OAKDALE VILLAGE - Partnership

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Oakdale and Penmaen Community Partnership Meeting held
at 6.30pm on Wednesday Wednesday 1st November, 2006 At Oakdale Community Centre

Present - Roger Evans (Chairperson), Granville Hale (Secretary), Karen Richards (GAVO), Emma Collins (CCBC), Jane Roberts (CCBC), Pam Matthews, Helen Stenson (URC), Geoff Jones, Mike Perry.

1.Chairman’s Opening Remarks

Chairman Roger Evans welcomed all those present including several new attendees from the United Reformed Church.

2. Apologies:

Mair Gwyn (Vice Chair), Bert Harper-Asbridge, Silwyn Evans, Vicar of St David's Church, Steve Carter.

3. Presentation by Jane Roberts (Strategic Regeneration Co-ordinator, CCBC)

Presentation on Oakdale Business Park. A survey is to take place involving the local community regarding developing this business park site. The intention is to link the business development with the landscape, heritage, community and biodiversity of the area. Consultants will be developing the plan for this site and will be facilitating the involvement of the Partnership as part of the process. The local community currently use this site for local recreation e.g. dog walking etc so LDA Design will be looking to involve local people in the sustainable development of this venture. The study will be taking place from now until January 2007 and it is hoped if the Partnership agree that members could be involved in a more detailed consultation exercise with the consultants. It is not currently anticipated that the consultants will be contacting individual households.

The contract for this study was awarded last week with the final report due in April 2007. It is expected that the consultants will contact the partnership approximately in mid January. The Community Route project will be incorporated in any development. The consultants are fully aware of the need for sensitive development.

The Partnership will inform the wider village that the survey will be being conducted. Jane and the consultants will inform the Chair as to the format the consultation will take. The consultation could also be publicised using the village website.

3. Minutes of last meeting

Due to unforeseen circumstances the minutes were unfortunately not mailed out this month. Emma distributed her typed up notes to those present. These were then accepted as a true record.

1. Matters Arising

It was discussed at the previous meeting that the decision to become a Company Limited by Guarantee would be confirmed. However there were insufficient members present to constitute a quorum and as the minutes had not been mailed out in advance it was decided to postpone this to the December meeting.

Japanese Knotweed - Areas of knotweed will be treated throughout the estate by CCBC. This treatment will however take several applications over a number of years. A note in the newsletter also requests people to identify other areas of knotweed needing the Council's assistance. This unfortunately does not cover areas under private ownership.

Tea for OAPs / Disabled people - Jeanette, Mair and Doreen are in the process of organising a tea and celebration for this group. There have been 15 people who have so far indicated that they wish to attend.

5. Correspondance

The Secretary had received a reply to his letter sent to the Chief Executive of CCBC requesting help with the village's centenary celebrations. The letter states that although they cannot give any financial assistance they would be willing to give advice etc.

The Groundwork Caerphilly annual report has been given to the Chairman. This document is available for any member to read.

1.Financial Statement

The Treasurer was not present at the meeting to give a financial report. The Partnership is in an overall healthy financial position at the present time. Some bills are however still outstanding.

Area Forum Budget - Still approximately £5,000 in the budget. The Partnership are prioritising a number of suggested projects. These are :

Benches for the square
Bike Stands
Perimeter Fencing for Penmaen Allotments
Marking out of car park bays between Ashville and Westview
Extra bollards on the square (a site visit took place last week)
Bollards in the back lane to prevent shortcuts. (This will be picked up by Cllr. Pritchard with the Highways Dept)
Upgrading of various footpaths (Ivybush)
Fencing / gates (Westview down to the Rhiw). There is a problem in that the ROW used by the community is not the one on the map.

Unfortunately, many of the officials are currently taking annual leave so there has been a delay in progressing some of these projects. The Area Forum budget can only be used on CCBC owned land and using CCBC labour.

There will be a meeting of the Village Square Sub-Group after the Centenary Sub-Group next Tuesday at 4.30pm.

7. Centenary Committee

A meeting was held last month but attendance is continuing to fall. Some dates of centenary related events have been published in the TOPPs Newsletter eg. Songs of Praise (March 24th) and several street parties are also confirmed. There is a need for many more volunteers to help with this.

There has so far been a poor response to the appeal for old photographs of the village for the historic exhibition. Ideally the Partnership need a dedicated office to use for planning events such as this.

There has been only limited action so far but a great deal of communication has been taking place. There is now the need to develop a more detailed action plan.

8. Project Update

Village Square
This group has not met as yet. The first meeting will take place after the centenary meeting next Tuesday afternoon. Members have been in touch with the parks department of CCBC who have advised that they are unable to contribute financially to the square for the centenary. The group would need to raise approximately £2,500 - £3,000 to make a big impression in terms of planting etc. The group have already raised £500.

Community Route
There has been no announcement yet as to the official opening of the route. It is expected to take place in February 2007.

Penmaen Woods
The group intend to register as a Company Limited by Gaurantee. A meeting was held on site with CCBC and Groundwork Caerphilly. A specialist botanical survey is to take place to plot all flora and fauna. There will therefore be no physical works on site for the next couple of months. The lease agreement will also need to be signed. The funding for the project is secure from Cyd Coed.

Bulbs will be planted in the village in the next few days. Volunteers are needed.

United Reformed Church
Jerusalem Graveyard in Woodfieldside. An update was given by the URC's representative Helen Stenson (Bryn has since resigned). It has been 2 years since the graveyard was closed by the Health and Safety Executive and 1 year since the memorials were tested and made safe. The major collapse on the terracing has been put out to tender and is expected to be completed by next Spring. There is still a lot of water running over the site. The graveyard is closed to public access although some residents are still entering the site. They do this at their own risk however as signs have been put in place.

Skateboard Park
This project has now largely been concluded. Alan Elliot is currently finishing the wooden skateboard seat sculpture, which will then be put into position.

9. Reports of Other Meetings Attended

There have been no other meetings attended during the last month. Nothing to report.

10. Any Other Business

The newsletters have almost been distributed. Neil's diner recently won first prize in the Caerphilly in Bloom competition in the local business on the high street category. Photos were available for members to look at.

Date Of Next Meeting

Wednesday, 6th December, 2006 at 6.30pm - Oakdale Community Centre.