Friends of Ruskin Park

Chair  Veronica Hardstaff - 64, Linaker Road, Sheffield S6 (Tel. 233 5414)

Secretary Max Telfer – 167, Walkley Crescent Road, Walkley, Sheffield S6 (Tel. 234 1576)

Minutes of the meeting of the Friends of Ruskin Park, held on Tuesday 19^th March 2002

1.        Present : Veronica Hardstaff (Chair); Chris Ireland; Caroline Haw; Deb Loasby; Councillor Vickie Priestley; Councillor Diane Leek; Fraser McDermott (Sheffield City Council);

2.        Apologies: Max Telfer (Secretary); Rosemary Telfer; Claire Molyneux; Alan Garner; Pat Garner; Brenda Wren; Rachel Stevenson (Sheffield City Council); Sue Ireland; Nicki Wilson; Chris Fry; Jane Fox.

3.       Matters arising:

·         £3,500 has been received from the Community Chest (SRB6 monies) for consultation about the park. Consultation to be carried out in preparation for a bid by Sheffield City Council for Lottery funding.  A consultation to be appointed in mid-April – Nicki has provided a list of potential consultants for consideration.

·         Diane reported that funds from the closure of Daniel Hill School would not now be forthcoming.  She has written to Veronica regarding this issue.

·         Ian Loasby has set up the Friends of Ruskin Park web-site – www.ruskinpark.org.uk    Any photographs for inclusion on the site would be welcome, particularly ones of the area prior to the park being established.

4.       Rangers report:

Fraser reported back on a council meeting about applications to the New Opportunities Fund. There is an issue about the capacity of the council to identify an officer able to put together a bid on behalf of the group.  Veronica to contact Dave Cooper in the Development team of the Parks, Woodlands and Countryside department to discuss potential funding sources.  Bids to the New opportunities Fund will need to be submitted by early autumn, and will require a minimum of 5% match-funding – this could potentially come from SRB monies.

5.       Consultant’s remit

The consultant will be asked to produce a document reflecting the wishes of the wider community for the development of Ruskin Park.  The aim is to employ someone for eleven working days to:

·         consult with all interested local parties

·         reflect consultation work already carried out

·         reflect work already done to make the park more “user-friendly”

Consultations will be asked to provide evidence of previous similar work. Veronica, Max, Chris and Diane or Vickie to be involved with interviews.

6.       Walkley Festival.

Deb, Ian, Sue, Chris and Rachel have met to discuss activities in the park as part of the Walkley festival.  Events, including a Craft Fair, are being planned for 12.00 to 3.30 on Saturday 29^th June.  A further planning meeting, including Caroline, will be held on April 4^th.    Fraser passed on a Parks Events application Form for completion.

7.       Ruskin Park Spring Clean

To be held on Saturday 18^th May from 10.00 to 12.30.  Sue has requested a skip from Street Force.  Rachel is looking into including recycling activities as part of the event.  Fraser has arranged for the event to be included in literature about activities in Sheffield Parks.  It will be necessary to publicise the clean up at Area Assembly meetings, and in St Mary’s School in the week beforehand.  Alan to be asked to produce posters to go on the park notice boards.

8.       Any other Business

·         Recycling Bins.  A discussion was held about siting recycling bins in the park.  It was felt that a park was not a suitable environment for such bins – they need to be somewhere people go to by car (e.g. supermarket car parks)

·         Ranger event.  A “Seaside Funday” is being organised in the park on Saturday 17^th August, from 11.00 to 300 p.m.

9.       Date and Time of next meting:

Tuesday 16^th April

7.45 p.m. at the Royal Hotel, Walkley