Dear All

On Wednesday 27th July the council arranged the second community consultation meeting at the Town Hall in Lewes to agree a process for moving the opening of St Anne's on.

The meeting was convened to ensure interested people and organisations could shape the process for activating temporary uses for the St Anne’s site. Simple ideas were presented to suggest a process which the attending group then reflected upon and shaped to their vision. This concluded with a rough consensus, with an outline process established until such a point a “steering group” is created to formalise the process. The proposition included a process that includes following stages; the collection, evaluation, decision-making and delivery. This forms a way forward to realising activity on the St Anne’s site as discussed with the group that participated in the Process Meeting.    

The meeting came to key decisions:

Collecting information

Communications should be built up to ensure that as many people as possible from Lewes can contribute to the development of an interim use for the St Anne’s site. Communications should be cast widely using as many routes as is possible, and should be clear and timely.

Actions: All to disseminate prepped materials through their channels. ESCC will provide posters and email formats.   

 

Evaluation of ideas

A clear criteria should be established so people can make considered suggestions for using the site. A decision-making group can then consistently make fair evaluations of project proposals.

Actions: A list of site limitations to be publicised as soon as possible.

 

Making decisions

The creation of a fair, representative and pro-active Steering Group that can make decisions and can start to take responsibility for tasks and actions is paramount.

Actions: Meanwhile Space were asked to review other projects with steering groups to create a list of core skills etc. Something equivalent to a job description must be created by the Open Day with a view to creating the steering group as soon as is possible post Open Day.

The meeting also set in place a timescale to start to get activity happening. The first key date being the Open Day to take place on the 13th August to welcome the community onto the site to inspire them into thinking about temporary activity and to engage.

It was agreed that Meanwhile Space would coordinate the day with the help of local people wanting to get involved. Local people were encouraged on Monday 1st August by email to volunteer their time in one of three different ways. To facilitate, to share information and to provide activity on site. Due to the site still being under the responsibility of East Sussex County Council we needed to ensure that this was organised in a safe, legal and inclusive way.

Since Monday I have been receiving forms back from members of the community enthusiastic about getting involved. I will be contacting them on Monday with all the information they need for the day. If you are interested in taking part and have not completed a form please find the information attached now. Please note that activity that has not been discussed with Meanwhile Space using this agreed process will not be able to take place on the 13th August.

Please find attached a full version of the notes taken at the process meeting and please feel free to share this email with your local residents, friends and family.

I look forward to meeting you on the 13th August to discuss the amazing opportunity that St Anne's offers the community of Lewes.