Meeting of Corringham and Fobbing Forum

Meeting of Corringham and Fobbing Forum Held on 9th September 2013 at 7.30pm in Corringham Library

Present: Danni Tate DT Chair Bill Dawson BD Treasurer Committee Judith Acreman JA Secretary Pam Tate PT Penny Partridge PP Dave Plant DP CEC Liam Judd LJ CEC Julie Sorrel-Wilde JSW CEC John Darling JD Karis May Darling Foundation John Fox JF RATA/ CEC Alan Phillips AF RATA Phil Anderson PA Sharron King SK Salvation Army Trudie Eaton TE Roy Eaton RE

Action 1.Apologies - Andrew Roast, Nuala ..

2. Minutes of last meeting - Minutes of last meeting - some attendees had not received them. Circulated at the meeting and no-one had any issues arising. Chair apologised for issues with her e mail. Please note that date on top is erroneous and was not changed from June to July.

3. Matters arising - No matters

4. Police report - Police not in attendance 5 Corringham Events Committee CEC Reported that they are Pressing ahead with plans for the Christmas festival 5th Dec 5.30 - 9.45. Turning on lights on 29th at 6pm - event to start at 5.30. also with celebrities, singing etc Various events Saturday mornings in December co-operating with St Johns church. Also subject to planning agreement. 2 Christmas trees donated for this year to go outside library and St Johns church.

6 Local Community Hub Terry Piccalo Chair Stanford Forum

Terry's preference is for one E Thurrock hub to cover both Corringham and Stanford-le-hope. He said that it would be hard to justify 2 separate hubs, though there could be a 'satellite'. If we agree this in principle tonight there would then be another more in depth meeting to explain how it works / what is involved. We need to decide this tonight as it will determine whether we make one or 2 applications, but that is all. A meeting of all interested people would be called, for a 'hub roll out' which would then move into the implementation phase. The group itself would then determine the exact shape and location. All this would need to happen within the next few weeks. In response to questions from the floor Terry explained that the purpose of a hub is to bring together in one building local voluntary groups and council functions all serving their area. Management board made up of reps from all partners. South Ockendon one set up in March has already had 40,000 visitors. Now local health and GPs wanting to be involved. Opening hours 9-5 with plans to extend this, run by volunteers, 20+ have had training. It is also a social drop in even if you have no queries. 22 groups now use building. It is a scheme devised to compensate the cut backs in public services and assist with informal support so formal council services can focus their resources on serious problems. Cllr Anderson very keen that E Thurrock get involved as otherwise we will seriously miss out as this is the new way forward. Not all council services can now in all communities every day, so it means they either have to become more thinly spread or they have to group differently and together. If we do not join in we will find this area will have less and less resources provided.

The decision was put to a vote which was unanimous that we should make a joint application with Stanford (last month already agreed we wished to explore the idea of a hub for our area). It was further proposed by Danni that the hub roll out be set for 1st Oct at the library when there will be a presentation. This is intended to be for interested local groups by invitation not a meeting open to the general public at this stage. Forum will issue invites as we have done the EOI; Terry suggested 2- 3 reps from each group not their entire membership. 7 Forum Constitution A new and up to date constitution was proposed and put to the vote. The constitution was accepted with 10 votes for and 4 abstentions.

8.Treasurers report Bill updated recent items

9. Public Forum JSW would like to get Corringham Town centre tidied up eg cracked overhead walkways, mouldy walls, split and cracked fascia boards, old lighting and broken windows. All evident if you look up.

- Cllr Anderson walked about recently with council environmental officer and pointed out the same issues. Never gets done because longstanding issues with ownership of areas in Corringham TC. He will report back to Forum as they are identified and resolved. Public discussion made it clear that residents and traders want him to keep putting pressure on council officers.

- Resident raised eyesore of school house which caught fire in the Sorrells which is now in derelict state. Dave Plant said that he Cllr Anderson to believed it was subject to a police investigation and therefore the investigate building will not be released. - Debate as residents speculated ways of identifying landlords and proposed suggestions.

KMD centre is now in the park and will open in December 9-5 principally for children and their groups but there are other groups and room for others to use it so please get in touch. Forum expressed their appreciation for the work and achievements of the foundation. 29th September, the foundation will be on ITV1.

10 Ward councillors report - Cllr Anderson - - Sorrells closure - this happened very quickly, with little warning by contractor. It will be closed until Christmas. The 100 bus is diverted, route provided. Delivery lorries also diverted up Springhouse, down Gordon's, should not be using others. For pedestrians to cross Manorway Cllr Anderson has had Underpass cleaned, disinfected, graffiti painted over and lighting repaired to make it more pleasant. Additional zebra crossing in Southend Rd between First and second Ave being brought forward, should be done in next month. Also speed checks now that schools are back. - public concern re parking of parents outside schools - Cllr Anderson has arranged for mobile CCTV camera to stationed there as he has received several complaints especially Abbotts Drive. - Catcracker has definitely been bought by the Chelmsford Co-Op and development plans were made available tonight. Still need to apply for planning permission which is when definite plans will be known (parking, opening hours, delivery arrangements). Cllr Anderson urged forum members to keep an eye on developments. Corringham market update - one application now withdrawn only the R&TA still stands. Secretary of RTA said bid still being negotiated. - Police station - youth Offending Service is being relocated from old Magistrates Court in Grays and persuaded to re-open front desk. Cllr Holden has worked v hard to acheive this. Also means Neighbourhood Policing team have a local base and are not based in Tilbury. Will happen within a month.

11. AoB JSW - Springhouse park. Mainly used by dog walkers and youths playing football. Causes no issues. Would be nice to install multi ball park. JA reminded forum that we looked into this some years ago before we got the Adizone and it costs a lot of money e.g.£50,000. Alternative suggestion that we install fixed goals - JSW will explore ideas and we can take it forward and share funding. Discussion re applying to DP World - feedback that this is rarely successful as they vote each year to sponsor 2 local charities.

Bill re prices on seats outside library - £500 - £800 approx. but Danni has had some feedback from police who are concerned about youths congregating. Jenny agreed that that was the reason most of the original seating was removed. Forum felt they did not want area to be determined by anxiety about youths. Discussion put to vote and unanimous agreement to go ahead. Also suggestion that we have a seat in the middle of Grover walk perhaps around the tree.

Next meeting 14th October - Corringham Fire Station