Here are the minutes of the meeting of the GHRA held on 18th May 2017, compiled by GHRA Secretary Joy Sumner

Minutes:  General Open Meeting #5

Thursday, 18th May, 2017 (7pm)

Small Meeting Place Galley Hill

People

Order of Business

1. Welcome and H&S – done

1. Apologies– done

1. Formal approval of previous minutes (available online at GHRA.uk) – done

1. Items for discussion

1. 1. Local activities
      1. Coffee mornings – These are running and attendance is good
      2. Discos & picnics – This is being delayed until we have insurance, which the committee is currently investigating
      3. Open Garden & Counts Competition – Looking for signs of interest
      4. Milton Keynes at 50 – In June there will be many events taking place, however GH is 50 in five years’ time, which will be when we run events.  The local head teacher is keen to get engaged in different events.

We are also looking at getting a memorial bench.  There have been promising meetings with SSTC.  There are also questions about having local children in a competition to design the bench.

1. 1. 1. Christmas Events (singing/Santa) – Carried over until next meeting.

1. 1. Funding – We now have a bank account, so we can officially apply for grants.

However, we need to apply for grants which require particular activities.

1. 1. Communication
      1. “Noose” newsletter – Attendees all said that they received this.  We received compliments in it.  We are hoping to build this up over time and are also keen to attract sponsorship.  Any events about local events or events that local people are volunteering will be gratefully received as short articles.
      2. “Friends of Galley Hill” Facebook page – About half of attendees have signed up.
      3. Notice board – This is being very slow to move – however the town clerk is looking into this.
      4. Website – GHRA.uk – This is kept up to date and also has a calendar with upcoming events.  It also has a web-form to contact the council.  Minutes are kept on the website.  (If you cannot access the webpage, copies of the minutes will be available at the meetings for you to look though.)

1. 1. Problems
      1. Trees/leaves/landscaping – The last tree maintenance for the estate was a long time ago, and this will be raised at the next council meeting.  (Adam to speak on this to the Parish Council)
      2. Antisocial parking – This is a long-standing problem and there may not be a quick fix, however the parking makes it difficult for people to access their homes, road-sweepers to remove leaves (preventing clogged drains), etc.
      3. Pathway/road problems – This may be possible to tackle in the medium term if we act as a community. (Debbie to speak on this to the Parish Council)
      4. Other – Rubbish put outside at the wrong time (consistently).  The fire-brigade has been contacted, but this isn’t currently considered a fire hazard. (Nyomie on behalf for Mrs? to speak on this to the Parish Council)

Loud music out of hours has also been raised by several people.

If you have problematic/anti-social issues, please keep a note.  This can then be raised with the parish council.

Speakers please come to the June committee meeting so that they can discuss this.

1. Any other business

Mick has stepped down as vice-chair of GHRA (after 6 months of teething for GHRA), but will remain as our liaison officer to SSTC.

There will be an election for vice chair in 2 months’ time (July meeting).  Please stand!  The nominations will be open for the next month (until 15th June committee meeting).  Voting will then take place over the following month until the next open meeting (20th July).  Nominees statements will be posted on the GHRA.uk website.  Votes can either be made in person at the July meeting or via email to the committee before the July meeting.

Next parish council meeting will be at Galley Hill (on 18th July, 7pm at the small meeting place above the shop).  All local councillors will be here.  Please save the date and come along to meet them all.  However, for this to work, volunteers to speak for the whole estate on specific items will strengthen the case.  We would like volunteers to do this.  Ideally we will have 3 questions.

The 2017 street map of Milton Keynes now how Galley Hill back on the map.  Thanks to Mick and Mr Robert Gifford.

Garage on Lambert Court was broken into – if you have any information, please get in contact with the police.

Reminder to complete Neighbourhood Watch forms.

1. Dates of next meetings:

Other Key Meetings

Abbreviations

AGM annual general meeting

AIM added in meeting (not on original agenda)

AOB any other business

FSRA Fullers Slade Residents Association

GH Galley Hill

GHRA Galley Hill Residents Association

H&S health and safety

MKC Milton Keynes Council

SSTC Stony Stratford Town Council

Disclaimer:  Every attempt has been made to make this document a true and representative recording of events.  If you have a concern about the content, please contact the committee as soon as is reasonably practical.

Actions

The GHRA committee held another of its monthly meetings on 20th April, this one being for the benefit of the committee and the Court Representatives. These are held bi-monthly between the fully open public meetings to give the reps and committee a chance to discuss matters brought up in open meetings and to clarify what is being done and by whom to take things forward and improve Galley Hill.

During this meeting we heard from a representative of YOURMK to advise us of the regeneration plans for Fullers Slade, which are in the primary consultation phases. They are holding an open discussion at the Rowans Family Centre, Moorfoot, Fullers Slade MK11 2BD on 26/4/2017 for the communities the proposed regenerations will affect to open the discussions. There will be a year long ongoing discussion with residents in affected areas before any decisions are taken, so no firm plans are currently available.
We will have some more information available here soon, but much more is available at YOURMK.CO.UK.

The meeting was then moved along to the matters affecting Galley Hill directly, many of which are still being discussed with the council with no firm commitment from the MKC Council. Among the problems discussed were leaves (cleared now that Spring is here anyway), dog bins (more required on Galley Hill), and the playground areas. On a positive note the Redbourne sign which went missing has been found in Bletchley so should be back in place sometime soon, street lights around the estate seem to be working now, and the GHRA bank account has been agreed, and Roy the treasurer can begin sourcing funding from various bodies for the association to use for the good of Galley Hill.

The coffee mornings on Tuesday mornings (every Tuesday 10 am till 12 at the small meeting place above the shop) have been well received, so a sub committee has been set up to run them more efficiently. There is also some initial planning for more social events to be organised by the GHRA, including possibly a disco, and a celebration of 50 years of Milton Keynes to be held later in the year.

A hot topic of debate was discussed towards the end of the meeting, that of potholes in the roads around Galley Hill. There is a scheme being used in other parts of the UK where quieter areas which have potholes are being repaired by local volunteers. The volunteers are trained, and supplied equipment by the council to do minor pothole repairs on quieter roads. This can be seen as a way of getting the holes filled, or a way for councils to sidestep their responsibilities for which we all pay our rates. There was some very passionate debate on the issue, which looks like it is going to require more input from the residents of Galley Hill to decide.

As is always the case, time ran away, and the meeting was closed leaving some topics for the next meetings. Hopefully speeding cars, parking problems and abandoned cars around the area among other issues can be discussed in the next meeting.

Click for the minutes of this meeting 

As always we are keen to hear from anyone in the area through emails to the reps in the contacts page, our feedback forms, or by commenting here in the comments section.

Galley Hill Residents Association

Minutes:  Committee Meeting #4

20th April, 2017 (7pm)

Small Meeting Place, Galley Hill

People

Key Dates

Town Council Meeting 7:30 Swinthin Hall 26th April 2017 (Wednesday)

YourMK redevelopment plans 2-6pm at Rowans Family Centre, 26th April (Wednesday)

Actions