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STOCKWELL PARK RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD AT ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH HALL
ON THURSDAY 20th MAY, 2004 at 7.30pm
Present at the table
Anthony Gladstone-Thompson (Chairman), Simon Doff (Treasurer), Christopher Chitty (P.C.C.), Julie Fawcett and Mr. Maloney (representing the Stockwell Park Estate Trust), McCann (Community Safety Officer for Vassal Ward), Caroline Hirst (Minutes).
Floor
There were approximately 35 other members of the Association attending the meeting.
Welcome
Anthony opened the meeting by welcoming everyone present and reminding us that anyone who lives within the association boundaries is automatically a member of the association. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the setting up of this conservation area, Lambeth's third. The Residents' Association was set up to ensure that the conservation area's integrity is maintained. Anthony continued by noting that it is not only residents who are on the committee of the association who contribute to its work thereby maintaining the success of the association. These include Elizabeth Aves, Darius Poli and Jenny Bolton-Clarke the three editors of the newsletter, as well as lan Sweeney who runs the SPRA website.
Anthony invited David Tomlinson to introduce our first guest speaker.
David Tomlinson
welcomed Julie Fawcett from the Stockwell Community Trust to explain the Trust's activities to us.
Julie Fawcett for Stockwell Community Trust
introduced Mr Maloney who works with the Trust in transferring the Trust members from a tenancy run organization to an ownership (of the estate) run organization. Julie continued by giving us a very full and illustrated account of the Trust's work on the estate to date and the ambitious future plans. These have been well documented in the latest SPRA newsletter (May 2004). One of the main points she made is that there is a proposal to knock down Redmayne House on Robsart Street (backing onto the high even number houses in SPC) and replace it with affordable housing to buy. She also commented that people who live within the Trust's boundaries usually want to stay here rather than move to another area when renovation etc. are going on.
Christopher Chitty
asked about the drug dealing and use.
Julie Fawcett
responded that people who drug deal and/or shoot each other are banned from the youth club and she commented this will cause displacement.
Mr. Maloney
explained that all the administrative side of the work for the Stockwell Part Estate Trust is done voluntarily and that the ownership of the estate by the tenants with all the responsibilities that that implies is an alternative to social housing. He pointed out this becomes expensive in terms of lawyers etc. but, as Julie Fawcett had said the "owners" could be granted bank loans and other financial arrangements that "tenants" cannot. Mr. Maloney appealed to the SPRA members for volunteers for the Trust Board and pointed out that this would be an important role as it would serve as a link between the estate and those living on our side of the estate.
Martin Kenyon
asked why Wayland House is not being knocked down.
Julie Fawcett
responded that this is not cost effective.
Martin Kenyon
what have they done about it?
Julie Fawcett
replied that they have invested in people and now the Community Trust.
Mr. Maloney
ended by inviting everyone to an open meeting of the Community Trust at the community centre on 26th May. 2005 at 7.00 pm.
Anthony G.-T.
thanked Julie Fawcett and Mr. Maloney. He asked Simon Doff to introduce our other guest speaker Paul McCann the Vassall Ward Community Safety Officer.
Simon Doff
introduced Paul McCann who covers the odd number side of Stockwell Park Road, Lorn Road, Groveway and the part of the Brixton Road in the conservation area. The rest of the conservation area is covered by Dominic Busby as it is in Stockwell Ward. Paul McCann has been instrumental in the improvements in Lorn Road and Slade Gardens in terms of crime and lighting.
Paul McCann Vassall Ward Community Safety Officer
explained that though
he covers only part of SPRA he
and Dominic Busby work in conjunction with one another so he can speak
for them both.
The good news is that crime is down by 15% for burglary, street robbery.
He pointed out that crime prevention is
about working with young people and finding something for them to do
that is not a criminal activity. It is also
about looking at the quality of life and environment, e.g. an unattended
broken window can lead to more damage
in the area and so the area spirals downhill.
Vassall Ward is one seven in a pilot scheme for safer neighbourhoods. This means a community led way of ( resolving issues. VARG, which Simon Doff attends as the SPRA representative, meets to bring and discuss issues that arise in the Vassall area. VARG has a problem solving approach. One of the issues being looked at presently is that of displacement of crime.
On the theme of community involvement at present there is a compulsory audit concerning the crime hotspots etc.. e.g. in dealing with the general drug problem it is important to look at where the problem is really concentrated. A thorough questionnaire is being sent out so that everyone will have a chance to say what the issues are for them. The aim if safer communities, safer streets and safer houses.
Please report any incident to the police as this is a way of helping towards making safer streets and communities. For minor incidents report direct to the local community officer. You can also report minor incidents on line at: www.crimeonline.uk. The newsletter covers many issues and useful telephone numbers.
Every town centre has an action plan working with young people who commit the crimes and with the elderly to help them on safety issues. The fire brigade are also involved with this.
Re DRUGS: to help combat this problem there are environmental issues that can be useful, eg good street lighting such as the new lighting around the Crown Pub in Robsart Street. Over 70 crack houses have been closed recently. This can be done within 48 hours of a warrant being issued for six months. The Loughborough Junction project is dealing with the crack/cocaine problem.
Re ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR: there is a new act giving local authorities more tools to work with leading to Social Services, housing and other involved parties to discuss appropriate measures such as moving families etc.. Another measure is to "demote tenants" which is a warning system that can lead to loss of tenancy. Dispersal powers mean that young people who are always hanging around in groups can be moved on or split up so that the groups become smaller and hopefully less threatening.
Anthony G.-T.
thanked P.C. McCann and told the meeting that at present there is no neighbourhood watch co- ordinator so there is no NBW report to follow on from P.C. McCann's. Anthony then introduced the subject of the Stockwell Park Festival and asked Liz Aves to tell us about this.
Liz Aves on the Festival week-end
There will be a card for every
household in the area posted through the
letterbox giving details of the week-end which is on the 19th - 20i't
June, 2004.
On Saturday, 19th June there is a concert and on the 20s' June there are
four local gardens open with tea at 52
Stockwell Park Crescent being served from 4.00 - 6.00pm. This is
followed by a very basic B-B-Q at 54
Stockwell Park Crescent being served from 6.00 - 7.00 pm. Bob and Vicky
will be doing a spicy chicken dish and
there will also be burger bun food including for vegetarians. As this is
a new format for the festival the SPRA
committee would be very pleased for your comments.
Martin Keiffer
said that the concert would begin at 7.30 pm in the church on Saturday, 19th June. Drinks will be served before as well as during the interval and this will afford everyone a chance to have a look at the flower displays. There will be a number of performers and the choir will also be singing at the concert.
Jean Orr
told us that she is running the third flower festival which i.s a family festival so please would adults as well as children contribute any flower arrangement.
Anthony G.-T.
reported that he had thought of asking our two counsellors who have been very helpful in dealing with the local narking problems. Following the questionnaire during 2003 there is to be additional residents' parking in Burnley Road, St. Martin's Road, St. Micheal's Road and the northern end of Stockwell Park Road. There will be no additional meter or business only parking. The work should start in July. There is also a rise in business rates from £255.00 to £495.00 effective from 31.5.2004. This applies to an increased rate in the visitors' permits to £3.50 a day.
Christopher Chitty
pointed out that you can still buy visitors' permits at the old rate of £2.00 per day.
David Tomlinson
informed the meeting that all fees and charges are part of the taxation system and therefore exempt from the consultation process.
Anthony G.-T.
thanked David for this information. He told the meeting that a cross-party report on parking in ( Lambeth that it is "rude, and outdated!" He then invited Simon Doff to report on street lighting.
Simon Doff on Street lighting
Burnley Road, St. Martin's Road, and St. Michael's Road have had new lighting with the help of £10,000 from Urban Renewal Funding. There is also £50,000 for Lom Road lighting and delivery has been taken of heritage light columns which should start being put in place on 24th May, 2004 with an increase of 8 lights to 15 in Lorn Road. The reason we have got the money is because we have been able to demonstrate statistically that this is a hotspot for criminal activity. It is therefore essential to report any crime you see however small or insignificant seeming. lan Sweeney will put details and news of this on the SPRA website.
Anthony G.-T.
Invited everyone present to give Simon a round of applause to thank him for his hard work to get these new appropriate lights sorted out.
Anthony reported on planning issues
introducing the topic by reminding us that these are the issues that are at the heart of the Association. Recently there have been three large developments that are of concern to us. Somerville Hastings House: The latest idea is that this should be a joint venture between the owner and development company. The first step is to discuss with the them the details of the plans as SPRA needs to watch carefully as details can go wrong without consultation from us. Simon Henley is keeping an eye on things.
Simon Henley reporting on 11 - 15 Stockwell Park Crescent
This is the property that used to be a home for disabled adults. Simon reported that from the Crescent there are a few adjustments to the front but they are very discreet. On the back Simon has persuaded the developer to stay in line with other properties on that side of the Crescent. This would cause over development if there are the planned seven flats so this number will probably be reduced to 5 or 6. He will raise the parking issue but has not objected so far on these grounds. A bin store is planned in the front garden which is being objected to as previous experience locally has shown that such areas are used by drug addicts to inject themselves and also leave discarded needles and other waste.
Simon is going to get our Counsellors and the local police onto this. The deadline for submitting the plans is 21st May, 2004.
The Unite Site, Clapham Road
The planned hostel for this site was so vehemently objected to that permission was refused the result of which is that the site is now for sale again. Thanks for this result are largely due to Graham McKerrow and Jenny Bolton Clarke.
St. Michael's Road Sub-station
Jonathan Curling reported that the noise pollution is so high caused by two old transformers that these are to be renewed in 2006. If this does not bring the noise level down adequately then a building and proper door will be put around it.
Anthony G.-T.
thanked Jonathan for handling all this. Anthony noted that the SPRA committee will always help and back people in the area with planning and other issues that arise.as the Association depends on affected residents to lead on planning issues.
Christopher Chitty on St. Michael's Church and hall
The church has spent £17,000 on renovating the hall, the money coming from the Revolving Dinner Party, South London Grant, and the playgroup. Christopher thanked the groups for this. The hall is used by the playgroup daily and is used by various groups on most evenings. The group that use the hall on Sunday evenings have proved to be rather noisy but this issue is being addressed. The church apse roof has been done and the spire roof and some repointing is under way at present. English Heritage has provided 65% of the cost for this work and other trusts are also helping together with proceeds from letting the hall and donations from members of the congregation. So far there has not been a major pressure on fund raising.
Anthony G.-T.
thanked Christopher and pointed out that the Church and hall are at the heart of the conservation area.
Robin Langton told us about Slade Gardens Adventure Playground
This has been a very good year for the playground particularly as it won the prize for the best adventure playground this year. There are a lot of new structures that are well used. The next project is a section for the under-Ss. As things stand the adventure playground can continue for the next five years.
Simon Doff - Treasurer's report
Simon pointed out the account sheets distributed with the agendas. Fund raising is mainly from the summer festival and this money is used for local charities.
Simon told us that he and Canon Andrew Grant are Governors of St. Andrew's Primary School and the Revolving Dinner Party gave the school a grant for a reading centre at the school in each classroom. The school now needs volunteers who can commit themselves to an hour a week to hear children reading so please could anyone do this?
A.O.B.Anthony invited people to ask questions or make comments.
Peter Conradi
noted that in Lorn Road people regularly receive parking tickets but that wardens seem to turn a blind eye to the cars not only parked illegally but being worked on in the road by the garage at the Brixton Road end. Peter was advised to raise this with P.C. Paul McCann the Duty Police Officer.
Tom Maxwell
noted that people were mainlining at the Stockwell Park Crescent entrance to the school. Despite complaints about this the school have so far not responded although a two litre can of needles was picked up from the site. It appears that people are getting free needles from near the station, using them in Slade Gardens and then discarding them at the school gates. As the summer holidays are due Tom is concerned that this cycle will start again.
Simon
informed us that there is a needle box in Stockwell Park Crescent but he will raise the question with P.C. Dominic Busby the Stockwell Ward Duty Officer.
Jean Orr
warned people that a workman at her house was given a parking ticket because he was not paying the business rate and his van was marked with his firm's name.
Isabel Clark
Prostitution is a problem around the Slade Gardens bit of Stockwell Park Road and used condoms are discarded on the street thus showing that we are already suffering from displacement problems.
Anthony G.-T.
pointed out that the two Duty Offices are the people to approach on this kind of issue and any others that arise.
Tom Maxwell
suggested that we could spend more of the money we earn on other issues as well as the local charities.
Anthony
invited written suggestions for this.
Anthony then told the meeting that our constitution requires a mandate for the officers to be voted for another year.
Tom
proposed the officers to remain and was seconded by a number of attendees.
Liz Aves
gave a vote of thanks to Anthony for all his hard work for the association.
The meeting was then brought to a close.