BOX VILLAGE SOCIETY
MINUTES OF 2010 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
held on Friday 19th February
in Box Village Hall
These Minutes are subject to approval at the 2011 AGM
Present: 37 members.
Apologies: Gareth Edwards, Anne Chandler, Gerlinde Ashmore, Madeline Daykin, Jane Planell, David Mustarde, Pearl Hatton
Minutes of the previous AGM. Agreed and signed.
Chairman’s Report
The Chairman (Chris Law) confirmed that the committee had met four times in the last year. An Extra-Ordinary General Meeting on 11th August was also held to discuss Box Wood.
The new bench was installed on the Village Green on Sunday 12th July 2009 – drinks and nibbles were offered to those who came along.
The Chairman confirmed that Minchinhampton Parish Council had purchased the telephone box for £1 with the light maintained. Box Village Society has repainted the box and will put up a noticeboard on the back wall.
George Clark our long serving postman retired last year and the village collected £700, which was presented to him during a Friday coffee morning in July. George has since purchased a bicycle.
Nine planning applications were made and the Society did not feel there were any grounds for making objections.
There has been ongoing concern about the number of vehicles parked on the road from outside the Halfway House to Hampton Green and as a result of a meeting in June, intermittent yellow lines will be painted in the hope of stopping this problem.
Ownership of the Lower Green (below the Village Green towards Box Wood) was also questioned and confirmation has been received from Di Wall, the Clerk to Minchinhampton Parish Council, that this piece of land is owned by the National Trust.
Box Wood – 25-acre wood situated in the valley below the village - was put up for sale in early July 2009. Many residents were concerned that the free access to the wood might be curtailed and at the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting held in August the desire for the village to make a bid was expressed. Thanks to a number of pledges from villagers, £96,000 was raised and a bid duly submitted. Unfortunately this bid was insufficient and the woods have since been purchased by the Novalis Trust (owners of the Cotswold Chine School). At this stage the amount is not known. As a result concern has been expressed by some members of the village as to whether, or not, they will be able to continue to walk along paths to the east of the public footpath through the wood. These paths are not public paths but Jake Lucas (the Chief Executive) has offered a concession and agreed to speak at the next BVS Committee Meeting in May. In the meantime six large purple signs have been erected in various places around the wood by the Novalis Trust confirming that the woods are private and access is along public paths only. Concern has been expressed about the colour of these signs.
The Chairman thanked the Committee for their contributions to the work of the Society.
Discussion
Members discussed the possibility of collecting names and addresses of those who wished to use the “non public footpaths” in the wood and submitting them to
Jake Lucas but concern was expressed about data protection. Members also wondered if villagers could prove they had walked the same path for 20 years they may be able to claim the path as a public footpath. It was agreed that obtaining positive proof would be very difficult.
Due to the size of the new signs into the woods members queried whether the Novalis Trust should have obtained planning permission for them. This is being looked into.
The funding of the Novalis Trust was questioned and it was confirmed that there had been previous correspondence with the Charities Commission regarding the use of taxpayers’ monies – local authorities pay large sums to send children with learning and behavioural problems to the school. The view of the Charities Commission was that this was purely a matter between the Trust and its clients.
The security of the children was also questioned following an incident in Scar Hill when roof slates were thrown from the roof of one house into he garden of another.
Members queried whether press coverage of these incidents and concerns would receive negative or positive responses.
Members queried the ownership of the former scout hut as it does not feature on the land registry. It was thought that this may be owned by the Cotswold Chine School.
It was proposed that a Box Village Society appoint a pro-active working party to consider relations with the Trust over the wood.
Neighbourhood Watch
Ray Hayward confirmed that local policeman PC Forrester would be coming to the Village Coffee mornings once a month in order that villagers can discuss any problems with him.
Some areas of the village do not have neighbourhood watch signs. Ray Hayward agreed to have additional ones put up.
Box Village Website
Steve Hemmings reported on the village website. If anyone would like article/s submitted can they please send them to either Steve Hemmings or Gordon Pownall (contact details are on the website) but these articles must be copy correct.
If anyone has a local walk/s that they would like included please submit these to Steve or Gordon.
Currently the website has two main sponsors – Nick Miles the builder and Nailsworth Garden Machinery but it was hoped that the Halfway House would now consider being a sponsor.
The website costs £40 per annum to pay for the hosting (ie storage of data).
The Chairman thanked Steve for his help.
Parish and District Matters
A new Box Ward councillor will be needed from May 2011 as Anne Chandler will no longer be standing. The Chairman asked members if they would like to consider taking on this role.
Treasurer’s Report
Anne Rogers handed copies of the accounts to members present. These were approved and the Chairman thanked Anne for her help.
Committee Membership
Steve Hemmings and Ray Hayward have now completed their three years on the committee. Both are willing to continue to sit on the committee and have received nominations accordingly.
Steve Hemmings – David Mustarde, Daphne Edwards
Ray Hayward – Anne Rogers, Beris Hanks.
There being no other nominations the candidates were duly elected.
Any other business
Concern was expressed about the state of certain areas of the common, namely, the area below Box Corner where there has been building work. The lane, common and general area needs to be reinstated properly using the correct materials once the building work has been completed (apparently within the next few weeks). The National Trust is aware of this and will specify what materials should be used.
The other area of concern was outside Beaudesert School where parents park and use the common for turning. The area is very muddy and the verge has been destroyed. Logs have been installed to prevent the parents from using part of this but other verges are still being destroyed. It was agreed that the Village Society would monitor the above and make contact with the Parish Councillors on the Common Liaison Committee.
It was confirmed that Minchinhampton Parish Council holds an open surgery once a month in the Trap House – details are shown on the PCC noticeboard next to the telephone box.
Tom Saul asked members if anyone had received a delivery from a van / small lorry at approx 8.30pm on 18th January 2010 as it had knocked down the corner of his wall at the bottom of Scar Hill?
Date of next meeting
The date of the next meeting will be March 2011.
There being no other business the meeting closed at 9pm.
BOX VILLAGE SOCIETY
Minutes of the committee meeting held on Tuesday 11th May 2010
at Box Corner, Box
Present: Chris Law, Steve Hemmings, Anne Rogers, Ray Hayward, Beris Hanks,
Gareth Edwards, Sally Moreland, Valerie Dowling, Anne Chandler and Tom Saul
Apologies: Gerlinde Ashmore
Jake Lukas (CEO Novalis Trust) and Thomas Pentzek (Architect and Project Manager) were welcomed to the meeting. Jake explained the reasons why the Novalis Trust had purchased the woods and in particular highlighted the outdoor curriculum for the children and the need to ensure their total safety. Plans have been discussed to maintain the woods – trees, paths, walls, fencing etc. They are also hoping to put in a sculpture trail, birdwatching area etc as they are aware that they need to ensure that their charitable status is maintained. Jake confirmed that they had been particularly upset at the recent vandalism of signs and walls being pulled down and these incidents were reported to the Police.
Site of old Scout Hut - fencing and a gate have been erected and there is CCTV in place. The gate is in the original place.
Public footpaths – these are obviously open to the public and the current routes as shown on the maps at the entrances to the woods are being checked for accuracy. Any amendments will be made accordingly and shown on the maps.
Upper path - the issue of authorised access by the villagers was discussed and it was suggested that names, telephone numbers and / or email addresses are given to Jake, Roland Pinniger (Maintenance Manager at Cotswold Chine School) or through Chris Law.
Application for public footpath status - Jake confirmed that the Novalis Trust would defend the application by Steve and Sarah Hemmings regarding the upper path and highlighted the fact that if this is successful then the Novalis Trust may need to fence the path as they need to ensure the safety of the children.
Ray Hayward asked if the school would be taking the children to the woods in mini-buses. Jake confirmed that the children would be walked through the village with the appropriate number of teachers / staff to ensure no problems occur.
Anne Rogers asked if there was a possibility of a blanket ban in the event of say one individual causing a problem which would result in the wood not being accessible for the rest. Jake replied that he could not see this happening and the trustees and their legal advisor were in agreement with the village having authorised access.
Jake confirmed that the school produces three newsletters each year and wondered if any villagers would like to see a copy of the newsletter. It was agreed that they would and copies to be sent to Chris Law for distribution. The school also has an Open Day.
It was suggested that Jake might like to contribute to the Box Newsletter and take the opportunity to explain the plans for the wood and include contact details for villagers wishing to take up the offer of authorised access.
Chris Law will also mention this in the newsletter.
Jake and Thomas were thanked for their time and for coming to the meeting and left at 9pm.
Minutes of the last meeting – agreed and signed.
Minutes of the AGM – no queries were raised.
Matters arising not on the Agenda
Christmas Carols – Steve Hemmings confirmed that he had spoken with Ginny about the evening she had organised in the village hall but had not managed to ascertain whether she would like a donation. It was therefore agreed that, as time had passed, that nearer this festive season Steve would speak with Ginny about the BVS making a contribution to the evening.
Telephone box – the pinboard is now in place at an approx cost of £89. It was agreed for Steve to organise the printing of a new village map (approx £20-£30) together with a list of village activities ie Friday – coffee morning in the village hall but no contact details to be shown. The cost of the electricity will be in the region of £30 - £40 per year.
Box Village Newsletter – copy is due within the next couple of weeks.
Yellow Lines from Halfway House towards Hampton Green (not sure of exact distance) – due within next quarter.
Box Lane – the larger pot holes are being filled.
Road markings at the junction between the end of The Pen and Box Green House – the white lines have faded completely.
Planning applications
Rodney Cripps – garage
Trimming of hedges by various villagers
New windows and repair of flat roof at the property formerly owned by the Bathursts
Beaudesert Music Centre - no more news
Minchinhampton Parish Council
Planning for Real – this took place in the school but was mainly aimed at those living in Minchinhampton.
Box Village Website – sponsorship is up for renewal and Steve is going to ask Niall at the Halfway House if he would be interested this year. Usage of the web site increases following the issue of the Box Newsletter and there is also interest in the Edward Payne gallery.
Neighbourhood Watch
A new mountain bike has been stolen from the village so please ensure that all bikes etc are locked up properly.
Treasurer’s Report
Current expenditure has been £80 electricity, £75 for the lawnmower leaving £1402 in the bank.
Date of next Meeting
Tuesday 21st September 2010 at 8pm at Box Corner.
The meeting ended at 9.50pm.