Venue: Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 1AF. View directions
Contact: Lauren Mason - Tel. 01706 923124
No. | Item |
---|---|
Welcome, Apologies and Introductions Minutes: All were welcomed to the meeting by the Chair, introductions were announced and apologies were noted as above. Councillor West requested that all turn off or put on to silent mobile phones. |
|
Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising Minutes: The
minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true and accurate
record. · Members of the meeting felt the booking system is still not fit for purpose, as if you want to pre-book, despite being able to do so tickets, unless collected an hour before the show, have to be picked up in person from Heywood. Andrew Entwistle advised that tickets can also be posted out. Andrew confirmed he will provide a full update under the Link4Life update on Item 7. · A number of groups which used to use the venue, and its predecessor Middleton Civic, can no longer afford to do so, due to the massive increase in prices. · David Lappin advised that as previously mentioned, he had tried to use the toilets in the centre, and the gate was opened for him, as promised by Gillian Bishop at the last meeting. |
|
Homeshare Presentation Minutes: Mathilde Vautier form Homeshare introduced herself, and explained she had been invited along
this evening to inform and advise the members about Homeshare. Middleton
Councillors had also received an update at the Middleton Township
Committee meeting. |
|
Middleton In Bloom Update Minutes: Diane
Higgins advised that since the last meeting, the scheme is now up
and running, and is formally constituted. Diane advised that there is lots of work to do
over the coming months and two action days have already taken place
with another planned for Saturday 8 April 2017, meeting at the Ring
‘O’ Bells at 10am. The
group have had a flower bed, which is currently empty, donated by
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing outside
the above location. |
|
Street Cleaning, Waste, Clean and Green Minutes: Nick
O’Neill formally introduced himself to the group, and advised
that he is the Middleton ‘link’ officer for
Environmental Management (EM), and that there have been a number of
changes taking place within EM, resulting in new roles and
responsibilities with more work being done around local knowledge
and ensuring the supervision of individual areas is
undertaken. |
|
THI (Townscape Heritage Initiative) Update Minutes: Sue Oakley advised that the end of the scheme is nearing, it has been extended to July 2017, but the team are working to get permission to extend the programme until March 2018. Sue will report back to the next meeting as to whether this has been successful.
· La MinHaz on Market Place is complete and looks fantastic. · Restoration work to 51 and 53 Rochdale Road is well underway and when finished will be a really good scheme. · The Exedra works are now fully underway, and the current boundary fencing for the scheme is expected to reduce over the coming days. The scheme is expected to complete in June 2017. Sue advised that any damage to the park will be made good once the scheme is completed. Councillors asked that sheeting be put over the fencing around the Exedra scheme as a number of birds have been trapped and subsequently killed due to getting stuck in the fencing. · The new railings, for the top of the retaining wall at Jubilee Park, have been ordered and are currently being manufactured. · A new architect is now on board for the Long Street Methodist Church and School, and thanks were noted to Christine and Geoff Grime for all their hard work relating to this scheme. Following a discussion regarding linking this magnificent building into the In Bloom project, it was agreed that Geoff will provide access for a planting project at the school/church. |
|
Transport Issues Minutes: Carol Geddes advised that on a number of occasions now, whilst waiting for the number 17 bus, despite not being full, and her putting her hand out, the bus has sailed past her without stopping. Carol has made a complaint to TfGM regarding this issue, and it was suggested that this also be passed to Councillor Burke, as the TfGM representative. |
|
Updates |
|
Friends of Middleton View Minutes: Geoff Grime explained that despite numerous repairs
to the pathway at Tonge Filed, there is
still the ongoing issue of horses on non-grazing land. In order to facilitate the horses being moved
round the field, the owner has removed some of the knee-rail
fencing, which Geoff advised was originally paid for by the
Township. Geoff explained that he had
made contact with Elaine Clough, who works in Rochdale Council
Estates, regarding this issue and although the licensee of the land
has been spoken to, the issue is still ongoing. |
|
Friends of Jubilee Park Minutes: As the group were not present the meeting was advised that the AGM, for the Friends of Jubilee Park, is due to take place on 24 April 2017 at the Olde Boar’s Head. |
|
Friends of Wince Brook - Anti-social Behaviour Issues Minutes: No report was provided and no representative was present to give an update. |
|
Green Volunteers Minutes: No report was provided and no representative was present to give an update. |
|
Friends of Alkrington Woods Minutes: Jerry Stokes advised that Spring is well underway in the Woods, and there is a constant flow of visitors to the area. Jerry advised that due to the pathways being overgrown, the group is unable to hold children’s events in the Woods. The hawthorn hedges planted by the Green Volunteers are looking very healthy. |
|
Friends of Boarshaw Cemetery Minutes: No report was provided and no representative was present to give an update. |
|
Friends of Hopwood Woods Nature Reserve Minutes: Keeley O’Mara advised that following the
concerns raised at the last Middleton Environment & Culture
Forum, a meeting took place with the college, who are now working
alongside the Friends of Group and the Rangers. |
|
Absolute Angling Minutes: No report was provided and no representative was present to give an update. |
|
Friends of Bowlee Community Park Minutes: No report was provided and no representative was present to give an update. |
|
Friends of Mellalieu Street Minutes: No report was provided and no representative was present to give an update. |
|
Status4All Minutes: Councillor Smith advised that the organisation has
secured £22,000 Viridor funding
for electricity to be provided on the site, and toilets
installed. Once these works have been
completed, the group is also looking for solar power to be
installed on site. |
|
Middleton Lads & Girls Football Club Minutes: No report was provided and no representative was present to give an update. |
|
Middleton Civic Association Minutes: No report was provided and no representative was present to give an update. |
|
Middleton Roundtable Minutes: No report was provided and no representative was present to give an update. |
|
Middleton Cricket Club Minutes: John Burton advised that the club applied to
Lancashire League, due to the club not feeling the Pennine League
was appropriate, and this new league seems to be working
well.
Councillor Rowbotham advised that there are flooding issues, outside the club fencing at the bottom of Hollin Lane, which has previously been looked in to by the club, but John advised that it would be very expensive to sort this out. It was agreed that Lauren would report this to Highways for consideration. A discussion took place about the use of trees to absorb some of the flood water, but it was felt that residents in the area may not want this, but this would need further investigation. |
|
Link4Life Update Minutes: Andrew Entwistle advised that Link4Life is now coming
to the point of implementation from the results of the
consultant’s review, which were discussed at the last
meeting. |
|
Any other groups/events Minutes: No issues to report. |
|
Any other business Minutes: a) David Lappin stated he attends the Oddfellows, which due to anti-social behaviour (ASB) is closing down. He is concerned that due to the ongoing issues being caused in the town by offenders, there is an element of fear. A discussion took place and people agreed that there are issues constantly ongoing due to ASB, such as the recent spate of windows being smashed at buildings throughout the town centre, including Tesco’s and Middleton Arena. Councillor Rowbotham attended a meeting with Middleton Police and other partners yesterday and the issues around young people causing ASB in the town centre were discussed. The Police are working with victims to identify and hopefully prosecute the perpetrators, but people must report all issues to allow the Police to build up a picture of crimes and hot-spots.
b) John Wilkins advised that the next meeting of Middleton Community Voice is on Tuesday 9 May 2017 at the Lighthouse Project and invited all those interested to attend the meeting.
c) John explained that BOLD is a non-political group, who discuss various issues such as mental health, and advised that both Councillor Furlong and Councillor Boriss attended the last meeting. He invited all to attend the next meeting on 24 April 2017 at 8pm.
d) Councillor Rowbotham stated that she had seen the charity collection coins in Tesco for Boarshaw Clough Buddies, but advised that she had been unable to get any information about the scheme. Following a discussion Keeley advised that she would forward Councillor Rowbotham the details for the Middleton ‘Tesco Bags for Help’, who may be able to provide the contact details of the organisation.
e) Councillor Rowbotham has asked officers from Environmental Management to ensure that the ’24 Steps’ are cleaned up.
f) It was agreed that the request for air monitoring would be chased up with colleagues in Highways. |
|
Dates of future meetings Minutes: Allmeetingscommenceat 6.15pmandtakeplace 1st Floor,Middleton Library. · Tuesday 18 July 2017 · Wednesday 30 August 2017 · Wednesday 4 October 2017 · Wednesday 6 December 2017 · Wednesday 14 March 2018 |