Becky Thoburn (BT), Jackie Freeman (JF), Ken Taylor (KT), Barry Mcleod (BM), Rachel Scholfield (RS)

Sarah Peacock (SPe), Emma Channon (EC), Richard Fletcher (RF)

Jackie Freeman (JF)

PLEASE NOTE THE NEXT MEETING is now 7.30pm Mon 9th June in the park (or Arnos Hotel if raining) – bring a mat/cushion! and meet at Kings Road entrance

BM thanked BT for her enthusiasm and for chairing for the past year and welcomed Rachel Scholfield (RS), Chair of Arnos Cemetery Trust.

FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES & MATTERS ARISING:

Treasurer (KT)
All confirmed, as previously minuted, that 3 APAG members are needed to agree all spending. This has been slightly amended to any 3 management committee members so that payments are not delayed if someone is not contactable.

In the job spec an annual audit was mentioned. KT contacted RF who advised that it was not needed as the new job spec does not include it. If APAG funds reached significant sums then it would be prudent to audit our accounts. To discuss as required.

Bristol City Council have agreed to post out future hard copies of the minutes but are short staffed so cannot guarantee a timely delivery. JF and volunteers! to contact all on the postal mailing list to ask if they definitely wish to be included/ask them to provide an email address if possible. To consider dropping all postal copies and relying on making minutes available from public places such as the library and park noticeboard as events will be publicised anyway.

Fund Raising Team (BMRF)
YANSET (Yanley & North Somerset Environmental Company) application has been submitted for 1 new piece of equipment to replace the slide/hut. Asking for £13 500 which covers the cost of the equipment, matting and installation. The panel is sitting very soon and there are 8 bids in. We should know within a couple of weeks if we are successful. All agreed that publicity was needed if we were successful.

Heritage Bid
RF continuing to work on this-a lot of work being done as it is for a substantial amount of money. JF/BM will send letters ASAP to key groups asking for their support. RS commented that the Cemetery Trust was unable to bid for this money this financial year but supported APAG’s bid.

Other Fundraising Opportunities:
B&Q award not applied for as there were limited funds which had to be spent in B&Q.

Open Spaces bid to be submitted by June. £10-50k available and we meet their criteria. BM will check that we are able to submit a bid as well as the Heritage bid.

No Feedback

PR / Publicity: (SPe)
SPe writing an article for St Christopher’s church newsletter; CHECK DONE.

Still need to clarify re apostrophe usage in Arno's. KT has discovered that the cemetery, hotel and road signs have dropped the apostrophe but that the Ordinance Survey still includes it. Historically it should be included but Bristol city Council (as the land owners) have the right to change it. BCC has mixed usage. JF to ask Ghislaine if her dad would be able to investigate. Website
Was uploaded in time to support the bids submitted. Phase 1 has been completed and paid for. Content is still being worked on. SPe asked all to send news items and details of links to other sites (together with a short paragraph saying why it's useful/interesting) and would appreciate help/comments on the home page content.

All agreed that anything to be put on the website ought to go to SPe to co-ordinate. All agreed to allow SPe a £50 budget so that she doesn’t have to keep asking/getting agreement to pay Joules – Spe to feedback monies spent at each meeting.

Youth links: Position Vacant still
APAG to investigate feasibility of a youth focus day. To include activities such as the mobile rock climbing tower and mobile skate park. JF to investigate costs.
BT to buy football nets, JF to investigate getting a basketball net

Community Venue Marketing /Event Co-ordination Team: (Steve Pearce (SP) & EC) Advised that all activities in the park should ideally pay for themselves. SP/EC looking into the possibility of licensing the park.

Easter Egg Hunt
Congratulations to SPe for a successful, well organised event. 150 eggs were given away and funds raised (though this wasn't the aim).

Teddy Bears Picnic
Mel not keen to lead this as is expecting a baby in June. Aim for the under 5's to bring a picnic and teddy to the park. Wick Road Library have agreed to do a craft session and BT will ask them to organise with the St Christophers church toddler group ibncl. The poster etc. APAG can support with publicity and risk assessments.

Dawn Chorus
Posters done and BT has had quite a bit of interest.

Yoga in the Park
BT has emailed someone to see if this is possible.
Funday
Date set for Sun 6th July.
EC confirmed the following have been booked: Inflatables & generator (?230), Police display vehicles (SP to confirm requirements with PC Andy Bird), Fire Brigade, Scouts stalls & activities, Rugby club stalls & activities, Mini club toy race track, Karate club display, St Christopher's church cake stall.

To be confirmed: Sandwich run may run a hog roast, refreshments – no response form hotel so shall ask Bocabar. Insurance/licences etc sent off (BCC has offered to pay for these again) Lopresti ice cream.
Volunteers/donations needed for face painting/nail art/cake stall as well as clearing up/manning stalls.

Promotion: Park Life & Events online to be done. Agreed that the following should also be contacted: APAG website, BCP, Observer newspaper, netmums, Park life, Community Times. Posters/flyers to be put in book bags of the local schools, toddler and playgroups and St Christopher’s church. BM can do the printing again.

All agreed that a budget of ?450 could be allowed for funday expenses.

BT has had private stallholders wanting to have stalls. To email EC to consider including along with community group stalls.

JAT has volunteered to take photos again.

JF to send KT last years letter re the reimbursement of the license fee by BCC

There were comments that last year there was little choice for the vegetarians. Is there a possibility of including an alternative to a hog roast? BT will contact the Victoria Park mobile van to discuss availability if needed.

BM would like a list of what APAG has achieved to be included on the APAG stall. A gazebo with sides would be useful. JF to look on freecycle. There is also the possibility of hiring a marquis/yurt from the city farms £50 each). BT will ask Wick Road library to consider a storytime yurt

BM to chase SP re Brislington Football clubs 50 yr match - ? penalty shoot out at the fun day.

Cemetery links / development: Peter Main (PM)


Welcome to RS for attending. JF to email management committees email addresses to RS. BT/JF sent cemetery trust a letter re the feasibility of moving the cemetery boundaries so that the park could gain access to the natural pond and woodland behind. John T of BCC parks supported this.RS has a meeting with the parks dept. and will discuss this further. RS to copy in PM and BM. A park user (Ghislaine) is looking into ownership/maps/boundary issues to clarify park/cemetery land. JF to check.

RS clarified that the cemetery/park gate has been secured and will be put in place once the boundary has been cleared. There is also the possibility of putting in steps through the woodland. The cemetery would like a joint working party to clear the woodland. This will be in Nov/Dec to avoid the nesting season. RS is awaiting an order of works before she can give any firm dates.

When BT/JF met with John Threadgold (Bristol Parks) he offered some possible mechanical support for both scrub clearance and putting in natural play spaces, if this could also be linked with the woodland management schedule. BM may be able to get the use of a petrol strimmer. Mary Wood (Avon Wildlife) keen to come along and give a wildlife talk on the same day.

Neighbourhood Partnerships No Update

There has been no species report done for the park. Mary Woods (Avon Wildlife) gives regular talks in the cemetery and our wildlife is likely to be similar. Jan Walters (Nature Conservation Officer for Bristol Parks) had some information. BT to start compiling a list of plants/wildlife seen and would appreciate any comments/photos/locations. She will also try and plot these on a map of the park. KT has good reference books.

BT to follow up with a meeting with John Threadgold of BCC.and discuss plans for creating natural play spaces within the woodland, a community orchard, development of the natural pond/streamway and possible meadows/flowers. Any comments/suggestions welcomed. BT to ask John T for a schedule of works so we can link in. Needs to be done ASAP as John T leaving in June.

Bench – John T apologised that this hadn't been done yet. He will action. BT to chase

Path from Somerset Road/Withleigh – John T assured us this was top priority but the person responsible had been made redundant and the job was not reallocated. To action. BT to chase.

BT to also get email to confirm all discussed at meeting incl. ?community orchard, tree planting

BM to contact John Threadgold re recommencing the weekend summer cleanups in the park as previously done.

As reported: Bristol City Council (BCC) is selling off 90 acres of parkland (2.4% of the public space in Bristol). 70% of the money raised is for improving the remaining spaces. (Thankyou to Bristol Parks Forum who put pressure on the council to reduce the sell off)

RF is presenting on June 2nd to the Brislington Community Partnership (BCP) meeting (7pm Wicklea Community Centre) the councils plans. RF is reviewing the remaining open spaces and has to identify the spaces to be sold off. Brislington is the first area to be looked at. We need people to attend to ensure the council is aware that APAG wants to be involved with any changes. Request for support to be put on website and emailed to all.

BCC has won £2.5m for its play parks. 28 parks have been identified that may benefit. BM will contact BCC to highlight Arno’s Parks need and discuss plans with John Knowlson.

Tree Survey RF reported it has been completed. Looked at safety and maintenance. KT asked whether the historical element had been considered. BM asked RF to forward a copy to us. Summary: 5 trees to be felled + pruning to be done.

Scrapstore membership – all agreed to fund for 1 year initially (£20). BT has joined on behalf of APAG and will get some football nets. There are other useful bits for children's use eg crafts.

BM to introduce himself to PC Andy Bird as we have had good communication/links from him in the past which has helped with park security.