RA Meeting – 22/10/09
Created by Clive44 local people attended the Residents Association Resurrection Meeting on 22/10/’09, which was chaired by Barry Kirby.
Barry kicked of proceedings by running through a potted history of the Residents Association and thanking Emma (Miss_Lane) for her outstanding efforts in printing and distributing leaflets to publicise the event.
The agenda was summarised as 3 items:
- Should the Residents Association go ahead?
- What should be it’s mandate?
- What is the best way forward?
Should the Residents Association go ahead?
There was general agreement that the Assocation could be a valuable asset to the local community.
Discussions followed regarding the structure of the Association and the meeting (in general) agreed that we should seek to elect:
- A Chairman.
- A Secretary.
- A Treasurer.
- A Social Secretary.
- A Press Officer.
- "General Committee Members" (X5).
What should be it’s mandate?
It was generally agreed that the RA should:
- Be instrumental in promoting the local community.
- Hold local events both to promote a sense of community spirit and offer opportunities for local people to meet each-other.
- Present a "United Front" to the local press and promote some positive publicity to redress the balance following the recent negative press coverage (See Here).
- Present a focussed approach to the QUVL and apply pressure on them to:
- Communicate their plans and changes (eg: what is the latest schedule for the shops and facilities?)
- Address issues which are adversely affecting residents (eg: builders hours, construction traffic, road and pavement surfaces, street lights and closed roads).
- Liaise with local government (Quedgeley Parish Council and Gloucester City / County Councils).
Further suggestions included:
- Inviting Fraser Mackie (Gloucester South SCT – Gloucester Police) to attend a meeting.
- Inviting representatives from the various Housing Associations to attend meetings.
- Asking QUVL to erect a sign (near the Village main entrance) to publicise future meetings.
- Asking for permission to use the Kingsway Primary School for future meetings.
- Holding a local event as soon as possible, in order to begin to create a wider sense of community spirit.
- Organising a team of volunteers to remove the rubble blocking the Naas Lane link road! (Following a short discussion, it was agreed that this could constitute an illegal act and that the best approach would be to put pressure on the QUVL to open the road at the earliest opportunity).
- Asking the School to assist in publicising forthcoming meetings via the School newsletter.
What is the best way forward?
To invite applications from local residents to fill the positions detailed above and to hold a meeting to elect the RA Committee.
To allow a 3-week period for local residents to apply.
Written applications should be delivered to Barry Kirby at 70, Thatcham Avenue, or emailed to him at mrbpkirby@hotmail.com by 13th November.
Elections will be held at a meeting on 27th November (hopefully at the School) and competing candidates will be expected to give a short "campaign speech".
AOB
We discussed an idea for appointing "local representatives" to publicise (leaflets and canvassing) future meetings and events etc; after some discussion we agreed that this should be left to the elected committee to decide.
We asked for volunteers to help with leaflet distribution and received 17 offers 
All in all, it was a very productive meeting. Whilst some of those present expressed frustration (chiefly by those issues that affecting all of us), it was also apparent that the majority of us are very happy to be living in Kingsway Village and are keen to actively help to improve the area and it’s "public image".
I would like – on behalf of everybody present – to thank Barry for organising and chairing the meeting.
Also – on a personal note – to thank Rich W. (Puzzlewood) for his kind comments, (I’m looking forward to reading your first post) 
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October 28th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Thank you to everyone that turned up and those who supported the meeting but could not be there.
I have already had a couple of people putting themselves forward for the committee and hopefully there will be more.
You have until the 13th November to nominate yourself as a committee member, and they do say many hands make light work, therefore the more people that put themselves forward, the easier it is for everyone.
October 29th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Emma,
Can you drop me a mail as the address I have for you is bouncing, probably my fault.
Ta
Barry
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Hello,
I have emailed all volunteers to help with the leaflet distribution, If you have not received an email from me but would like to help please email me at mail@hoskinslane.plus.com
All help would be much appreciated!
Many Thanks
Emma
November 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
In response to “Organising a team of volunteers to remove the rubble blocking the Naas Lane link road! (Following a short discussion, it was agreed that this could constitute an illegal act and that the best approach would be to put pressure on the QUVL to open the road at the earliest opportunity)”:
Following the accident at the Kingsway entrance yesterday which closed the road for over an hour (with the Police response being “park your car in Tuffley and walk”) this highlights the need for more than 1 x entry/exit into the village.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Hi holbeach miserable,
Yep… It’s certainly true that a 2nd entry/exit is required.
See this post from sandra on the subject.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
How do I nominate myself as a general committe member?
November 7th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Hi Thatcham,
Either drop a note round my house (70 Thatcham Ave) with basic info’ (name, address, age, what you want to apply for and why). or email it to me at Mrbpkirby@hotmail.com.
Cheers
Barry
November 10th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Five days remaining for RA Nominations
Hi All,
I just wanted to highlight that there are 5 days remaining for nominations for committee members of the Residents Association.
5 people have put themselves forward which is brilliant, but there are 10 places available and we need to fill them – in particular the named positions.
We need people to step forward.
Cheers,
Barry
November 15th, 2009 at 10:14 am
…and the nominations are closed
Hi Everyone,
Just to let you know that the nominations for the RA Committee have now closed.
The response has been very good and I will publish the list of nominees as soon as I can.
Cheers,
Barry
November 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
And the winner is…
Hi All,
The nominations closed last week and we had 10 nominees which coincides exactly with the number of positions available.
This means that there is no need for an actual election, however we will still be holding the event as a “meet and greet” and using it to determine the mandate of the association going forward.
The Committee Members are:
The location of this meeting is still to be advised as we would have to pay to use the Community Centre again, so we are hoping to use the school, but keep your eyes peeled on here.
Cheers,
Barry
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
The committee met last evening.
David Clough has agreed to act as Treasurer for the Association, Morwenna Grinde and myself will share the role of Press Officer and the remaining members (Mark Spooner, Steve Martin, Stephen Gurd, Tracey Hodgson and Sarah Jones) will share the role of Social Secretary.
Residents Association Meeting
We agreed to hold the next RA meeting (as previously planned) on this coming Friday (27/11) at the Kingsway Community Centre, at 8pm.
(The Community Centre is just beyond the “Woodvale Blockade” on the left).
This will be a chance for residents to meet the Committee members, help to “shape” the Association’s future and advise us of any issues that you would like us to pursue on your behalf*, so please try to find the time to come along.
*Note: We will also be discussing the “Woodvale Blockade” (see here).