NCS Minutes May 2014-1

President: The Reverend Greg Forster M.A., Dip. Anth.
Registered with the Civic Trust
Registered Charity No. 503200
NORTHENDEN CIVIC SOCIETY
Minutes
Tuesday 13 May 2014 at 7.30pm
Present:
Janet Breeze, Peter Clouston, Mary Di Mauro, David Farwell, Greg Forster, Conor Jerram (Minutes), Gwyneth
Lloyd, Carolyn Macdonald (Chair), Joan Mycock, Sue Walker
Members & Guests: Frank Heatley, Noreen Eckersley, Beryl Butterworth, Jeanne Ward, Linda Melia, Jean
Davies, David Davies, Fran Johnstone
Apologies:
Papa Andoh-Kweku, Anna Bunney
1.
Minutes of last meetings
March 2014 and AGM: April 2014 minutes were circulated.
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Corrections to AGM minutes:
Martine will share the responsibility for Planted areas with Mary Di Mauro
Refreshments were provided by Martine James and Janet Breeze in addition to Gwyneth Lloyd and
Joan Mycock
It was Wythenshawe FM that made a radio recording
2.
Matters Arising
Janet and Peter were thanked for organising the very interesting and well-attended trips to Sharston
Household Waste Recycling Centre and Stockport Plaza respectively.
Greg reported that he had had no response to date to his invite to Mike Kane to become our new VicePresident.
3.
Police update
We have been contacted by the police who would like to be here, but shift patterns are proving an obstacle.
Carolyn will contact them to establish what contact we will have going forward.
4.
Treasurer’s Report
Change in Bank signatories have been arranged: new signatory is Carolyn, joining Mavis, Conor and Sue.
Former Chair Tony Hoath has been removed as a signatory. Conor and Mavis are continuing to work on the
handover of Accounts.
Gwyneth reported map sales of £10.00.
5.
Membership Secretary’s report
Sue Walker reported that we have 166 members to date this year, with £585.00 paid in.
6.
Pattern of Meetings
Further to discussion at both our March meeting and the April AGM, we considered again the subject of
possible changes to the pattern of meetings over the year. It was agreed that we should retain the current
pattern of 11 meetings per year, omitting August.
7.
Topics / Agenda for Meetings
We discussed possible topics for future meetings. It is hoped to have guest speakers on alternate months, with
a suggestion from Carolyn being the Welfare of the Legion.
It was noted that we should not forget the expertise from amongst our own membership – there may be
individuals able to lead group discussions on particular items of interest.
It was agreed desirable that a programme of topics for our meetings could be drawn up, say for the coming 6
months, which could be circulated to members in advance.
Carolyn asked all present to think of ideas for future topics, visits and speakers.
8.
Election for Vice-Chairperson
Gwyneth Lloyd and Jeanne Ward offered to serve in this role. It was agreed to elect them both as joint ViceChairs.
9.
Northenden Group Practice
Carolyn reported on the recent meeting she attended on our behalf at the Surgery about the revised
appointment arrangements. Also in attendance were the Practice Manager, the Doctor Manager and the Office
Manager. Carolyn had received correspondence from various NCS members about aspects of the changes
which she presented to the Surgery staff. In general the atmosphere of the meeting was cordial.
Under the new system there will be 8/9 people taking the calls, and 4 or 5 doctors triaging them. There is no
financial incentive for the GPs in the changes; rather they are designed to provide a better, more streamlined
service for the benefit of patients. Our Practice is part of a pilot for a nationwide change.
The Surgery are aware that they did not contact all patients about the changes in advance, although notices
were in place at the Surgery.
We discussed the issues arising. Points included:
- Long waits for return phone calls from the doctor – one case of a 5 hour wait is already known of.
- Patients at the surgery in person not being allowed to see a doctor – instead they are being advised by both
reception and medical staff to attend A&E.
- Concern about increased pressure on the already overstretched A&E, particularly following recent closure of
Walk-in Centres. It was suggested that in due course a Freedom of Information request be made about how
many NGP patients are now attending A&E.
- Patients who don't like to trouble the doctor and/or are unable/unconfident about describing symptoms over
the phone may be left untreated.
It was agreed that we would have to wait a few months to see if the new system was working as well in
practice as the Surgery says it will.
Carolyn was thanked for all her work on this matter. Frank will put a precis of issues in the next Newsletter.
10.
Planning
a) 391 Palatine Rd: there have been some changes to the proposal presented to us in January – parking
spaces in front of the shop are to be indented into the existing pavement. There will be support columns in
front of the shop. New street trees are to be planted.
Concern was expressed about the lack of parking space as a whole for the development, and the need for
timing restrictions on the shoppers spaces. Do we have services in the village for all the new developments ? an example is primary school place provision.
David will pass on our comments.
b) Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall, Moor End – side extension was approved under delegated powers.
c) Didsbury Golf Club, Ford La – biomass boiler was also approved under delegated powers.
d) Land next to St Hilda's Service Station, St Hilda's Rd – pair of semis. No objection.
e) Top Gear Motors, 122 Longley La – following our recent successful objection to a car wash at this site, a
further application was received for a car wash at the rear. David made representations on our behalf and the
application was refused under delegated powers.
11.
Environment
Greg reported that pressure is continuing on the owners of the former British Legion site on Royle Green Rd to
tidy up / improve security / complete the partly constructed buildings at this site. Council officers are aware of
residents' concerns.
12.
Riverside Park
Gwyneth reported that pansies and London Pride have now been planted around the base of the heron. Wild
flax had been noted in the park, but unfortunately had been affected significantly by the recent spraying of
weeds.
The Friends are concerned about the gap in the boulders between the car park and park which has arisen
since building work started on the Camperlands site. Logs have also been removed. It was agreed that there
was a need for a clear, sympathetic boundary along this edge of the park.
Greg has received a request to his enquiry to the City Council about what substance is used in their spraying
programme. The chemical used is Glycophospate.
Mary has reported the graffiti at the park, particularly on the community notice boards.
13.
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AOB
Discussion about our next stall. Recently we have held two stalls a year, sometimes three. The
Neighbourhood Forum is planning monthly Farmer's Market stalls, particularly during its initial period. It
was suggested NCS liase with NNF about NCS using the August slot for a stall rather than NNF. We
also discussed the possibility of having a stall again at the Christmas Lights switch on.
Community room: Janet reported that NCS has been offered the use of the community room at West
View Court for free on a Wednesday evening. We agreed that we were happy for now with the current
arrangement of paying to use St Wilfrid's Church Hall on a Tuesday evening.
Next Meeting – Tue 10 June, 7.30 pm, St Wilfrid’s Church Hall.

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