Friends Of Rhyddings Park
 

Just to remind people that the next meeting is tonight 8th September at 7pm in the Craft Room, Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre.

Re: Friends Of Rhyddings Park
 

Sorry I would have come, but something came up that I needed to attend to.

Anything of interest to report back, Mr eye on the ground of the craft room floor?

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I decided to go along to the meeting to find out what it was all about. Basically, nothing happened - no progress was made whatsoever! Very frustrating!

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No progress in a Townhall, surely not?

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The meeting agenda was followed. The committee roles were explained along with the support that can be expected from Hyndburn Borough Council. The Friends Group Constitution was discussed and some changes suggested. At the next meeting the committee should be created and the Constitution accepted.

Overall a fairly positive meeting I thought.

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Boring........................

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It was far from boring, very interesting to see who attended.

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I propose Neily as the camp, I mean court reporter, a much more posiitive report than Gayles, hee hee.

Thank you.

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If there are any camp positions my friend, you will get my vote.

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I was frustrated because it turned a bit political and could have progressed a lot quicker. I like action with things like this and I don't like feeling like I'm being led around for someone elses gain.

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It wasn't a dig Gayle. I know the wheels of change spin painfully slowly, and it was just that you were probably hoping for more progress.

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I didn't take it as a dig, Garinda.

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A bit, looked like a lot to me :). Fortunately Peter Britcliffe was able to control the provocateurs and the meeting continued to follow the agenda.


Note. I try not to say too many nice things about Councillors, but I do think he did a good job.

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Well, all right yes, it was a lot political. Yes, through gritted teeth I'll admit that PB did hold the meeting together quite well.

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That must have been painfull :D

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None of that has been decided. That's why I got a bit frustrated. PB facilitated the meeting on Thurs (he was very keen to point out that he wasn't chairing it, just facilitating it). When some people wanted to vote a committee on they were told they couldn't, it had to be a postal ballot.

Date of next meeting hasn't been agreed either - I'll bet my bottom dollar that it's scheduled for the 20th October.

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Think who ever holds the chair should be a non-HBC person, that way the local people would get a better say.

Just another point on the park, there don't seem to be any maintenance going on at the moment, the hedges facing park lane are now so high the residents can't see the play area :)

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Why do you think that Gayle?
It was decided that only residents of Oswaldtwistle and elected Councillor types could be members of the friends group. I think non residents might be allowed if they are a local business, I was a bit iffy on that bit. It was definately decided that no Councillors could be on the Committee.

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Only because it's the one night in the next month or so that I can't make. Didn't mean anything by it I was just saying 'just my luck' kind of thing.

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Well, technically yes, park381 but that doesn't mean that Councillors can't be involved. It means that it should not form part of Council policy and that it should be managed and governed by the committee.

With other Friends groups it's worked quite well to have a couple of Councillors - they have the inside track so's to speak.

What I was concerned about was the authority of the Area Council over the Friends group. Apparently the Friends group has to report to the Area Council - that is controlled by the Council. So, it's sort of handing it to the residents but then making them answerable to the Council - not sure how exactly that will work.

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Yes, and you see there's another thing that needs to be cleared up quickly. It's Council officers who are currently leading on the funding application.

Which is another area where I have a bit of a problem.

To write a funding application properly you have to state exactly what you're going to spend the money on. You can't just fill in the form and say 'can we have £1m please, we'll spend it really wisely'.

So, how can they write up a bid without the committee being formed and without the consultation process taking place? Yet, that is precisely what has happened which means that someone has made some decisions about it already or the bid couldn't be written. I mean, for instance, if the funding bid states they want to reinstate a bandstand or crazy golf, or if they want to turn the old playground into a football pitch or an open air theatre, how could they do this without consultation?

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I agree Gayle about the Area Council (meeting this Thursday by the way). I think it may have something to do with the Council still having over all authority in the park still. It is HBC's park and they are not giving all powers away just yet. They mentioned things like HBc still being responsible fo insurance in the park. Your other point is something that I have also thought about. When the money comes ( if ever ) whose bank account will it land in? HBC or The Friends of Rhyddings Park? I really can't see HBC allowing a group of residents 'play' with £1,000,000, can you?

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Yes, but technically if FofRP apply for it then they must have a bank account to receive it. Again technically that would give them the right to 'play' with it. I can't see HBC allowing them to do that either.

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It will be interesting to see what happens. My problem with HBC being too involved is that it will turn into another broadway.

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So how did the election go last night? Did Neil win, and was Romps voted in as sec?

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no its gone out to postal vote now.

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All should be known after the vote's are in and counted on the 12th October.

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You should be out canvassing the people who have votes, not spending so much time on here being 'pithy'.

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I'm afraid you'd have to have been at one of the meetings to be able to vote. Did you come down from your tree on either of those nights?

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The nights are getting cold now. He will have stayed up his tree keeping his nuts warm.

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Here is a list of the nominee's for committee positions. There have been 2 people nominated for each of the 4 position's. 3 of the nominee's are AccyWebbers. I will use nicknames for AccyWebbers and just first names for non members in case they don't want their surname posting on here.

Chair
Gayle Knight and Neil

Vice Chair
Gayle Knight and Hazel (non AccyWebber)

Secretary
Gayle Knight and Romps

Treasurer
Gayle Knight and Paul (non AccyWebber)

As I said before votes will be counted 12th October

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Looks like Gayle is going to be busy. Have no problem with the nominees
Would Accy web be used as a method of getting information out to the people of Ossy?

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It will be down the committee when created to decide what method's of communication will be used. I would not be surprised if things were mentioned on here. Much in the same way as members might talk about the park in the pub, golf club etc. I have seen many threads/posts on here bringing people's attention to local events in the past.

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Go on, as someone who went to the meeting and thus is entitled to vote, who are you voting for?;)

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Thats why they call it a secretish ballot.

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Thank you park381, hope a few more people feel like that. If I get elected I'll do my best to make sure that the first thing that is built is a new tree house especially for you.

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Can we have a swing-o-meter as the battle between Gayle and Neil hots up for the top job?

I'm backing the one who wins.:)

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Get Off Our Nuts
 

No it's swinging that is up his street

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The hand that rocks the cradle?

Yes that does sound like me.

If the baby doesn't come up to expectations- whoops ,out it goes.:)

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I hope you would not throw your surrogate daughter Emily out of her cot!!

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No figuratively, I meant you were my baby.:)

That was quite a good post for 4ish in the morning when I was very drunk.:)

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Whens the next meeting please?, as I would like to attend.

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It has not been arranged for definate. Most probably next week or the week after. The votes for the committee will be counted this Wednesday. Then the committee can arrange the meeting date.

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Whats the criteria to become a friend of rhyddings park, as I would like to become one.

Many thanks.

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I would think that anyone who lived near to and used the park, had an interest in seeing the park restored to how it used to be in days gone by would be more than welcome.
Think neil or gayle would correct me if I was wrong.

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I only have a copy of the original draft Constitution. It was changed after discussion at the last meeting. The final constitution will be adopted by the committee at the next meeting. I think it will state that members must be Oswaldtwistle residents 18+ ( under 18 with written consent from parent/guardian). Elected official's of Oswaldtwistle will be allowed and I think others with an interest in Oswaldtwistle but who don't live here as agreed by the committee (ie. local business owners etc ).

Don't hold me on it as I only made rough notes on my draft copy as changes were discussed, I may have missed something.

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Thanks Neil, Will you post the date of the meeting which I will be able to attend as soon as it is arranged please.

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Yes I will do. Where abouts in Oswaldtwistle are you?

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On the new estate off Moscow mill Street.

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Get Off Our Nuts
 

And don't come back to pinch our nuts!!! :)

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Parking accross my drive has been known to get people parking tickets :D

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I never park at the front. It is to narrow :D

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Have they widened the road? I must have missed that.

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Ah well there goes another £8000 of rate payers money wasted :)
Did you miss the thread on the subject as well :)

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To keep you all informed - I didn't get voted on to the committee. All the other nominees got voted on.

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That is sad, cause I am sure that with your background & knowledge, you would have been a great asset to the committee, may be they were all frightened you would speak your mind.
I hope that you will still get involved in some way.......... Does that mean neil is on the committee?

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Yes, Neil is the Chair. Romps is Secretary.

As for getting involved, I'll have to wait until I'm asked now!

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Yes, but I assume that the next meeting will be on 20th Oct, which I can't attend because I'm on stage that night.

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Thanks for your support Gayle your private message was really appreciated.

XX

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Sorry mate but the next meeting of the Friends of Rhyddings Park will be on the 20th October at 6pm in the Craft room at the Town Hall.

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I might be able to come after all. I'm not on stage until 7.30 and I'd only have to walk up the stairs. I'll try to make it.

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Good I hope you can Gayle. Will you please ask them to keep the noise down for us :D

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There's a park in Brighton called Queens Park. They found greater community involvment when they changed the name of their organisation to The Queens of Friends Park.;)

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Neil that meeting is open to anyone yes?

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Yes. Only Oswaldtwistle residents will be allowed to be friends ( there are a few exceptions ) but anyone is allowed to come as an observer. You live in Oswaldtwistle don't you?

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Yes I do Neil Many thanks.

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What on earth are the exceptions?

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People who are standing for local elections are not allowed to be on the committee. This was a little ruling that was added to the constitution recently - apparently it's to stop people using it as a campaign tool.

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Thanks. From Neil's post I thought it meant that exceptions would be made for a few chosen people outside of Ossy to become friends.

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Not sure about that. Dorothy Westell was entitled to vote in the election because she's County Councillor for Ossy even though she lives in Clayton. There was talk that people who owned businesses in Ossy would be allowed to vote but in the end I don't think they were.

Other exceptions who can't be a Friend are people who aren't on the electoral register. So they may live in Ossy but aren't allowed to participate.

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At the second meeting it was decided that most people wanted to keep it a local friends group with members who live in Oswaldtwistle with an interest in their park. It was agreed to change the constitution to reflect that view. At the same meeting it was agreed that no Councillors would be allowed on the committee. After all, it would look as though the Council was devolving the management of the park to other Councillors if any were on the committee. Local business owners who don't live in Oswaldtwistle but might be interested in sponsoring something within the park would be a good example. As would people who work in or for the park but don't live locally. Another example is Dorothy Westell our County Councillor. She said she did not live in Oswaldtwistle but would like to be involved.

Are you interested in being involved Gary? I am sure I could find you a job at the Halloween fun day that is being planned for the 29th October.

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But I've met your children and they didn't find me at all frightening.

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Well, how did the meeting go?

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Not at all I had not noticed Gayle's post. The meeting went well thanks.

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Nice event Neil - very lucky with the weather - hope you got the attendance you wanted!

Sorry I didn't have my two entering the fancy dress competition - they've both got really self conscious about stuff like that lately and neither of them were interested in doing it. From what I could see you and Cllr Hayes had a good selection to choose from!

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Well i was there & came home with one bat box, 1 bird box, 2 willow art effergies, 2 goody bags from wardens, 2 kids face painted & very sore cold legs!!:eek:............& dying for a brew:D

With all the space there i thought there would be more going on, though least it was dry & the cold wind managed to stave off till last half hour, the kids seemed to have enjoyed it & it got me away from the pc:D

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In the end Gayle I didn't judge the fancy dress. I knew half the children so it was unfair. Brian Walmsley did it instead. Glad your kids enjoyed it Mel. Make sure you put those boxes up somewhere and see what lives in them. Hopefully our next event will be bigger and better. We are still learning and we will have more friends to help us next time. I have to thank the Neighbourhood Wardens who did most of the work today. They worked hard and made lots of children happy. I hope they attend our next event as visitors not workers. We estimated about 250 turned up for the fun day which I think is great given the time scales we had.

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I've got to say I enjoyed the fun day. It was nice to see so many smiling faces. Some scary looking kids around, mind.:eek: First class effort from the wardens!!!