Agenda and minutes

Cllr Ashley Bond

Councillor Ashley Bond welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave an overview of the Community Board and its aims for the benefit of newcomers.

Katrina gave an overview of the agenda.

Karen Groom (Ivinghoe Parish Council)

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13^th October, 2022.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th October 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

Members to declare any interests.

There were none.

Holly Meek

Holly Meek gave a presentation to the board on her work supporting vulnerable young people (11–17-year-olds) in secondary schools across the county. She gave an overview of a case study related to a young person in the community board area to contextualise the sort of day-to-day work that she undertook locally.

The work had been supported by funding from the community board and she thanked the board for this.

Following questions, Holly confirmed the following:

·       She would be happy to offer the chance to take a young person to any new activities that were suggested to her.

·       The support offered was multifaceted including mentoring, workshops, trips and activities, talks, residentials and charity work.

·       She was open to work with the Prince’s Trust if an appropriate course became available for someone that would benefit from it.

Members thanked Molly for taking the time to raise awareness of the great work she and the Action 4 Youth team did to support young people across Buckinghamshire.

·       Funding Update

·       Engagement activity

·       Task and Finish Groups

Katrina Holyoake (Community Board Manager) gave some updates on key aspects of the board’s ongoing work since the previous meeting.

Firstly, was an update on funding. Ten new applications were in the processing stage following conversations with applicants. It was hoped that these could be formalised over the following two weeks. Should all of the pending applications be allocated funding, the remaining budget would total £64,160.70.

Helping Hands had been assisting with cost-of-living related projects as well as giving advice where needed. An example of their support included £990 that had been given to the Wingrave warm spaces project.

The deadline for projects to be allocated funding in the 2022/23 fiscal year was 31^st Jan 2023.

Health and Wellbeing related projects had been the largest priority for funding in fiscal year 22/23, making up 46% of allocated funding. Of those projects awaiting formalisation, the largest priority area was Health and Wellbeing, which accounted for 64% of pending projects.

Katrina then gave an update on community engagement. She had been out and about much more over the last year, and had enjoyed meeting everyone and seeing the positive impact of the funded projects in communities across the community board area. Katrina invited anyone to get in touch if they would like her to attend an event on behalf of the community board to promote its work, or if they would like to make use of the board’s connections. Katrina met with the Community Engagement Officer at Whipsnade Zoo which neighboured the community board area. Anyone with a project idea encompassing the zoo was welcome to discuss this with Katrina.

Attention was drawn to the outcomes of a poll circulated prior to the meeting asking for feedback on priorities for the community board moving forward. The top three priorities were ‘Improving Parks and Recreational Spaces’, ‘Wild Flowering’, and ‘Welcoming Spaces’. Katrina asked for volunteers to form task and finish groups to address these priority areas. Those interested in participating were asked to get in touch.

Katrina confirmed that as she continued to visit warm spaces, she had become aware of the need to ensure that those attending because they were otherwise lonely would continue to be supported into the spring and summer as the weather improved. It was hoped that the Task and Finish Group looking at Welcoming Spaces would take this into account in their discussions.

Presentations from Watermead Parish Council and Slapton Parish Council on their completed Health & Wellbeing Projects.

Representatives from Watermead Parish Council and Slapton Parish Council were invited to give presentations to the board, highlighting the impact that community board funding had made on applications in their parish areas.

Noreen Shardlow and Sue Severn (Watermead) gave an update on the new Watermead walkway project. £45,000 had been given by the community board towards the walkway project. The scope of work had altered from the initial application owing to unexpected increase in costs once work got underway. Sincere thanks was to the board for the support received for the project. Attendees were informed that the projects had dramatically improved accessibility to both the lake and nearby wildlife, including disabled access. One stretch alongside the lake remained unfinished, and it was hoped that this could be completed as soon as possible.

Following questions, Sue and Noreen confirmed that the other half of the project costs were primarily provided by FCC communities (£42,000). The parish also gave a small contribution from their reserves. Massive thank you to Katrina and Ashley Bond for their support when material costs unexpectedly increased.

Katrina congratulated the parish on the success of the project and highlighted how nice it was to see so many people now enjoying the lake. The projects formed a building block for future wildlife activities and projects in the area.

Rob King (Slapton) then gave a progress overview of Slapton Parish’s application to renovate their recreational ground. Fresh Air fitness had been consulted at the inception of the project and had suggested some improvements. Ultimately the parish chose the ‘Big Rig Multi Gym’ equipment as a result of the consultation, as well as table tennis equipment and a Viking Swing. A key element of the project was to improve disabled access to the recreation ground, as well as install specialist equipment for wheelchair users.

Following a further consultation, it was determined that S106 money could be used to part fund the application alongside a small grant. The chosen equipment was then installed from April 2022 in stages, with this process concluding in August. Insulation was then installed around the edge of the play area alongside a running-friendly gravel surface, and this would be finished soon. Residents were now using and enjoying it.

Members thanked the Watermead and Slapton Parish Council representatives for their presentations.

Proud Of Bucks Awards

Katrina Holyoake drew attention to the Proud of Bucks Awards which had taken place on 5^th December 2022. Two awards had been given to people in the community board area. Katrina asked attendees to begin thinking about those who they may like to nominate for an award at the next ceremony in Spring 2023 which would form part of the community board’s engagement event.

Categories included Local community Champion, Young community champion, and Community Group contribution.

The Proud of Bucks awards were partnered with the Clare Foundation. As a key infrastructure charity, they worked closely with Buckinghamshire Council and the Community Boards to help understand the 3^rd sector.

Nominations would open on 9^th Jan 2023, running until 12^th Feb 2023

The shortlisting process would operate between 13^th and 20^th Feb 2023

The award winners would be selected between 27^th Feb and 6^th Mar 2023

Certificates and trophies would be finalised and produced between 7^th and 31^st March 2023

The awards ceremony and presentations would take place on 1^st April 2023.

Katrina asked attendees to promote the awards and get in touch if any supporting literature was needed as part of their efforts (e.g. nomination forms). Attendees were also invited to contact Katrina should they wish to participate in the judging panel.

Derek Town hoped that the nomination process would be as simple as possible to encourage participation.

1^st March 2023