MEETING / Loughborough In Bloom Board meeting
DATE / 15 January 2015 / LOCATION / Committee Room 1, CBC
Board Member Attendees
Andy Rush (Chair) / Mike Jones / Cllr Hilary Fryer / Cllr Marion Smith
Karen Setchell / Josie McCree-Falconer / John Bush / Jonathan Hale
Nicola Clarke / June Bush
Non Board Member Attendees
Sarah Ritchie / Sylvia Wright / Cherry Foster
Beth Sherratt (minutes)
Apologies
Cllr Peter Lewis / Debbie Payne / Kelly Adams / Neil Greenhalgh
Harry Cook
Meeting Type (Team, Board or other)
Board
Meeting Notes
1 / Welcome and apologies
Andy Rush welcomed everybody to the meeting. Apologies for absence are shown above.
2 / Minutes and actions from previous meeting
Change of the minutes –
· Item 2 (2nd Line) – MR instead of MJ
· Page 2 – Project – General – change to 2014/15
Minutes and actions were agreed by the Board.
3 / Summary of Judges Report (SR)
SR confirmed that the Judges Reports have been circulated. SR recognises that we need to focus more on recycling and suggested that we use the ‘keep clean better lifes theme’ for this year. SR hopes that at the next Bloom Board meeting the route can be agreed. SR would like to introduce more community groups in regards to the areas of development for Britain in Bloom, it was suggested that the wooden benches in Queens Park needed to be painted. NC advised that the scheme will run as a 3 year campaign.
NC suggested that we introduce the Bloom judges to the Serco staff in the market place to give the judges background information with photographs and stands. NC also suggested we could arrange to take the judges to the museum in Queens Park. Bloom Board to establish whether or not we will be taking the judges to the cemetery, Outwoods and Stonebow.
4 / Proposals for 2015/Route (SR)
The Board were presented with suggestions for an alternative route for 2015 reflecting the Judges feedback and comments. It was agreed that the Board would confirm the route at the next meeting.
Areas put forward to the Board are attached with the minutes.
5 / Project Plan 2015
a. CF clarified she has taken items off which aren’t really relevant. MJ confirmed he was very pleased. MJ confirmed he wasn’t available from the 4th to 12th July.
b. MJ advised a suggestion was raised at the community meeting for MJ to circulate entries by email. It was confirmed that the bulb planting session with Harry Cook was very successful.
c. CF will be attending the Bloom Seminar in February which NC wishes to attend as well. CF is looking to get a contact from county to attend the working group.
d. NC confirmed that bedding has been ordered for Bloom but is having a problem making contact with PHS regarding the hanging baskets.
e. KS confirmed that a lady bird will be planted in the bed outside the University’s swimming pool.
f. SR is actively giving ideas to Kelly for the portfolio; MJ suggested a page on the Outwoods regarding the development.
g. JH has offered to do the video himself at a cost of £1,500. JMF to ask her Housing Association to sponsor one of the competitions. NC will look at the best public sector competition. CMS has spoken to SR regarding bringing together the balcony and front garden competitions.
6 / Any Other Business
Tim Adkins has resigned from Quadron, it was confirmed that recruiting will take place before May.
Summary current actions
Action no / Topic / Who
1 / Finalise a short guidance note for BID and Chamber of Commerce for 2015 Bloom. SR confirmed that this is in place but is not straightforward. / SR/NG
7 / SR confirmed that the trees have been removed on the 14/01/2015. MJ suggested urgent contact is to be made with Debbie Payne from LCC. SW to make contact. / SW
9 / JH confirmed that the presentation for business competition took place and he is going to liaise with John re pictures and names. / JH
10 / CBC are in the process of mapping the hanging baskets for around the town centre. SR has received confirmation from Debbie Clarke that we maintain the area with the concrete planter at the bottom of Ratcliffe Road, it was suggested that we could make a feature of this for Bloom. / SR
11 / NC will take forward the public sector competition. (Still to be completed) / NC
12 / NC has a copy of the judging criteria but it has not yet been proposed, NC will circulate when confirmed. / NC
13 / Bloom Board to agree route at next meeting / Bloom Board
14 / NC ordered the flowers for the hanging baskets before Christmas. Going forward NC would like to arrange to sit down at the end of July and get things in place. Quadron have put in an order for plants for the vertical wall in Queens Park, which will be a picture of a ladybird (all agreed to go with that). The friends of Queens Park want to sponsor a interpretation sign. / All
15 / SR confirmed she has a meeting with NG regarding budgets as she needs to be clear on making sure we have enough funding for competitions. SR to confirm to Bloom Board. / SR / NC
16 / PL to call Geoff Bates or Irene Bates at EMIB to discus concerns about, and suggestions for improvements to, EMIB rules relating to the Children’s’ art competition and follow this up with a letter. / PL
17 / DP will check and report back on what costs island sponsorship covers. / DP
19 / SR will discuss the potential sculpture sponsorship with NG on 16/01. Quadron are still waiting for a response from Peter (Uni). A brief has been given to the uni with a budget of £2,000 max. NC, SW and MJ to have a discussion around this. / NG / SR
NC /SW /MJ
Items to note for 2015 planning / thinking
· Planters for street furniture on the new ring road (previous notes say NG to action).
· School Arts competition – clarity on deadlines for EMIB submission (these were extended at a late stage in 2014), develop our understanding of other competition rules e.g. Heart of England.
· Town Hall planters.
· Clarity about when we will receive the themes for 2015.
· Bloom banners / posters.
· SR and NG to develop a short guidance note for BID and Chamber of Commerce.
· Epinal Way Beds (Beacon Road / Forest Road) – need to be in better order, LCC responsibility.
· Balcony competition (MS already consulting on this).
· How to engage public sector in Bloom 2015 (previously agreed that this should be on the agenda for the November Board meeting)
· Public (sector?) buildings competition.
· Sculpture options and funding.
· Learning from other towns and cities.
· How to reflect Ladybird centenary celebrations.
· Refreshing / changing the route.
· Musicians, artists, poets, writers etc. (e.g. “Writer in residence” approach), PL to lead.
· New theme for Baxter Gate & Wood Gate 2015
· Review options for more in-depth use of a wider range of media e.g. East Midlands today
S:\Contracts\MOS\Loughborough in Bloom\In Bloom\2015\Bloom Board Minutes & Agendas\Bloom Board Minutes - 2015 01 15.doc