EYE PARISH PLAN

Minutes of meeting held on 26 April 2007.

1. Present: Lydia Smith (Chairman), Joyce Brown, Iris Overall, John Overall, David Orr, Geoffrey Lane, Sue Hooton, Kathy Barr, Shirley Little, Penny McSheehy, Mike Simmons, Thelma Rayment, Jennifer Gilders.

2. Apologies: Chris Chapman, Father Andrew.

3. Minutes of meeting held on 23.02.07 (previously circulated).
Agreed as a correct record.

4. Matters arising.
Role of Steering Group paper is on Eye Town Council website. Will be distributed with minutes.

5. Guest Speaker – Sue Hubner, Occold Parish Clerk. Sue described the way in which the Occold Parish Plan was carried out. It was published in 2003 and was driven by the need for a new village hall. Carried out by the Parish Council with funding from the Countryside Agency. The Steering Group consisted of representatives from various groups – WI, Pre-School Playgroup, Village Hall Committee. Used C & G software with support from Suffolk ACRE. Developed 70 questions – and a pre-questionnaire leaflet went to every household. An Open Day was used to launch publicity. The village was divided into areas; each volunteer, following a briefing meeting, went to 12 – 15 houses. The questionnaire was explained and an appointment made to collect.
The results were collated, analysed and Sue wrote the Report, followed by an Action Plan. There was a positive response for a new village hall, although many other topics had an inconclusive outcome. The compilation of the questionnaire was the most lengthy part of the process. Village Hall and speeding were main issues. Narrative parts of questionnaire difficult to analyse. There was a good response rate because of the method of distribution. Volunteer sheet included at back. Sue was thanked for a very informative presentation.

6. Financial Report.
a) Grants. £5160 has been raised, with positive responses from Suffolk ACRE (£3000) Mid Suffolk (£750), and Eye Town Council (£1250). Responses yet to be received from County Council Locality Budget and Eye Magazine Fund. £160 forthcoming from Awards for All – underspend from Town Clock project.
b) Bank Account. A ring-fenced Parish Plan account will be set up, managed by the Town Clerk.

7. Draft timetable discussed. Outline only, it will be adjusted throughout the process. Holiday periods to be taken into consideration: timetable to be looked at every meeting.
Need to think about publicity. Personal distribution and collection most important. Need to include time for public meetings between July and September, to gather information about issues, avoiding August. Should be able to agree questions by end November. Interactive questionnaire to young people – website based. Ask Hartismere school to help. Geoffrey Lane offered assistance – school to be contacted (LS/CC).

8. Tasks and working groups.
Finance – Lydia Smith, Sara Muldoon, Thelma Rayment
Publicity and IT – Joyce Brown, Penny McSheehy, Chris Chapman – copy of Occold leaflet to go to Joyce (LS)
Stakeholders group – Thelma Rayment, Shirley Little
Questionnaire – Geoffrey Lane, Sue Hooton, Sara Muldoon, Lydia Smith

9. Any Other Business
Suffolk ACRE have organised a parish plan seminar, Saturday 28 April, at Parham – Lydia, Sara and Penny to attend.
Letter from Suffolk ACRE re carbon reduction – to respond positively (CC)

10. Date and time of next meeting: Tuesday 15 May, 7.00 p.m., Council Chamber. Focus on questionnaire, identify issues and topics. 

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