Last Meetings Minutes

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LOCATION – Grange Farm School
DATE – 7 March 2024
PRESENT – John Archer – Chairman, Councillor John Blundell, Mick Fitzpatrick – Treasurer, Councillor Mattie Heaven, Sheila Weare – Minutes Secretary.
Plus 13 members of the Association
WELCOME - John A welcomed everyone to the meeting.
APOLOGIES – Sylvia and David Cleaver, Sue Clifford, Judith and David Cule, Kirt Parshad, John Proffitt, Manjit Singh, Diane and Richard Upton.
MINUTES – The minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2024, having been posted online and circulated, were accepted.
MATTERS ARISING – Review of Ward Boundaries – a decision is not expected until 7 May 2024. New NHS App – Prescription Ordering Direct (POD) will cease on 31 March 2024. John A reported that the administration at Phoenix Family Care is disorganised, with patients’ records having ‘disappeared’. Parking at War Memorial Park – John A thanked John B and all who objected to the withdrawal of the three hours free parking – this idea has been put on hold for now.
DEFIBRILLATOR – Grange Farm School have been given the use of a defibrillator which they have set up and registered with the Ambulance Service. The school would like the defibrillator to be a community resource, located outside the school gates, so that it is accessible 24/7. A secure cabinet with power supply would be required and the cost would be £500. Different paddles/pads would be needed for adults and children. A code must be obtained from the Ambulance Service to enable the defibrillator to be activated. As the school is not in a deprived area, they are unable to obtain funding for this and have approached SGRA for possible financial help. Although this is a generous gesture by the school, because of the logistics and the possibility of vandalism, it is not thought SGRA would be able to support this project.
STYVECHALE OPEN GARDENS – SGRA has been contacted by Styvechale Open Gardens asking if any members would be willing to open their garden for one afternoon on 9 June 2024 for charity. If any member is interested, please ask SGRA for contact details. If members plan to visit gardens on the day, transport would be advisable as the venues are quite a distance from one another.
TOMLINSON FLOWER COMPANY – this beautiful shop is now open in one of the units in Hexworthy Avenue. It is rumoured that a cake shop/coffee shop will be moving into the unit next door to Tomlinson’s.
COUNCILLOR JOHN BLUNDELL/COUNCILLOR MATTIE HEAVEN – John referred to Coventry City Council’s 2024/2025 budget. Council Tax will increase by 5%. Parking at the War Memorial Park - John was pleased to confirm that the Council will not be introducing parking charges for the first three hours. He thanked all who had supported his petition (some 3,600 people). A member reported that currently the barriers to the car park have been raised and the payment machines covered over. Bishop Ullathorne School bus subsidy will be withdrawn from September 2024 and John has spoken to both the headmaster and Transport for West Midlands. Pupils will be required to use public transport and parents are understandably concerned about this. It may also affect other bus users. It is hoped the history of ‘rivalry’ between the local schools will not recur following these changes. A member reported Finham Park pupils were fighting on one of the greens on the estate.