2nd Sept '26 - Minutes

Attended: Eran, Ann, Fi, Dave, Mandie, Colette

Apologies: Harvy, Tess, Phil, Derya

Finances

• Discussed ongoing task to get access to the group’s Co-op bank account. Suggestion to open a new group account with Unity Bank so we have a group account we can access whilst work goes on to track down former account signatories.
• Need to calculate budget requirements for the next few months, current bank balance is £1,680.20.
• Planned spend: bulb planting day £350, AGM costs (room hire, food, craft event), newsletter printing, local history event.

Actions:

1. Eran to speak to Phil to agree way forward on bank account.
2. Phil to add expected amounts on things we plan to spend to determine what we have enough money for.
3. Colette to look at grant opportunities from Manchester Airport, Our Manchester, Asda, Lidl and other supermarkets.
4. Fi to look at grant opportunities from Co-op store manager pot, Co-op community fund, Southway Beautiful South fund.

Neighbourhood issues

• Bailey bridge over the Mersey was due to be replaced in September but we think this has been delayed again. It’s something that comes up on the WhatsApp group so would be good to share an update if we have one.
• From Tess: Next litter pick is Sunday 20 Sep 10am, meet corner of Mottram and Darley Ave.

Actions:

5. Mandie to post an update in the WhatsApp group following a meeting she’s attending this week

Local history

• We’ve followed up contact from a board member of the golf club who is keen for the building to be used for community events. Loads of history surrounds the building which could form the basis for a local history evening. Suggested organising an event in January or February and look at having food - maybe hot pot.
• Building of the Barlow Hall estate started in 1927 so next year will be our centenary. Agreed to tie this in to lots of events throughout the year, including asking residents for their stories.

Actions:

6. Dave to send Colette contact details for Andrew Simpson.
7. Colette to contact Andrew Simpson, local historian, about speaking at an event.
8. Colette to contact the golf club about dates for the event.

AGM

• Plans from previous meeting: Hold the AGM on Sat 7 November in St Barnabus Hall 1-5pm. 1-3pm we’ll have lunch, the AGM and a talk on nature. 3-5pm will be the advent craft event in preparation for the advent trail.

Actions:

9. Colette to ask for ideas on themes for the advent trail.
10. Colette to order materials required for the craft event.

Green group

• We’ve had lots of interest from the summer event and more generally in nature. A resident (Jooles) has offered to do a talk on bee keeping and we’ve talked to Will B about speaking at the AGM about nature issues. Suggestion to combine a talk about bees with the bulb planting event that we’re organising in the Autumn. We’ll also promote our i-nature app at the planting event.

Actions:

11. Fi to organise a date for the bulb planting, looking at Sat 17, Sun 18 or Sun 25 October.
12. Fi to contact Jooles about a bee talk.

Newsletter

• Our next newsletter will promote autumn activities, so we need to work on it quickly. Content to include: our new logo!, summer event roundup, planting event, I nature app, AGM, advent trail, local history event, litter pick dates, green group, dog walker article, centenary celebration.

Actions:

13. Eran to work on the layout for the newsletter.
14. Colette to provide content on AGM, advent trail, local history event, centenary celebration and request for stories.
15. Fi to provide content on planting event, I nature app, green group, dog walker.
16. Eran to write content on summer event roundup, litter pick dates.
17. Eran to ask Tess and Derya for dates for litter picks in the next few months.
18. Colette to send Eran summer event roundup that we submitted in the grant evaluation.
19. Harvy to add meeting minutes to group website and share a summary on the WhatsApp group.

Next meeting: Wednesday 7 October; main feature will be planning the AGM and other Autumn/ Winter activities.