Present: Mr. Garman, Mr. Beese, Mrs. Comyn, Mr. Evans, Mr. Pearson, Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Lemon, Mrs. Brew, Mrs. Evans (Clerk) as well as Cllr. Wheeler and 9 members of the public.
Apologies: Mrs. Dudney.
1. There is no election of Parish Councillors at this meeting.
2. PCSO Helen Ringstead updated the meeting on behalf of PC 1356 Cath Hollands who reported on recent incidents in the Parish. One in Shalbourne and one at farm buildings at a local farm where two chainsaws were stolen and entry gained into three unlocked vehicles at the premises. The occupants were visited and advice given regarding measures to tighten security in the future. She advised the Police are continuing to receive reports from observant residents, all of which are looked into, and asked for this to continue. Also mentioned was that with better weather on the way residents should ensure windows are shut and sheds and vehicles secured as these actions will go a long way to deter would-be thieves.
A member of the public asked PCSO Ringstead if she was aware of 3 break-ins in Grafton in the last three weeks at premises near Granary Close. PCSO Ringstead advised she was not aware and Mr. Garman asked for a report to be sent to him. As mentioned by Mr Garman at the meeting and subsequently confirmed by PC Hollands in a further response, the complete change of police personnel in the Neighbourhood Policing Team recently meant that not all of the new team members were up to date on prior incidents. PC Hollands had intended the report to cover only the last month, whereas in previous years, we have benefitted from an annual review by the incumbent. It is the intent of the NPT to provide a regular update for Community News to keep all residents aware of events in the Parish.
3. Hall Report by Hall Committee: Mrs. June Pearson advised she and Mrs. Nu Nu Hogarth, along with their committee are working together towards raising the community profile for all Committees and getting new groups to use the Coronation Hall’s facilities. She informed bookings are very good with a very busy calendar for the remainder of this year and that lots of new organisations are making enquiries. The previous Sunday’s volunteers had done an excellent job of installing the new Acoustic boards and offered thanks to all involved. Mrs. Pearson informed that during the dinner on the night of the Royal Wedding there will be a display of photos from the service and showing the celebrations.
4. The Wednesday Club: Mrs. Brew read out the report on behalf of Mrs. Libby Gilbert which informed the club’s name was changed from Grafton Friendship Club to its present name in recognition of the change in its ethos. The club is open to all members of the community, whatever their age and intends to help other organisations. They had a lovely day out in August for a pub lunch and a 2 hour trip on the Kennet & Avon Canal. Membership remains fairly steady and the club will be celebrating its 43rd birthday in April when they will be in party mode and have a visit from Marie Dixon and her Oddities! If anyone would like to join please contact Libby on 810349.
5. The Thursday Club: Mr. Tom Dobson told all the Club has now re-opened after the winter break and that only 2 people attended the last opening. He proposed that during the summer months the Club would open earlier to allow families with children to visit and at 7.30 p.m. it becomes adults only. Mr. Dobson hopes more Parishioners would attend future dates.
6. St. Nicholas Church: Mr. Goff Beese advised the Vicar is leaving in July and at present is ill and cannot take Services. The congregation has grown in the last few months, particularly at family services, due to more children being in the Parish. He also informed the Church is short of funds and he would be visiting Parishioners during the Spring asking for declarations to donate, all of which would be gratefully received. He also advised that the replacement tree would be planted in front of the Church in the near future.
7. Sunflowers: Mr. Nicholas Evans informed he joined as Co-Chair in November 2010 whist Lyndsey Turner (a play teacher) is the other co-Chair. They have the highest-ever number of children currently registered and attending and they are averaging just over 7 children per session. 2 new starters are due after Easter with another possibility in both July and September 2011. The general community feeling and ongoing feedback is that Sunflowers has a good and growing reputation with new promotions to include press activity, promotion leaflets, ongoing review, monitoring of catchment numbers and planning of local events. A new website is to be launched (www.sunflowers-preschool.co.uk). Sunflowers have a very good operational team and were awarded an Area Board Grant in September 2010 which provided new equipment.
8. Grafton School: Mrs. Tamara Reay updated the meeting and advised the Consultation Process has now closed and a report is due in next few days from the local authority with their decision. 213 responses were received from the Parish, the most ever. Efforts are continuing to set up a Partnership but nothing has been taken up to date. The children are all dealing well with the possible closure and a redundancy process has begun for the teaching staff. In the meantime, business is as usual with the children enjoying school trips etc,. They have chickens at the school now which the children look after during the day and parents have a roster in place to lock them up at night. It is hoped that Sunflowers will continue to use the building, should the school close. The school children also hold a cookery club at the Coronation Hall on Monday evenings which is proving successful.
9. Goslings: Mrs. Sue England informed this club was set up in April 2010 and had a very successful start which has flourished ever since. On a Thursday morning up to 40 children attend and this club obtained an Area Board grant to pay for the gates in front of the hall giving more security for the children. The club is independent with regards funding and they now pay someone to look after the children but need more volunteers to help with the general running. Mr. Lemon offered thanks to Mrs. England and Mrs. Reay for all their efforts with this group and informed how happy the children appeared at each session.
10. Windmill Society: Mr. Peter Lemon informed this society has gone from strength to strength during the last year. The Committee has received a grant from North Wessex Downs to replace the Shepherd’s hut on site. Their recent recruitment day was a green success and future events include
The May Food Fayre on Saturday 14th May from 12.00 – 5 p.m., Windmill Friends & Members Barbeque on Saturday 6th August and The English Heritage Open Day on Sunday 11th September.
11. Wilton Cricket Club: Mr. Andy Pack informed that last season the club played 11 games, winning 4 and losing 7 but only one game lost due to bad weather. A full team was available for every game, amongst them several new faces, and it was one of the most enjoyable seasons with mostly fine weather apart from the game against Aldbourne at Marlborough. Most games the team lost were very close and various prizes were handed out. The club has 14 games planned this season starting in May with Net practice starting in April. Mrs. England asked if children could attend Net practice and an earlier session for children may start this year prior to the adult session.
12. Grafton Game Fair: Mr. Pearson informed this would be held on 6th & 7th May with profits going to St. Nicholas Church and Help for Heroes. Mr. Lemon is trying to get 2 or 3 Army teams involved on Friday 6th and hope to have 50 Army families attend on Saturday 7th. There will be four Gun Dog events this year and everything is in place for a successful Fair due to all the help received and volunteered.
13. Grafton Fete: Mrs. June Pearson told the meeting it is hoped to hold a Fete on the Green during late summer/early autumn with a ‘Bygone Days’ theme with old fashioned stalls, scarecrow competition etc. Definite date will be advertised in Parish Magazine and on Notice Boards in due course.
14. Chairman’s Report: Mr. Garman firstly thanked everyone for attending and giving their reports. He informed the Parish Council had been a huge success over the last two years and how could this possibly be beaten in the future? The Parish Council is involved in all aspects of local activities and the community rises to each challenge every time. He feels the community would not let the School closure rest and Grafton would once again have a School in years to come. He then discussed various challenges and projects undertaken during the past year; Among many the following:
Working with the School Governing body, Community Speed Watch, Community News, Police, Transport & Safety, The Huntingdon Elm at the War Memorial, Wiltshire Life article, Pewsey Area Partnership, Pewsey Area Board, Wilton Telephone Box, Defibrillator fund raising, installations & Training and a visit from Clare Perry, Planning Policy to name but a few. On a lighter note The Sausage Sizzle and many more fund raising events held at the Hall. Pot Holes have been a major problem over the last few years but these are now in the process of being re-filled. Speed Watch will return in the future as this was very successful. Mr. Garman thanked all involved with Community News for all their efforts and hard work. The Marten Notice Board has now finally been replaced and the Precept set for the same amount as last year. All items mentioned, and many more were accomplished due to hard work from everyone involved which proves how this Parish works extremely well together. Mr. Garman also told the meeting he previously thought the Parish may lose their Church but now due to increased numbers of Parishioner’s this would hopefully not be the case.
Finally Mr. Garman thanked everyone for all their help during the past year and informed he will be resigning from the Parish Council at the next meeting.
15. Any other Business: Street Lighting was discussed and Cllr. Wheeler informed he is working on having Street Lights turned off at midnight. He is writing to County Hall regarding this matter and will report at a future meeting.
General Walsh reminded everyone about the Street Parties due to be held throughout the Parish on Friday 29th April in celebration of the Royal Wedding. Also the Dinner Party being held at the Coronation Hall, tickets are selling slowly and any interested parties please arrange tickets as soon as possible, especially large parties so tables can be planned. A member of the public asked if money was being raised during the evening but General Walsh informed it wasn’t, this is a party for the Parishioners to celebrate. A pianist has been arranged and it is hoped photos from the wedding will be shown during the evening on the wall.
The meeting finished at 8.15 p.m.