7:30pm Monday 7th December 2009

Present: Margaret Ormonde, Barry Prior, Vera Bodman, Jenny Leach, Carol Gibson.

1. Apologies Bill Harper, Jill Verran, Cathi Edwards.

2. Minutes of the last meeting (Tuesday 29th September 2009) were approved.

3. Matters arising:

25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
EMC Jazz Band to do 2 minute soundtrack. ( BP )

AGM
will be held on 28 April 2010 at 8pm at the Grace Church. Awaiting details of speaker from Network Rail. Once this confirmed, RBC will be approached for comment on implications of development. Head of Reading Buses may also be available, possibly as a double bill.

CAVERSHAM COURT
Head Gardener will lead an early evening guided tour on a Friday in May, which could be combined with community picnic.

SEATS
1. movement of seat to green by shops will proceed after consultation with about 40 local property owners. RBC have been informed and will need to confer with owners of the land.

2. Quotes received for refurbishment of seats either side of village sign. Oak preferred, but may not stand up well to weathering and possible vandalism. Iroko is more hardwearing and cheaper, if it can come from renewable source. ( MO ) Plaques could state: 'Restored by Emmer Green Residents' Association 2010'.

PLANNING
1. Jefferson Close: a public enquiry on the proposed footpath will be held on 20 April 2010. BP will look at plans.

2. Autumn Close: Dr Morgan says residents oppose plans to knock through fence at end of cul-de-sac to build bungalow. All 8 house owners' concerns should be heard. Planning Officer says likely to be turned down.

3.Marchwood Avenue: CADRA advised South Oxfordshire Council reported plan to build house at end of avenue. Likely to be turned down because of problems with servicing property: not on RBC land.

4. 54 Highdown Road refused permission to build 4 houses on designated ancient woodland.

5. Golf Club: awaiting outcome.

COMMITTEE VACANCIES AND LONG TERM RECRUITMENT
Need to have more people to share roles. As she believes the chairman should be changed after 3 years, MO had planned to retire, and also stand down from committee in 2010. BP will continue as Vice Chair and says he can share more of the burden. Further discussion needed.

WINTER NEWSLETTER
circulated. Thanks to Diana and RFTRA.

Lack of response to recent recruitment in Stuart Close area. What can EGRA do to appeal to a wider demographic audience? Suggestions: survey asking how EGRA can help; and event where EGRA present to talk to people at local shopping centre on a Saturday morning. To be discussed further.

HIGHDOWN SCHOOL
No response to request to locate borrowed display boards. BP to follow up.
Time capsule enquiry from Old Boy. MO investigated. Possibly article in Chronicle and research in Library.

HILL SCHOOL
Invitation to attend school council meeting: Sheila Deacon will be in touch. (MO )

EMMER GREEN PRIMARY SCHOOL
£10.000 from Lottery fund for wildlife area. Plans going ahead and questionnaire sent out to get help from parents, but the school wish to keep things within their own community without outside help.

TREES REPLACEMENT IN PARK
Council have consulted with EGRA and will keep in touch.

CLAYFIELD COPSE WOOD CARVINGS
3/4 way marks needing repair; 1 stolen. BP will contact Bryan Verran and woodcarvers. CC may have some funds and oak to use. Suggestion of competition at local schools to design new sculpture.

WHITE LINE
alongside White Horse pub has been reinstated.


4. TREASURER'S REPORT
Over £3,750 in funds. New financial framework document will be discussed at next meeting.


5. FEEDBACK FROM COMMITTEES
Neighbourhood Action Group will be re-launched at Highdown School on 9th February 2010. More liaison is necessary with other organisations. Survey results highlight Road Traffic Issues: speeding, cycling on footpath, volume of traffic; Burglary: to homes, cycle theft: and Environmental Issues: litter, lighting and noise.

North Reading Youth Project. 25th November meeting attended by TT. AGM 20th January 2010. New drawings of Community Centre extension to hand. Road re-routed so emergency access to school provided. Seems to be less provision for older children's activities. Suggestion to meet with Tina to see if EGRA can help.

Age Concern meeting 25th January 2010 at St Barnabas Church Hall. VB will attend, taking EGRA leaflets.

Safer Caversham Forum 19th November: no one from EGRA attended.

CADRA Future of Schools meeting 10th November: No new schools north of Thames. Closer links with South Oxfordshire schools.

6. AOB
No. 24 bus route: proposed change hidden on Reading Buses website but no other publicity. Residents in Courtenay Drive area will be seriously affected by change of route into Caversham. RB and Councillor Mark Ralph have been contacted.

Drinking fountain will cost £1,000. JL will investigate further. May be eligible for O2 community grant; EGRA may then contribute. Application should be made by end of year, before criteria for community use change.

Notice Board Maintenance: needs staples removed. Group clean up in late spring.

Swans in Emmer Green Pond are short of food and can't get out. CG to contact swan rescue organisation.

RBC needs to sweep up leaves more regularly in autumn along local roads. Difficult to contact when snow and ice are a problem.

7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
7.30pm on 13th January at 10 Chiltern Court ( CG )