Meeting:
May 2023

Present

• John Gilbody (JG) - Chair
• Luke Streeting (LS) - Vice Chair
• Tracey Gilbody (TG) - Secretary
• Wayne Roddis (WR) - Member
• Nigel Griffiths (NG) - Events lead
• Paul Kittrick (PK) - Guest

Apologies

• Lisa Needham (LN) - Member
• Phil Steer (PS) - Member

Additional notes

Minutes from previous meeting agreed, the only discrepancy was that Jaydene Hayes had already been reimbursed by LS for the face painting items.

RMG/Dearne Court

Welcomes and introductions for Paul Kittrick who joined the meeting in relation to issues connected to RMG and resident directorship.

Paul gave an extensive insight into the issues encountered for many years a for the residents of Dearne Court in relation to repairs and poor workmanship arranged by RMG. This prompted Paul to look at many aspects in relation to the management company and send several FOI’s in relation to financial matters. He found numerous discrepancies in the accounts produced by RMG which were shared with the meeting.

Paul outlined to the meeting that he was proposing to challenge the current director in relation to their position with a view to forming a resident directorship of residents from Woolley Grange. He outlined there were 3 options available:

• Option 1: Ask the current director to resign call an extraordinary AGM and appoint a new director.
• Option 2: Obtain 220 votes of no confidence in the current director ask them to resign and appoint a new director.
• Option 3: Wait until the next AGM (earliest November 2023) and appoint a new director.

Paul was asking for the backing of WGRA to proceed with one of these options. Everyone at the meeting agreed they would support this process and decided the best course of action would be option 3, which would give ample time to canvas residents re possible directors.

It was agreed there should be a minimum of 3 directors from Woolley Grange, Paul Kitterick was happy to be one of these.

It was agreed JG would put a communication out to the residents in conjunction with Paul in relation to this proposal. This would include a detailed document in relation to the roles and responsibilities of a resident director.

Proposed date for completion of documentation to be published for residents information was the 29th June 2023.

Paul Kittrick left the meeting following this discussion.

Treasury update

• Cash in bank: £28376.17 (£27000 of this is community grow funds).
• Cash in tin: £661.00
• Money owed from RMG (invoice for repair of steps to DicklDoIt): £867.

Action update

• JG informed the meeting he had made enquiries with EON re the disconnection and re connection fees for the electricity spur.
• The charges for these would amount to £300, the current annual standing charge was £380. It was agreed to continue with the standing charge which will allow access to electricity throughout the year.
• In relation to the post on the Facebook group relating to the community payback team carrying out works on the development. There had not been any adverse comments in relation to this and the residents who had commented were very supportive and positive.
• Zurich insurance were currently on with the amendments to the insurance document in relation to this, once this has been completed it can be forwarded to the community payback team and they can commence the works.
• WR has submitted an appeal to the LA in relation to the planters on the mini roundabout and would keep the committee updated re progress.
• WR updated the meeting in relation to the road adoption, the MP Simon Lightwood has arranged a meeting between Yorkshire Water and Bovis for the 6th June 2023 to discuss outstanding issues in relation to the adoption.

Actions

• LS and NG have had a brief discssuion re future events and LS will be given access to Eventbrite.

Community payback

Awaiting new insurance policy to allow work to commentce. JG and WR to monitor works carried out and progress made.

Community Grow

LS stated he had made some progress with the planning application he had sent the notice to the landowner Luke Devine informing him of the plans for the area.

The site has been re measured following the removal of the tress and ground clearance and this now measures 580 sqm. LS has given the rough plan and measurements to the plan drawer and hopefully they will be completed in the next week or so.

Actions

• LS to put a post on the Facebook page asking for volunteers to form a community grow sub group to drive the project forward.

Events updates

NG updated the meeting in relation to the recent poll on the Facebook page regarding future events. 300+ people have voted to date.

• 88 in favour of a Christmas event at the CC and on the development.
• 80 in favour of a summer event on the development
• 35 in favour of an easter event on WG
• 21 in favour of a community clean up day.

This poll has only been open for a few days and the results will be discussed at the next meeting where a plan will be formulated.

It was agreed that if an easter event were to be planned for next year tickets would be sold prior to any purchases being made.

Any other business

JG raised an issue in relation to Woolley Parish Council. Several months ago information was posted on the Facebook page in relation to the proposed flower beds along the Grange. This was well received by the residents and no-one opposed the suggestion and approval was sought from RMG who manage the land which is not yet adopted by the LA.

Whilst the contractors were preparing the verges for the flower beds they were approached by a local resident and parish council who informed the contractors they could not carry out the work as they had not got the approval of the local authority.

Following a recent request from a resident in relation to a parking issue and the request to plant a tree or extend a flower bed, RMG have informed WGRA that Woolley Parish Council have made a complaint in relation to the current flower beds on the development. This had not been brought to the ateention of WGRA prior to this and no communication has been received from the parish council in respect of this issue.

WR has asked for the minutes from the Parish council as there have been none published on their website since January 2023. The reason for this request is to ascertain what the complaint is and to resolve the issue with them.

This issue would be further discussed at the next meeting once the minutes have been received.

It was agreed members of WGRA would attend the next Woolley Parish Council meeting in person.

LS stated he had started a scheme at his workplace which allowed staff to bid for funding for local events. This would be open to WGRA through him.

LS stated he would liaise with Andrew re the lottery bid for the summer camp and update the committee in due course.

NG asked if the residents of Windhill Rise area could move one of the picnic benches from the semi circle on the Grange for use by all residents in the area at the top of Windhill near the wooded area.

This was agreed by all members as the benches at the semi circle were not used on a regular basis.