Minutes: Annual General Meeting

1

Present: Christine, Cllr Dart, Doug, Helen, Jane, Matthew, Neill, Nick, Robin, Sharon, Tony, Wendy Grant (Wilts Police), Gillian Morris (SBC)
Apologies: Sue, Julie, Paula, Gary, Lesley

2

Guest Speaker: Gillian Morris, Community Education Officer

Gillian described her role and the support given to link workers and coalitions.

Helen asked Gillian to clarify how the coalition can spend the budget? Gillian explained the main aim was to allow coalition groups to meet and carry out a representative role for their community, which includes room hire, printing and postage, consultation costs to the wider community and celebratory events that raise awareness of the coalition. Gillian is the budget manager and stated no budget must go to a third party. It was suggested that LGBT could advertise in Swindon News as the cost is free.

To enable the Council to help out with administrative roles and not clash with other events organised by other coalitions, Gillian suggested LGBT let the administrator aware of any events to be organised as soon as possible. For example, Race Coalition has an event in November, Women’s Coalition in March.

Matthew asked if SBC intended to have links to the LGBT website as at present there is a contract for one year with another provider. This will need to be investigated.

Helen asked how the merger between Hate Crime Forum and the LGBT group could be formalised? Gillian has found out from Sue Tilley, Crime and Disorder Manager, that the Hate Crime Forum is organised by whichever agency is Chair for that year. She suggested that the Chair of the Hate Crime Forum should organise a bi-monthly meeting accessing the allocated budget and the Coalitions Admin Support Worker would organise an LGBT meeting bi-monthly, alternative months to the Hate Crime Forum, using the budget allocated to the LGBT.

Helen asked, who will be link worker from April? Gillian replied that due to staff shortages, no one is available but there may be able to recruit somebody in the next financial year. However, there would be admin support at the LGBT meeting.

3

Matters Arising

8) LGBT History Month – February. Matthew suggested the group seeks feedback from other gay communities to find out what they did and how successful. Swindon could gain ideas and plan for 2006. Neill suggested Schools could be encouraged to participate.

14) Homophobic Bullying Task Group. Jane explained 200 copies of the research paper was not copied to the Head Teachers and Governors in Swindon on advice from Gillian. If the education department want schools to have the document they should provide it and ask schools to action it. The Task group needs to reconvene. Doreen suggested circulating the paper to Directors and invite Hilary Pitt to the next LGBT meeting.

4

Annual Report

Matthew presented the Annual Report, highlighting events and issues.

5

Finance Report for LGBT

Jane presented the Financial Report. The amount remaining in the LGBT Budget is £946.69. Doreen reminded members to claim for any mileage travelling to LGBT meetings. Mileage can only be claimed for those living within the Borough Council. It was agreed this should be in the Terms of Reference.

6

Nominations for Chair and Vice Chair

Doreen asked for nominations for Chair and Vice Chair. Helen said she would be happy to remain Chair. Jane said Sue would remain Vice Chair only if no one else wished to give it a go. There were no volunteers. Doreen proposed that Helen and Sue would remain Chair and Vice Chair. All present were in agreement.

7

Terms of Reference

Gillian will be reviewing terms of reference for all coalitions and will keep LGBT informed.

8

Hate Crime Forum

Robin said that Hate Crime is on the increase, however, more people are reporting crime to the police. There were a series of robbery offences in Faringdon Park area that have now been linked as homophobic. Four offenders have been caught and charged.

Police are holding a Drop-In at alternative gay venue (Cricketers and Mail Coach pubs) each month.

True Vision – people of all age groups and from all walks of life are using the reporting system by contacting the police or gay men’s health directly.

There have been 18 responses from Dean’s Homophobic Survey. Robin will be contacting each one to generate interest in Gay Police Initiative and the LGBT.

9

Any Other Business

Suggested calendar of Meeting and Events:

LGBT	Hate Crime Forum
13 April	11 May
8 June	13 July
10 August	14 September
12 October	9 November
14 December

1 December – World Aids Day

February 2006 – LGBT History Month 2006

Next meeting:
13th April 2005 7 to 9 pm at Civic Offices