Committee Meeting 7 July 2008

MARKWICK GARDENS COMMITTEE

Meeting held on Monday 7 July 2008

At 33 Brittany Road, St Leonards on Sea

Present:

Ken, Lesley, Kay, Teresa, Christine, Helen, Dulcie, Monique, Steve, Digger

Apologies:

Apologies were received from Denise.

Minutes of the Last Meeting:

The minutes of the last meeting were circulated and approved.

Matters Arising:

All matters arising have been noted under the appropriate agenda headings.

Correspondence:

A letter has been received from the Council to say that the Committee must obtain the permission of the owner of Trust that owns the Gardens before the holm oak can be felled. The Chairman agreed to contact the owner as soon as possible.

Finance:

There is currently £6474.56 in the main account and £2158.30 in the savings account (this includes the money for the fencing). £285.70 in petty cash is being held by the Treasurer. The Summer Fayre raised £561.45. A member who had held a party in the gardens donated £100 and £42.70 had been raised at a recent coffee morning.

Membership:

A total of 155 members with 46 members yet to renew their membership.

Maintenance:

Ø A meeting has been arranged to discuss proposals and plans for the gardens on Tuesday 15 July 2008 at 4.30pm in Markwick Gardens.

Ø The Committee will consider proposals for projects for the Active Hastings Group within the Gardens. One was the possible erection of another gazebo and another involved the development of the area known as the Nursery.

Ø The toilet had been painted green and now had a lock on the door.

Ø It was felt that some of the paths needed to be tidied up during the Summer and the use of weedkiller was discussed. It was felt that this might be done as a Group. A letter had gone out with the last Newsletter asking for any volunteers to help.

Ø It was reported that the sit on mower has a problem with the gearbox. The Committee may need to consider the purchase of a “new” mower in the future.

Railings/Fences/Gates:

Ø Work on the fencing along Dane Road is planned to start on 10^th and 11^th July. A generator would be required and the Committee agreed to pay for the hire costs. The Committee also discussed the possibility of purchasing a generator to be used for events in the future.

Fundraising Events:

Summer Fair, Markwick Gardens – 29 June 2008

The event appears to have been a great success despite having strong competition with a big event being held in Alexandra Park. Thanks to everyone who worked hard on the day.

Summer Musical Event – Sunday 3 August 2008

Tickets are now on sale £12.00 for adults and £8.00 for children (4-12 years), children under 4 free. This ticket includes a 2 course buffet supper and one glass of wine/soft drink. The Committee discussed what food would be provided and it was agreed that the menu would be similar to the one used last year. The Committee agreed to funds to pay for the meat and fish dishes and the drinks with Committee members donating all other foods. It was agreed that the event would start at 3pm. A meeting will be held on 28 July to finalise the arrangements.

Autumn Table Sale:

Following the success of the table sale held last year, the Committee agreed that another one would be held this year. It was decided to hold this on Sunday 7 September and to advertise this in the next newsletter.

Other fund raising ideas:

Someone has offered to put on a movie evening and picnjc to be held in the gardens in the late summer, early autumn. Next year a play could be performed using the whole of the gardens.

Carols by Candlelight:

It was agreed that this event should be held again in 2008 and a date would be arranged with Father Andrew and the St Johns Church.

Any Other Business:

(a) The Chairman was requested to write to a member requesting that they keep their dog under better control after reports of inappropriate behaviour towards other dogs.

(b) It had been reported that people have been seen in the gardens who are known not to have paid this year’s membership. A notice had been put up about this on the outside of the gates of the gardens. Committee members felt that this did not give a particularly positive or welcoming message to potential new members looking at notices on the gates and it was agreed that any such notices should go up inside the gardens.

Next Newsletter:

It was agreed that the next newsletter would contain a reminder to members not to dump garden waste or rubbish in the gardens, a request for white sheets and the dates of the Table Sale, the Movie Evening and the Carols by Candlelight.

The Meeting ended at 9.50pm. The next meeting will take place on Monday 11 August 2008, at 8.00pm and will be held at 33 Brittany Road.