Notes of Action from Risborough Area Business Group Meeting

held at Princes Risborough School on 16th June 2005 at 1930 Hrs

 

Attendees

Lance Adlam – Hon Chairman

Bill Bendyshe-Brown – Hon Sec & Treasurer

19 other members

 

Item

Topic

Action

1

Chairman’s Opening Remarks

 

The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming everybody to the third meeting of the RABG. He particularly welcomed Cheryl Hewitt the recently appointed WDC Market Towns & Rural Economy Officer who would be heavily involved in all future initiatives involving Princes Risborough. He was also grateful for the Risborough School agreeing to host all future meetings and was also grateful for the full IT suite made available to members.

 

 

2

Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies had been received from Bob Clarke, Claire Cairns, James Proops, Liz Wager, Mark Adlam, Martin Chignall, Peter Keen, Sarah Palios, Simon Barker, Susan Staff, Tanya Sturgess, Terry Duffell and William Austin

 

 

3

Minutes of the meeting held on 17th May 2005 (previously circulated)

 

 The Minutes were agreed as a true record.

 

 

4

Matters arising from Minutes not already covered by the Agenda

 

Item 7 – Links to Other External Organisations.  The Hon Sec was still in discussion with external organisations to assess their reaction to joining the RABG. Action ongoing

 

Item 7 – CCTV.  The Hon Sec advised the meeting that a meeting had been held between PR Town Council and WDC and that WDC were now looking to secure joint external funding from the Thames Valley Police towards introduction of the CCTV cameras to PR. Action ongoing

 

Item 7 – Younger Members.  This was an action which would be discussed under AOB (see Item 9). Action closed

 

Item 7 – Gated Entrance to Town.  The Hon Sec had spoken with RACAG Tourism Action Group who advised that this subject had been discussed on several occasions by the PR Town Council and, on each occasion, the suggestion had been turned down. However, it would be reconsidered by RACAG and the Town Council under the forthcoming tourism initiative (see Item 5, 3rd para). Action closed

 

Item 7 – Electricity Supplies.  The Chairman had still to approach the local power supplier to improve the robustness of the power supplies to the town. Action ongoing

 

 

 

 

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Chairman

5

Business Update

 

The Hon Sec/Treasurer advised the meeting that WDC had held a meeting to draw up draft Terms of Reference for the Town Master Plan Study for Princes Risborough and the surrounding areas. A further meeting with stakeholders was planned for 12th July. Timescales for the commencement of the study had yet to be agreed. There would be a great need for input from the business community and a representative from the group would be sought shortly.

 

Close links had been established with RACAG and the Chairman of RACAG, John Hughes, was also a member of the RABG. He gave the meeting an update on the actions being taken by RACAG Action Group following the outcome of the Market Town Initiative. He stressed the need for close ties between RACAG and RABG as there was a definite need for a business input into their committees.

 

WDC advised that South East Tourism has developed a step-by-step process which they have piloted with several towns to develop tourism and increase visitor numbers. WDC intend to hold a large workshop in August at Princes Risborough to which all stakeholders in the town will be invited. This will seek to develop a community vision for tourism and from this gain volunteers for a delegated Tourism Working Action Group to progress this project further. WDC wished to encourage as many RABG members as possible to take part in this initiative. Invitations will be issued nearer the meeting date which had yet to be set.

 

 

6

Future Committee Structure

 

John Hughes gave a full briefing on the RACAG structure and its aims. A copy of his presentation is attached.

 

It was agreed that RABG would offer a member to each of the 5 committees and these members would report back to each future RABG meeting on what had occurred and seek direction on matters raised. The following members volunteered:

 

Community & Housing – Heather Brown

Economy – Peter Keen

Transport – Graham Wiles

Environment – Youssef Safir

RACAG Action Group – Bill Bendyshe-Brown

 

The Hon Sec agreed to contact the RACAG Secretary and give her the names of RABG representatives and to ask her to send details of previous Minutes and future meeting dates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sec

 

7

Proposed RABG Constitution

 

The proposed RABG Constitution passed to members at the meeting on 17th May was discussed and several amendments made. A copy of the agreed RABG Constitution is attached and will be ratified at the RABG AGM on 13th October 2005.

 

 

 

All

8

Presentations by 4 local businesses

 

Presentations were made by the following businesses. Each business was asked to give no more than a 5 minute presentation and to bring one local issue to the table at the end.

 

·        Lance Adlam Chartered Architect

 

Lance Adlam gave a run through of a typical architectural project he had been involved in – The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. He did not raise any local issue to the meeting.

 

·        B3 Consultancy Services Ltd

 

Bill Bendyshe-Brown gave an insight into the consultancy his Company offered, principally to defence related companies and agencies. His one local issue was the traffic flow in the town centre which would be addressed in the forthcoming Town Master Plan.

 

·        PAM Ltd

 

Mike & Pam Pitcher gave an outline of their IT web based company and also took the opportunity to demonstrate their proposed RABG Web Page. This received full agreement from Members of the RABG who were also asked to provide Mike and Pam with a pen picture of their company in order that this could be put onto the Web Site. Links would also be made to other local web sires such as PR Town Council, RACAG and WDC. They did not raise any local issue to the meeting.

 

·        Ariel MS

 

John Vessey outlined that his Company is very much based on providing consultancy support in seeking and obtaining financial grants for companies. He gave examples of the types of grant available and the criteria for obtaining them. He finished with a summary of training grants available to Princes Risborough companies. The local issue he brought to the table was his view that there was an urgent requirement for a town bypass.

 

It was agreed that the next meeting on 13th July would have presentations from:

 

·        Art & Office – Steve Barnes

·        Clarks The Butchers – Barry Clark

·        CAE Sales & Marketing – Carl Etholen

·        Robertsons of Risborough – Dave Robertson

 

The 15th September meeting had 4 volunteers:

 

·        Business Link  - Julie Murdoch

·        International Fire Consultants – Graham Wiles

·        Princes Risborough School – Stuart Marriot

·        Slippers in The Rain – Dawn Curry

 

The Chairman thanked members for their presentations and looked forward to those at future meetings.

 

 

 

All

 

 

 

9

Any Other Business

 

New Businesses to RABG.  Several new companies were suggested to be approached by the Hon Membership Secretary and these were noted. It was also suggested that a target should be set that each RABG member should aim to introduce 2 new companies to the RABG by end 2005 and that younger members should be a priority for encouragement to join. This was unanimously agreed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All

10

Date for Next Meeting

 

Meeting dates to the end of 2005 had been circulated by the Hon Sec.

 

The next meeting would, therefore take place on July 13th at Princes Risborough School at 7.30pm.

 

 

 

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