Minutes of a meeting of the Community Liaison Committee of
RAINFORD PARISH COUNCIL
held in the Council Chamber at Rainford Village Hall on Monday 3 March 2025 at 6.30pm
Present: Councillors: Bowden, Denton, Dodson, Reynolds (arrived 7pm), Robinson,
Stockton-Pugh, Whalley (Chairwoman)
In attendance: Sally Powell (Clerk)
Lisa Roxby (Event Manager)
Absent: Councillor Roberts
1. Apologies for Absence:
None.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 03.02.2025
The minutes of the meeting held on 03.02.2025 were agreed as a true and accurate record, proposed by Councillor Denton, seconded by Councillor Dodson and carried unanimously.
Action: The Clerk
3. School Liaison Officer’s Report:
Councillor Whalley informed the members that she has arranged meetings with the Head Teachers which will take place within the next 2 weeks.
4. VIP Report:
Councillor Stockton-Pugh stated that VIP had been assisting with planning and organising the Beer Festival in recent weeks.
5. Updates:
Community Hub: Councillor Denton informed members that the Health and Well-Being event had been a big success. There were 15 stalls and 65 people attended. It was also an opportunity for the stall holders to network with one another. Many of those attending had asked for it to be an annual event.
The meeting in April will be Easter Bonnet making. Following this, the organisation of the Hub will change slightly, but this will not impact on those attending.
May meeting: Film afternoon
June meeting: Tea Dance
No meetings in July and August
September meeting: To be confirmed, but probably a film afternoon as these have proved to be very popular.
There was a general discussion about volunteers and it was agreed that it would be useful to have a list of people who are available and willing to help at events. It would also be good to recruit more residents for the VIP Working Party.
Heritage Memorial: Councillor Reynolds informed the meeting that the replacement replica railway signs have been installed and the project report sent to the Heritage Lottery Fund, so this project is now complete.
Knifesavers: Councillor Bowden informed the meeting that this project is also complete.
Rainford Youth Council: Councillor Whalley informed members that the last meeting had gone very well, but unfortunately Brook Lodge had not attended. Councillor Dodson will reinforce the dates of the meetings with the school.
Action: Councillor Dodson
The Youth Council had discussed the Great British Tidy Up and have decided to hold a table top sale at the front of the Village Hall on the same day as the Litter Pick (29.03.2025). School students will be asked to donate items for the stalls. The RYC members from the High School would like to do face painting as well, but the Council’s public liability insurance needs to be checked before this can be confirmed.
Action: The Clerk/Councillor Whalley
The May meeting has been altered to 08.05.2025 so that members can attend the VE Day Anniversary Tea Dance. What their involvement in the event will be has not yet been decided. There was a discussion regarding the possibility of the RYC raising funds for VE Day celebration at the Table Top sale, to off-set the cost for those attending.
Action: Councillors Bowden, Dodson & Whalley
RYC is also producing a logo for the group. The designs created individually by members will be circulated at the full Council meeting in March and Councillors will decide the winner. The logo will be used on member’s lanyards, posters, letters etc.
Action: The Clerk
Councillor Bowden informed the meeting that Saint Gobain, (a company on Sandwash Industrial Estate), have donated money to Rainford-in-Bloom for a project in The Spinney.
6. Neighbourhood/Parish Plan:
As Councillor Roberts was not at the meeting, Councillor Stockton-Pugh stated that there were no further updates at this time. He is having some difficulties collating the information from the surveys. The Clerk offered to assist and he will forward the information.
Action: Councillor Stockton-Pugh/The Clerk
7. Beer Festival 28.02 – 02.03.2025: See Appendix 1 for income and expenditure details
This was an overwhelming success, with the only issue being that the beer ran out! The Event Manager was congratulated on her achievement of organising the most profitable Beer Festival to date, especially as it was the first time she had been involved in such an event.
CAMRA were very helpful and informed the Event Manager about barrels that can be sealed again after they have been tapped, so that leftover beer can be sold on at the end of the event. They were impressed with the range of beers on offer.
The date for the Beer Festival 2026 is: 27/28 February & 01 March 2026
Councillor Reynolds joined the meeting at 7pm
It was agreed that there should be posts on social media detailing the amount raised by the Spirit Table for the Chairwoman’s Fund and the dates for next years’ event. The Event Manager gave details of how she would be improving the organisation of the event for next year, by contacting potential sponsors earlier.
Action: The Event Manager
8. Events:
The Event Manager informed the meeting of the following:
• her recent focus had mainly been on the Beer Festival. The next event is the Chairwoman’s Band Concert on 08.03.2025. Tickets are still available and all members are asked to have a final push to sell these. There will be a paid post on social media. 78 have been sold so far and the target is 100.
Action: All Members
• following the concert, the next event will be the first Tea Dance on 27.03.2025.
• all other events are still in the diary, except for the dates for the Sip & Paint events which will be finalised shortly.
• the first enquiry about a stall at the Christmas Fayre 2025 had been received.
• the Manager from the Labour Club had been in touch as the club will be 75 next year. It is planning to get its own beer brewed to mark the anniversary and would like to sponsor a barrel of the ale at next year’s Beer Festival. Members at the Labour Club are very positive about the links being forged with the Parish Council and the Village Hall.
• the Face Painter at the Beer Festival was very good and got several bookings at the event. This might be a possibility for the Christmas Fayre.
• There is a meeting with representatives from the Standing Tall foundation on 04.03.2025 to discuss organisation and costings for the VE Celebration Tea dance, and agree how the money will be split. It is hoped that veterans will attend the event.
9. Solar System on the Linear Park:
Councillor Reynolds asked for this item to be deferred to the next meeting.
Action: Councillor Reynolds/The Clerk
10. Garages on Pilkington Street:
Councillor Bowden initiated a discussion about the remaining garages on Pilkington Street. Both she and Councillor Denton have been contacted by residents wanting to know what is happening with the land. Anyone interested in adopting the land will need to go through the official channels and contact the Land Registry and St Helens Council in the first instance.
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 7.35pm
_________________________
Councillor Carol Whalley
Chairwoman, Community Liaison Committee
Rainford Parish Council 2024/25
10. Draft CLC Minutes 03.03.2025
