Minutes of Meeting 6 February 03 Present: Mike Goodman - Chair Carol Butchart - N/B Colliery Estates Jean Goulden - Craft Group Alfie Dower - Chamber of Trade C Black - Newbiggin Middle School Jean Thompson - Newbiggin Ramblers Cllr R McAlpine - WDC Cllr D Boon - WDC Will Rogers - New Beginnings William Cooper - SECA J Davison - St Andrews Church Stephen Peel - High flyers JJ Taylor - Neighbourhood Watch H Gustard - Newbiggin Allotments Vaun Campbell - Alcan Lynn Yates - Kidz Avenue Judith Grieve - St Bartholomew's Gordon Burn - Newbiggin Sailing Club Pat Fenwick - Newbiggin ladies Bowls Club George Penman - Wansbeck FDG Tom Arkle - Newbiggin CWFC Cllr A Thompson - WDC Cllr J Lang - NCC Mabel Wallace - Welfare Cres Res. Ass Guests: Andrea Malcolm - Cheviot Housing John Johnston - Cheviot Housing In attendance: Karen Maclean - WDC Charlotte Colver - WDC Bill Gale - Wansbeck CVS/ CEF 1. Apologies Judith Davison - St Andrew's Glynis Reynolds - Age Concern Susan Hawkins - Wansbeck Works! Bobby Glen - Woodhorn & N/B WI Jack Dodds - RBL Cllr Tom Saunders - NCC 2. Cheviot Housing John Johnson explained to Members that Cheviot was asked by WDC to do a study on social housing stock in Newbiggin. Cheviot undertook a stock condition survey, housing needs survey, analysed statistical data, surveyed key stakeholders, private sector and analysed other complementary strategies. The result was a strategy for Newbiggin by the Sea as a community. Weaknesses identified: Age of stock; constraints on investment; poor layout of estates; over supply of rented accommodation; and limited choice Other weaknesses: Unbalanced Community - Ageing population & increasingly deprived community Reputation - Local traditions (e.g. tethering of sea coal horses); poor appearance of open spaces; loss of bay area; poor housing stock; anti-social behaviour; geographical isolation Strengths: Location; sea front; caravan park; life boat centre; leisure centre; sailing club; available land & changing attitude of private sector; community spirit; and timing i.e. other complementary initiatives The Regeneration Strategy would aim to: - Broaden the profile of the village; stabilise the population loss; and strengthen the community balance By: - Improving the reputation of the village; implementing a housing strategy; attracting new economically active residents to the village by facilitating the provision of new housing for sale; and increasing community involvement In summary: - A number of weaknesses need to be addressed, and a number of strengths can be built upon to ensure Newbiggin has a bright and sustainable future. If the proposals are adopted success will depend upon fundamental changes being implemented. This will require - more detailed feasibility work undertaken; co-ordination of proposals by a fully resourced organisation; engaging the local community and key stakeholders in the process; and significant investment by a number of agencies. There will be a locally based Regeneration Team working with key partners to promote and deliver the Newbiggin by the Sea Master Plan. £670,000 is needed to set up consultation/ staff/ regeneration team/ and to set up a company. The team planned will have 2 full time officers, one to work with the community and develop the Master plan, and the other to look at the physical aspects and to translate the views of the community into projects that are deliverable. 70 per cent of funding has been secured from the Housing Corporation, Cheviot and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. A bid has been submitted to Single Programme for the remainder of the funding. Approval should be received around the end of April 03 then staff should be appointed soon after that. There is a need to have early wins, and two projects have been identified: Woodhorn Road Village Gateway Improvement Scheme and Manley's Field. As agreed at an earlier meeting Fair Shares Lottery funding would make a major and substantial contribution to environmental improvements along this entrance to the village. These two projects will be a priority. A delivery agency will need to be set up, which will include a rep from Cheviot, WDC, the Community Partnership, and perhaps representatives from local business and other members of the local community. Cheviot would like to work in partnership with the Newbiggin by the Sea Regeneration Community Partnership to assist in achieving some if its aims. There will be regular progress reports and consultation with the Partnership. The Chair stressed that the Partnership represents the local community and expects to be involved in the decision-making. In response to questions from the floor John confirmed: Staff on the regeneration team will be flexible and will have an understanding of the flexibility needed when working with the community. If beach cleaning is an important issue identified in consultation with the community, it will be considered at that point. It has not been purposely omitted from this project. Time scale for funding is 3 years, at which point they will have to look for further funding to carry on this project. Cheviot sees this as a 10yr project. Regeneration office will be in the front office space of the housing office opposite the Sports Centre. Cheviot has a good relationship with other builders and has already identified key sites that they may be interested in. There needs to be a balance of private and rented stock. This may mean building new private and rented, as well as renovation of some rented. There is a need to attract young and economically active families to the village, to rebalance the community. The Chair asked if Members were willing to work in Partnership and support these proposals. Resolved - Members unanimously approved. The Chair thanked John and Andrea for their presentation. 3. Minutes of the last meeting The minutes of the last meeting were received and approved as a true record. 4. Matters arising There were no matters arising 5. Partnership Workshop The Chair explained to Members that he was expecting Viv Schwartzberg to be at the meeting, however he would speak on her behalf. Viv and the 'Our PART' Team have offered to organise and run a workshop based on 'barriers to learning'. It is to be held on Saturday 29th March 03 at the Sports and Community Centre. It will commence at 10am and finish around 3pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Should anyone need transport or crèche facilities they will need to contact Viv beforehand on Tel: 01670 858688. All that Members of the Partnership have to do is get people there. Flyers will be sent out to Members nearer the time. There is no age limit, young and old will be welcomed. The more people who attend and take part in the research activities, the better the results of the research will be. 6. Avis Avenue - Planters The Chair explained that residents on Avis Avenue have been consulted, and the results have been inconclusive. The decision has been referred back to the Partnership. The Chair went on to state that the Management Committee has discussed this at some length, and recommend that the planters be removed. It was felt that if community projects were stopped because of one or two objections, then nothing would ever get done. Resolved - Members unanimously agreed to the removal of the beds in Avis Avenue. 7. Ocean Youth Club Ketch The Chair informed members that approximate costs for this project has been put together and a letter has been sent to Alcan requesting sponsorship. Vaun Campbell of Alcan explained that a third party makes the decisions on where funds are granted, and requests are granted on merit. 8. Sustainable Communities Fund The Chair explained that there had been a request for support from Newbiggin Allotment Association. They have applied successfully to the Wansbeck Sustainable Communities Fund for a grant to improvement the allotments at the West End. Because of the restraints on time, the Chair gave the Partnership's support; otherwise the group would have lost out on funding in this financial year. However, the Chair stated that he needs approval of his decision from members. Resolved - Members unanimously approved the decision to support the bid from the Newbiggin Allotment Association. The Chair thanked Members for their support. 9. Memorial Park The Chair informed members that funds have been drawn down to pay for an architect to look at Memorial Park and the Colliery memorial. They have been commissioned to examine and report back on what work needs to be done at both sites. The architect has already commenced work and will put together a bid for funding to do the necessary works. The Chair will keep Members informed of progress. 10. Date and time of next meeting 27 March 03 at 7pm, Newbiggin Sports Centre.