Meeting:
December 2024

Present

• John Gilbody (JG) - Chair
• Tracey Gilbody (TG) - Secretary
• Wayne Roddis (WR) - Vice Chairman
• Kev Hayes (KH) - Member
• Adrian Mellor (AM) - Treasurer

Apologies

• Nigel Griffiths (NG) - Events lead
• Phil Steer (PS) - Member
• Lisa Needham (LN) - Member

Additional notes

The minutes from the October meeting were agreed, an there were no outstanding actions from the meeting.

Finance update

Current funds held are £3509.99 of which £2133.20 is for the Community Grow.

Directorship

KH updated the meeting that they recently had a meeting with the prospective new management companies only 3 out of the expected 5 came to the meeting. The most promising was A Dandy Wren. They have been asked to submit their proposals of costs.

Bovis already use A Dandy Wren for other developments, they do not work by a fixed contract and are happy to work on a monthly basis, they outlined they would provide monthly visits and would be happy to liaise with WGRA and the directors.

The proposed date for the take over is the 1/4/2025, the purchase of the land is still being processed.

Christmas raffle

As the Christmas event was cancelled due to the adverse weather it was agreed the raffle prizes could be carried over to the RMG AGM on the 21/1/2025.

The possibility of arranging a film to be shown for children in the summer bar at the cricket club to encourage adults with children to attend the AGM.

Actions

• WR to contact cricket club to check re selling raffle tickets and feasibility of film.

Future events

It was discussed that WGRA have lost money on all recent events and this is not something that can be sustained.

It was agreed a post would be placed on the Facebook page after the Christmas period asking residents what events they would like to see in the estate.

A summer event was discussed as these had always been very popular in the past, this to be discussed further in the New Year.

Actions

• TG to put post out in early January.

Woodland and community garden

The transfer of the land for the Community Garden and Windhill; woods was nearly complete. WGRA will own the land at the side of the main driveway into the estate and everyone agreed this needed tidying. Applying for a grant from the Parish council to purchase tools was discussed.

It was agreed once the land was transferred a post should be put on the Facebook page informing them the area we now own and asking for ideas of what they would like to see in the woodland.

As part if the land donation we have been asked to erect a sign at the entrance to the woodland thanking Luke Divine for donating the land.

As now own the semi circle of land on The Grange where the benches are it was suggested this may be a good place for a sign showing the history of the mine and the development of Woolley Grange. This could be pictures and script. The Parrish Council had volunteered to fund this project. It was discussed that WGRA should apply for more money from the Parrish Council.

Actions

• All committee members to apply some thought to this and to do some research in relation to what we can do with the woodland and grants that may be available.
• TG to look at design for this and obtain quotes for work.
• All committee members to look for some information re the history of the mine and the building of the development.
• All members to apply some thought to what funding we could apply for from the Parrish Council to allow JG to submit the application.

Eco Kids

Over the past 12 months WGRA have subsidised the Eco kids on numerous projects, Donna has contacted committee members directly for funding. It was agreed going forward this needed to change and should there be any request for funding Donna Dee would be invited to a meeting to discuss this.