Date: 26 June 2026
Time: 3pm – 5pm
Wyre Forest House – Finepoint Way
Name | Position | Initials |
|---|---|---|
Richard Collie | Independent Chair | RC |
Adele Bratt | Board Member | AB |
Cat Lewis | Board Member | CL |
Clive Smith | Board Member | CS |
Daniel Tourt | Board Member | DT |
Frey Ejaz-Dunn | Board Member | FED |
Kathy Jezukiewicz | Board Member | KJ |
Mark Garnier | Member of Parliament | MG |
Nathan Desmond | Ward Councillor | ND |
Ostap Paparega | Deputy Chief Executive - WFDC | OP |
Name | Position | Initials |
|---|---|---|
Rachel Toor | WFDC | RT |
Max Niblett | WFDC | MN |
Kate Bailey | WFDC | KB |
Dan Morehead | Cabinet Member - WFDC | DM |
| Item | Who | Action |
1 1.1 | Welcome and Introductions RC welcomes everyone to the inaugural Pride in Place Board meeting. Summarises the Birchen Coppice area is comprised of four main areas and that this project needs to reach and gain input from all those areas to create a stronger community. RC then mentions an issue that needs to be managed is the relationship between the Board and the Council and for us to do things quicker than usual the council will have to be our enablers. For board members RC briefly goes over workload estimated at a few days a month but that other commitments will have to be personally managed. Looking forward over the next few months, the ten-year vison and four-year plan is to be submitted by November 2026. RC wants to focus on community engagement and build stories of the area, using events and Birchen Coppice residents. RC apologised to board for lengthy agenda papers and asked that future agendas and papers to be issued are to be approved by himself. CL was not included in agenda email list. |
RC |
RC to be consulted for future agendas. CL to be added for future agenda emails. |
1.2 | Each member of the board introduces themselves. | ALL |
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2 2.1 | Apologies Apologies from Max, Rachel, Kate and Dan. |
RC |
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3 3.1 | Background/Context RC explains that other councils are aiming to build on their £20 million grant and that we will have a specialist group to look at boosting funding – as well as other groups including a regeneration group. With the cooperation of the district council the board has a lot of freedom and independent decision making, however RC wants to make sure all decisions are transparent and fair. |
RC |
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4 4.1 | Ratify Board Membership All members agree to be on the board. |
RC |
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5 5.1 | Terms of Reference – for agreement All members agree the terms of reference, no changes raised. |
RC |
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6 6.1 | Chair to Nominate Deputy Chair No chair nominated. RC raises that it’s important for a deputy chair that can take over when needed so he will chat privately to members over the next few weeks before deciding. |
RC |
Appoint a deputy chair. |
7 7.1 | Code of Conduct & Register of Interests – for agreement All members agree the code of conduct. RC relays that all debates and decisions will be public and all members will have to agree to this via form to be distributed. |
RC |
Register of interests form to be issued. Members to return completed forms directly to MN (WFDC) by 20/07/2026 to ensure all responses are captured. |
8 8.1 | Funding Profile OP confirmed that the money will be delivered in instalments based on our community engagement if projects are worth doing and is confirmed for the whole 10 years of the Pride in Place programme. |
OP |
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9 9.1 | Agree proposed Boundary Change RC explains that during the community engagement meetings it was mentioned that two areas were excluded from the Birchen Coppice boundary and whether we should amend the boundary to include them.
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RC |
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9.2 | AB asks if Sutton Park should also be included in the boundary? Board agrees those houses are much wealthier and do not require the support of the other boundary areas. | AB
ALL |
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9.3 | CL asks whether our spending can benefit outside the boundary? KJ confirms yes, it can and should. RC reiterates that there is flexibility to support within and outside the boundary. CL adds that we don’t want to look as though we are favouriting the boundary residents. ND states that he would like Northumberland Avenue included in the boundary. | CL KJ RC
CL ND |
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9.4 | MG asks how was the boundary decided in the first place? OP confirms the two government bodies that decided the boundaries for all programmes country wide. | MG
OP |
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9.5 | FED asks that if the work we do within the programme effects people outside the boundary should they not be consulted or does the boundary limit what we can do? RC explains that officially the boundary change we decide will not affect the government set boundary, it will only be for our programme and use for engagement as residents have already raised questions about whether certain business would be affected. AB suggests that maybe Northumberland Avenue should be included as they have asked the question and raised concerns whereas the G&T area have not asked to be included. OP adds that the G&T plot (south area) is currently empty so proposes no benefit in being included in the boundary, and that funding can be allocated to outside area but will need a business case. | FED
RC
AB
OP |
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9.6 | MG suggests that we don’t want to risk public backlash from including some additional areas than others. | MG |
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| KJ agrees and says that the government agreed boundary protects us from that. RC puts forward a vote to include the south area – all vote against RC puts forward a vote to include the north area – 2 votes for, 7 votes against Board votes to not extend the government boundary. | KJ
RC |
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9.7 | Date of first mandated submittal to MHCLG of any boundary changes (none in our case) plus other required information was confirmed as by 17th July |
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10 10.1 | Capacity Funding – agree use OP reports that we have been given £150k startup funding for engagement, programme management costs and Project manager, officer and engagement officer appointment. Capital money is expected to start next year, and the funding profile will not change despite the plans submitted in July. Clarifies that if there is any underspending of funding, that that money is kept and can be used on other programme projects and does not have to be returned to the government. |
OP |
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11 11.1 | Community Engagement RC shared that KB has created a community engagement plan which he endorsed and that there is a seaside event in July to spread news of the programme. RC noted that Foley Park has been underrepresented in both engagement meetings and Board membership. He is meeting with KB on Tuesday to discuss how to strengthen engagement in the area and plan working sessions for early August. |
RC |
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11.2 | RC mentioned having a draft questionnaire to share within Birchen Coppice. KJ adds that for the public to feel their voices are being heard, we should ask them to do something and be a part of the project rather than word it as ‘we are doing this for you.’ AB suggests using the leisure centre on Silverwood’s as a base if they’re willing, as it’s within the boundary and gets a lot of foot fall, and to utilise social media. CL said she can questionnaire the student and staff of the college by mid- September. ND proposes drop boxes around Birchen Coppice for residents to collect and drop off questionnaires for those unable to use social media. RC agrees online and paper questionnaire can be used and they we would need to employ someone to analyse the data for us, with KJ adding that we need to have space on the questionnaire for other comments. | RC
KJ
AB
CL
ND
RC KJ |
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12 12.1 | 10 Year Vision & 4 Year Plan - Discussion RC mentions that the plans are dependent upon the outcomes of community engagement but was confident that the dates for submission would be met. |
RC |
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13 13.1 | Communication Plan RC is concerned the word is not spreading about the programme so wants to focus on a website, social media, door knocking and local media to boost awareness. KJ adds that’s for the joint seaside event a newsletter is being distributed by the Wyre Forest Health Partnership and will include a Pride in Place segment. AB suggests that we can use the health care centre online system (AccuRX), but CS confirms that they can only be used for healthcare related programmes. DT asks if the Community engagement officer will be appointed by the next meeting as they will need to be part of the comms plan? OP confirms an applicant has been offered the role and RC adds that we will have to have a basic plan before they are fully in place. |
RC
KJ
AB CS DT
OP RC |
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13.2 | RC asks how the board would prefer to communicate with each other and suggests a WhatsApp group or a Teams channel.
Board agrees both should be used, WhatsApp for brief conversations and Teams for file sharing. | RC
ALL | RC to talk with programme team on their return. |
| FED inquired whether laptops will be provided to board members to access the Teams channel? OP confirms the Wyre Forest council IT team can provide emails and laptops, and to let RC know if you require one. The members were universal in agreeing personal emails and phone numbers should not be used and that PiPP identities should be provided as early as possible. | FED
OP RC | Laptops and emails to be provided for members where requested. RC to talk with programme team on their return. |
14 14.1 | Future Meeting Dates (For agreement) RC confirms the dates and locations (subject to confirmation of availability) of the future meetings: Friday 24th July 2026 – St Peters Church Thursday 27th August 2026 – Technology Centre Friday 25th September 2026 – Birchen Coppice School |
RC |
Locations to be arranged and shared with board. |
14.2 | RC asks if 3pm-5pm suits everyone for all meeting? CL questions if they could be 2pm-4pm instead? The board agrees. | RC
CL ALL |
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| Any Other Business |
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| Date of next meeting 24th July 2026 |
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