Held at 6.30pm on 2nd March 2005 At Oakdale Community Centre

Annual General Meeting

1. Chairman’s Opening Remarks

Chairman Roger Evans welcomed all those present including guest speaker Steve from Local People - Local Jobs.

2. Apologies:

Don Touhig MP, Jan Bennett, Claire Higgins, Irene James (AM), Cllr Tudor Davies, Margaret Solerno, Pru Robinson, Tina McMahon, Doreen Brown, Grace Thomas, Karen Richards GAVO, Grace Brown, Bert Harper Ashridge, Jeanette Watson.

3. Local People Local Jobs

Steve gave a brief presentation on Local Jobs for Local people.
Colleges, local authority and job centres are working together to provide training, support and advice to help people enter/return to work. They will help provide vocational skills & training. The meeting stimulated quite a debate amongst the Partnership. There was a questions and answers session and at the end Steve distributed some discs with College courses on.

4. Minutes of Last Annual General Meeting

A brief overview of the last general meeting was given. All agreed that it was a True Record

(i) Chairman’s Report
Brief overview of last years achievements was given. i.e. May – New Hospital, July - Skateboarding project advice, August – Health Authority and Planning department, September- Video of Operation Christmas Child- 300 shoe boxes were donated from our local community. November- Digital Story Telling, December – Recreational Grounds, January - Health Authority Representative, February - Community Safety. We ran a successful logo competition. The Tsunami appeal had an excellent response.

(ii) Treasurers Report
Income last year was £2126.22 and expenditure £1012.25 leaving a balance of £1113.97.
Accounts were submitted and passed as a true record.

(iii) Secretary’s Report 9500 newsletters were distributed through the ward, There are 33 member organisation involved with an average turn out of 25 per meeting. Acquired new computer & software from BT Communications. We also received a photocopier and fax machine from Business in the Community.

(iv) Constitution Ratification
We have rules that need to be abided by. We also need the constitution so that we can register as a Charity.

(v) Election of Officers
All Officers stood down and were then re –elected with the exception of Paul Taylor – Treasurer. Richard Jones was elected as his replacement. Paul is off to Pastures new and we wish him all the best for the future. The Partnership thanked all the Officers, GAVO and Local Authority for their extreme hard work during the last 12 months.

Positions stand as follows:
Roger Evans - Chairman
Robert Onions - Vice Chairman
Richard Jones - Treasurer
Granville Hale - Secretary

GENERAL MEETING

1. Chairmans Opening Remarks

David was wished a Happy 80th Birthday and then the meeting reconvened.

2. Project Update

Oakdale Square – £300 sponsorship received off the council.
New shrubs will be planted in square (Aberconway Road side).
If we can get funding and permission for the cenotaph lighting, then the council will maintain lights for us. Winter flowers will be replaced with summer bedding towards the end of June. Rob is to contact Tony White to ask for details of the toilets- disability access etc,

Penmaen Churchyard: No new developments

Greengro – Looking at the possibility of wooden barrels. However the local road builders may be able to offer us something free.
We need to contact Highways with firm proposals on where we would like to site these barrels/tubs.

Recreational Ground: Work on drainage will begin in Spring or when the weather is right.

Bridleways Project: Application forms and funding requests have gone in, together with plans on where we would like bridges over culverts etc., 5 ¾ miles of bridleway will be opened up first before the signs are put in place. There is 33 miles that will need to be opened up eventually. Two Partnerships Trinant and Oakdale have worked hard to put this in place along with Tina and June.

Woodfieldside Bridge: Bridge is now being dismantled. (i) Costains will build what we require using Stone and capstones (ii) Braces Bakery have been asked to sponsor the new roundabout (iii) GAVO and Groundwork will have another meeting.

2. Community Questionnaire

A questionnaire will be posted to all in the area, along with a prize draw offer- kindly donated by Paul Taylor- in the hope that this will encourage more residents to complete the questionnaire.

3. Electing two new members

This will take place at next meeting

4. Membership

To be discussed at next meeting.

5. Public Liability Insurance

Contact Tina to ask her advice.

6. Fundraising

To be discussed at next meeting.

7. Any Other Business

Rhiw Syr Dafydd School. We need to get our voices heard and create a sub committee to write to council to suggest our uses for the school. If this is not done immediately then we may lose our school to developers. Sub Committee will comprise of Marie, John, Alan and Rob.

There will be a 7 tonne limit placed on the Oakdale to Plough Road, this will be to encourage the lorries to use the new Sirhowy Way

Notice-board is to be erected Tuesday 3rd March at 3.00pm. Ideal photo opportunity for any members who may be in the area.

Fair-trade coffee morning to be held in Community Centre on 12th March at 10.00am- 12.00.

60th Anniversary celebration of the end of the Second World War. We would like to hold a concert, party for children, fireworks and a disco. Plenty of ideas are coming out of the hat. There is funding available from £500 to £20,000. We all agreed in principal to go ahead.

8. Date Of Next Meeting