Minutes of meeting of Newham Online Steering Group - 24th. Aug ‘99

Present:

Danny Budzak (DB), Jon Harris (JH), Rik Lewis (RL), Loraine Leeson (LL), John Lock (JL), Michael Mulquin (MM),
Adrian Norman (AN), Richard Stubbs (RJS)

Apologies

Richard Steel (RS), Gill Davies (GD)

  1. Newham Online Steering Group minutes & matters arising
    1. The minutes of the meeting of 9th March were agreed.
    2. (Ref 1.2) A meeting had been held to discuss and direct the extranet aspect of the project.
    3. (Ref 2.2) In terms of the Gateway site development:- the site design had been agreed, the eCommerce contract had been let, the links database had been tested and was being adapted to the site, the search engine was being tested on the Council's site and there was a problem that had not yet been resolved. Government Office London's consent to extension of the project had been sought
    4. (Ref 2.3) RJS had liased with AN and seemed likely that Go2Find would use the same Actinic software chosen for the Newham Gateway site. The eCommerce project was moving forward in partnership with UeL's Europilot project.
    5. (Ref 4.6) Htdig had been installed on two Computer Access servers. The main pilot was its use on the Council's web site but another installation had indexed UeL's and a number of other sites so as we could learn how to allow users select particular sites or groups of sites. The main reason for delay with full implementation of the search engine is that the test indexing installation has fallen over a couple of times and we need to pin down why this is happening. Danny suggested that the Council site should also use the Gateway Search engine so as to be able to offer a search across all Newham sites as this would be more convenient for users. Richard Stubbs said that he felt this meant that every Newham site could simply take the functionality of the Gateway and put it on their own site thus undermining the point of the Gateway in the first place. It was agreed that DB and RJS should discuss this in more detail and make a recommendation to the Steering Committee
    6. (Ref 4.7) Peter Chauncy had given some feedback on the search engine but full testing awaits a working version of the whole site. DB to ask PC to mail feedback to the core list.
    7. (Ref 4.10). DB, AN and RJS had not discussed IPR as we are still implementing the basic functionality developed by others, the most recent addition being the ability to index pdf and doc files
    8. (Ref 5.2) The urgency for registration of Newham.Net was decreased by the generosity of Mase which undertook to maintain the equipment without a contract in place rather than push us into too rapid an adoption of rules.
    9. (Ref 5.3) With regards to the 1,000 pounds allocated for legal advice no payment has yet been made as we are still consulting on matters of principle and the payment will only be needed with respect to the final drafting.
    10. (Ref 5.7) RS had taken no action towards becoming Company Secretary of Newham.net as this awaited agreed Mem & Arts.
    11. (Ref 6.1) No progress had been made on an AGM due mainly to delays in the delays to the establishment of Newham.Net and the launch of the Gateway site. It was agreed to discuss this later in the meeting.
    12. (Ref 7.2) Richards Steel and Stubbs had met with Lambeth Council and Brixton Online to discuss co-operation. The first practical result had been a bid by Brixton Online to convert their Learning platform into a tool that could be used within the Education Action Zone but this was unsuccessful
    13. MM noted that he would soon be meeting the new IBM member of staff with responsibility for local government and he would report to Core on any opportunities identified.

     
  2. Steering Committee weekend away
    1. It was agreed that the purpose of the event should be to bring people up to speed on what we are doing so that they can explain it to others, mapping the Newham Online environment and to develop a vision of the way forward for Newham Online assuming that Newham.net is registered and takes over responsibility for infrastructure development and managing the gateway site. We also need to discuss the relationship between Newham.net and Newham Online. Agreed MM, JL, AN and RJS to work up detailed programme and circulate in advance.
    2. The timing of the outline programme was revised as follows:-

      FRI

      3. Travel down to arrive Taunton at 15.30 (waterloo and minibus)

      15.30-16.30 Settle in and freshen up

      16.30 Work session 1

      19.30 Meal

      20.00 Networking at local pub..

      SAT

      8.00 Breakfast

      9.00 Work session 2

      13.00 Lunch

      14.00 Work session 3

      16.30 Tea

      17.00 Work session 4

      19.30 Meal

      20.00 Networking

      SUN

      8.00 Breakfast

      9.00 Work session 5

      13.00 Lunch

      14.00 ENDS
      (Depending on weather plenty of opportunities for pleasant local walk around area prior to travelling back)

    3. Richard to get individual confirmations as to attendance. Adrian and Richard Stubbs to liase re logistics and advance booking to secure party reductions if possible. We noted that Jon Harris was unable to come. Agreed that Colin Bluck, who is a colleague of Norman's, would be welcome to attend the first session.
    4. LL could provide a computer projector.

     
  3. Memorandum and articles of Newham.net
    1. A report was presented. It was agreed that we should include the aim of being a PTO within the aims of the company
    2. We decided that we would not seek a majority of the Newha,net board to be members of the Steering Committee.
    3. The board members need to have relevant experience to help with registration issue.
    4. There are potential problems of people being members of the Board if they are employed by an organisation which is a member. RJS to discuss this with RS to learn about the Council's policy on this.
    5. The case for why we wish Newham.net to be a company limited by guarantee needs to be made clear. The intention is that the company can trade commercially but that it cannot be bought or sold.
    6. It was agreed to approach UCL for advice with regard to registration.
    7. Adrian suggested that we need to develop contracts that would exist between the main owners of local infrastructure and the company. These contracts could allow nomination of a representative to the board. The directors would oversee this process and it would have to be referred to in the agreement with Members. This would avoid the difficulty of the Council being capable of losing its place on the Board.
  4. Newham Online Background document
    1. This document had been created by John Lock with assistance from RJS and was intended to act as a resource document that could serve as a basis for production of a range of materials.
    2. NeOn was agreed as the new acronym for Newham Online.
    3. Agreed to re-word para 2 of the proposed benefits section that is about NYPO
    4. DB suggested some bits could be expanded for people interested in more detail.
    5. Agreed to use as basis of a web site explaining our activities. DB will lead on developing this. We would have a target date for first draft as 17th. Sept.
  5. Marketing
    1. DB said that it was important that we marketed NeOn to both Members and officers. He was working with an increasing network of people that were developing material for the Web and the explanation of NeOn's activities could be published on the intranet site as well as the Internet (or extranet)
    2. It was agreed that we should aim to turn the report into something akin to the quality of the network audit which required pictures and artwork some 500 copies should be produced.
    3. RJS to see it Mase and/or Marconi are interesting in sponsoring publication of the document.
    4. JL and RJS had approached Andy Minnion at UeL in the hope that his student could help with production of artwork and materials that could be used for both web site and publication.
  6. AGM
    1. Agreed should be held in mid November. RJS to approach Martyn Laycock about possibility of using Duncan House.
    2. We should have a high profile speaker. It was agreed to ask Chris Yapp, who came up with the idea of the NGfL and the UfI, if he would be prepared to speak (minute takers note - Chris has subsequently agreed to do this)
    3. We should ask NYPO if they would be happy to present their video, with luck we should be able to have the online digital version up and running by then.
    4. Obviously having at least a beta version of the gateway ready for the AGM was essential.
    5. We should also produce a printed invite and not rely solely on eMail.
    6. We needed 3 or 4 volunteers who would actually phone people up and get them along. DB was our first volunteer for this role.
  7. Next Steering Group Meeting
    1. In effect this would be the weekend conference on 1st/3rd October.

 

Minutes by Richard Stubbs