Chair: Jim
Minutes: Harriet
Present: Jim S, Harriet J, Naseem H, Lynda S, Paul B, Chris M, Lesley B
MINUTES
| 1. Agenda item I Welcome and apologies Jim |
Following this year’s AGM, Jim continues as BCAG chair, Naseem as treasurer, and Harriet as secretary.
Apologies for the April meeting were received from Tila R, Lynne C, Joe A
| 2. Agenda item II a) Minutes of the last meeting, 04/03/25 b) Matters arising from the last meeting, 04/03/25 Jim |
No comments were received on the minutes of the last meeting.
| 3. Agenda item III BCAG admin Jim |
Total hours spent on BCAG business and projects since the March meeting were recorded – thanks to everyone for putting in the time. Harriet to ask any core members not at the monthly meeting, for their hours.
Action needed: the annual review of our policies is due with Lynda/Harriet to check we have in place those we need, and that they are fit for purpose.
| 4. Agenda item IV Treasurer’s report (Naseem) |
BCAG central funds stands at £2,444.
| 5. Agenda item V Social media, Newsletter, publicity Jim |
End of March stats: BCAG mailing list has 325 subscribers for our Newsletter of which 245 are voting members. The Garden newsletter goes out to 231, and the BATS newsletter goes to 111 inboxes. BCAG main Facebook page has 1,300 followers; the Garden has 976 followers. It’s heartening that once again the numbers show an increase on those recorded in the March meeting.
| 6. Agenda item VI Bridge Street Community Garden BSCG (Tila) |
Tila provided a summary, for the AGM, of the BSCG activities over the past year which highlights what a valued community space the Garden has become. This is thanks to the fantastic lead given by Tila as Garden Officer, and the support of everyone who has been involved.
| 7. Agenda item VII Food Action (Dan) |
Dan is in discussion with the Banbury Larder, Grimsbury Community Centre, and other food action initiatives, to determine what role BCAG can play to best support the overall move towards food waste reduction, sustainable diets, and community inclusion. Dan to report back on progress at the May meeting.
| 8. Agenda item VIII Browning Road Orchard BRO Harriet |
No update this month.
| 9. Agenda item IX Banbury Active Travel Supporters group (Paul/Neil) |
Paul has been contributing to the station link bus improvement scheme, liaising with the County to ensure the most gain for pedestrians and cyclists.
We are delighted to have been awarded Great Big Green Week funding through CAG Oxfordshire / OCC for a BCAG/BATS/BEN stand at the Town Show in June.
Active Oxfordshire grants are again available. Improvements BATS would like to see happen include seating along LCWIP priority pedestrian routes and cycle racks for parking within Spiceball Park.
| 10. Agenda item X Banbury Environment Network Harriet |
Those who attended the visit to Banbury STW hosted by TW, found it highly informative. Thank you to the TW staff for taking the group round. Sean Woodcock MP was among those who attended.
Harriet attended the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre’s conference 22/03. Surveying and recording are important tools for conservation, helping to build knowledge of existing diversity, and providing a means of assessing gains through habitat improvement.
Sue and Harriet are arranging the April ‘water blitz’, linking in with the national FreshWater Watch event, 25/04 – 28/04. The event runs concurrently with The Rivers Trust’s Big River Watch. The latter is a scheme to promote citizen engagement with their local river.
BCAG will be part of the Thames 21 ‘plasticblitz’, 31/05 – 15/06; we will liaise with Banbury Litter Pickers on this.
Thank you to CAGOx / OCC for the GBGW grant: the award is for a stand at the Banbury Town Show to promote BCAG activities in particular BATS and BEN.
| 11. Agenda item XI Climate Action Jim, Harriet, Chris |
Jim and Harriet attended the OCC Climate Community Network meeting 13/03. Informative presentations were given by the CDC Rubbish and Recycling team and the OCC Retrofit team. If BCAG were to take forward an action in either of these areas, it would be warmly welcomed by the relevant council departments. The BCAG meeting suggested an article in the Newsletter to see if anyone comes forward to lead such an action.
Jim attended an OCC event on community readiness. This included a presentation from the Met Office. Communities are being encouraged to put together climate emergency plans. Town level is considered too large an area for these which are best prepared by smaller community level groupings.
Following a meeting to discuss possible format and content for the event, Chris is taking the lead on the proposed engagement evening with our MP on climate-related issues.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Lesley B told the meeting of the work she does for The Archway Foundation. Founded in 1982 in Oxfords, Archway exists to provide meaningful social contact for people who feel the hurt of loneliness and isolation. It provides a pathway of support to develop positive well-being, reduce isolation and encourage increased social contact.
The meeting provided knowledge of the various groups active in Banbury with which Archway might make contact to discuss how it could be of help in our area.
Jim drew the meeting’s attention to the upcoming Spring Festivals event to be held 05/04 by Banbury’s interfaith group.
With local elections this May, Paul suggested BCAG contact candidates to raise their awareness of the work BCAG does and the concerns we share. Paul will prepare a draft to this end and discuss this with Chris.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held online 06/05.