WSVA ZOOM Meeting
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WOOD STREET VILLAGE ASSOCIATION AGM

Monday, 12th April 2021 (Zoom meeting)

 

Alex Waugh welcomed everyone to the 51st Annual General Meeting of the Wood Street Village Association.

 

There were apologies from: Anthony Letts, Alex Russell, Paul Cragg and Terry Wright.

 

Present: Janet Sutton, Robert Grimmond, Keith Witham, Belinda Baker, Alex Waugh, Nicky Parsons, Alison Johnson, Caroline Mankelow, Helen Bell, David Hypher, Bob McShee, David Grey, Lizzie Toulson and Richard Trinick.

 

Before the meeting, a minute’s silence was held as a mark of respect for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

 

The minutes of the previous AGM had been distributed before the meeting. There was one alteration: on those present, it should have read Terry Wright instead of Terry Clark.

The minutes were then proposed as being a correct record of the meeting by Alex Waugh and seconded by Janet Sutton.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Alex reported that regrettably all the events planned for 2020 were cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, which meant no maypole dancing, village show or carol singing (which was cancelled at the last minute as new restrictions were imposed.)  However, in October 2020, Village Association meetings resumed using zoom, and all members have been invited to monthly meetings since. In fact, this has on many occasions led to a better level of attendance than previously, no doubt people preferring the comfort of their own homes to turning out on a cold or wet winter evening.

 

The development of the Wood Street Village SANG on Frog Grove Lane, which is still not officially open as the linked housing developments have not yet gone “live”, has been discussed on several occasions. The WSVA has linked with the Land Trust which will be managing the site when it formally opens when it will be known as Wood Street Knoll. WSVA has sought to address issues such as the fly grazing of horses, the replacement of access gates with kissing gates to reduce the likelihood of trespass, the entry barrier to the car park, the provision of benches, litter and poo bins.

Edward Knowles, from the Land Trust, was invited to join the AGM but declined as he has nothing new to report to residents and officially the SANG is still not open.

 

WSVA has continued to organise litter picks (thanks to Ali Johnson) and we are grateful to Councillor Keith Witham for his support in providing funds for signs to encourage people not to drop litter and clear up dog mess.

 

We are grateful to the Parish Council for their support in helping to manage unauthorised trespass on the commons, the management of trees on White Hart Lane, around the Village Green, the cricket pitch and behind Cheesmans warehouse.  2020 saw a strengthening of links between the Association and the Council, which was very welcome.

 

Alex thanked Richard Trinick who has continued to produce the newsletter and also the team who valiantly distribute it.

 

Councillors Keith Witham and Bob McShee from Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council have been regular attendees of our monthly meetings, and WSVA is very grateful for their diligence in reporting back on developments at a borough and county level.  Bob has in particular been assiduous in pursuing planning issues relating to Wood Street Village.

 

During 2020, several WSVA members took the initiative of providing local support for those obliged to remain at home in order to make sure they had the assistance needed in relation to shopping and other matters during lockdown.  Many thanks to all involved, and especially to Ali Johnson for publicising the scheme with notices around the village

 

A range of other matters have been discussed at WSVA meetings, including drivers and horses on the village green, maintenance of the village pond, planning matters and parish council consultations.  It has been good to see members bringing forward issues and that the Village Association is a useful forum for discussion as well as an initiator of ideas and projects.  Thank you to all who participate and support the Association.

 

There were no questions for the Chairman.

 

David reiterated Alex’s thanks to Richard for producing the newsletter. He mentioned the sad loss of Edward Rigg, who died in January, and stated his disappointment that they were not able to include an article in the newsletter about the eventful life of Edward, due to concerns about his house still being empty. It is hoped there will be a reception to celebrate his life at a later stage.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

A copy of the accounts was sent out before the meeting.

 

In common with the Horticultural Society and many other organisations, Terry reported that 2020 was mostly a year of standing still. The Quiz Night, the May Day celebrations, the Summer Show and everything else besides had to be cancelled. Fortunately, little had been paid out for any events and the losses for the year were therefore kept small. The three items of expense of any consequence during the year were the annual insurance premium which comprehensively covers the Association against all risks throughout the year (but we do not insure against loss of income or profits!), the cost of printing the Spring 2020 Village Newsletter and the cost of electricity to the maypole for the Christmas Tree lights and for that used by WS Jazz for their charity Jazz Festival which they were able to hold on the Green in September.

Before we were burdened with Covid19 and lockdown, some items had been booked for the Summer Show and some exhibitors had already paid their booking fees but, at the time of writing, the show Committee are optimistic that they will be able to hold a Summer Show this year and all those receipts and payments will therefore be utilised this year insofar as they have not been previously re-imbursed. For that reason, those items do not feature as expenditure or receipts in the 2020 accounts but have been carried forward to this year in the hope the Summer Show will go ahead. They are included in the Balance Sheet under ‘In Advance/Sundry Debtors’ and ‘Sundry Creditors’. However, in the event that the Summer Show does not proceed this year as planned, it may not be possible to again carry forward some costs.

To summarise, the Income and Expenditure Summary shows that we spent a little over £542 in the year but had no income whatever. That figure therefore becomes the total deficit for the year. Considering the Balance Sheet, the first section shows what we have in the way of assets: money in the bank and cash, plus the ‘Payments in Advance/Sundry Debtors’ less the ‘Sundry Creditors’ to both of which I referred earlier. So, despite all the problems of 2020, our Accumulated Reserves (Assets) still totalled £5898 at 31st December last, albeit that was reduction of a little over £450 during the year. The finances remain in good order.

 

There were no questions on the accounts.

The acceptance of the report was proposed by Nicky Parsons and seconded by David Hypher.

 

SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Keith Witham reported that over the past 12 months, SCC has been primarily concerned with the pandemic and keeping council services open. His email newsletters have been more frequent to ensure people have been kept informed of local developments. A major concern during 2020 was the 5 traveller incursions in Wood Street which cost the taxpayer £85,000 for the clearing up operation and the installation of firstly temporary and then permanent security features such as gates on the commons. Legislation is being put through Parliament to establish incursions as a criminal rather than a civil offence which will give the police the powers to intervene. In total, the combination of costs for traveller incursions for Worplesdon, Normandy and Pirbright now totals over £200,000.

Keith has been in discussion with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service with regard to dealing with wildfires on places like Whitmoor Common, the availability of fire hydrants and the necessity of cutting back woodland to provide firebreaks.

 

Robert thanked Keith for keeping Wood Street residents informed through his newsletters. This was reiterated by Richard who also thanked Keith for his support and help with the application for a pre-school nursery to be established at the Cricket Club. Alex also thanked Keith on behalf of the Village Association for regularly attending meetings and that this is much appreciated.

 

GUILDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL REPORT

Bob reported that there will be a vegan market in the Portsmouth Road car park on Sunday 18th of April from 10:30 am until 3:30 pm, selling a variety of delicious food and drink.

Guildford shops, pubs and restaurants will open again as part of the next stage in the government’s roadmap to recovery.

The Future Guildford Transformation programme has enabled the Council to make increasing cost savings against a growing budget deficit.

As part of this programme, at the Service Delivery Executive Advisory board meeting held last week, a mandate was discussed for the review of public toilet provision.

Six options were reviewed, and the preferred options were:

  1. a) To remove grant funding to Parish Councils which have public toilets.
  2. b) To close a limited number of toilets to affect a saving of £50-60,000 per annum.

He stated that this matter will be the subject of further discussion at future Council meetings.

There are, at present, 3 planning applications for Wood Street:

  1. To erect a new dwelling at Wildfields Farm.
  2. A retrospective application to convert outbuildings to 2 offices and a gym at 94, Broad Street.
  3. A retrospective application for the gates and brick pillars at Roundoak, White Hart Lane.

Bob made the point that planning applications are taking longer to be reviewed at the moment for several reasons: Covid, the increasing number of planning applications being submitted and staff leaving and not being replaced in order to reduce council costs.

 

Alex thanked Bob on behalf of the Village Association for regularly attending meetings which again is much appreciated.

 

PARISH COUNCIL REPORT

The new maypole is due to be delivered to John Gunner this week, subject to the availability of a suitable lorry.

 

One tonne of best quality topsoil has been placed into the vehicle ruts on the village green.  A further one tonne of soil is to be ordered in the near future, which will be used to rectify the divots caused by the horse that was exercised on the Green.

Wood Street Village Summer Show, Summer Show Registration Day and 150th Maypole Celebration Event

have all been approved by the Parish Council, subject to the Government’s Covid restrictions in place at the time of the events.

 

Letters of condolence have been sent, by the Chairman of the Parish Council, to Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Private Secretary.  These are available to view on the Parish Council’s homepage.  A minutes’ silence will be held at the next Parish Council meeting as a sign of respect.

Your Fund Surrey – The following projects have been proposed for Wood Street Village

If you wish to support any of these suggestions, please click on the relevant link – scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the pink, thumbs up icon. There is no facility to object to a proposal, however all proposals will require significant community support to move through the funding process.

 

The Parish Council has approved the underletting of the cricket pavilion to Tiny Acorns, subject to the approval of Surrey County Council and Surrey Wildlife Trust, and any legal fees incurred by Worplesdon Parish Council to be met by the Cricket Club (Anticipated to be £350).

 

Worplesdon Parish Council has reported the graffiti on the noticeboard on the brow of the hill on the SANG to The Land Trust, but to date has received no feedback.

 

Youths had erected a tent in Nevins Copse and had been drinking, taking drugs and had left a campfire unattended, which SFRS had to extinguish. This has been reported to Surrey Police who are carrying out regular patrols.  The tent and subsequent den were removed and Kings College advised of the activity of their students.

 

Community Speed Watch

is to be deployed in Wood Street Village in the near future.  Volunteers are welcome.  All training is now online.  Contact the Assistant Clerk for further details.

 

In the lay-by near the entrance to Russell Place Farm

, Surrey County Council has repaired the potholes with road planings.

 

Preventative measures have been undertaken by Surrey County Council to secure the commons from further unauthorised traveller encampments.

 

David added that the Parish Council has also agreed to the Jazz Festival taking place on Sunday, 18th July, subject to Government restrictions at the time. It will take place from 12.30-5.30pm and 2 headline acts have already been booked. There will be food and alcohol on sale and a raffle will be held.

Belinda pointed out that the hoof prints on the village green are deep and she was concerned about how to identify where they are. A discussion followed which resulted in the decision that Richard would contact Guildford Parks and Leisure to see if they could come and quote for the job. Recently, they have been successfully slitting and rolling the outfield at the Cricket Club but it needs to be done promptly as conditions are good at the moment. Once a quote is obtained, Alex will contact Gaynor to get permission to authorize the repairs and the Village Association will be prepared to meet the costs. It is estimated to be around £200. It was pointed out that this is also a Health and Safety issue, particularly with events already being planned for 2021.

 

 

ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Alex thanked all the members of the committee for their support and hard work in organising different events over the year.

 

Alex read out the names of the committee members and asked if they were all willing to stand again:

Treasurer- Terry Wright

Secretary – Alison Johnson

Minutes Secretary – Caroline Mankelow

It was agreed by everyone present that the whole committee and the honorary auditor be voted back ‘en bloc’.

This was proposed by David Hypher and seconded by Robert Grimmond.

 

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

John Gunner has been told to leave Russell Place Farm so he is getting rid of his herd and most of his machinery. The land has been sold by Peter Russian and is to be developed as a further extension of the SANG. John has been a tenant farmer for over 20 years and is angry at being evicted. It was agreed that John has done an enormous amount for Wood Street over the years.

A local resident has asked for street lighting to be put up along Broad Street to ensure it’s a safer place to walk. She has been in contact with Surrey County Council and the Parish Council but there are no funds available from SCC or from GBC. Residents of Wood Street were questioned about the option of street lighting a few years ago and the majority were against the proposal. There was a suggestion that residents could be asked their opinions again in the next newsletter but it would be a theoretical question as the problem of funding would remain.

Richard outlined the difficulties that the Cricket Club is facing in trying to get the pre-school started in September. Covid and slow communication are both hindering the process and the Cricket Club needs the revenue, particularly as they are the biggest provider in Worplesdon Parish of youth activities through its Colts programme. Alex asked Richard to advise him if the WSVA could help in any way.

The next litter pick will be on Saturday, 15th May at 3pm and there will be a drink afterwards at The Royal Oak for all volunteers.

Memories were shared about the Duke of Edinburgh. Richard remembered receiving his degree from Prince Philip at his graduation ceremony. He had large hands and he remarked on Richard’s dazzling smile. David told the story of how Prince Philip was attending a reception at Exxon Valdez headquarters, where no alcohol was served. Philip asked for a Mackeson (and later another one) and the staff were able to save the day by finding some bottles which were normally kept in a safe to use for the beer battered fish and chips!

 

David expressed his thanks to Alex and the whole committee of the WSVA for all their hard work during the year.

 

 

The next Wood Street Village Association meeting will be held on Monday, 10th May 2021. Everyone is welcome to attend and a reminder (and zoom link) will be sent out nearer the time.

 

The meeting closed at 9.30pm.

WSVA AGM meeting 12 April 2021.  (via Zoom)

 

Joining instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83285980996?pwd=NGp0SGczSDgvYVNhZUdTa3RSYTlGZz09

 

Meeting ID: 832 8598 0996
Passcode: 802170

 

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