Grays Central Community Forum

Open Meeting

 

Tuesday 8th December, 2009

 

Attended: Geoffrey Nathan, Ross Bannister, Claire Bannister, Yash Gupta, Steve Veitch, Ursula Garwood, Colin Baker,PCSO 71858 Walker, Andrew Ransome, Paul Clark, Christine Keeble, Jean Dexter, Jean, Ken Carlise, J.Kemp, D. McGoldrick, K. Robson, A. Robson.

 

  1. Meeting opened at 7.30pm, All welcomed.

 

  1. Apologies: Vivienne Wright, Cathy Kent, Natalie Warren.

 

  1. Agreed minutes of last meeting.

 

  1. Matters arising:

Rest Gardens Sign Enhancement has been completed. Everyone pleased with the outcome.

 

  1. a) Adult Play Equipment

SV and GN had a meeting about the play equipment.  Discussed the requirement of a bench as part of the Veolia bid. Agreed to put in a metal bench, GN to get price of bench from HAGS. GN stated that Andrea will get back to forum with a drawing of park/ suggested plan of the park.

 

b) Strategic Planning= Thurrock BC

Paul Clark and Andrew Ransom attended to highlight the planning procedures up to 2021. Formal public consultation begins Thursday December 10th . Framework is concentrating on the minerals and wastes sites in Thurrock. The requirement of the borough, historic commitments and government targets to reduce land fill. Meeting discussed the Tilbury ‘Green’ Plant. We were informed that this was a private enterprise and the council may not want to tie itself to a private company with regard to its waste. A group of sites for waste and mineral extraction have been submitted and comments are required from the public on the proposals.

Consultation open until February 18th. This will be the end of the first stage, the second stage will commence later in the year. YG was concerned about the quantity of documentation. He asked; ‘What is the expectation of the department with regard to results from all the documents being asked to consult on?’ The response was that these initiatives are government led and the council needs to follow the procedure that has been put into place.

          There was agreement that there seemed to be an ‘overload’ of consultations recently.

 

CB left the meeting 8.05pm

Paul Clark and Andrew Ransome left the meeting.

 

c) Rest Garden Maintenance report.

MIND are doing the general maintenance. MIND also did the edging. Meeting with Steve Starr on January 12th re access to gardens for grass cutting machine. It appears the old machine fitted but the ones being used now do not.

          The meeting suggested that maybe the original ones should be used?

 

JD left the meeting at 8.20 pm

 

 

  1. Chairs Report

a.     Attended opening of Play equipment at Grays Park. Hoping for photos in the gazette.

b.     Instigated quote for equipment for Hathaway Road Park.

c.     Discussed paths in the park. Do we need anymore?

 

  1. Correspondence

a)     Letter received from Carol Spencer, re: Play Equipment

 

  1. Finance and Funding

 

                   Update given by the Treasurer

 

  1.   Any Other Business:

 

a.     As there is going to be some funds available we need to put forward suggestions and put them into place very soon.

Goal Post in the park

Two benches in the Rest Gardens- prices required

Refurbishment of the building in the rest gardens.

 

b.     RB mentioned the proposals raised in a report on the council website re; Quarry Hill Primary School. It appeared to suggest the relocation of the junior school to the infant school and the schools to merge. YG stated that he was a governor of the school and although there was a merge of the juniors and infants, both sites will continue as the school. YG was not aware of the report on the council website.

 

c.     Police matters: None to report this month

 

d.     Clarence Road 24 Hour Off Licence: This issue has been raised by residents of Clarence Road. An off licence has been granted a licence to operate in a residential area of Clarence Road. It is a 24 hour licence. The residents had put forward their concerns about this proposal and delivered a petition to the council. It would seem that the licence was granted as there was 'no opposition'. When residents contacted the council and informed them about the petition they submitted, they were told that it 'may have got lost'. The residents have been suffering from noise and disruption in the area late at night and into the early hours. These issues have been reported to the Environmental Health Department and the Police. The Off Licence has been opened just outside the newly enforced No-Drinking-Zone for Grays.

The licence appears to have been granted without proper consultation having taken place and the process appears to be flawed. The residents would like the license revoked and the shop closed. Police have been very supportive but only within their powers. The owner of the shop seems to be ignoring the interests of the local residents and has, allegedly, said 'Don’t care, don’t live here’

Councillors for the area are John Kent, Carl Morris and Val Morris Cook. (Copies of these minutes will be forwarded to these councillors.)

The Forum have asked the PCSO to speak to his superiors and ask if they can write/contact the council. The meeting discussed the situation.

 

Proposal: 

·         GN to email B.Maney and support group at the council

·         Residents have asked for freedom of information and to be informed how many reports have been filed.

·         Licensing Officer to be invited to explain the Licensing Procedures.

·         RB to contact police and put forward request for help.

 

  1. Next Meeting:

 

                        Tuesday January 12th 2010    7.30 pm  

 

Meeting closed at 9.10 pm.