Report of third Steering Committe meeting held on 25th July

The Action Group has the task of preparing a Parish Plan for Balcombe. This will provide the Parish Council with informed guidance on what it should aim to do to maintain, improve or change the aspects of life in Balcombe that residents believe are important.

The steering committee held its third monthly meeting on July 25 and is due to meet again on August 29.

It was agreed that two A5 questionnaire booklets would be delivered to each household, together with a covering letter. More copies will be available at Threads. Large-print copies for the visually impaired will also be at Threads.

Envelopes will be "stuffed" by a group of volunteers during the last week of August and will be delivered during the first two weeks of September. Volunteers will collect the questionnaires during the last two weeks of September. Uncollected questionnaires can be left at Threads.

Posters large and small will be placed around the village, urging residents to complete their questionnaires.

The chairman was pleased to confirm that the Action Group is keeping to the original timetable.

The completed parish plan for Chidham & Hambrook was viewed. The Group were encouraged to hear that 82% of their questionnaires were returned!

It was suggested that there be a photographic competition, with the winning photos to help illustrate the final plan. All present agreed this was a good idea.

The Head of Balcombe Primary School has invited representatives from the Action Group to address the assembly about the Parish Plan on 25th September. Discussion about a separate questionnaire for 11 - 15 year olds was postponed until the next meeting.

All members were asked to make a list of businesses and organisations in the village that could make a contribution to the Parish Plan. Their possible input will be discussed at the next meeting.

The bulk of the meeting was spent reviewing the draft questionnaire in detail. A new section "Living in Balcombe" was added at the beginning of the questionnaire. Numerous changes were made to improve the questions.

After a marathon 3¾ hours, the meeting came to an end, and the members of the steering committee departed, satisfied with a job well done.