FVRA Committee Minutes September 2024

Findon Valley Residents' Association

Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us

www.fvra.org.uk

Tuesday 17th September: Findon Valley Free Church

Chair's Welcome

In attendance

Lorraine Taylor (LT) Neil Worsfold (NW)  Denise Edwards (DE) Terry Field (TF) Clive Sanders (CS)

Apologies

Matthew Ward (MW) Sean Philip (SP) Chloe Paddock (CP)

Minutes of last meeting and Matters Arising

·       No Matters arising from Officers Reports, the Minutes from July meeting were agreed and are to be published on Website and held in the library.

Webmasters Report

·       Visitors to website is steady around 100 per week, this jumps significantly when there is an event. Dog show 280, 5K 350.

·       Most visited pages 5K, 5K positions and times, 5K impacted roads.

·       Facebook 640 followers, the best to date.

Treasurers Report

·       August income £812.94

·       Expenditure £405.94

·       Gross Total £14,880.65

Membership Report

·       Current membership as at end of September 343

·       16 renewals last month

·       Numbers are now calculated on a rolling annual basis not by calendar year.

School Liaison

·       The last gardening session was cancelled due to bad weather. Sessions will resume shortly.

FVRA Working Party

·       Ragwort has been very prolific this year and Emily Ford A&W Ranger organised three sessions to reduce it. Much remains but it is not without benefit to insects and as long as it is not cut for hay then poses little threat. Cissbury fields could all do with a cut this year but whether this will happen is uncertain. Scrub is increasing on other uncut fields with tree seedlings growing fast.

·       The picnic held in the community orchard was a great way of focussing in on this area as a hub for events. I will contact Worthing morris dancers soon to discuss a Wassail event in January next year.

·       The library garden is tidy after our monthly sessions and also renewed activity by contractors.

·       Next work morning will be on Saturday 21st when we will create a couple of circular beds under existing memorial trees, following up with bulb planting.

·       We enjoyed a visit to a garden in Plantation Rise where after a walk round an imaginatively laid out miniature landscape, tea was taken! 

Matthew Ward, Friends of Findon Valley

Feedback from 5K and Mini Mile 8th September

·       SP reported that there had been lots of positive feedback from competitors and there were lots of enquiries about future events. SP and LT were delighted with how well the event went.

·       There were 100 online pre-event entries, 87 of which, turned up on the day, plus 2 more entries on the day.

·       There was an enquiry about holding a Cani cross event in the future, possibility of 10k race and also holding more 5k races during the year. Potentially, Spring and Autumn events.

·       There were a couple of traffic incidents where people ignored taped off areas and were unwilling to abide by marshals’ instructions. TF enquired if PCSO could attend next year. LT said that it had been requested, but no one was available.

·       The feasibility of starting and finishing point being moved to Coombe Rise carpark was suggested and was well received. Closing roads is expensive and requires lots of marshals. It would also be less disruptive for local residents. PCaSo, the prostate cancer charity provided leaflets but no one from the charity was able to attend on the day. It was agreed to round up the total amount of donation to £1000, as money taken was net £938.64. LT suggested organising a handing over of the cheque event to publicise the charity, event and FVRA.

·       Lance (former Chair) took part and was honoured to receive entry number 1.

·       There were no medical incidents.

·       The Mini Mile was well attended with around 40 children taking part,

·       LT to plan a debriefing meeting with Julia Griggs on Saturday 28th September and SP to discuss how things can be improved next time.

·       Special thanks to SP and Julia Griggs and Foxy Ladies for the hard work they put into the planning and organisation of the course and marshalling of event.

·       Thanks to PB for being back marker on the day and support for the last runners.

·       Thanks to Jacobs Steel for donation of £200, which covered the cost of medals. They would like to be involved in future events. A member of their team was present to award the runners medals at the finish line.

·       Thanks to Lidl for donation of bananas.

·       Thanks to all who helped on the day and support in the organisation of event.

Chairs Report and Planning for the year ahead

·       Dog Show

LT suggested PB arranging a time for Sheila from Umbrella events to present a cheque for £200 to The Vale school as a donation towards the Quiet Garden and for local press to be invited.

·       August Market

This market was cancelled due to bad weather and lack of stalls. A discussion took place about how to improve footfall and attract more stallholders.

Sharon Leppard, market manager, has suggested running a raffle with prizes donated by stallholders.

CS suggested reducing or removing fees for a period of time, maybe 6 months to get a commitment for traders to attend.

Putting A boards out on Findon Rd would help to advertise market.

It was agreed to invite Sharon to the next FVRA meeting in October to discuss how to boost attendance and also to discuss Christmas Extravaganza. Sharon has accepted the invite.

·       Open Garden Visit Friday 23rd August

This was offered to the working party volunteers as a thank you for their hard work and was gratefully received.

Christmas Extravaganza Thursday 12th December  2024

·       CS to inform local businesses that the CE is going to be held indoors and invite them to have a stall inside and ask for donations for the raffle and sponsorship.

·       At September market, ask stall holders for a commitment to attend. CE and approach Sharon to book more stalls. Ask Sharon to attend next FVRA meeting.

Highways update

·       LT to approach Elizabeth Sparks, WSCC councillor to arrange a meeting with a Highways officer to discuss a Community Highways Scheme for Findon Valley.

Local History Project

·       James Sainsbury, local historian is attending the next meeting on 27th September.

·       A donation of £2 per person will be suggested at next meeting to help cover costs of event.

·       LT has made contact with The Gentleman’s Club in Offington who have lots of archives regarding the war, servicemen and home guard.

·       LT proposed inviting Jim Booth to become our archivist as he is really engaged with the project and keen to help. It was agreed that LT should write to him inviting him to take on this position.

AOB

• NW proposed buying a “Wheel of Fortune“ from Amazon for £22 for the CE. It was agreed.

Date of next meeting

Tuesday 8th October 7pm FVFC

Please forward any AOB suggestions to chair by Friday 4th October for inclusion in this meeting. To ensure we finish promptly, some issues may be deferred to the next meeting.