NOTES FROM VISION BUXTON MEMBERS MEETING HELD ON 13 SEP 11 AT THE OLD HALL HOTEL

Present:

14 Members

Caitlin Bisknell              Leader of High Peak Borough Council

Martin Coey                   Inspector, Derbyshire Constabulary,

Eric Tilley                       Director VB, Chair

Caitlin Bisknell gave an update from HPBC:

1. The swimming pool and fitness centre are now open.
2. The Cycle Way was still under discussion to ensure the route was appropriate for the residents of the town.
3. No planning application had yet been received from Tesco. There were no other firm plans for the use of the old Nestle site which would become vacant wef September 2012.
4. HPBC had received the report from the VB consultation for the proposed remodelling of Spring Gardens and were impressed with the work and would hope to use this, if funding became available.  HPBC would welcome any proposals from VB for the remodelling of Higher Buxton.
5. In reply to a question regarding the future of the Haddon Hall Hotel site, London Rd, Caitlin stated there were no plans at present.

Martin Coey gave the Police update:

1. Crime had reduced by 5% from last year when it had reduced by 15% with fewer assaults. This was a tremendous result for the town.
2. Dwelling burglaries had reduced by 60% and there was an overall reduction of 80% in shoplifting.
3. Unfortunately, opportunist thefts from vehicles had doubled, mainly from insecure vehicles and of visible valuables from vehicles parked in the town centre.
4. Vehicle fuel thefts had increased from targeted vehicles.
5. Metal thefts had increased from commercial and public buildings but the Police used ‘Smart Water’ to tag lead on properties.  This was available commercially and details can be obtained from the Police.  Members were requested to check the licence of any scrap merchants in their area as this was sometimes used as a ploy to check out a property.
6. The Uni of Derby returned next week and the accommodation halls were full with a large overflow of students occupying private property. This sometimes led to anti-social behaviour towards neighbours however, the Safer Neighbourhood team now had an office on The Silverlands in addition to Haddon Rd which would mean a quicker response time.  The anti-social behaviour rate currently was reduced by 13%.
7. Eleven arrests had been made in connection with the £30k worth of damage caused to the Pavilion Gardens.
8. A window had been broken this morning at ‘Millets’ but two arrests had already been made.
9. There had been an increase in cocaine use in the town which sometimes resulted in an increase in violence.  Counselling was offered upon arrest to any offender where the crime involved alcohol or drug abuse.
10. In  reply to a question regarding the impact of economic cuts on the local police Martin stated that, in keeping with the directive, the front line had not been affected    there was a stringent impact on support services.  This had been the first year of a five year plan for the 20% cuts.

Present:                    Diana Golding - Chair
Martin Wragg            Gerard Heelan
Pat Chapman            Patrick Healy            Bill Preece
J M Stewart               R Silson                    Eric Tilley
John Overton            Neil Scowcroft           Carolyn Botham
David Golding           Mike Bryant               Roddie MaClean
Richard Binch           Mike Starzec             David Mulholland
Adrian Brown            Lindsay Walker

1.    Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence had been received from the Councillor Robin Baldry, Louise Potter, Stephanie Billin and Lorraine Nadin.

2.    Minutes of 2010 AGM.  
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 15 March 2010 had been distributed with the notice to the meeting of this meeting.  It was agreed that they could be considered without being read out.  Mr Brown proposed that they be approved and Mr Preece seconded that motion which was unanimously agreed.

3.    Chairman’s Report
Mrs Golding presented her report on the activities of Vision Buxton during the previous twelve months.  A copy is appended to these minutes.

4.    Accounts
The accounts for the year ended 31 October 2010 had been distributed with notice of the meeting.  Mr Wragg briefly summarised them.  The range of activities and expenditure previously incurred by Vision Buxton had been reduced, finances stabilised and the company was now living within its means.  He was optimistic that would continue during the current year and the organisation still had adequate reserves to fund special activities such as the Spring Gardens Project that was being led by Mr Silson.  

5.    Director’s resignations.  
Mrs Golding reported the resignations of Mr McPhee, Mr Preece and Mr Thomson for varying reasons and, most recently, Cllr Robin Baldry.  She thanked all of them for their contribution to Vision Buxton and wished them well.

The Midlands Family Business Awards were launched in 2010 by Nottinghamshire family business The Wilson Organisation to highlight the successes of our region's family businesses. In 2010 we raised over £7,000 for our three charities and drew 130 entries from across the length and breadth of the Midlands. Innovation and commitment to excellence was apparent across all the winners, together with strong family values and a commitment to the wider community.
Through the Awards we aim to create an ethical, supportive and friendly community for our region’s family businesses.

See  Family Business Awards

• Optimisation of energy use
• Optimisation of operational and maintenance practices
• Enhancement of indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
• Use of environmentally preferable products
• Optimisation of site/existing structure potential
• Protection and conservation of water

Vision Buxton was represented by seventeen members and we divided into two groups for the round table discussions. Much ground was covered and many points raised. The following description  covers the areas that provoked most interest.

The 2010 Annual General Meeting was convened at the Old Hall Hotel on 15th March 2010

'That was then and this is now' is the theme of a press release from NHS Derbyshire. The NHS can no longer rely on increased year on year spending,  so the Healthy Buxton project will be delayed while fresh consultations are carried out. ( It had been hoped to build a new health centre,centralising all GP, outpatients and other specialist clinics under one roof, possibly at Staden Lane or Harper Hill with outreach centres at Market Street and Fairfield).

A new page has been added to this website - "Members Downloads". This will be used for key documents such as the minutes of the Annual General Meeting, and other documents of general interest to members that may be produced from time to time.

Two new documents concerning topical issues are available:

Notes about the presentation given by Richard Silson  on the proposed development for Spring Gardens, and

Notes about the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales  Joint Core Strategy  presentation given by Adrian Fisher.