NPSG July 2023 Minutes
Grasby, Searby cum Owmby Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
Meeting Number: 5 Date: 26th July 2023
Location: Village Hall, Grasby Time: 19:00
Attendees:
Chris Mead (Chairman)
Rob Bennett
Tim Phipps
Mike Downing
Julie Turnbull
Bethany Lauren
Steve Riley (Secretary)
Apologies:
Janet Brown
Nick Harrison
Agenda:
1. Actions from last meeting
2. Progress since last meeting
3. Community engagement
4. Any other business
5. Actions arising and next meeting
Major Points of Discussion
1. Actions from last meeting
1.4 Chris to circulate current land use map available from the Parish Council. Ongoing.
Action: CM 1.4
4.1 Chris to submit the formal request to the District Council for joint parish plan. Completed.
4.1a Janet and Rob to print extra copies of survey for distribution. Completed.
4.2 Nick will contact the Facebook group admins to publicise the Neighbourhood Plan and engender participation in the survey. Now on Facebook but little uptake to date, this action will continue until the survey closes at the end of August. Ongoing.
Action: NH 4.2
4.3 Publicise the survey on the local parish notice boards. Chris produced and posted a notice. Completed.
4.4 To increase survey participation we could look to run competitions, such as photo or painting. Chris to investigate. Ongoing.
Action: CM 4.4
4.5 Janet to provide the leaflets and survey for distribution. Completed.
4.6 The criteria for analysing the survey responses will be developed after the initial responses have been received. Chris has started this process (see Item 3.3). Ongoing.
Action: CM 4.6
4.7 Steve to confirm location of next meeting. Completed.
2. Progress since last meeting
Chris welcomed Bethany Lauren to the steering group.
Rob reported that at the Parish Council are happy with the progress being made by the Neighbourhood Plan steering group.
Chris reported that new Neighbourhood Plan funding arrangements are now open for application. Chris will speak to Janet to make an ‘expression of interest’ for gaining funding. Once secured, the steering group will discuss the scope and appointment of a consultant.
Action: CM 5.1
3. Community engagement
3.1 The feedback on the doorstep when delivering the survey was positive. According to the mailing lists provided by the Council, there are 195 houses in the Grasby parish and a further 95 in Searby cum Owmby. Up to the time of the meeting we had received 55 responses in total: 43 from Grasby (22% of parish residents), 10 from Searby and 2 from Owmby (12% of parish residents).
3.2 A common topic discussed on the doorstep was expanding areas of natural beauty. This falls outside the remit of the Neighbourhood Plan but we can flag and comment on this subject.
3.3 A follow-up with residents still to complete a survey will be undertaken in August (group allocation the same as the survey distribution list, see Item 3.2 of last month’s minutes). It was felt some residents were concerned about anonymity and so have been reluctant to complete a survey. Therefore we should stress to residents during the follow-up that all contributions will be held in strictest confidence and no names will be given in the actual Neighbourhood Plan. Steve will distribute the list of all addresses that have already completed a survey.
Action: SR 5.2
3.4 All completed paper and electronic surveys are to be passed to Chris. He will analyse the responses and report back his findings at the next meeting.
Action: CM 5.3
3.5 The following ideas on engaging younger residents were discussed:
• Announcing the aims of the Neighbourhood Plan to children at the school, beavers, cubs, and scouts’ groups.
• Providing a prize for the best youth contribution(s). We could ask for sponsorship from local businesses. Bethany will speak to Osh Gosh to see if they are willing to help.
Action: BL 5.4
• Any more ideas on this topic to be brought to the next meeting.
4. Any other business
Caistor have recently completed their Neighbourhood Plan. It would be useful to make contact to gain some pointers and share experience with those involved. Chris to speak to Nev Brown to see how this can be best accomplished.
Action: CM 5.5
We should plan to hold a ‘Post-it’ meeting in the Village Hall later in the year to present and discuss the findings of the survey. We should provide some incentive for people to attend, such as food and drink. Steve to raise with the Village Hall committee at their next meeting on the 3rd August.
Action: SR 5.6
5. Actions arising and next meeting
The actions of this meeting were agreed by all those involved.
The next proposed steering group meeting is to be held at 19:00 on Wednesday the 30th August at Village Hall. Agenda and details to be confirmed nearer the date as usual.