Tulips for the Diamond Jubilee
Last year the Roughley Neighbourhood Forum planted tulips and daffodils to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. They have come up!
Seeing the Light
Warm thanks to everyone that came along to support the Forum’s Public Meeting held at the Harvest Fields Centre on January 26th 2012.
Four Oaks Ward Councillors, Anne Underwood and Maureen Cornish were in attendance and along with guest speaker Mike Jones gave an overview of Localism and Neighbourhood Planning. When the Localism Act 2011 received Royal Assent, we felt as a committee we should try to understand how that might affect the Forum, and our thoughts were to give you the opportunity to learn with us. In summary, we learnt that a great deal of expert planning and funding is required for any Neighbourhood Forum involved. We also heard that Birmingham City Council is no yet ready with its Local Plan to implement the Bill.
If you were in need of a blast of cheer on these dark wintery days you would have enjoyed hearing about committee member David Lewis’s Roughley Jubilee Ramble which is to be launched to honour the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The walk is over 6 miles long and takes in splendid views and places of local and historical interest. An accompanying booklet will soon be available.
We also heard that The Big Jubilee Lunch plans are well underway. On Sunday June 3rd you are invited to bring your blanket and picnic to Harvest Fields Park and help celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by having lunch together. More news will be released nearer the time.
You may be aware that street lighting in and around the Harvest Fields Estate has changed from white light to a toxic yellow light. This should never have happened. With the help of our Ward Councillors, the committee have successfully reversed this trend and white light will soon be reinstated.
We also made enquiries about the missing ‘Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield’ heritage sign that had stood at the edge of a field on Lichfield Road near Watford Gap Road. We have been informed that the sign has undergone restoration work and will soon be relocated to the opposite side of that part of the Lichfield Road.
The Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday June 3rd is the Roughley Neighbourhood Forum’s next public meeting and will be followed by our AGM in September 2012.
Meanwhile we hope that the displays of tulips and daffodils that we planted in Weeford Road and Slade Road will help bring fresh optimism and pleasure to our community.
Jennie Corbett, Chair, Roughley Neighbourhood Forum
Public Meeting on January 26th 2012
Thursday 26th January 2012
7:30pm – 9:30pm
HARVEST FIELDS CENTRE
Harvest Fields Way, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5TJ
“Does the new Localism Bill and Neighbourhood Planning affect me?”
“Are there any community activities planned for 2012?”
“Come along and hear and get involved”
Neighbourhood Planning
The new Localism Bill sets out how communities will be able to get more involved in planning for their areas – specifically around creating plans and policies to guide new development and in some cases granting planning permission for certain types of development.
Neighbourhood Planning is about letting the people who know and care about an area, plan for it.
Roughley’s residents need to understand neighbourhood planning and think about what this means to us as a community living on and near the Green Belt.
Mike Jones www.richboroughestates.co.uk is the invited speaker at the Roughley Neighbourhood Forum’s public meeting in January, and along with Four Oaks Ward Councillor Anne Underwood, he will endeavor to explain some of the basics of neighbourhood planning.
Local News
The Roughley Ramble
David Lewis has been busy developing a Roughley Ramble. His provisional route has already identified around 30 places of historical interest.
If anyone has any local historic information or photographs, David would be very interested to hear from them. He is especially keen to learn more about the Grange’s history.
Information about the Ramble will be made available at the January meeting.
Coming Soon
1.500 Spring bulbs have been planted out by the Roughley Committee in partnership with the City Council’s Parks Department.
The Big Lunch on Sunday 3rd June 2012 at Harvest Fields Park
Be part of planning the Queen’s Big Lunch in honor of her majesty’s Diamond Jubilee
A brilliant opportunity to celebrate with your community
Sign up to help or for your group to participate in the entertainment
For more information on the Big Lunch visit www.thebiglunch.com
Hill Wood at the end of a good summer
Looking towards Manorial Farm
Boundary Commission
Could the Boundary Commission Wreck the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield?
The Boundary Commission for England proposes to merge parts of the Sutton Coldfield and Erdington Constituencies.
It’s vital to remember that the Government is currently processing the request from the Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP, to reinstate the name, the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield; a name originally granted in a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1528 (and renewed by Charles II in 1664). Andrew Mitchell has confirmed that he and all of Sutton Coldfield’s Councillors are united in this campaign.
If the Sutton Coldfield Constituency is merged with Erdington, the case for a Royal Town is destroyed, because in terms of governance, the town will no longer exist. (When Sutton Coldfield lost its Borough Council in 1974, the Sutton Coldfield Constituency was created to preserve the identity of the Royal Town).
The Boundary Commission’s proposals would not only wreck the Royal Town bid, they may also damage the regeneration plans for Sutton Coldfield. Objections to their proposals must be received by 5th December 2012.
Write to: The Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BQ.
And email:westmidlands@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk
Suggested grounds for objection:
I object to the proposed recommendations and I respectfully request that the Boundary Commission for England retain the existing boundaries of the Sutton Coldfield Constituency, for the following reasons:
1: The existing electorate of the Sutton Coldfield Constituency is 74,676, which matches the ideal size sought by the Government in the current boundary review
2: The Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP with local Councillors has applied to the Crown, via the Cabinet Office, to reinstate the name of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield (granted by the Royal Charter of Henry VIII in 1528). The proposed boundary amendments would prejudice the case for a Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, because in terms of governance, the town would no longer exist
3: The proposed alterations would destroy existing devolved local governance arrangements from Birmingham City Council to the Sutton Coldfield Constituency
4: The proposed boundary amendments would prejudice delivery of the Statutory Planning Document, the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Regeneration Framework, which is dependent upon the Royal Town identity
5: Finally, it is understood that the Castle Bromwich Ward is proposed to become a part of the Erdington Constituency, and it is this proposal that has necessitated Sutton New Hall Ward going into the Erdington Constituency and the Kingstanding Ward going into the Sutton Coldfield Constituency. However, a better solution would be to:
i: Add the Castle Bromwich Ward to the Erdington Constituency as proposed
ii: Keep the Sutton Coldfield Constituency unified, as it currently exists
iii: Leave the Kingstanding Ward in Erdington, or add it to the Perry Bar Constituency. Kinstanding would have a better chance of accessing regeneration funding if it remains in Erdington or joins Perry Bar Constituency. It’s regeneration would be prejudiced if it was part Sutton Coldfield, one of England’s least deprived areas.(In terms of living environment, the Government’s Index of Multiple Deprivation ranks Kingstanding 156 out of 32,482 English wards, where 1 is the most deprived and 32,482 is the least deprived. As such, the living environment in Kingstanding is in the 0.5% most deprived in England).
Nick Corbett www.transformingcities.co.uk
Roughley Neighbourhood Forum’s Constitution
Constitution of:
Roughley Neighbourhood Forum, Sutton Coldfield.
1. Our Name
This organisation is known as Roughley Neighbourhood Forum.
2. The Area We Cover
We aim to represent the interests of people living in the Roughley area of Sutton Coldfield.
3. Our Aims
- To help look after the interests of people living in our area (see Map attached).
- To be aware of and value the skills of people living in our area. To help improve their skills through training or learning from others.
- To represent the people living in the Roughley area when getting improvements done to the environment and public services of our area.
- To work at getting rid of discrimination in our area. We will defend the rights of all of our members, whatever their age, colour, ethnic background, sex, sexuality, religion or abilities/disabilities.
- To work at maintaining good relations between everybody that makes up our community.
- We will not favour any political Parties when carrying out our activities.
- To undertake the above in a respectful and courteous manner.
4. Our Membership
Roughley Neighbourhood Forum welcomes everybody within our boundary area to become a member.
- We will consult the views of members whenever possible.
- Each of our members of 16 years of age or older is entitled to vote, whenever a vote is held.
- We will embrace the views of younger people in our area whenever we discuss matters that are relevant to them.
5. The Committee
A committee elected by our members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will manage all relevant business.
- The committee will be made up of a chairperson, vice chair a secretary, a treasurer and up to eight other members.
- If a position on the committee becomes vacant it will be filled by one of our existing members, until the next Annual General Meeting. Membership Meeting or Special General Meeting.
- The committee will meet every month. Each year we will hold at least 8 committee meetings at which a minimum of half of the committee members will be present.
- We will keep minutes of every committee meeting. The Minutes will be available to all our members.
6. Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The committee will hold an AGM to report back to members and other interested parties (charities that provide funding, for example). A quorum of 30 members is required. The main purpose of the AGM is:
- To present the Annual Report which summarises our activities in the past year.
- To present a statement of accounts showing how we have used our funding in the past year. This will have been examined by an independent qualified chartered accountant.
- The current committee will resign, unless willing to continue, or another person(s) is proposed and seconded for each available vacant position.
- Members can amend the organisation’s Constitution.
7. Meetings for Members
Our members will be able to address the committee at Membership Meetings, Special General Meetings and the Annual General Meeting.
- A Special General Meeting will be held if 12 or more members request one. Requests should be sent to a committee member
- Each AGM will take place no more than 13 months after the last one.
- Three public meetings per year, dates, times, locations and points for discussion will be sent to all members in advance of all open meetings.
8. Public Finance
Our bank account is known as Roughley Community Forum and is held at HSBC, Lichfield Road, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield.
Cheques cannot be authorised unless signed by the Treasurer plus the Chairperson or one other member of the committee.
Any money donated to or raised by us will only be used to help us achieve our aims. (See point 3).
9. Disbanding the organisation
If members wish to disband the organisation then a Special General Membership Meeting will be held and all members advised of the reason of the impending meeting and all relevant points will be discussed.
If the majority of members wish to disband the organisation, either by voting at the meeting or by sending a written vote, our assets will be disposed of in the following manner:
- Money provided by other organisations will be returned to them as required before we disband.
- After payment of all debts and liabilities, any remaining assets will be donated to charities agreed by the members.
10. Where to get the Constitution and Code of Conduct
An up-to-date copy of our Constitution and Code of Conduct will be available to any member or other interested party (a charity that provides funding, for example). Requests should be sent to a committee member.
Wondering what’s happening with the new Roughley Community Forum?
Slade Road, Roughley, Sutton Coldfield
Meeting to be held at Costa Coffee, Mere Green
Wednesday 7th September 2011, 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Wondering what’s happening with the new Roughley Community Forum?
Then come and hear an update from the Steering Group
Following the very successful meeting in April 2011 when it was agreed to establish a Neighbourhood Forum for Roughley, the Steering Group has met regularly with the City Council to move the Forum forward.
Please do join us for an update on progress and to give you the opportunity to put your ideas and views forward; your participation will be invaluable in future planning. All ages are very welcome.
We are grateful to Costa Coffee for allowing us to use their café for this meeting.
AGENDA
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7:00 p.m |
Refreshments can be purchased from 7:00pm till 9:00pm |
|
7:30 p.m |
Welcome, Electing the Constitution and Committee |
| 9:30 p.m | Close of Forum Meeting |
WHAT IS A NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM?
Neighbourhood Forums enable residents to speak up about matters affecting not only the area but also you as individuals.
They give you a real opportunity to make a difference and of having a say about policies affecting your area.
While Neighbourhood Forums don’t have direct delegated powers, they do exercise a degree of influence. Run by local people and remaining non-political, they openly express the views of local people to the decision makers.
WHO CAN ATTEND?
Anyone living in the Forum’s area can participate.
The Chase of Hill Wood in early summer
This photograph was taken from the top of Hill Wood Road in Sutton Coldfield, looking north towards Shenstone. The Charter of Henry VIII, which established Sutton Coldfield as a Royal Town in 1528, refers to the granting of some lands to; “William Rigley, Page of our Wardrobe of our Beds, the office of Keeper of our Chase of Hilwood, in our County of Warwick.” In recent months wild deer have been spotted again in Hill Wood.
