Annual Assembly Minutes

Hewelsfield and Brockweir Parish Council

Minutes of the Hewelsfield & Brockweir Parish Annual Assembly Meeting held on Tuesday 5th May 2009 in the Mackenzie Hall, Brockweir

Present: Cllr. Mr. Wilson (Chairperson), Cllr. Mrs. Mayo, Cllr. Mr. Summers, Cllr. Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Compton (Clerk).

13 members of the public were also present.

1398. Apologies

Cllr. Mr. Stott was unable to attend the meeting.

1399. Parish Council Chairman’s Opening Address

Cllr. Mr. Wilson welcomed the Parishioners and advised that although the Parish Council was hosting the meeting this was not a Parish Council meeting. The Parish Annual Assembly Meeting was an opportunity for Parishioners and Parish Councillors to provide any information or feedback on events within the Parish.

1400. Group Reports

Cllr. Wilson read out the following reports that he had been given:

Brockweir, Hewelsfield and St. Briavels Garden Society – supplied by Mr. Alan Robertson, Society Secretary – the society is trying to promote the welfare of the local bee population and has awarded a grant of £300 to Mike Topp of Harthill Cottage, Sandy Lane, Hewelsfield, to enable him to take up beekeeping. He has joined the Dean Forest Beekeepers Association and is attending their basic course in beekeeping. Mike and his wife, Judy (who is attending a course with the Newent Beekeepers Association) are being mentored by a professional beekeeper, Doug Isles, who has promised them a swarm of bees. They hope to set up their first hive in the summer, hopefully the first of many. Given the extent of the bees foraging area gardens throughout Brockweir, Hewelsfield and St. Briavels will benefit from the increase (however small) in the bee population.

Bowls Club - supplied by Trevor Williams - the club has not had a very good year losing quite a few members, mainly through ill health, so it has not even possible to organise even a friendly, but with the arrival of some new members maybe I will have some more positive news next year.

Cllr. Wilson then asked those representatives present to update everyone else with the activities of their societies over the last year:

Brockweir Social Club – represented by Ms. Hilary Lee – Brockweir Social Club continues to run its key events for the community, the Over-60s outing and Christmas Lunch. The outing visited Cardiff last year and this year intends to take a tour around the Cotswolds. The Arts in Rural Gloucestershire scheme has again offered us some interesting events: the New Rope String Band had a huge following and provided a great evening’s entertainment, and this Saturday we shall have a programme of readings and biography of Sir John Betjeman performed by Gabriel Woolf. A varied programme of events at the Mackenzie Hall was provided once again; most notably a weekend of top-class music from composer and pianist John McCabe and our own Brockweir soprano, Juliane. Others are yet in the pipeline, including a Burns Night Celebration next January. Finances as ever are tight, but we manage to balance the books with some fundraising help, especially from the Moravian Church who for the last couple of years have run a soup lunch in aid of our Christmas Lunch.

History Group – represented by Ms. Judy Lewis – the group had a good start to the year singing 19th Century sea shanties with the Llandogo Singers. There followed several good talks by various local speakers. Unfortunately since Christmas the groups’ fortunes have gone downhill culminating in the death of Ralph Linley who had been a popular and expert speaker. Fortunately Ralph left many notes which his daughter has passed on to Maurice Harrison who plans to put them together in a book. The next meeting will be in the Moravian Church Hall on 14th May where Martin Telling will update the group on history he has discovered about the Malt House. This year the group will be considering how to move forward as it has covered most of the local history over it’s ten years of running so might have to consider broadening the topics of discussion although the fee charged by some speakers are prohibitive as the group cannot always guarantee a large attendance.

The Village Shop – represented by Ms. Alison Macklin – the Village Shop has now been open for five years and has again made a small profit and the plan is to repay the bond holders over the next two years. We have just introduced a “Friend of the Village Shop” scheme to raise more money which will give members a reduction. The committee wants to continue to focus on ‘green’ issues. The shop has been able to employ a part-time helper, Sandra Mayo, who has proved very popular and is a great asset. The café continues to be very popular and the volunteers do sterling work. The Village Shop is lucky with the number of volunteers – a high percentage of the community is involved although it can always use more. The shop now has more than 30 local suppliers and these are encouraged to use small delivery vehicles. The shop will also take in deliveries from courier services who cannot get access to their customers although the shop would appreciate a warning telephone call before a large item is due to arrive.

Mackenzie Hall Tennis Club – represented by Mr. Rob Johnson, Club Secretary – we have approximately 60 playing members ranging in age from 8 – 80 who enjoy regular recreational tennis as well as ‘American Tournaments’ (a peculiar format that involves swapping partners and penalties for previous winners) although due to the poor weather we were only able to have one tournament. It is a small and friendly club and we are always eager to encourage new members and would especially like members to join the committee. The tennis court was resurfaced four years ago but we need to sort out the moss. There has recently been some vandalism with the notice boards being ripped and graffiti drawn on them.

Brockweir Amateur Dramatic Society (BADS) – represented by Ms. Alison Macklin – BADS performed ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ this year and proved to be as popular as ever both evenings being sold out and the matinee performance well attended. The search will soon start for volunteers for the next performance, there are only two requirements – they can’t sing and they can’t act!

1401. Cllr. Wilson asked the parishioners present to voice any concerns that they may have.

Alison Macklin confirmed that like the Tennis Club the Village Shop has had some problems with vandalism.

Hilary Lee asked if the Parish Council could do anything about the Japenese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam in the Parish. Judy Lewis suggested they contact AONB about how to fight the plants. Cllr. Wilson replied that the Parish Council had discussed the problem before but he asked the Parish Clerk to put the subject on the next agenda.
Agenda Parish Clerk

James Hunter Johnson suggested that a winch be installed on the ramp at Brockweir Quay to enable people to use the facility more. Dennis Skinner replied that although this was a good suggestion the village does not have the parking facilities for any additional visitors who may want to spend the day on the water. Cllr. Wilson asked the Parish Clerk to put the subject on the next agenda.
Action Parish Clerk

1402 .Minutes of Annual Parish Assembly Meeting on 6th May 2008

The Minutes of the Annual Parish Assembly Meeting of 6th May 2008 have been agreed and signed off during 2008.

Cllr. Wilson told those present that at that meeting Sally Secrett asked when the Part Night Operation of Street Lighting would be introduced in the village. He said that the Parish Council have spoken to Barry Greenaway at Gloucestershire County Council a couple of times this year who cannot give a specific date – he will only say that the scheme is being introduced gradually across the county but the major cities are the priority at the moment.

1403. Close of Meeting by Chair

The meeting was brought to a close by Cllr. Mr. Wilson at 8.10 p.m.