Faringdon Town Affairs

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Topics discussed at a meeting of FAR held on 11/02/2002

Present at the Meeting:[Committee, Councillors, Police)] Chair - Colin Desborough Vice Chair - Clive Davis Secretary - Gene Webb President - Betty O'Brien Treasurer - Frank Roberts Committee member - David Hughes PC Kirsty Read County Councillor - Judith Heathcoat (until 8.00pm) Attendance 13 plus 8 above		Apologies - Gordon Dowell Mr & Mrs Pasterfield Dora Kinnear Mrs I Green Val Desborough
AGENDA
1. Apologies 2. Minutes of last meeting 3. Faringdon Healthcheck 4. Market Square Improvements 5. Country Park Update 6. Old Health Centre	7. Updates Town projects 8. Seeda Projects Update 9. Treasurer's Report 10. Police update 11. FAR Constitution 12. Coxwell Pit site	13. Faringdon Preschool 14. Next Meeting
1. Apologies- see above 2. Minutes of last meeting Apologies from Pat Purbrick not recorded Item 7 Old Health Centre. Abolish should read demolish Item 11 .........being pursued by the brewery not Inland Revenue Minutes were agreed 3. Faringdon Healthcheck - CC Catherine Chater, Faringdon's Healthcheck coordinator described the objectives and the process for this project:- Investigate what is required to revitalise Faringdon and produce an action plan 4 key areas - environment, economy, social and community, transport and accessibility Establish a town partnership - initial meeting of invited groups 4/3/02 Groups of town people from the partnership to investigate a specific area Hold Community event to get input from wider audience - April/May Report, with Action plan to be produced Start to investigate funding sources The findings of the investigation will be implemented by a Faringdon project manager, who will progress the applications for funding. This is a 3 year post, partly funded by a grant, and the Town and Vale Councils 4. Market Square Improvements - CD/GW Responses to a plan based on 'option3' (partial pedestrianisation of the square) from FAR and other organisations are being considered A public exhibition will be held 15th and 16th March A planning application will be made (spring/summer) It is believed that the Vale will budget money for implementation in 2003/2004, but also rely on grant monies. 5. Country Park Update Verbal update from Alison Thompson, prior to the meeting, indicated that no further progress has been made. She is trying to get the issues resolved. 6. Old Health Centre - CD Some ownership checks have been made. It appears that the NHS has taken ownership of the property. No documentary evidence about the gift of land (Mrs Allen Stevens ) and building costs (Dr Dundas) has been discovered. Ownership information is being pursued 7. Updates- Town Projects FAR wrote to the Town Council asking for updates on the following subjects, either at the Town Meeting 28th January or in writing. The Town Council declined to do this, stating that they are not obliged to inform FAR of anything. Some information was gained, however, by FAR members raising questions at the Town Meeting . Pump House Repairs have started - largely plumbing, heating and electrical. The aim is that the ground floor rooms, after decoration and refurbishment, will be available for use by 20th April 2002. (per Cnclr Hickmore) £30k was budgeted in 2001/02, a further £20k in 2002/03 -plus around £20k from the Councils general reserve fund to achieve the above repair/refurbish. A figure for £220k(previously £110k) was mentioned as the cost of repairing and furnishing the whole building, including the theatre. The Town Councils current thinking is that the building will provide a selection of meeting rooms, for use by the Town. Perhaps to be called 'the Pump House Rooms' No mention was made of a business plan, or the expected running costs of such a facility. A figure of 15p per week, per household, for the Pump House rooms and 4p for the Corn Exchange were given by Cnclr Illot as running costs. Skate Park, Willes Close £7k has been budgeted for 2002/03 to investigate the feasibility and design for a skate park at Willes Close. The concerns put forward at the Town Meeting 12th November 2001, don't appear to be being considered. No experts were involved and no report produced contrary to what was said by Cnclr Hickmore at the meeting. It is thought that £40k - £45k will be needed to develop the skate park and the park area. Cedar Troughs £1300 budgeted in 2000/01 has been moved to the General Reserve Fund, presumably meaning the plan to construct troughs for plants has now been abandoned. No mention was made of the wood that seems to have disappeared. Millennium Clock £9k in 2000/01 and £3k in 1999/00 has been moved to the General Reserve Fund . When asked, the Council said that the plan to have a 'millennium timepiece' has not been abandoned. The £4.5k grant from the Vale was not claimed. Town Park £3k has been budgeted for maintenance and improvements by a contractor Quarterly Newsletter The Town Council will be producing a quarterly newsletter, to inform residents of their activities. The first is intended end March 2002, and will go to all householders with What's ON Jubilee Celebration The Town Council currently has no plans 8. Seeda Projects Update-MR, GW Family Centre, Baptist Church. Mike Robinson, the centre manager, described the current and some of the planned activities. These include: First babies group, drop in, young mums' group, and in the future after school club, breakfast club, Computer access and training Youth Worker, Cyber Bus Youth worker has been in post since September. The grant for the cyber bus has now been authorised, and a purchase is being pursued. Community Bus The bus is being used reasonably well, given the newness of the project. The timetable will be reissued in March 9. Treasurer's Report-FR 3 years' accounts have now been audited and are OK. Financial statements were displayed for all to see. FR proposed that £50 is paid to Pat Purbrick to replace money that Maurice Purbrick had paid from his own money, prior to his death. All were in favour. 10. Police update PC Read is a full time policewoman, employed as an on foot beat officer for Faringdon. She is actively dealing with illegal parking, particularly where it causes hazards to pedestrians and traffic. eg pavement and verge parking as well as on double yellow lines Point to note. Per the police, - the definition of highway is 'from hedgerow to hedgerow, including the pavement' 11. FAR Constitution-CD Amendments suggested at the AGM in October regarding the holding of office by councillors (Town, Vale and County) have been made and agreed. 12. Coxwell Pit site The builder has withdrawn the application for 19 houses, but replaced it with a new application for 24 smaller houses 13. Faringdon Preschool Mary Thomas informed the meeting that Faringdon Preschool require a new building. The cost of a purpose constructed prefabricated building is around £100k. Fund raising has started. Any help with this, or advice in who may make a contribution was requested. 14. Next Meeting 15/7/02, 14/10/02 Old Town Hall, 7.30

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