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Marton West Community Council.
Minutes of Meeting held on 14th May 2015
in the Methodist Church Hall, The Grove, Marton
1. Attendance:
Present – 15
Apologies – 15
Welcome and introductions - Lorna Sutcliffe (Chair) welcomed everyone and
congratulated Chris & John Hobson on being re-elected as our ward councilors for
Marton West. She also thanked Vicky Guest for standing in as Secretary and taking
the minutes for this evening meeting.
PCSO Helen Baron reported on crime int he area.
2 burglaries at Cambridge Avenue and Stokesley Road; 1 shed break-in. 1 male arrested
and charged
Criminal damage-1 damage to a house caused by son; 1 slashed tyre; 1 damage to a taxi
at Marton shops
Theft - 1 theft of a pedal cycle at Marton shops; 1 theft from Tesco
ASB - 2 neighbour disputes; youths lighting fires at Fairy Dell; youths kicking fences and
throwing stones. Visit http://www.police.uk/cleveland/Marton%20West/crime
a) 'Priority list’ - parking issues in Buxton Avenue and Knaresborough Avenue for
Lingfield Primary School to remain as a priority. Difficulties are caused by
parking on both sides of the road. PSCO Helen Barron explained that it would
be difficult to bring in enforcements unless cars were parking on yellow lines or
blocking drives. If so, then keep a record of any car registrations so that
warning letters can be sent out to the car owners.
b) Report from Chief Inspector Dave Sutherland: He has recently taken over and
is impressed by the hard work and commitment, but also the variety of tasks
that were being dealt with. However, there has been an increase in crime and
antisocial behaviour in the last 12 months. Operation Impact (anti-social
behaviour), Operation Hawk (burglary) and Operation Boost (retail theft in town
centre) have been set up. We are reminded that the public can help by using
Crimestoppers to report any suspicious behaviour; keeping doors and windows
locked; by using Twitter and Facebook to follow the local neighbourhood police
team.
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3. Speaker: Sarah Fishburn Sarah Fishburn – Larchfield Therapeutic Crafts Activities
Sarah explained that Larchfield Community is a charity, funded through Social
Services and the Camphill Village Trust. It is situated on the Stokesley Road from
Hemlington, before Cherry Hill Nursery. It is a working community farm that
provides work centred training and opportunities for individuals who have
learning difficulties and / or mental health issues. Many individuals are supported
at Larchfield. Twenty five people are resident, while others who reside in
Middlesbrough, Stockton and North Yorkshire attend as day placements.
Individuals are encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge to gain an
understanding of their work based activities. In return this gives them a feeling of
self-worth and fulfilment, creating a sense of ‘belonging’ in society.
Sarah then described how felt is made, the different types of wool that are used
and how wool is dyed using natural items, for example, daffodils and onion skins.
Andrew Jameson gave a demonstration showing how to press down the felt.
Larchfield Crafts are well staffed and have 5 volunteers who provide 1-1 support
to the individuals.
Sarah showed the excellent types of the crafts that are made at Larchfield, from a
rug using scraps of old t-shirts through to a tea cosy. Everything is sold and all the
proceeds go back to the charity.
Larchfield Crafts is open Monday to Friday 9-4pm. It has a shop, selling its own
farm and bakery produce and other ‘organic’ items and a café which uses its own
produce.
Further information is available on the website –www.cvt.org.uk/larchfieldcommunity
or phone 01642 579800 for the main office and 01642579804 for the
shop and café.
4. AGM followed – separate Minutes were taken which will be distributed before
the next AGM.
As current Chair, Lorna Sutcliffe gave a brief resumé of last year’s events.
The election of Officers was as follows:
Chair: Lorna Sutcliffe
Deputy Chair: Cllr Chris Hobson
Treasurer: Cllr John Hobson
Deputy Treasurer: Vicky Guest
Secretary: Jeannette Bowen (Reserves Neil Guest, Vicky Guest)
Executive Members: All Officers plus Yvonne Shanahan, Dawn Guest
Lorna Sutcliffe continued as Chair and gave a brief resumé of the previous year’s
items.
5. Minutes of the Previous Meeting on March 12th 2015:
Agreed
6. Matters arising:
a) Item 5 – Neighbourhood Watch - one resident had seen alerts regarding
Neighbourhood watch on Facebook by Susan Gill. Lorna asked the resident to
contact Susan Gill and report back at the next meeting.
b) One other resident said that Neighbourhood Watch seemed to be dying down
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in this area, although he has been invited to attend an all-day event at the
Police Headquarters on 3rd June to discuss future Neighbourhood Watch plans.
c) One resident commented on the loss of police helicopter and the subsequent
response from the Police Commissioner regarding the letter from the
Community Council meeting, sent in by the Secretary. The meeting agreed it
was a very disappointing response from the office of Police Commissioner Barry
Coppinger.
7. Treasurer’s Report: Cllr John Hobson
The current balance is £2,340.93p
8. Planning Issues: Cllr John Hobson
a) 96 Gunnergate Lane – a planning application has been passed
b) Land owned by Ford Close Riding School – a planning application for 6
bungalows has been rejected for the second time because of the narrowness of
the road at that point
9. Neighbourhood Plan for Marton West Ward: Cllr Chris Hobson
No further progress because of the elections
10.
Local Issues:
a) The meeting was told that a Wildflower Walk will take place in Fairy Dell on
Thursday 21st May 10-12pm
b) One resident commented that the new footpaths in Bonnygrove Park are
starting to crack. The Councillors are already looking into this. They have
contacted Area Care but have not yet heard back from them.
Cllrs
Chris &
John
Hobson
11.
Any Other Business:
a) One resident thought that some new trees had been planted near the Gentoo
site.
b) The same resident has noticed the footpath near Sudbury is sliding away due to
the amount of rainfall. The Councillors will investigate.
c) Cllr Chris Hobson advised that Northumbria in Bloom judging will take place on
July 8th. She asked that everyone help by tending their own area.
d) The meeting closed at 8.50pm with the Chair’s hope for more people at the
next meeting.
Cllrs
Chris &
John
Hobson
12. Date of the next Meeting:
Thursday, 9th July 2015 at 7.30pm