Findon Valley Residents' Association
Protecting the interests of our community and the countryside around us
Tuesday 14th January: 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)
Apologies
Matthew Ward (MW) Clive Sanders (CS) Sean Philip (SP)
Minutes of last meeting and Matters Arising
· Monies raised by Christmas Extravaganza will be accounted for in January’s report.
Webmaster (SP)
· SP has put forward a selection of dates for virtual Social Media training. It was agreed that Monday 20th January at 7.30pm would be the preferred date. DE to inform SP of decision. The training will be undertaken by LT, NW, PB, TF, DE, CS. The session will be recorded as a resource for future training. CP and MW will access this recording if unable to make training session.
Treasurer’s Report
· December income £361.39
· Expenditure £303.15
· Gross Total £14,672.01
Cash income from CE will show in January accounts.
Membership Report
· Current membership as at end of December 350
· 15 renewals
· 0 new
· Mailerlite email marketing; 513 subscribers, 330 are members
School Liaison
· School closed for holidays.
· School thanked for supporting CE.
· School asked to notify parents about the Big Bird Watch.
· Farmers Market poster shared by school and circulated to school community.
FVRA Working Party
· Pre-Christmas ramble around valley with LT pointing out local history.
· Wassail event 4th January was a great success with around 60 people attending. As well as local community Sussex Folk Orchestra. South Downs Singers and Worthing Larks Morris Dancers attended. Hoping for this to be an annual event.
· Next working party Saturday 25th January meet at Storrington Rise car park 10am.
· Library garden Tuesday 4th February 2pm.
· Awaiting a date from David Tow and Clare Collins to work at the Quiet Garden project at the Vale school.
Chairs Report
· Markets
Sharon Leppard has proposed not having a market in August due to clashing with other events and difficulty in securing stallholders, this will release time to hold another event on this date.
Sharon has said 50% of market fees will come to FVRA. LT expressed thanks for this.
Awaiting figures from church to reconcile accounts for CE 2024.
· Christmas Extravaganza 2025
Sharon says all fees will go to FVRA.
CE 2025 will be held on Thursday 11th December in church hall.
· Maintenance of store doors
Need attention and repainting. Possible activity for a working party. LT has contacted AWC
· Planters on Kings Parade
LT has sent an email to David Austin regarding sleepers for a flower bed on the grassy area and moving planters from corner of Kings Parade to a safer area on the grass. This is a project that has been in the pipeline for over a year but needs road closure and AWC approval and organisation.
· Toilets
LT suspects that somebody might be sleeping in the toilets as litter is being left inside every day. LT will try to observe situation and offer help if safe to do so.
· Storage Boxes
PB has sourced storage boxes for keeping resources required for each event in the store. These will be labelled.
· Cissbury Fields
Angela Crane is the new neighbourhood lead from AWC and has taking over coordinating the Cissbury Fields Working Group meetings.
· Dog Show Sunday 18th May
To be coordinated by Sheila from Umbrella Events as was last year. It was agreed not to run a FVRA Tombola stall but to have an information stall the same as a market which will release people to be more involved in other activities on the day. There are some improvements to be made to the event including a bigger arena in a more central area, allowing more room. LT suggested inviting Morris Dancers, Rock Choir, Dog Display team to provide entertainment. The Vale School has given permission for their toilets to be used again.
It was discussed if this should be a money making event or a community event it was agreed for it to be a community event.
DE to source a judge for the event.
· Other Events
Picnic in August-Cissbury Fields
5/10K Race -October 5th which will be off road, Sponsored by Jacobs Steel. Vests that have a timing chip in them will be required. SP to source and find costings. Foxy Ladies have agreed to help again. It will be in aid of a different charity this year.
CE Thursday 11th December 2025
Wassail 26th January 2026
· AGM Saturday 22nd March 2pm FVRC
LT provided an update on the reorganisation of local councils, which will be moving to a Mayoral system across Sussex. This will take place over the next 3 years and will see the loss of WSCC and AWC and possibly parish councils. Sussex will be divided into 3 areas, Worthing will be part of the Brighton area. An elected Mayor will have overall control but there will also be a leader of each of the 3 areas of approximately 500,00 residents each. As a result, it’s likely that local elections in Spring 2025 will be cancelled. There will be a proposed 8-week public consultation period but it was felt that the decisions have already been made. If the individual areas do not put forward a plan and cooperate with this change then central government will impose their own ‘solution’. Our MP and councillors will be able to update us at the AGM.
FVRA will need to provide an Auditor for the event, LT to source.
LT and DE to send out invites to FVRA members and local community representatives to attend. FVRA will need to provide refreshments for the event.
Christmas Extravaganza 2024 Feedback
· LT reported that she received mainly positive feedback about the event. There were 2 difficult stall holders. 1 has previously caused issues with Sharon and the other (Animal Charity) didn’t comply with agreed terms by bringing more tables than the space allowed and was reluctant to move her van off site.
· It was agreed that next year to have a token system for drinks for the stall holders as there was a misunderstanding about payment for drinks and who was eligible. LT has come to an agreement to settle this with FVRC.
· Thanks to FVRC who provided lots of enthusiastic volunteers which helped with setting up and tidying.
· Planning for next year will be easier, just need a little tweaking to ensure flow and fit of stalls and to plan in a break for volunteers to get refreshments, comfort break etc. There is an ongoing discussion about allowing alcohol sales onsite.
· Entertainment was well received.
Local History Group
· Meeting Friday 25th January 2pm FVRC – Transport part 1.Terry Field
· Meeting Friday 28th February 2pm FVRC- WW2 guest speaker Paul Holden.
· Meeting Friday 28th Mach 2pm FVRC-History of Tarring. Guest speaker Chris Green
· Meeting Friday 25th April 2pm FVRC- Chanctonbury Ring guest speaker Dr. Janet Pennington
· Posters produced by Richard (FVRC) using CAMBER software. Poster needs to be shared with TF before being posted, it would be beneficial to have training using this software.
· LT proposed the project having an annual budget of £250 towards resources, this was approved.
· A charge of £2 per person will be applied for admission at each meeting. An opportunity for donating will also be available.
· LT to apply for Lottery Heritage Funding for the project.
· LT and TF have been invited to have a stall at the open day of Merriman Grange Care Home on Saturday 1st March.
· LT and TF met Mr. and Mrs. Nichols (Chair and his wife) of Worthing Golf Club to discuss links with the golf club and sharing of photographs and information.
AOB
· NW has been approached by Angela Bacon, a resident in Goring who want to re-establish a Residents Association and was seeking advice about sending bulk emails.
· Highways meeting still to be held. TF raised concerns about speeding in Lime Tree Avenue. Which is used as an alternative route to the main road during busy times.
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 11th February 7pm FVFC
Please forward any AOB suggestions to chair by Friday 7th November for inclusion in this meeting. To ensure we finish promptly, some issues may be deferred to the next meeting.
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