FVRA Committee Minutes February 2025

Findon Valley Residents' Association

Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us

www.fvra.org.uk

Tuesday 11th February: Findon Valley Free Church

Chair's Welcome

In attendance

Lorraine Taylor (LT) Neil Worsfold (NW) Denise Edwards (DE) Terry Field (TF) Paula Barnes (PB) Chloe Paddock (CP) Sean Philip (SP) Clive Sanders (CS)

Apologies

Matthew Ward (MW)

Minutes of last meeting and Matters Arising

·       Typo in minutes from last meeting, FVRC needs to be corrected to FVFC.

Webmaster (SP)

SP presented data showing website activity over the last 3 months.

In summary

·       827 unique visitors to website

·       1,099 site sessions

·       68 visits on January 6th

·       387 visits from Worthing, 28 from Crawley and Portsmouth

·       52% of visits coming from mobile phones

·       “Events” the most visited section, so important to keep this up to date.

·       The Christmas Extravaganza pages were the most visited over the last 3 months.

·       Wassailing article had 63 unique visitors.

·       Some activity driven by Newsflash events such as scam callers drive short bursts of interest.

·       History section still the most viewed. Need to find a way to upload more updates/ articles / news round up/ Blog to keep up the interest. SP and TF to work on this.

Treasurer’s Report (CS)

·       January income £854.57

·       Expenditure £433.86

·       Gross Total £14,742.32

·       FVRA income from CE is included in January accounts but doesn’t include the church’s income and expenditure. Income and expenditure from FVRA and FVFC need to be combined and the split 50/50.

·       There is an outstanding payment to be made to Jacobs Bagels of £65.50, awaiting an invoice. DE to remind Tino to send invoice at next market.

·       The Vale made £170 of which £125 has been donated to St, Barnabas Hospice.

·       Sea scouts in contact with Richard from church, who is currently on holiday.

·       LT tried to contact Paws charity, no information forthcoming.

Membership Report (NW)

·       Current membership as at end of January 350

·       25 renewals

·       1 new

·       Less than 20% Valley residents are members.

·       Mailerlite emails sent.

January market 515  47% opened.

Cancelled market 482   57.6%  opened

Resends cancelled market  226  24.3% opened.

History group  309  69.2%  opened

School Liaison (PB)

·       School is planning seed sowing in March.

·       Waiting for update about Quiet Garden project.

FVRA Working Party (MW)

·       In January, regrowth in Sycamore patch was cut back.

·       In February, a new patch by clothes recycling bins was prepared for planting and troughs were tidied.

·       Next library session 04/03 2pm.

·       On March 15th, the work party will continue to cut back sycamore regrowth. Meeting at Storrington Rise car park 10am.

·       The felling of unsafe trees with Ash dieback is continuing in Sheepscombe Hanging.

·       We are receiving a donation of tree and shrub saplings from the Woodland Trust soon which will be planted in March.

History Group (TF)

·       Approximately 65 people attended the last meeting on “Transport Part 1”.

·       TF said that it would be beneficial to do more promotion of the group. SP suggested uploading a summary of notes, maybe using AI/ Chat GPT to help with this. TF and SP to look at possibilities of a Blog.

·       High Salvington Windmill will be guests for May meeting.

·       Jim Booth (Archivist) has requested purchase of an external 3 terabytes hard drive to store resources for the group. It was agreed that CS would order one from Currys.

Chairs Report (LT)

·       Planters in Kings Parade

Will be moved to concrete section by toilets improving visibility for motorists exiting Kings Parade.

·       Store area

Trees are going to be planted by working party in front of electricity substation.

We have offered help with painting store doors in return for new notice boards.

·       Markets

No market planned in August LT to approach surgery to hold a joint event instead.

Sharon can no longer provide gazebos for the market so both of the FVRA gazebos will be needed.

PB to sort a Mother’s Day activity for March market.

LT has obtained a large Peter Rabbit for an Easter Raffle at April market in aid of Cancer Research.

·       LT has offered St.Barnabas a stall at the Dog Show.

·       Dog Show Sunday 18th May

PB reported that we have secured a judge for the dog show and is sourcing a dog agility group for arena. Our event clashes with Goodwoof so not much availability.

Rechoired have agreed to perform.

AGM Saturday 22nd March 1.30pm FVFC

·       Councillors Elizabeth Sparks, Nigel Morgan and Daniel Humphreys have confirmed that they will attend and take questions. There are concerns over buses and possibility of Findon Valley may be losing a bus route and Devolution. Questions can be submitted beforehand,

Tom Rutland MP has it in his diary but is yet to confirm. LT to send an official invitation.

Angela Crane, Neighbourhood Lead (AWC) is new in post but has agreed to speak about Cissbury Fields project.

·       AGM documents pack needs to go out at least 2 weeks before meeting and must include Agenda, Minutes from last AGM, FVRA Constitution, Trustees Annual Statement, Full years Audited Accounts, Voting/Proxy form.

Posters need to go up around valley and SP to blast Findon Valley with notice on Facebook.

·       At meeting, Membership Secretary (NW) will need to record/check off attendees at door, NW will need help with this to help speed things along.

·       Resolutions to be passed will include acceptance of Chairs Report, Trustees’ Report, Auditor’s Report, election of committee members.

·       LT is hoping to secure the services of a retired accountant as auditor and has a meeting with an accountant Wednesday 12th February regarding auditing of annual accounts. Charity commission says the accounts don’t need to be independently verified, or audited by an auditor, as turnover is less than £25,000 per year.

Committee Members

·       Clive Sanders to step down as Treasurer at AGM after 10 years’ service but has stated interest in being Highways officer. LT has been approached by a member for this role. CP has agreed to become a full member of the committee. Every other committee member has agreed to stay in post.

·       There are some vacant posts including Vice Chair and now Treasurer. Some posts are also Trustees including Secretary, Treasurer and Vice Chair. SP to advertise vacancies on Website and Facebook.

Community Works Membership

·       LT to investigate joining this group who match volunteers to local organisations as a way of recruiting new members.

South Downs National Park Engagement Event Thursday 13th February

·       LT, TF Colin the helper and a Lime Tree Avenue resident are attending this meeting regarding development in the National Park.

·       In preparation, LT has been researching proposals for building in or around Findon Valley. 30 houses are planned for The Quadrangle allotments, houses in the grounds of a house in Soldiers Field, Findon and in Elm Rise. Findon.

·       The Government states that 4500 new homes need to be built in the park by 2042 which is 250 new homes a year.

AOB

·       SP says that a scam keeps appearing on the website regarding booking pitches at the market. The only way to stop it is to monitor and remove it daily.

·       NW asked if “Hot Drinks” could be added to the market poster and offered to edit it. 

·       DE has agreed to produce a seasonal quarterly newsletter and showed a draft version. It was agreed to use coloured text sections for easier reading. It will be distributed at markets, history group and other events. LT to approach Jacobs Steel for copying.

·       TF suggested putting together a Welcome to the Valley Pack that could contain membership forms, Newsletters, History Group poster etc for people who move to the area They could be left in Estates Agents, Library etc. SP suggested putting a pack on Website.

Date of next meeting

Tuesday 11th March 7pm FVFC

Please forward any AOB suggestions to chair by Friday 28th February for inclusion in this meeting. To ensure we finish promptly, some issues may be deferred to the next meeting.