Present: Dick Baxter (chair), Barry Higgs (Secretary), Susan Stobbs (Treasurer), Simon Bragg, Sarah Green, Erica Hunter, Anna-Louise Lawrence and Andy Rankin.

1. AGM.

The Octagon Room at the Wesley Church has better acoustics and is to be preferred to the main church for future meetings.

2. Trees (Common and Orchard).

After some prompting by FoMC, the Council is watering the newly planted trees on the Common: many members and others have also helped. Members have also watered the orchard trees but a few are suffering from disease and will be sprayed. The tool store has been erected in the orchard and is proving very useful.

3. State of the Common.

The grass is in a good state and the cows are grazing well but weeds, and especially nettles, are thriving. The Pinder will be asked to cut the weeds when he next carries out grass cutting. FoMC will tidy the orchard once the cow parsley has finished blooming.

4. Strawberry Fair Stakeholders Meeting (18th May).

FoMC will attend and seek a repeat of the successful measures implemented in 2009 to protect local residents.

5. Other Events.

1. Midsummer Fair. FoMC will attend the routine meetings and ask that the ferrying of fair operators etc across the Common be stopped.
2. Cycle Events. It was proving difficult to keep track of these many events. Once this is established, FoMC will publish the diary on the website. Concern was expressed that the non-availabilty of the eastern pound for work on the cycle-way etc might mean the cattle are moved off the Common for longer than is desirable. FoMC will discuss this with officers.

6. Vehicular Access and Parking.

The long-standing problems of unauthorised vehicular entry onto the Common and illegal parking, especially outside the Fort St George pub, have still not been adequately addressed by the Council. The Committee asked the Chair and Secretary to write in strong terms to Councillor Rod Cantrill expressing FoMC's dissatisfaction that after many years of public complaints the Council has still failed to install an effective entry control system or to clarify the legal basis for entry and parking and how the law is to be enforced. FoMC would make clear that if significant progress had not been made by the end of July a high profile public campaign would be launched. BRUNK would be invited to sign a joint letter.

7. FoMC 'Bring and Share' Picnic.

This informal low-key event, open to all, would be held on Sunday 11th September.

8. FoMC's website.

Simon Bragg explained how, building on the existing FoMC site, he had devised a more inter-active system. When adopted, initially at least, this would be restricted to members and, inter-alia, would be used to invite comment, especially when FoMC makes representation or the Committee meets. Only office holders will be able to 'Post' notices. Dick Baxter and Simon Bragg would meet Nick Levine, who continues to support FoMC, to progress the matter before Simon takes over the management of the website.

B Higgs, Secretary.
Approved: R Baxter, Chair.
12 May 2011