duly elected. Treasurer: Mr Paul Taylor was proposed, seconded and duly elected.

6. Partnership Agreement.

A draft partnership agreement was circulated at the meeting. The partnership agreement is a document showing a commitment to work together. The document could be amended if there is anything the partnership is not happy with or in order to make the document specific to Oakdale. Once everyone is happy with the content the document is then signed by the Chief Executive of CCBC, Mike Bridgman of GAVO and Nigel Forster of Groundwork Caerphilly as a commitment to joint working. Once the partnership has been working together the members can then decide to adopt a constitution. This would allow the partnership to apply for funding etc. Mike Bridgman could be invited to explain and discuss the constitution if the partnership chose to adopt one. It was decided to name the partnership the 'Oakdale and Penmaen Community Partnership', At a later date the name will be very important for adopting a constitution and opening a bank account.

The Partnership Agreement was then read and discussed in blocks. Annex 1 under Membership was also discussed. For those representing an organisation a copy of this would need to be taken back to the group in order to discuss their level of commitment to the partnership. Annex 1 will also be a way of identifying skills in the community e.g. production of a newsletter.

As part of Administration and Powers the group looked at how often they would like to meet. Granville Hale suggested that a regular day and time be set for the meetings.

1 It was therefore suggested to hold the meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at 6.30pm. A list of the meeting dates will be drawn up in time for the next meeting.

In terms of opening a bank account Barclays Bank was suggested as an option. They have set up a number of accounts for community partnerships. It will also be easier if all four officers are signatories on the account with any two to sign.

The Partnership Agreement will be put onto the agenda for the next meeting in order for anyone to bring up any queries. The following meeting could then be to sign the document. This could provide an opportunity for a story in the first edition of a partnership newsletter.

7. Any Other Business

Tim Peppin circulated information regarding census statistics for the Caerphilly County Borough as a whole but also for the Pemaen ward.

Peter Gomer provided information on the opening of the new library in Oakdale. The executive committee of the partnership will now be invited. As the opening marks the end of the regeneration period for Oakdale and the launch of the new community partnership the opening could be a combined celebration.

Granville Hale also mentioned the publication of a book by Ralph Thomas, who is a local author. The opening of the library could also include the launch of the new book. The arranging of this will be discussed with CCBC.