GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING
M I N U T E S
Tuesday 8th April 2003
Drake House, St George’s Road, Wimbledon, London SW19
6.30 pm – 8.00 pm

PRESENT:
Richard Martin, Chairman
Marcus Beale, Chairman of the Executive Committee
Helen Clark Bell, Manager
Colin McDermott, Hon. Treasurer
John Crossman, Secretary
Peter Cargin, Friends Committee
Peter Davis; Andrew Wakefield; Ken Wilshire; Robert Devcic; Pat Keith; Brian Paul; Jane Clarkson

1. Apologies for absence had been received from Belinda Leathes; Russell Humphries; Helen Bramsted; Liz Nelson; Luc Moens; Roger Casale.

2. Minutes of the meeting on 10th January 2002. These were accepted as a true record.

3. Matters Arising. AW wished to highlight that the humanist and atheist groups do not have a link to Interfaith. WCF may need to make it’s own contacts here although he is not aware of any local organisations. AW will speak to Helen Bramsted and Saleem Sheikh

4. Report from the Executive Committee: Before proceeding MB asked everyone to write down on a sheet of paper the 3 big issues for Wimbledon and this would be collected later on.
MB tabled a report – see attached below.
Additional comments:
PK updated WCF on the position with the Atkinson Morley. St George’s Trust are seeking permission to go into Metropolitan Open Land. There is a concern that they will receive outline planning permission, which exceeds the density, and then sell it off to a developer, which will then raise the issue of the quality of the property and building materials used along with the future of the Metropolitan Open Land. It also appears that the Wolfson is gradually being eroded and according to St George’s this centre of excellence has a future of approx 5 years.
i. AW updated the GC on an Interfaith meeting about Pain and Suffering. He will write a few paragraphs to put on the website.
ii. HCB will ask for a copy of the feasibility study on the proposed Civic Hall in Wimbledon, from Merton Council and make it widely available.
iii. AW raised the issue of the disappointing representation from businesses at the Business Forum to discuss Civic Pride – he suggested we consider changing the name of the forum.
iv. RD and Jane Clarkson offered to discuss with WCF how we could approach businesses within Wimbledon to get them ‘on board’.
v. As Christine Goodair has unfortunately resigned from the Executive Committee. The GC would formally like to note their appreciation to Christine for all her hard work over the years. We will need to find a replacement, the GC was asked to offer their suggestions.

5. Finance. RM outlined a meeting with the Community Fund as WCF has still not received monies from them since August 2002. HCB called the meeting and PD, RM and HCB attended and we were informed that WCF will have to reapply for a new grant as we were not eligible for funding under our current constitution. Due to our current financial position they stated that they would seek authority to release a quarterly payment to tide us over. We therefore need to hold an SGM to adopt a revised constitution to submit with our application.
CMcD presented his financial report and stated that given the interim payment due from the Community Fund we can continue with our existing commitments for rent and salary.
RD asked what other funding drives WCF has and it was agreed to have a funding workshop on Saturday 26th April to brainstorm ideas – time and place to be arranged. Will invite the membership committee to ensure not duplicating work.

6. Date of next meeting
Tuesday 8th July 2003 at 6.30 – 8.00 pm

7. Any Other Business:
RM asked the GC if “Protecting yourself and the fear of crime” was a good topic for the Crime Forum on 5th June – all agreed.

The meeting closed at 7.45

MINUTES APPROVED BY RICHARD MARTIN

These Minutes will be circulated to all members of the Governing Council and will be posted on the website : http://www.wimbledoncivicforum.org.uk/

Wimbledon Civic Forum
Executive Committee report to the Governing Council Meeting on 8 April 2003

1. Forum events
Since the last Governing Council meeting on 14 January the following activities have taken place. Some are WCF events and others are related events supported and publicised by WCF:

16 January AGM
24 January Transport Forum at St Mark's Hall - over 100 people, a record for this forum.
6 February - local Area Forum
5 March - Forum Chairs meeting
12 March 2003 Business Forum - Civic Pride - over 50 people and a good level of debate.
17 March - Atkinson Morley Hospital at King's College School.
18 March 2003 - String of Pearls Meeting at the Nelson hospital over 30 people
26 March - Interfaith Group - suffering and pain
27 March Licensing Forum at St mark's Church - 14 people - not a good turn out but a good debate.
29 March - Islam the most misunderstood religion, at Drake House

Forthcoming events are:
24 April - Wimbledon Area Forum
29 April - Health Forum - the next 3 years of the local NHS
2 May Transport Forum - town centre traffic improvements
22 May - Urban Design - the Civic Hall
5 June - Crime Forum - personal safety.

2. Administration.
Volunteer coordinator/assistant manager. We have identified an assistant manager following interview but have been unable to employ her due to difficulties with the Community Fund funding (see below).

Lottery Fund. The Community Fund have stated that our constitution makes us ineligible for funding. No funding has been received since November 2002. After much effort on our part we have now been told that an interim payment is due to enable the administration to continue, and we are invited to reapply for the remainder of our grant. This will mean another EGM scheduled for May 12th, to agree further revisions to our constitution.

It is important that we increase our income stream from friends and business and community affiliates.

Christine Goodair has resigned from the Executive Committee due to pressure of work. We record our thanks to her for her help in the past.

3. Outreach
Wimbledon Civic Forum is an organisation with a 'wide niche'. in order to fulfil our objectives it is necessary to involve people with an interest in community affairs. Please keep looking out for such people and put them in touch with us.

4. Future Work.
Themes for future work. We are asking the Governing Council to identify themes at this meeting.
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Marcus Beale MA RIBA
Chair - Executive Committee