AGM Wells Area Partnership
30th October 2007
Minutes

Present:
Chris Rose, Peter Rainsford, Cheryl Crawford, Fiona MacCallum, Emily Grecas, Jon Platten, Sheila Warner, Claire Tabor, Betty Emmerson, Do Powell, John Millwood, John Stannard, Joyce Trett, Pauline Chamberlain.

Apologies:
Steve Finch

Welcome:
Membership applications were accepted and it was explained that the Board will be drawn from the members at a later stage.

Chairman’s Report:
Chris Rose delivered the WAP Annual Report 2006 – 2007 (please find attached) and added that we have a good relationship with the parish councils and have made contact with every parish in the area. Some of the Parish Councils send a representative to WAP meetings and we now also have a good relationship with Wells Town Council.

Financial Report:
Peter Rainsford delivered WAP’s financial report (please find attached).

Questions:

Q/
 What is the relationship between WAP and WTC and who does what?

A/
Chris Rose:
WTC have statutory responsibilities and powers whereas WAP do not. There are some overlaps such as consultation.
Where WTC would have a very specific view on issues such as services, WAP are not political and try to represent the views of the community and support projects which result from the consultation work that we do.

Fiona MacCallum:
We have a good ongoing relationship with WTC. WAP feeds information to them from consultation work. WTC were involved in writing questions regarding car parking in the recent questionnaire.

Q/
Who wrote the question about unemployment?

A/
Fiona MacCallum:
It came from the face to face interviews that were carried out with members of the community earlier in the year.

Chris Rose:
Before drawing up the questionnaire we reviewed all previous community consultation and got advice from professionals on how to consult the community. We then reduced this into questions for the questionnaire.

AOB:
WAP needs to have a Partnership Board empowered to make decisions about policy matters but legal and financial responsibility presently rests with the Trustees, and unless the constitution is revised, ultimate control over any matter with legal or financial implications will remain with the Trustees. The Trustees will explore options for amending the constitution if necessary, or find another way forward. The Partnership Board will consist of nominated / elected members representing different areas of WAP (e.g. education, health, young people etc.)  If a new constitution has to be formally adopted we will either hold a special meeting of members or wait until the next AGM.