Pyrford Neighbourhood Forum
MINUTES OF INAUGURAL MEETING REF: PNFM270913
DATE:Friday 27th September, 2013
VENUE:8pm Pyrford War Memorial Village Hall
PRESENT:Mr Martin Doyle (Chairman)
Mr Ian Whittle (Vice Chairman)
Mr Ashley Bowes, Mr Graham Christie (Woking Borough councillors for Pyrford)
Mr Richard Wilson (Woking Borough councillor for West Byfleet)
Mrs Liz Bowes (Surrey County councillor for Pyrford and Old Woking)
Mr Ernie Elliott (deputy CDR for Pyrford)
Mrs Penny Hoskyn & Mrs Carole March (CDR & deputy CDR for W. Byfleet)
Mr John Bond (Chairman of the Byfleet Forum)
Other Inaugural Members – See Appendix
IN ATTENDANCE:Yvette Bolton
APOLOGIES:Clive & Ruth Bishop, Peter & Jennifer Froude, Peter & Gail Graves, Lucy Peacock
DISTRIBUTION: Those present
1.0 |
Introduction and Chairman’s opening remarks The meeting opened with welcome and introductions from the acting chairman, Martin Doyle (MPD). MPD explained that the Byfleet, West Byfleet, and Pyrford Residents Association (BWBPRA) is keen to see our three villages establishing neighbourhood plans, under the Localism Act 2011 legislation. To this end, £1,000 has been allocated so far to each village to cover initial expenses. MPD is the BWBPRA’s Chief District Representative (CDR) for Pyrford and has convened this public meeting to start the process in Pyrford. MPD said he was looking to achieve as wide a participation from the community as possible, and was gratified to see over 50 people attending. The main purpose of this evening’s meeting is formally to establish a Neighbourhood Forum for Pyrford (PNF) and to agree its constitution. MPD introduced the councillors present. From Woking Borough Council (WBC), Mr Ashley Bowes (ASB) is a planning law barrister and oversees Woking Borough’s Planning functions. Mr Graham Chrystie (GC) and Mr Richard Wilson (RW) are members of WBC’s planning committee. Also present was Mrs Liz Bowes from Surrey County Council. MPD introduced fellow BWBPRA committee members present: Mr Ernie Elliott; Mrs Penny Hoskyn (PH); Mrs Carole March and Mr John Bond (JB). The West Byfleet representatives were attending, as they wished to consider joining with Pyrford and this would be debated and voted on during the meeting. It was noted that JB was present to pass on experience already gained by the Byfleet Forum. |
The Chairman concluded his opening remarks and introduction by emphasising the need for urgency. He stressed the importance of submitting the application for the designation by WBC of PNF as soon as possible. The key to success is getting sufficient numbers of volunteers to help. |
|
2.0 |
Neighbourhood Plan Process Graham Christie explained that Martin had already done a lot of the groundwork on behalf of the Forum, but that the next few weeks were very important to move it forward quickly. GC had a number of points for the meeting.
MPD would like to get an application in to WBC within the next 2-3 weeks, so that there is a good chance of getting a decision by late February 2014.
|
2.1 |
Resources – The Forum can apply to the Local Authority for assistance. The first in Woking, Hook Heath, has had approval for substantial part of £7k. The Three Villages Residents Association has agreed to give £1k to each of the villages, to help with their individual submissions. More could be requested. To date the costs for PNF has been £200. |
2.2 |
Main Objective of the Forum would be to be have a say in any planning issues within its boundaries, e.g. green belt development, where WBC has to decide if any new sites within the borough need to be released from the green belt which will probably be the middle of next year. The Pyrford Plan would be added to the overall Borough Plan. |
2.3 |
Process – Ashley Bowes talked through the process.
To be a Forum member, you have to be on the electoral roll of the Area, work in the Area, or be a councillor representing the Area. |
3.0 |
Neighbourhood Forum Formation |
3.1. |
The chairman asked the meeting whether they wished to form Forum for Pyrford. This suggestion received overwhelming support from those present. MPD asked for a show of hands of those interested to be on the Forum of at least 21. MPD was very happy this number exceeded, and would gather names at the end of the meeting. |
3.2 |
Constitution The draft constitution was then discussed, all present having a copy. Two amendments to sections in the constitution were suggested from the floor:
At this stage of the proceedings, the Chairman asked that discussion over the boundaries of the Area be delayed, until agreement of the main constitution wording had been reached. MPD proposed acceptance of the Constitution subject to the above amendments. By a show of hands, this was unanimously agreed.
MPD requested volunteers for Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity officer.
The other posts were not resolved. It was agreed that the vacant posts would be filled upon the formation of an acceptable committee.
The names of the attendees were collected.
|
3.3 |
Questions from the floor: §5.5 – PNF will generally support actions aimed at generating employment in the Area. After specific examples were given, not seen as a problem,. |
3.4 |
Boundaries – The matter of the Pyrford Boundaries, as illustrated on a map displayed at the entrance of the hall, was discussed at length. Parish maps show Dane Court area within the Pyrford area, but the Ward map shows it to be in West Byfleet area. Other streets on the West Byfleet side of the ward boundary were also discussed, as being considered by many to be part of Pyrford. PH spoke about the opportunity for West Byfleet to join Pyrford and this would go towards helping to eliminate the problems with the boundary. A lengthy discussion took place on the merits of the Ward map versus the Parish map versus the Postcode area.
A vote was taken on the appetite of whether or not to join with West Byfleet and 75% of audience were against joining into a single Area. It was felt, however, that the two neighbourhoods should co-operate closely together, and also with Byfleet, to eliminate duplication of effort. The BWBPRA will support this co-operation.
Boundary discussion continued – the houses in the disputed areas (probably about 200) would need to be canvassed (possibly in conjunction with W. Byfleet). RW the postal code system should be adopted to construct the area to be covered by the Forum It was agreed by a majority to leave it to the 21 committee members to resolve.
The main It was agreed that. |
4. |
To Do List |
|
|
5.0 |
Any Other Business |
5.1 |
Liz Bowes took the opportunity to thank Martin and congratulate him on starting the formation of the Forum. |
5.2 |
The Volunteers for the Forum Committee handed their details to Martin at the end of the meeting. |
5.3 |
It was agreed that the next meeting for the Forum of 21 would be on Friday 4 October at 8pm, in the Village Hall Committee Room.
Meeting ended at 10pm. |
Appendix
Inaugural Members attending 27th September
Canon Nicholas Aitken
Pat Barnes
Cliff & Yvette Bolton
Laura Cook
Roy Davey
Brian Dodd
Martin & Angela Doyle
Mike Doyle
Ernie Elliott
Ivan & Carole Gale
Geoff Geaves
Peter & Rita Harvey
Ruth Heywood
Linda Lewis
Anne McLean
Nick & Judy Miller
Tony Pratt
Barbara Provis
Alan Rhodes
Akeel Sachak
Matthew Sachak
Geoff Sheat
John Towler
Jimmy & Julian Walker
Ian & Hilary Whittle
Tony Williams
Brian & Joan Wilson
Vincent Withers
Katherine Wright
Steve Wright
Leave a Reply