OBM – Minutes of meeting held Tues 2nd August 2022 – The Railway Tavern Belper
Apologies; Dave Higley
Attending: Roger Moors, Carol Brewer, Chris Toner, Simon Hudson, George Jones, Phoebe McMillan, Melanie Parker, Richard Keighley, Rhiannon Creasey, (9 attending)
Opening; Chair, Roger Moors welcomed all attending & invited points of discussion as follows;
Key Partners meeting 6th May;
- Roger confirmed this meeting was well attended including Pauline Latham MP, Belper North Mill Trust (John Haines), Derek Latham – Chair DHBT, Barry Joyce – Vice Chair DHBT & ICAMOS, Adam Lathbury- Head of Conservation Derbyshire County Council, Tim Allen (Historic England), Lyn McLoughlin (representing Lord Patrick McLoughlin – member of House of Lords and former MP for West Derbyshire)
- Discussion followed re the planning application & next steps for Belper North Mill Trust – FI have offered cheaper alternative basement accommodation for office use, tour base etc., but require museum to be vacated with all exhibits moved to Cromford. BNMT meeting imminently to decide on options.
- Situation now unclear as planning could be affected if there is no provision for museum included.
- Pauline Latham had asked for meeting with Simon Gladwin Executive Director AVBC – discussion via zoom was not productive as AVBC although sympathetic, could not comment whilst any planning application was still active.
- Current planning application should have been determined by September 2022 – but as AVBC require consultation with Historic England this will not be until December 2022 at earliest. No approach by AVBC has yet been made. Also newly revised FI plans were again submitted 29th July, so are likely to cause yet further delay. It was recognised that consultation was required to determine the balance between any permissable heritage sacrifice and viability.
- No repairs have been undertaken whilst FI await the outcome of the planning application.
- Adam Lathbury confirmed that for ABVC to consider any alternative to current FI planning application (i.e a possible future Plan B), this would have to be a wholly substantiated, financially workable, viable option from an entirely different organisation. There can be no CPO without such a solution. He also added that DCC, having an active interest in heritage sites across the Derwent Valley, would be insisting that any future decisions ensure the whole site is not divided and sold off in part. He appears to be in favour of letting the current protracted application run its course, thus giving more time for any alternative supported viable plan with clear investment and funding in sight, to be prepared.
- He explained that DCC have already put out a tender to 4 companies to carry out a feasability study in relation to the whole site including the West Mill site. As the anticipated £100k funding is not yet set aside, this remains confidential information not be shared in the public domain. Any relevant information obtained through previous studies could be used in part, however a new study is required, looking at the current situation.
- The objective of going to tender now, despite funds not yet being available, is to be pro active and ready to go, once all funding sources are in place.
- Any feasibility study would look at elements including alternative use/position of the museum/funding streams/deterioration of the property/community engagement & support etc., and could take approximately 26 weeks.
- A motion to look at a possible crowd funding project to raise some funding toward the cost of any feasibility study was put forward by Roger, achieving a majority vote in favour. Further details and exact objective wording, criteria and marketing to be agreed.
- Once again, OBM was officially acknowledged as the recognised mechanism for public engagement – essential pre-requisite for public funding to be secured.
Belper North Mills Trust email received;
- An email to Melanie from John Hills had been forwarded to the group for discussion.
- As BNMT were seeking OBM support, it was agreed that OBM should respond promptly, bearing in mind their imminent meeting only a week away. This is not a timescale that OBM can influence or effectively assist with.
- OBM clearly supports the retention of the museum and recognises the passionate commitment of the invaluable volunteers and employees, however, any concerns, issues or questions arising can only be addressed directly between the BNMT Trustees and FI directly as OBM have no authority within BNMT.
- It was felt that OBM & BNMT do share common objectives and, as OBM reflects the voice of the community, we do reflect public opinion which incorporates the positive community feeling with regard to the museum.
- OBM is of the understanding that any succesful planning application should include provision of the museum site as part of the final agreed solution.
OBM Membership;
- Including names collected from Belper food festival, this currently stands at 282 subscribers of which 50% have opened the initial acknowledgement email.
- It was agreed that the next communication should be the detailed welcome email (copy attached) explaining the Supporter/Member role, inviting sign up via the new website to register as either option. This is a requirement now that the webste domain has transferred. This will be forwarded, following the adjustments to the website that Phoebe still has to make including some design elements and the uploading of the draft leaflet, all scheduled to be ready by 12th August. Further updates to the website will follow early autumn.
Website- www.ourbelpermills.co.uk:
- Phoebe confirmed that the website has now succesfully transferred to the new domain hosted by Dave which offers more capability. Phoebe remains the lead on this with Dave providing technical support and assistance.
- It was agreed that we can direct visitors to new website as of 12th August where some tweaks to design and the draft leaflet will be visible, with more to follow by the autumn.
- Rhiannon offered to be involved in any user ability testing programme to identify any issues.
- Currently, the website offers a basic home,info & mailchimp sign up pages, however the potential for an unlimited number of pages to view exists, although it was felt that there was a need to keep it as uncomplicated and therefore as effective as possible.
Events & Engagement;
- Belper food festival had been very succesful with many conversations, connections and supporters signing up. It was acknowledged that the Railway Tavern had been a great location and their support was much appreciated. Disappointment regarding BTC lack of stall provision to OBM was duly passed on to one of the councillors and it was hoped that their support in the future might be forthcoming.
- Future events discussed were additional farmers markets, Autumn craft fair at Strutts Community centre 15th October and the Christmas food festival Sunday 5th December.
- Consideration was given to having a presence further afield than Belper and all agreed Cromford mills events were appropriate. Simon agreed to look into this.
Partnerships/Sponsorships;
- It was agreed that, linked to the crowd funding suggestion, local businesses might be advantageously encouraged to support OBM. This could be financial, or gifts in kind.
- Melanie explained that the newly established Re-Union Café was interested in becoming involved in some way but could not offer financial sponsorship at this time. As their ethos is very community centred it was agreed that there could be scope to pursue a gift in kind relationship such as free meeting space or catering etc., which Melanie will pursue.
- Also mentioned as possibles re current advertising opportinities Trent Barton & Derbyshire Tea
- It was agreed that any community or corporate sponsors should be acknowledged on the website.
- Melanie was also keen to develop the opportunity to engage further with care homes and schools and it was agreed unanimously that this should be an ongoing part of the OBM action plans
Action;
- Agree the amended official welcome mailchimp email – CB to ALL
- Tweak the website & upload draft leaflet by 12th August – PM
- Send out agreed email asap after 12th August – CT
- Progress partnerships – MP
- Progress Cromford Mills events – SH
- Agree future events staffing – ALL
NEXT MEETING; September tba.