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ACTION |
| ITEM NO. |
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WHO |
| 1. |
Welcome & Apologies |
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KR welcomed the Team extending apologies for KH, and informed he will assume role as Chair because RP would be later than hoped. |
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| 2. |
Notes from Last Meeting |
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Due to a weighty agenda, KR wished to progress to Agenda Item 4 with the Team’s approval and contentment with April 4’s notes. |
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| 3. |
Matters Arising |
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No Team Member raised Matters Arising out of previous notes other than these on the agenda. |
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| 4. |
Parklife – The Future |
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As the Team will be aware the end of Parklife Phase 2 is nearing an end, June 30. Funding for Parklife Phase 3 has been secured over the next two years; with its focus aligning with funding requirements. These being:
- Recession Busting:- Offering Businesses guidance and support through the economic downturn, with advice and skills development.
- Clusters:- collaborative purchasing of Training Needs for Businesses who are geographically close together. J9 is one of two Parklife areas that have been chosen to pilot the scheme. I.e. Tewkesbury and Gloucester.
- HEFCE:- Graduate placement within Businesses for post-graduates with a GL postcode. £100/week for four months working on a Project within a Business.
Specific requirements for the above three schemes are still being finalised however if businesses are interested,
please express this to KR.
In order to secure funding it is highly likely that ‘Clusters’ initiative will need to be driven ahead of others.
KR cautioned the Team the current Parklife Structure for Phase 3, whereby Parklife is able to continue with the same aims; objectives; and deliverances, are dependant on respective Council contributions. All Team Members are aware of Tewkesbury Borough Council’s (TBC) situation. RP, as Chair, is to write a letter to TBC expressing on behalf of J9, the importance of Parklife continuance to the Group. KR is in consultation with the TBC and is to advise the Team of its outcome in due course.
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All
RP
KR |
| 5. |
Tewkesbury Showcase Events |
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KR expressed his concern over the lack of Parklife resource, regarding the frequency of monthly Showcase Events.
Team Member’s expressed their views on frequency, feeling:
- Quality of content > Quantity or Frequency of meetings
- Business demand to be proven before moving to monthly meetings
- A need for diversified content of Showcase Events, to attract wider and more varied Businesses and their Representatives
Following the discussion, the below Programme was formulated and agreed:
- June = Garden Party @ The Abbey
- July = Parklife Relaunches (Road Show), Severnvale
- September = new College/School
- November = Smiths
It was thought June/July monthly meetings will gain momentum for the Group, as J9 and Parklife’s name will be fresh in Business minds. Leading to bi-monthly Showcase Events for September and November. Frequency to be re-assessed following November’s Showcase Event.
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ALL |
| 6. |
Garden Party at the Abbey |
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Following on from previous successes of ‘Over the Rainbow’ and ‘Christmas Carols in the Abbey’; Paul Williams (PW), Abbey Vicar is keen to continue Tewkesbury’s support for businesses by hosting a Garden Party at the Abbey for J9; FSB; IOD; COC Members and others in the business community.
KR thought an informal Event, whereby canapés and light alcoholic and soft beverages would be provided in Abbey grounds to madrigals by Tewkesbury’s Nationally recognised Choir. Sponsorship hopes lie with Tewkesbury’s own three Queen’s Award Winning Businesses, KR to approach.
Further discussed points:- It was suggested to invite Laurence, MP for Tewkesbury, to the Event as he is likely to be in the area.
- CA and HR emphasised the need to market this event and others correctly, with a clear succinct message conveying to Businesses these are ‘Tewkesbury’ Business Events. A postcard detailing future J9 meeting dates that are easily placed in wallets, for a reminder was also suggested.
- In the event of bad weather, contingency would be to move the Event inside the Abbey. KR to ask PW if there is any conflict was this to occur.
Garden Party date has been set Thursday 11 June.
PMN Date has now been confirmed as Tuesday 16 June |
KR
BK
KR
ALL |
| 7. |
J9 Travel Plan |
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In the absence of KH, KR briefed the Team with his knowledge of progress of J9’s Travel Plan.
Reiterating the need for J9 Businesses and employees to feed back information, to inform Gloucestershire Highways how and where to spend guaranteed funding, for improved traffic conditions in and around J9.
Following an initial poor response from Parklife’s email distribution, KH will be walking the estate with Sarah Avery from Gloucestershire Highways to distribute the survey. All Team Members are asked to raise the issue, when holding communications with other J9 Businesses.
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ALL |
| 8. |
Tewkesbury ‘Bike to Work’ Event |
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Wednesday 17 June has been set as Tewkesbury’s ‘Bike to Work’ Event. KH and Basepoint have agreed to host breakfast - bacon butties will be provided. |
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| 9. |
Tewkesbury Future – The Community Plan |
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HR and CA were involved in launching “Future of Tewkesbury”. A paper was prepared which went to the COC for consideration. BK, in his capacity of COC Chair, has read the paper and expressed his amazement at quality of work performed.
HR went on to explain proposals and initiatives with the aim of initiating and promoting inter-trading between the Town Centre (and its retail stores), with J9’s various Trading Estates. Drawing on examples from Gloucester Quays, Gloucester; Cabot Circus, Bristol; The Bull Ring, Birmingham; to encourage trading between the two geographic locations, and foster Tewkesbury’s vitality as a Market Town.
KR to ask Dan Judges, Gloucestershire First as to the status and outcome of ‘3V’ Document he was producing.
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KR |
| 10. |
A.O.B |
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- BK mentioned COC’s AGM to be held 18 May, Tewkesbury Park with Redsixty as speaker.
- AN requested from the Team (and to communicate to other J9 Members), for email requests to be succinct and clear in the message of uploading data to the J9 Website to avoid them not being acted on.
- KR made enquiries into:
- FSB Advice day
- Westminster Event
- IOD Event
All thought to be successful and worthwhile.
- In closing KR reminded all of the value of participating in Gloucester Business Awards
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ALL
ALL |
| 11. |
Date of Next Meeting |
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Thursday 16 June Combined J9 FSB IOD COC Garden Party @ the Abbey . |
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