Projects and Finance

MARGARET WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUND – CALL FOR PROJECTS IN MARGARET’S MEMORY

Local groups and organisations are invited to submit a grant application for the second round of funding from the Margaret Williamson’s Fund. The fund was set up in memory of Margaret to support environmental, educational and cultural projects in Congleton.

 

Margaret was passionate about, and a driving force and inspiration behind, improving the culture and environment of Congleton and it was agreed that setting up a special fund to support suitable projects, would keep that spirit alive.  Grants are made available from the funds generated by the capital in the fund. This year the fund is able to support around £5,000 worth of projects and applications need to be submitted by the end of November.

 

The Trustees of the Fund are now looking to support with grants, projects which meet one or more of the following criteria:

 

  • Provide opportunities for people to take part in musical, theatrical, literary, performing art, dance, or other artistic activities.
  • Provide opportunities for education and awareness of the natural environment, especially amongst young people.
  • Conserve or improve the natural environment for the benefit of the people in Congleton & District.

Please note: Projects and beneficiaries must fall within Congleton and District defined as CW12 postcode or 01260 STD Code.

 

If you have a project or an idea that fulfils the criteria and needs some financial help to make a difference to Congleton, then please complete the application form by the 30th November. Applications can be downloaded from the Congleton Partnership website: www.congletonpartnership.co.uk/projects-finance/current-projects or collected from the Tourist Information Centre in the Town Hall.

 

If you wish to donate funds into the Margaret Williamson Trust this can be done via the Partnership, contact Mike Smith on 01260 270350 ext 7 or email ms@congletontowncouncil.co.uk

 

The trustees consider the applications early in December and funds will be released early in January.

 

 

 

Notes:

 

The Margaret Williamson Fund is a ring-fenced endowment fund within Cheshire Community Foundation – CCF (http://www.cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk) with the income being used to fund projects.  CCF is a registered charity (Number 1143711) set up to manage funds on behalf of private, company and other benefactors and philanthropists.

 

The proceeds of the fund are administered by Congleton 4 Congleton – C4C (http://www.c4cfund.com) which is a registered charity (Number 1145563). There is a grants panel made up of Congleton people who look at the applications and decide which should be funded. Cheshire Community Foundation is not responsible in any part for the distribution of these funds including the application assessment or monitoring or impact assessment.

For more information contact Jackie MacArthur, Congleton Town Council on 01260 270350 ext 3

 

 

Projects & Finance Committee meeting minutes 23.07.18

Congleton Partnerships Projects & Finance Committee meeting took place recently, download full meeting minutes HERE.

Highlights include:

Public Realm Strategy.

 

All of the major work completed, just a small amount of snagging and repair. Lamppost tops, projector, bollards and seats to be re-sited.

There is however an issue of the quality of the stone paving used and its ability to mark/stain too easily. The meeting requested that D.McG and SF put a letter together to be sent to Kath O’Dwyer (Acting Chief Exec)

Jackie to look at siting a town centre map within the pedestrian area. 2 possible sites ,Jackie approaching Seddons as potential sponsors.

Projector. Not sure the current situation regarding this, David has contacted CEBC for information, the feeling of the group was that it would be a target of vandals and possibly poorly received by the general public as a waste of money.

Leisure Centre.

Press release now received from CEBC.

“Pulse Design & Build was appointed following an extensive procurement process.

The council’s project team will now work with Pulse Design & Build to undertake necessary preparatory work, consultation and surveys leading to the submission of a full planning application. This is due to be concluded by March 2019. Redevelopment works are due to be completed by autumn 2020”.

 

The Mills.

No change from last meeting.

Aware that CEC and Scarborough Developments Group have resolved land related issues and the start of the development is dependent upon and anchor tenant being found – we believe positive progress is being made on this. Once the anchor tenant is committed a planning application will be submitted for the scheme and everyone will have a chance to comment.

 

Senior Health & Wellbeing Fayre.

Planned for early 2nd October.  A joint venture with Mid Cheshire NHS Trust as they are planning a Fayre/Annual Meeting around that time.  40 exhibitors confirmed ranging from Clinical, health services, community centres and local groups. Next subgroup meeting 29th August. Posters and flyers printed and will be circulated in September.

 

Date and Time of the next meeting.

Monday 15th October 2018 The Spencer Suite , 9.30am.

Projects and Finance Committee minutes 19.06.18

The Project and Finance committee meeting took place recently, read the full meeting minutes HERE.

Highlighte incudes:

Project  Update.

 

Cenotaph.

Planning permission granted with conditions.

D.McGifford / M.Smith to follow up some funding ideas.

J.Carter / M.Pickford to work om Tendering Paper

MS contact various groups for support of the project.

£20,600 already pledged, CTC to discuss in business plan meeting. Once we have a firm agreement from CTC, we will have confidence to take forward with other funders/groups etc.

Article in Spring Bear Necessities.

 

Public Realm Strategy.

Weekly bulletins regularly sent out. CTC members met with Highways 15.3.18, action list being drawn up. Should all be completed by Easter.

 

Leisure Centre.

Quotes are all in and a developer agreed. New pool and refurbish dry side. Press release out to public, no plans submitted as yet.

 

Link Road.

95% Land agreements obtained, could break ground late 2018, or Jan 2019.

 

The Mills.

Nothing new from Scarborough although there is belief that things are progressing. J.Mac has contacted CEBC re Princess St Car Park and the future of the Electric Charging Points.

No contact for us with Scarborough.

 

Date and Time of the next meeting.

Monday 21st May  2018 The Spencer Suite , 9.30am

Projects & Finance Committee meeting minutes 29.01.18

Congleton Partnership Projects and Finance committee meeting took place recently, download the full meeting minutes HERE.

Highlights include:

Project  Update.

 

Cenotaph.

 

Planning permission granted with conditions.

D.McGifford / M.Smith to follow up some funding ideas.

J.Carter / M.Pickford to work om Tendering Paper

MS contact various groups for support of the project.

 

Public Realm Strategy.

 

Weekly bulletins regularly sent out. Need to do our own snagging operation. Pull together a small subgroup to include G.Williams. D McGifford to discuss with G.Williams.

Report to be drawn up and sent to Councillors /Partnership.

 

Leisure Centre.

 

Quotes are all in and a contract is about to be awarded. Work should start later this year.

 

Link Road.

 

95% Land agreements obtained, could break ground late 2018, or Jan 2019.

 

The Mills.

 

Going through leasing process of carpark. Time limit imposed by CEBC to start of development.

 

No contact for us with Scarborough.

Please download the minutes for more project updates.

Date and Time of the next meeting.

Monday 19th March 2018 The Spencer Suite , 9.30am

 

Projects & Finance Committee meeting 13.11.2017

Projects & Finance Committee meeting took place recently, download the full meeting minutes HERE.

 

Highlights include:

Project Update.

Cenotaph.
Planning permission granted with conditions.
Sub Group meeting arranged for 5th December
New costings required.
D.McGifford to follow up some funding ideas.

Public Realm Strategy.
Weekly bulletins regularly sent out. Biggest issue is work carrying on to middle of December.
Towns Centre planters will not be removed until January.
The new bench Mill St/Duke St being sited this week.
“Woollies Wall” looking good, great improvement for the Xmas Tree.

Leisure Centre.

E.Mail from Robert Rodgers Oct 2017:-
The project team are in the process of concluding the procurement phase with Final Tenders anticipated to be received mid November 2017; bids and designs will be evaluated by the project team with a view to recommending a preferred bidder to Cabinet in January 2018. Bidders have already submitted initial designs which have been refined through the dialogue process in an effort to deliver the optimum solution within the £8.2m budget. The team are enthusiastic with all of the bids received to date, in terms of design and offer for the redeveloped leisure centre. As a brief reminder, the minimum requirements are for a new swimming pool and pool hall and a redeveloped dry side offer. We look forward to receiving final tenders and recommending the successful solution to Cabinet and submitting this for subsequent planning approvals. We anticipate that subject to securing the necessary approvals, work will commence on site in Spring 2018. The successful bidder will work closely with the project team and ESAR operational staff to phase the construction works to manage and minimise the disruption to leisure centre and park users.

 

2016/17 Project Updates.

Dementia Friendly Town.
Dementia Steering Group has now met twice and set goals to achieve 100% Dementia Awareness in Congleton and organise 4 regular activities each month. Next meeting planned 12th December.
5 Dementia Friends Awareness sessions being run over the next 2 weeks for Councillors, Staff and Residents. Business sessions will be arranged from January onwards.
Jo and Vince see Art as a possibility (as an activity –once settled in their new home).

Heritage Trail Project.
TMC are working with Rural Development to get funding to develop the App.

CTC / Partnership will remain as a customer and have the option to develop a trail and hot spots.
The Heritage App meeting minutes are still current.

 

Date and Time of the next meeting.
Monday 22nd January 2018 The Spencer Suite , 9.30am

Projects and Finance Committee Meeting Minutes 05.09.17

Congleton’s Projects and Finance Committee met recently, download the full meeting minutes HERE.

 

Highlights include:

Project Update – Cenotaph.
Community, Environment & Services Committee briefed on the project 6th July.
New design and costing estimate (£375k) issued.
Planning application 17/3982C now with CEBC (8.8.17) and supported by CTC Planning Committee (Aug 2017)
Next steps are Public Consultation / Briefing and sourcing Funding.
DMcG gong to HLF along with I Doughty (Museum) to gauge HLF views on the project and to try and get them to come to Congleton to see for themselves.
Funding. Will need to see what comes out of the HLF visit.
Public briefing will be included in the Great War Exhibition Event, Town Hall, Saturday 21st October 1030am to 4.00pm. Posters and flyers will be out first week in October.
Public Realm Strategy.
Work ongoing, Mill St should be open as planned. JMac concerned about traffic turning left off Mill St into the pedestrian area, GW has taken this up with CEBC.
J.Mac to approach CEBC re Xmas Tree support for this year as a gesture to the traders for what has been a difficult summer/autumn.
J.Mac to approach CEBC for a pictorial design to display around the town ans on the CTC website to give the public a better idea of what is planned.
Town Centre Regeneration (Fairground Site etc)
Possible need to re-establish the Town Centre Working Group, using the NH Plan – Town Centre. Delivery Plan as a guide.

Dementia Friendly Town.
Awareness Meeting held 26th July, 40+ attended.
Steering Group formed and met 30th Aug at OSM. 20 attendees, Sara Rathbone nominated as Chair.
Next Steering Group meeting 4th October, when we will discuss pledges/drop ins and activities.
CTC voted to support the initiative at CE & Services meeting Sept 2017.

 

 

Date and Time of the next meeting.
Monday 13th November The Spencer Suite, 9.30am.

Projects and Finace Meeting Minutes

The Projects and finance meeting minutes took place recenlty, read the full meeting minutes HERE.

 

Highlights include:

The Mills Development. After further discussion today it was felt there was little to be gained by commissioning an outside agency to come up with an alternative design. S.Foster to write to CEBC Ward Members for them to lobby Scarborough for the best design possible that reflects Congleton’s Heritage. The has been no further contact with Scarborough Group at the time of this meeting.

Cenotaph.

Community, Environment & Services Committee briefed on the project 6th July.

New design and costing estimate (£375) issued.

Wall work has started, rebuilding to 1.2mtrs and adding 2 buttresses for support at Lawton St end.

Some tree worked carried out, Ruth Burgess getting a price for work on another 5.

Next steps are Public Consultation / Briefing and sourcing Funding.

Tea Dances – Senior Forum. Piloting 3 Tea Dances at the Old Saw Mill as part of our social isolation drive. Dances planned for 17/6, 1/7 and 15/7 from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. £4 to include a drink and cake.

The event is being run by Shirley Brocklehurst, Wellkin. Disappointed turn out, cancelled the last date. Shirley working on a relaunch Autum 2017, after H&W Event.

 

Dementia Awareness Open Day. The plan is to hold a dementia awareness day and then progress (along with Congleton Town Council) to become a dementia friendly town. Date booked  (26th July) invitations sent out, poster and social media used for PR. Budget agreed up to £250

 

Congleton Summer Treasure Hunt. Working in partnership with Congleton Town Council and Active Cheshire to develop a game for 8 to 12 year olds for 6 weeks using technology similar to the Pokemon game. This is again a pilot for future activities if it proves successful. 25 teams and 38 players currently taking part, need to re tweet on social Media. Review at the end of the session.

 

ITea & Chat – L.Alcock/ S Akers Smith. 12 sessions being planned across 6 locations. Looking for champions to run the sessions. May use some support from Congleton Learning Centre. Budget Agreed  up to £250

 

Senior Health Fayre – Sept 29th –Congleton Town Hall. 35 exhibitors booked, with 3 or 4 interactive sessions planned in The Bridestones Suite. Flyers and Posters printed, PR will kick in early Sept. Budget agreed up to £400

 

Date and Time of the next meeting.

 

Monday 4th September, The Spencer Suite , 9.30am

The presentation at Eaton Bank regarding Havannah Weir

A presentation was made at Eaton Bank School of the Havannah Weir Project.

It is well worth a viewing and explains in some detail how it all work.

Once again David and Jan Green have done the town a great service.

It is also great to see the tremendous support the team have been able to generate from local business.

Projects & Finance Committee meeting minutes 14.03.2016

Congleton Partnership Projects & Finance Committee meeting took place recently, download the full meeting minutes HERE.

 

New Project Ideas.

Community Orchard Accessibility. (£1500 allocated)

Steps have now been built, the tree stump is in place ready for the Apple Core to be carved (April)

2 beds ready to plant with soft fruit bushes.

New signage to be planned for both ends of the bridle way and off West Rd ( Mereside Ave)

 

Heritage / Bear / Town Walk Trails.(£2500 allocated at present)

Small group working on the project MS / PA / ID.

ID has drawn up a list of potential sites, he and Peter to put some text around these. MS send out the document for P&F members to review and add other sites they feel should be considered.

Looking at ways of developing both an App and a Heritage trail Map.

PHall has sent a couple of contact points that may be able to help us deliver this project.

Overall cost is more likely to come in around £5k/£6k but this was still felt an important project for the development of our visitor economy and footfall in the town centre.

Car Park Destination Maps / Signage. (Silvermaze)

6 locations selected, feedback re additional items received. 2 more requested today (Vale Walk and Park Public Toilets.

CTC and Partnership have agreed funding, Jackie still to hear from CEBC.

Project will be completed for this summer.

Moody Street Green Area.(S106 funding )

Site visit 30.11.15 carried out. JMac/PP/Ms & JB.  JB working on a design to improve paving / screening, also making the area as DDA compliant as possible.

Mountbatten Way – Green Boulevard.

Pilot area 2 Bears roundabout to Traffic Lights Market St.

Site visit with CEBC (S.Davies & S.Barker) to look at potential and safety issues.

Ruth Burgess to draw up design and equipment paper, this to be sent to CEBC (G.Mallin, SD & SB)

CEBC to look at site clearance, de clutter and signage renewal.

 

Play Area Signage

MS currently working with CEBC (G.Butler/J.Byrne) re signage to highlight our major play areas. No funding requirement as yet. Would plan to turn this project into both signage and paper map project long term.

May look to develop a branding project around this through local schools (S.Isherwood?)

 

Havannah Weir (CSG Project) Community Power Project.

Feasibilty study will be completed in March, then judgement on viability to be taken.

EBA and Siemens have indicated some interest in the scheme.

Congleton Sports Trust.

Following D.McGiffords presentation to the Executive and its agreement to support the scheme in whatever way it can this has now been added to the new project list. May initially involve some time from MS on administration.

 

Date and Time of the next meeting.

 

Monday 16th May 2016, Town Hall, Spencer Suite, 9.30am

 

Projects and Finance Committee Meeting 25.01.2016

The Projects and Finance Committee meeting took place recently, download the full meeting minutes HERE.

Highlights include:

New Project Ideas.

Community Orchard Accessibility. (£1500 allocated)

The Partnership Executive allocated £1500 to the project. Matt Axford and P.Pinto leading on this, and aim to be finished by March.

Cycle Shelters.

Nothing to report, they will be part of P.Realm work.

Heritage / Bear / Town Walk Trails.(£2500 allocated at present)

P.Aston to chair this through.  I Doughty drawing up a list of potential sites initially. Need to look at the best way to get the information to the public ( Plate Maps / QR Codes &Apps / Leaflets)

PA to discuss with Tim McCloud / P.Bates concept of App.

Plates.  Possible site at the back of the Destination Signs that Jackie is working on.

Look at putting leaflet dispensers’ on the plate posts

Town Walks/Cycle Routes. Look to involve all of the play areas . MS to do initial work on this with P.Hall.

Need to make sure all of the “map” projects are linked in.

Car Park Destination Maps / Signage. (Silvermaze)

6 locations selected, JMac has contacted CEBC car parks for some financial support and will also ask Town Council Communities and Environment Committee to release some funds. Will also need some Partnership support.

The group viewed the draft copies of the maps, please said any requests amendments to JMac by the end of this week.

Moody Street Green Area.(S106 funding )

Site visit 30.11.15 carried out. JMac/PP/Ms & JB.  JB working on a design to improve paving / screening, also making the area as DDA compliant as possible.

Mountbatten Way – Green Boulevard.

P&F Group to contact portfolio holder with a view to testing this on a small area. SF to write to Cllr D Brown regarding this idea of a test. Sub Group on this project for The Partnership :-SF,  RE, PA, & D.McG.

Play Area Signage (Newly added today) MS raised the issue of a lack of signposting of our play area. MS to contact Genni Butler (CEBC) for guidance / support on how we go about improving this situation.

Date and Time of the next meeting.

Monday 14th March 2016, Town Hall, Spencer Suite, 9.30am