PANGBOURNE BUSINESS FORUM

Minutes of a meeting held on the 31st January at 6.00 p.m. at Medico Legal Reporting offices.

Present : Denise Saunders (Chair) The Spinney DS   Jean Logue ( Forum Secretary) JL   Jayne Evans (Heart of England, Scarecrow Trail, Christmas Event) JE   Pamela Bale (West Berks Councillor) PBa   Tom Knott (Chairman - Parish Council) TK   June Hughes (Parish Council) JH   Geoffrey Cole (Geoffrey Cole & Co) GC   Paul Brown (Manager - Elephant Hotel) PB   Innes Ballantyne (Garlands) IB     Apologies: Rita Butler (Butterfles)   Richard Sutton (Davies Tate)   Ann Munn (Mobility Trust)

1.	Minutes of the last meeting - Minutes of the meeting approved
2.	Matters Arising - No matters arising from the minutes
3.	Pamela Bale - West Berks Councillor reported that there were some good results
	(a) CCTV - There will be 6 CCTV sockets but 3 cameras in the village, subject to technical feasibility. The potential locations are The Square, Village Hall, One Stop, Recreation Ground, Horseshoe Park, One Stop, St Bernadette's and one near the Texaco Garage but the final selection needs to be firmed up. The cameras are infra red.
	Private CCTV's may be able to connect to main control. Radio sets could be an option for shops.
	(b) Village information signs - A dedicated resource has been working on this and the outcome is that the signs will be white and black and as the Parish Council have some funding, subject to a final quotation, the signs should be erected by the end February.
	(c) Speed Indicator Signs - PBa is awaiting a map showing where the signs will be based and will take forward Martin Sanderson's suggestion to have a give way sign under the railway bridge.
4.	Tom Knott - Chairman Parish Council report
	(a) Beaver Trust Car Park - A letter has been sent and received to the trust asking for the car park to be available for people after 6.00 p.m. so that they can park whilst eating or drinking in the village. It is currently a clamping area.
	(b) Village Hall Building - work has started on the foundations. There are still some bricks available to buy.
	(c) Village Plan - This is to be updated and the Parish Council are looking for ideas from villagers. There is to be a drop in day at the Village Hall on 15th March. Ideas can be given to Tom Knott and June Hughes (JL to put a note of this when sending the minutes out)
	(d) Hanging Baskets - The Parish Council have decided that this year they will not supply the hanging baskets to the local business but ask that all businesses do put some up on the existing brackets as the village is to enter the Best Village Competition this year.
5.	Christmas Evening - Jean Logue
	The Christmas evening was a success and the weather was very good. The new attractions this year were the Mince pies and mulled wine at The Elephant, Candles lit for peace at the Church and two Christmas Trees outside The George.
	The Forum thanked the Parish Council for the donation of £330 for the insurance.
	The remaining fund for this year's event is £36. There will need to be some fund raising for the event if it is to go ahead again. Approx. costs this year were £700+ Jean Logue is to stand down after organising this for two years. (See Heart of Pangbourne below for an idea)
	The Forum thanked Jean and Jayne Evans for their work on this evening.
6.	The Heart of Pangbourne - Jayne Evans
	Jayne is setting up a charity to raise funds for equipment and other requirements of the village. Jayne is liaising with the Parish Council to see what requirements they have.
	Jayne is proposing that the Christmas Evening is organised by The Heart of Pangbourne team who will raise the relevant funds by a lottery, raffle and other fund raising activities. This change of ownership needs to go to members of the whole Forum and an e-mail will be sent to all members asking if they agree to the change of ownership. The decision will be made at the next Forum meeting.
	The Elephant has agreed to donate a percentage of its takings from its cinema evenings.
7.	Future Chairman of the Business Forum
	Denise Saunders is stepping down as Chairman after 15 months in the chair. The Forum members agreed that a consistent Chairman has been more effective and gave Denise a vote of thanks for her work.
	Martin Sanderson proposed Paul Brown as the next Chairman and the meeting seconded this. Denise and Paul will hand over or complete any ongoing activities.
8.	Any other Business
	(a) Wine Rack - There has been several complaints about the colour and panels on the refurbished shop. The Environment Agency has been informed as the shop is in the conservation area.
	(b) Re-launch of the Business Forum - The next meeting to be held in The Elephant and local businesses to be advised of the next meeting date. A little wine and nibbles to be provided.
	(c) Questionnaire for Businesses - A questionnaire is to be devised to give to all local businesses to find out what they need from a Business Forum. This is to be prepared in advance of the next meeting, so that we have some information to discuss with attendees. Action JL to send draft to DS and PB
	(d) Sulhamstead Business Forum - They have set up a business forum and Pamela Bale will find out the contact details.
	(e) Annual Parish Meeting for all villagers - 15 April at 7.30 p.m. DS & PB to go to the meeting.
	(f) NEXT BUSINESS FORUM MEETING - 24TH April 2008 at 6.00 p.m.
	Any items for the Agenda or apologies should be sent to jean.logue@yahoo.com or 0118 9843678.