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J9 Business Group & Parklife Network Meeting

J9 Business Group & Parklife Network Meeting
Wednesday 3rd December 12.30pm, Severnvale Housing

Attendees: Bruce Keen (Tewkesbury Saw), Kate Harrison (Basepoint), Barry Jackson (BWJ Enterprises), Mark Roads (Connect Couriers), Julie Porter (Exbury Solutions), Stewart Angell (G4 Tec), Gillian Devereux (G4 Tec), Pauline Evans (Glos Express), Peter Godwin (Godwin Ellis), Tim Deeks (JP Construction), Frank Bowe (Moog Controls), Louise Moulder (Omega Resource), Mark Watts (Phoenix Bearings), Pat Allen (Precision EngineeringPieces), Abid Nasser (Smartline), Raoul Moore (Smiths), Peter Gardner (Smiths), Steve Brimfield (Tewkesbury School), Richard Gillingham (Gloucestershire County Council), Jon Bird (SWEA), Andrew Mathias (UESolutions), Sherry Piper (PCSO- Gloucestershire Police), Keith Rog (Parklife), Daniel Nicholls (Parklife/Canal Corridor Partnership)

Apologies: Nik Hill (Omega Resource), John Hawkins (Precision Engineering Pieces), Phil Tonks (Stonebridge Pollock), David Brassington (Tailor Made Training), David Shephard (Theocus Arboriculture), Richard Perry (Charlton Networks), Carole Sutton (China BoyCatering Hire), Richard Waters (Gloucestershire Highways), Mike Ginger (Highways Agency), Ian Mence (Bushell & Meadows), Hilary Allison (Vivid), Caroline Rawlinson (Vivid), Sarah Avery (Gloucestershire County Council)

Actions & matters arising from previous meeting

  1. AN stated that less than a dozen businesses had uploaded their contact details to the J9 website directory.  KR encouraged all to register as enables closer relationships to be built with individual businesses and business groups.  Report any problems or difficulties registering to AN. 
  2. An ANPR camera is to be setup at the motorway junction to J9, position yet to be decided.

Update from your ‘bobby on the beat’

  1. PCSO SP apologised for Karl Simpson being unable to attend.
  2. Businesses advised of opportunistic crime increase pre Xmas - practical advice given to deal with this. 
  3. Free crime reduction surveys are available to all businesses - those interested please contact Sherry or Karl for more details. 
  4. Many businesses were unaware of Tewkesbury Business Watch which encourages collaboration between businesses and the police to help combat crime.  BK encouraged any businesses that were interested to contact Mercedes Vaughan-Davis (Tewkesbury Borough Council) to register their details.

Energy Surveys & Advice from Jon Bird of Severn & Wye Energy Agency
SWEA is a not-for-profit organisation funded by local authorities to help SME’s look at their energy consumption, providing free energy surveys/reports and advice.  More comprehensive surveys can be carried out for any metal fabrication or food processing businesses.  JB pointed out that there is very little energy grant support for businesses although 0% interest loans for capital purchases can be gained through the Carbon Trust.  For more information visit http://www.swea.co.uk/ or email Jon at Jon@swea.co.uk

Collaborative Purchasing: Andrew Mathias from UES (Utility & Environmental Solutions)
UES is an independent firm made up of industry experts who manage the process of gaining the best price for the business whilst helping to reduce energy costs.  There any no contractual obligations, UES are generally paid through a shared saving scheme although payment can be arranged via other means if businesses wish.  For more info please visit http://www.uesolutions.co.uk/.

Traffic issues update and Transport Planning from Gloucestershire County Council

  1. RG (GCC Transport Planning Manager) explained that A46 East, motorways and the J9 motorway junction was under the governance of the Highways Agency whilst all of the roads west of the motorway are cared for by GCC (Gloucestershire Highways).
  2. Recent meeting facilitated by KR have resulted in the draft of actions encompassing existing initiatives in order to develop an integrated approach to improving matters
  • Infrastructure Improvements: - Cycle Network to be enhanced - Resurfacing of Northway Lane -Shannon Way junction improvements such as a left hand slip lane
  • Information Provision: - Project Group to be setup made up of J9 BG, GCC (Glos. Highways), Highways agency - Baseline Surveys (monitoring traffic flow and car sharing) - Promotions (Stagecoach to provide some free tickets to encourage public transport use and promoting active travel - PT & Cycle Map (Similar to Gloucester’s Cycle Map will be sent out to all Tewkesbury businesses and residents)
  • Air Quality Management: - Based around reducing smog in town centre - car park management - pedestrian improvements
  • Healthy towns project: - Partnership between GCC, Tewkesbury Borough Council & PCT - Action plan to be developed, cycle route and map produced                 
  1. SB stated there may be a benefit of improvements to the entrance to Tewkesbury School and that road improvements should be carried out during school summer holidays as there are less road users. 
  2. KR suggested a small working group should be created to give firms a direct route into GCC traffic planning. First meeting will held on Friday 19th December.  This working group will be made up of G4 Technology, Moog, Basepoint, Tewkesbury Saw & Tewkesbury School with KR acting in a facilitator role. 
  3. AN will upload a traffic page onto the J9 website so that the traffic plan and any comments on this can be made by J9 businesses.

AOB

  • KH reminded all of local shop vouchers which are available to use now until the end of February which provides a 10% discount in all local stores and taxi’s.  These are available from outlets in the town and Basepoint.
  • KR announced that following the success of ‘Over the Rainbow’ the Canon of Tewkesbury has put together a Xmas Carol Service for businesses - Thursday 11th December at 5.30pm.  It will be headlined by Dean Close School Choir, this is not a fundraising event but KR was asked to forward , James Hopkins Children’s Trust as possible beneficiary. Shelley Price or KR (Parklife) will send an email to promote the event.
  • KR stated the importance of businesses working together.  Larger businesses engaging with the local business community being a very important element. Moog  previously showcased at the last J9 Network Meeting and G4Tec have asked to host next Network Meeting - 4th February at G4 Technologies, details of this will be forwarded in due course.

Actions

  • KR to make arrangements for traffic planning meeting on 19th December
  • KR or Shelley Price to email all J9 businesses re Xmas Carol Service 11/12/08
  • Businesses to enter details onto J9 web-directory
  • All businesses encouraged to register with Tewkesbury Business Watch mercedes.vaughan-davis@tewkesbury.gov.uk
  • Following the meeting a number of businesses  were interested to know more regarding Canal Corridor Partnership, Gloucester’s Business Improvement District, if you wish to know more please visit http://www.canalcorridorpartnership.co.uk or email DN at parklifedaniel@glosfirst.co.uk