1. Minutes for last meeting

In the absence of Chris Rose, Fiona agreed to chair the meeting. The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and there were no matters arising that would not be addressed via the agenda.

2. WAP Report

Fiona presented the WAP report.

During discussion about the mini tourism survey that had been carried out Peter Rainsford asked that some additional information be included in the section on Wells Tourist Information Centre. He would like a sentence included that reflected the cost of advertising in the TIC B&B brochure for accommodation providers.

Peter also requested that Business and Tourism be dealt with under separate headings in future WAP update reports.

Fiona highlighted an upcoming event being run by North Norfolk Community Partnership (NNCP). She explained that NNCP had split their priority areas into three themes:

• Housing
• Quality of Life
• Jobs with Prospects

As a result thematic groups had been created, each being head up by a member of NNCP, known as Thematic Leads. These thematic lead officers were holding an event in Wells on 29th September and had requested that members of WAP attended.

Kate gave a brief update on the youth project running in Walsingham. Unfortunately the youth providers EP youth had pulled out of the project and WAP were now in the process of finding an alternative youth provider to ensure that funding remained secure.

KP to amend the tourism survey

KP to amend WAP report template

3. Round Robin

Helen Millward reported that the Children Centre was increasing its service provision and had adult maths lessons starting next week. The toy library was being well used and they are looking to extend the service to Fakenham and Holt in the near future. A new member of staff will be joining the centre who will have responsibility for driving the toy library. This will free up Helen’s time so she can focus on providing new services and running the Children’s Centre.

Angie Barker who was attending the WAP Board for the first time, informed members that she had just been appointed as Parent Support Worker for the area. She has already started working with 12 families and her roll is to support families who are experiencing parenting, finance or, health issues that may have a negative effect on their children. She is able to offer some one to one support as we as signposting families to other appropriate agencies.

Pete Lynn reported that the environment forum is holding its next meeting on Thursday with the aim of developing a project or event that will attract new members to the forum.

Reg Rice reported that he had been working closely with Norman Lamb MP and NNDC to help reform the benefit assessment system. Fiona recommended that Reg contact Kate outside of the meeting to discuss how WAP can assist him in this work. Kate suggested that a project could be included in the WAP action plan that would provide a benefit to the older people in the community.

Peter Rainsford reported that the hospital project was going well. They had recently been visited by the Head of the Strategic Health Authority and Chef Executive of the Primary Care Trust who had been very positive about the Community Hospital and had indicated that they would be willing to support it in the longer term. They had asked that a time limited project group be established to investigate the hospitals viability and develop a business case for their consideration. 

John Plattern reported that summer exam result had been very good for APHS and had shown a 13% improvement for students gaining 5 or more A* - C grades. The schools specialist sports status was beginning to have a positive impact and the new uniform had been received well by students, staff and the community.

KP to discuss possible older people project with Reg to be included in the WAP action plan for 2008/09

• Wells Asset Review

Fiona reported that Blue Fish Regeneration, the consultants engaged to carry out the Asset Review, held a stakeholder workshop on the 15th Sept to present their first draft of project proposals. Kate will keep the WAP Board updated on future developments.

KP to brief WAP Board re the final report at next meeting

• Boundary Commission Consultation

Kate presented an information document that had been produced by Norfolk County Council for stakeholders. The leaflet outlined the proposals put forward by the Boundary Committee in relation to a Unitary Norfolk Council being created. Kate highlighted that the Boundary Committee were in the middle of a 12 week consultation period which closed on the 26th September. She asked the Board if they would like to submit any comments on the proposal as part of the consultation process.

Discussion took place and the Board decided that at this stage they would not comment on the proposal. It was agreed that it would be important to be involved in consultation if and when more specific details were released, for example how the proposed Community Boards would be formed etc.

• Local Development Framework (LDF)

Fiona asked the Board to discuss the site specific information relating to the industrial land. It was agreed that the housing should be positioned closer to the High School and that the industrial land stays as it is.

• AOB

Fiona reminded members that the WAP AGM would be on the 21st October and that public notices would be going up in the town shortly.

The Board thanked Fiona for all her hard work and wished her well as she was leaving to go on maternity at the end of September.