Minutes from the open meeting of Residents Association

(DRA) and Neighbourhood Watch on Monday 11

th
August
2014 at 6pm in the Old Crown restaurant.

1. Roll Call and Apologies
Present: Lisa Zdravkovic, Phil Burrows, Pamela Pinski, Trevor Pitt, Trevor Cobden, Adam
Robbins, Chris Daniels, Steve Shell, Steve Chamberlain, Becci Wright, Karl Paragreen, Julie
Pickering, Joe Holyoak, Ben Mabbett, Rosie Pocklington.
Apologies: David Barnes, John Gordon, Luke (Birmingham Updates), West Midlands Police.

2. Approval of Minutes
The minutes from Junes meeting of DRA were approved; there was no meeting in July.

3. Matters Arising
a. Connaught Square Development
The hoardings around the Connaught Square development were taken down following a
recent land purchase by the Leicester-based Marlborough Property Company. Rubble is
being removed to use the site as a car park in the near future (presumably), since no
planning applications have been made. We will keep residents informed of any updates.

b. Bob Jones
A tribute to Bob Jones, who passed away since our last meeting, is on the DRA website.

c. Digbeth Community Garden
The Digbeth Community Garden was opened in July. Located at the Birmingham Friends of
the Earth building, you can read more about the garden and planned events on our website.

4. Police Report and Neighbourhood Watch News
Important announcements are made via our website and regular e-newsletter.

5. City of Colours Festival Presentation
Becci Wright and Karl Paragreen began planning the City of Colours festival more than a
year ago, with the aim of increasing awareness and visibility of street art in Digbeth. On
Saturday 6 September, more than 130 artists will descend on Digbeth, and along with six
music stages and 15 fringe workshops, will transform it into a massive outdoor art gallery.
Volunteers are still needed to support the event, all proceeds from which will go to St Basils.
The festival organisers assured residents that sound engineers will be monitoring noise from
the event, artists have signed terms and conditions to prevent tagging, and permission has
been gained from all land/wall owners for painting. Any tags left behind after the event,
along with litter etc., will be removed/painted over on Sunday 7 and Monday 8 September.
Details of a residents hotline for the day will be circulated if anyone should have concerns.

6. Upcoming Events at A3 Project Space
A3 Project Space has commissioned ten artists to create a work relating to Digbeth and/or
Bordesley for its You Are Here programme of events. The next events will be Flicker Skitter
Stumble, where Sellotape Cinema will create a film about Digbeth and Bordesley on 17-18
October and screen it on 19 October, followed by Lineage, where residents will be
interviewed and recorded as 90 second films. More information online.

7. Date and Time of Next Meetings
The next committee meeting will be held on Monday 8
th
September 2014 at 6pm in the Old
Crown restaurant, High Street Digbeth.
The next open meeting will be held on Monday 13
th
October 2014 at 6pm in the Old Crown
restaurant, High Street Digbeth.