[These and previous minutes are available as a web page on conservation.ecclesfieldgroups.com Just click on "Minutes" for the minutes of the last meeting]

Minutes of the Conservation Group AGM and meeting of 2011-01-17 (Monday) at 19:30 in the Stocks

[Numbers and letters in square brackets refer to corresponding items in the agenda of the same date. This version of the minutes was last amended on 2011-01-21]

Attendance

[a] Keith Fish chaired the meeting.
[ ] Jim Percival jim AT ... took these minutes.
[b] 10 people attended the meeting, 2 people sent apologies, and 27 people currently receive emailed agendas and minutes.

Things we are doing

[z] The next meeting of the Conservation Group will be on 2011-02-21 (Monday) at 19:30 in the Stocks.
[2] Our insurance has still to be renewed, probably at significantly increased cost.
[4] The results of our November traffic survey were discussed. A copy had been given to Councillor Vic Bowden, who wanted to know more, and the issue had been raised at the recent PACT meeting. To aid this, we decided to put a copy of the traffic survey results on our Web site [http://conservation.ecclesfieldgroups.com/traffic]. LQ has also drafted a letter to the Council, which was signed by KF, and will be followed up during the year. Apparently a petition with 35 signatures, would prompt attention of the Council. We did note the improvements to the road surface, and signage being applied to roads from Middleton Road to "The Wheel", but they were thought unlikely to reduce the amount of traffic passing through the conservation area, which includes marked lorries belonging to Morrisons, and ASDA, and unmarked ones belonging to Liddle [http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/roads/schemes/safety]. In addition, ID told us that he had written a letter to the Council on his own behalf, and had referred to the Conservation Group's concern.
[5] We discussed the heritage board for LadyCroft Meadow. SH and ID explained that the purpose of the board was both to inform residents, and to guide visitors to Ecclesfield to places of interest. Last year, this project failed to get achieve sufficient votes for a "You Choose" grant, however, as discussed with Councillor Alan Hooper, it may be eligible for funding under the Ecclesfield Parish Council "Small Grants Scheme". KF brought a leaflet on the scheme to the meeting, and said we need to fill in an application form. A more accurate costing was thought to be necessary before we could apply for funding under the "Small Grants Scheme". The possibility of Sheffield Homes "Your Choice" funding was also discussed, but the general opinion was that this was less likely to be granted than Parish Funding.

Things we have done

[1] Our work done during the year was reported on and discussed, including...
[3] The following officers volunteered, were proposed, seconded, and elected unanimously...

Resolutions Passed

[c] Copies of the Minutes of the meeting of 2010-11-15 (as amended on 2010-12-02) were distributed, and approved as correct.
[2] PB presented attendees with copies of the "Statement of Income and Expenditure for the year ended 10 March 2010", and for the period to Nov 2010, which we examined, and passed unanimously. PB explained that they did not show the effect of significant expected outgoings, including the insurance of perhaps £125, but that we nevertheless had some £450 to spend.
[z] We resolved that all this year's meetings will take place on the 3rd Monday of each month. I.e. 21st February, 21st Mar, 18th April, 16th May, 20th June, 18th July, 15th Aug, 19th Sept, 17th Oct, & 21st Nov.333

Also Discussed

[x] Pending planning applications were discussed, but none appeared to be of concern. The conditional granting of planning permission for the conversion of the Old Methodist Chapel into flats was noted - see agenda for details.
[y] ID reminded us that Marika  Puglisi (marika.puglisi@sheffield.gov.uk.) had mentioned a project recording and celebrating local buildings and other features of importance". There followed a discussion about the pros and cons of extending listed buildings protection to other buildings in the village.
[y] JH told us about the change to road maintenance that will come about with the PFI initiative.
[y] The good work done over the year by the Ecclesfield PACT, and the reduction in crime recently reported by the Star was discussed. An email was received from MB, and members echoed his concerns about the possible effect of budget cuts to policing in Ecclesfield.

[ The next meeting of Ecclesfield in Bloom is scheduled for 2011-02-01 (Tuesday) at 19:00 pm, in the lounge bar of the Stocks as indicated on www.ecclesfieldinbloom.co.uk]
[To unsubscribe from Conservation Group emails, just email and type "unsubscribe" in the "subject:" box]