Friends of West Park

Minutes

Minutes of the Inaugural meeting of the Friends of West Park held on Tuesday 18th February 2014 at the Royal Navy Club, Burnhill Way Newton Aycliffe 7.00pm

Present were: A M Chandran, Konrad Szymanski(GATC YC), G C Gray, M Gray, C Thompson, P Thompson,

D Summers, D Bowman, R Bainbridge, P Norman, E Norman, A Paling, Maria O’Hanlon (GATC YC)

C Wheeler, S Howarth, E Robson, K Robson, R Bewley, E M Adam, J Bewley, K Hopper, P Kjenstad.

B Riley (GAMP),, Robbie(Livin), P Berry.

Opening Remarks :

Ken Robson Chairman of the ACORN residents Association explained the reasons why he thought of setting up a Friends of West Park Group. How it was intended to be informal and welcoming, to generate ideas and get things done to improve the West Park.

Constitution:

A draft Constitution based on the ACORN one but modified to suit our purposes had been posted on the Friends

Facebook page and copies distributed at the meeting . Chris Wheeler suggested that Environment Officer be amended to an Officer, after discussions with the Town Clerk this was agreed by the meeting. Pearl Berry suggested that some of the wording might not be advantageous for fund raising purposes. With the one amendment the Constitution was unanimously adopted.

Robbie from Livin and Brian Riley from GAMP had kindly agreed to act as tellers in the event of any contested election of places.

COMMITTEE

Chair: Arun Chandran proposed and Dorothy Bowman seconded Ken Robson for the position of Chair

there being no other nominations Ken Robson was elected.

Vice Chair: Ray Bewley proposed and Paul Kjenstad seconded Chris Wheeler for the position of Vice Chair

there being no other nominations Chris Wheeler was elected

Secretary: Ken Robson proposed and George Gray seconded Arun Chandran for the position of Secretary

there being no other nominations Arun Chandran was elected

Assistant

Secretary: Ray Bewley proposed and George Gray seconded Jen Bewley for the position of Assistant

Secretary there being no other nominations Jen Bewley was elected

Treasurer: at first there was no nomination but Lucy Brown agreed to be Treasurer there being no other

nominations Lucy Brown was elected

Assistant

Treasurer:left vacant to be filled at a future date

Election of up to 14 other members the following 10 volunteered and were elected

Maud Gray Dorothy BowmanElizabeth NormanDan Summers

Ray BewleyRichard BainbridgeGeorge GrayPeter Norman

Paul KjenstadElaine Robson......

......

There being four places left to fill

It was agreed to invite Great Aycliffe Town Council to send two representatives to serve on the Management Committee.

It was agreed that all Great Aycliffe County Councillors be co-opted to serve on the Management Committee.

It was agreed that Livin be invited to send a representative to serve on the Management Committee.

It was agreed that the Town Clerk of Great Aycliffe Town Council and the Environment Officer of the Town Council be invited to attend any and all meetings as co-opted representatives and advisors and any other Officers as designated by the Town Council being especially welcome at all times.

It was agreed that we open an Account at the Nat West Bank in Newton Aycliffe, that all payments required two signatories, that the signatories be the six officers as duly elected above. (Signatories must not be from same household)

Date and time of next meeting to be arranged

The meeting was closed at 7.44pm

Ken Robson advised that now the formalities were out of the way future meetings would be a lot more informal.

Chair:......

Secretary:......

Dated:......