Chair: Jim S
Minutes: Harriet J
Present: Jim S, Harriet J, Lynda S, Chris M, Colleen, Jane K
MINUTES
| 1. Agenda item I Welcome and apologies Jim |
Jim welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies were received from Naseem H, Tila R, Paul B.
| 2. Agenda item II a) Minutes of the last meeting, 07/04/26 b) Matters arising from the last meeting, 07/04/26 Jim |
No comments were received on the minutes of the last meeting.
No matters arising.
| 3. Agenda item III BCAG admin Jim |
Total hours spent on BCAG business and projects since the April 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.
| 4. Agenda item IV Treasurer’s report (Naseem) |
BCAG central funds stand at £2617.
The 2025/26 accounts have been completed and audited; thank you to Jack as auditor and congratulations to Naseem and Jim for completing the accounts
| 5. Agenda item V Social media, Newsletter, publicity Jim |
BCAG Facebook: 1402 followers; BSCG FB: 1171; BATS FB: 80 followers; mailing list subscribers email: 348, Newsletter 318, voting members: 209. BSCG email 220, BATS email: 121. Dirty Water 72. Banbury Litter Pickers have 206 followers on their public page.
Thank you, Joe for the newsletter.
| 6. Agenda item VI Bridge Street Community Garden BSCG (Tila) |
Tila thanks all the volunteers who help water, weed, tidy and keep the Garden looking welcoming. Also Jim for his ongoing regular checks of the Garden. Also Ivor for watering and for the beautiful photos.
Most of, but not all, the fly-tipped items have been collected by the Council; Tila will follow up to have the remaining bin bags removed.
In partnership with the People’s Theatre Collective, the Garden team has been running a Wednesday after-school club, with the PTC leading on safeguarding. Sophie (PTC), Zainab (BSCG) and Tila have been planning the sessions. The project builds on the Easter holiday activities held jointly by the two groups.
Thank you to Naseem for bringing a group from Sunrise Multicultural Project to enjoy the Garden. Also with Sunrise, and in collaboration with the International Tree Foundation, a group (of 57) visited Science Oxford.
Milly has continued with her wellbeing sessions.
The Garden hosted an Eid celebration which was joyful and well attended. Thank you to Zainab for helping to organise the event, to all those who helped on the day, to Sakia for delicious rice, to Ezz for reciting a chapter of the Qur’an, and to Hira for leading the art activity.
Issey led a session on plants used for natural dyes, and following on from this, one of the hexagon beds is being planted with dye plants; more events on this theme will be held over the coming months.
Year 5 pupils and staff from St John’s Primary School visited, linking to the gardening curriculum.
The Haven continued their visits as part of their English classes; thank you to Milly, Lynne and the Haven team for organising.
Home-Start families now visit the Garden monthly, supported by Lynne, Tamzin and Louise.
Tamzin has been welcoming children from Quackers Nursery.
Artist Anna-Marie led a session making flowers from recycled material from Orinoco, which will be used as part of a larger community art installation organised by CDC.
Outreach included a session at Britannia Road, and a wellbeing walk in collaboration with The Hill Community Centre.
Tila has been in regular contact with the BCAG Garden core members group to ensure the continued smooth-running of the Garden.
| 7. Agenda item VII Browning Road Orchard BRO Harriet |
No update this month.
| 8. Agenda item VIII Banbury Active Travel Supporters group Paul / Neil |
No update this month.
| 10. Agenda item X Nature Harriet |
Linked to Wild Banbury, a group had a dawn chorus walk in the park at Broughton Castle. Thank you to the estate for the permission. The list of birds heard was a little underwhelming, but it was a most enjoyable event.
The reptile survey in Banbury Country Park is continuing with the refugia settling in as evidenced by three bank vols in residence.
Kat B has been appointed by Thames21 to replace Clare R. Kat will take on the role of co-host for the Catchment Partnership and will be the link for the Citizen Science work.
| 11. Agenda item XI Climate Action Jim, Lynda, Chris |
The National Emergency Briefing film event went very well with over 30 people attending and many positive comments received afterwards on how well it was managed. Over 20 letters were signed and handed to the MP by Jim. There will be another showing of the Briefing film at The Light on 20th May (not a BCAG event); Maria H is acting as facilitator for this.
| 11. Agenda item XI Banbury Litter Pickers Jane |
Jane explained the history of the Banbury Litter Pickers group and how it currently operates. The group was founded in 2019 and now has around 40 – 50 active members. Regular group litter picks are held, and in addition, many members go out by themselves to clear their local streets or a particular location; they make an amazing positive impact on the quality of the town environment. The group has an excellent relationship with CDC Environmental Services.
A staggering volume of litter has been cleared by the group (465 bags so far in 2026, plus bags that go unrecorded if collected by individual members and not logged).
BCAG members voted unanimously in favour of Banbury Litter Pickers becoming a part of BCAG and warmly welcomed such a positive move which they felt would be to the clear benefit of both parties.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
A reminder that the AGM will be held on 2nd June before the regular monthly meeting.
Note from April minutes matters arising
The meeting agreed to the recommendation from Jim, Harriet and Naseem that the AGM be moved to coincide with the June meeting to give time for the accounts for the last financial year to be finalised. With the number of grants being handled through BCAG, particularly for the running of the Garden, preparation of the accounts is now a more complex task than in previous years. Delaying the AGM from April, as currently specified in the constitution, to June, will give the treasurer time to prepare the accounts and, ideally, to have them audited in time for the meeting.
A motion will be put to the AGM that the constitution be amended such that, going forward, the AGM will be held in June.
Lynda and Tila are running a seed swap to be held in conjunction with Castle Quay, 14th May.
Review of BCAG policies is due.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Banbury CAG AGM will be held 2nd June online at 7.30pm.
The June monthly meeting will follow on from the AGM.