STOCKWELL PARK RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Minutes of Annual General Meeting

held at St. Michael’s Church Hall on Thursday, 28^th September, 2006-09-29

Present:  Anthony Gladstone-Thompson (Chairing), Simon Doff (Treasurer), Liz Aves (Joint     Secretary), George Clarke (Stockwell Park Estate development committee), Caroline Hirst (Minutes), David Tomlinson.

Apologies:  Simon Henley (Planning),  Karim Kasam (committee member), Police Sergeants Ward and Ross.

Introduction:  Anthony Gladstone-Thompson (AGT) opened the meeting by welcoming everyone to the 37^th AGM of the Residents Association.  The Association was set up 37 years ago when the conservation area was set up by Lambeth because these areas require a residents association.  This conservation area was the third to be established in the Borough and there are now 72.  Everyone who lives within the conservation area is automatically a member of the Association even if they have not paid the annual subscription.  The Association is run by a core committee but many other local residents work hard to preserve the integrity and safety of the conservation area, eg  David Tomlinson has been the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator for two years and Simon Henley, a practising architect gives guidance on planning applications and developments within the area.  The newsletters are getting longer and more informative, thanks to Liz Aves and her team.  Ian Sweeney runs the website from which the latest local news, advertisements etc. can be obtained.  If there are any questions on this please ask Ian Sweeney after the meeting.

Newsletter:  Liz Aves, the Editor, said that she could not do it without the contributions that people send in.  She thanked Darius Poli for his huge contribution in the production of the newsletter.  Liz appealed for any help from IT experts  on this as Darius’ circumstances have changed which means that he may not able to continue with this production.

AG-T:  invited Simon Doff to speak about accounts.

Treasury:  Simon spoke about the year April 2005 – April 2006.  Simon had distributed details of the Association accounts to attendees so gave a summing up pointing out that because the running costs of the Association have risen and fund raising had only just met these there was only one charitable donation during the year.  This was to Stockwell Park High School for £200.00.

Simon explained that the committee are asking all households in the area to contribute a suggested annual donation of £10.00 towards the running costs of the Association so that any money earned from functions such as the summer festival could be given to local organisations/charities..  The running costs include expenses such as printing the newsletter, hiring the piano for the summer concert, hiring the hall for occasions such as the AGM and other costs.  Simon said that people can pay their subscription either directly to him or through direct debit (he will give necessary details for this).

AG-T:  Commented that usually the AGM is usually an opportunity to trail the summer festival but this year the AGM had to be changed because committee members had other commitments, so this time he invited Liz Aves to report on the June festival.

Liz Aves:  The festival was a great success this year and as always proved a very good way to meet new neighbours and catch up with each other!  Liz gave particular thanks to the following:

                Kaz Kassim for arranging the children’s entertainment,

                Jean Orr for arranging the flower festival in the church,

                Martin Keiffer and Carol Willis for organizing the concert,

                Jane Turcan for taking on the organization of the teas which she hopes to do in 2007,

                Amanda Cornish for managing the open gardens,

                Maria and Will Gotley for having the b-b-q in their garden.

After discussion about the festival amongst organisers it was decided that the children’s entertainment will be later in the day  next year.  The festival will also probably be a fortnight earlier in 2007.
The committee would like comments and suggestions for the festival, please.

AG-T:  thanked Liz and pointed out that after expenses have been paid any residual money raised at the festival goes to local organisations/charities.

Simon Doff:  pointed out that last financial year  there was little residual money from the festival and this is why we are asking households to contribute to expenses for running the Residents Asso- ciation.  Last year only 1 in 5, (20%) households contributed an average of £10.00 each.  These numbers need to increase if we to contribute to more than one local cause.  Simon did say that this financial year the Association has been given £900.00 for the use of the area for television filming.

AG-T:  added that the usual contribution is £10.00 per household and that this does make a huge difference to what we can distribute charitably.  In answer to a question from the floor AGT reiterated that non-payers also belong to the Association as being a resident gives you automatic membership.  AG-T followed this by inviting people to talk about local causes that would like contributions from the Association.

Simon Doff:  Simon began by explaining that he is a Governor at St. Andrews School.  He reported that the Revolving Dinner party had given £3,000 to the school two years ago and this money was spent on creating reading areas in each class room.  This has paid off in that this year’s stats results showed a marked improvement on previous years in a school that has an intake of very deprived children.  The school now runs its own breakfast and after school clubs for which they need educational toys when they get funds.

Bill Tilden:  spoke for the Healthy Living Centre at the YMCA of which he is a member.  The centre which was set up was set up five years ago with lottery money is threatened with closure next year as the central funding will cease in March 2007.  There is a users’ committee headed by Christine Keiffer and Sam a trained instructor at the centre is at the meeting.  The centre is  relied on by many people who are referred for medical reasons.  It is staffed by trained experts but there is no funding either from the local PCT or Lambeth Council.

A lot of money is needed to keep the centre open so there is a petition for people to sign at the back of the hall.  The centre also needs any contacts such as media or local business contacts to help with publicity.  If anyone has such a contact please would they contact Christine Keiffer or any other member with details.  The centre is part of the YMCA building on Stockwell Road and any visitor/more users  are welcome.

AG-T:  asked how the Residents Association can contribute?

Bill Tilden:  quipped “Any money you like!”

Christine Keiffer:  told the meeting that there is a dire need for professional signage at the centre as there are no signs internally or externally.  She pointed out that although the PCT use the conference hall in the building there are no signs to the centre so the very people referring patients are unaware of where the centre is!

Andrew Brookes:  asked what is unique about the centre?

Sam:  (trainer at the centre) We have a very mixed profile.  Some members are ill and sent to the centre to reduce risks arising out of chronic health conditions.  Many of these people could not afford to pay for a gym and so their health would not improve (more resources would be needed to help them with their health problem).  At the centre people are given the chance to learn healthy habits which they can then take away with them to use to maintain better health.

Other people who can afford the centre come through a different route.

Someone from the floor pointed out that if the PCT are using the centre then they should pay accordingly.

Christine Keiffer:  advised people to sign the petition concerning funding, particularly if they feel that the PCT should pay.

William Coales:  said that he works for a charity whose facilities the PCTs use.  The PCTs used not to contribute but since being asked to do so they do.

Martin Kenyon:  pointed out that one way of getting funding is to “bully” people with some influence over these matters such as the local M.P. and Counsellors.

AG-T:  asked Christopher Chitty to report on the progress with the church repairs.

Christopher Chitty:  thanked the Residents Association for past donations.  Over the last two years the outside of the church has been repaired but not the spire. The spire needs a new top piece.  Whilst this is being attended to the scaffolding is costing £32,000.  English Heritage have promised £16,000 and there is £1,750 from donations etc. so the shortfall remains at £14,250!  Any donations to meet this would be more than welcome! Donations from the Residents Association and the Revolving Dinner Party were transferred from the church to renovating the hall.  

AG-T:  said the committee will decide how residual Association money should be used.  AGT then told us how effective David Tomlinson is at seeing what needs doing and getting it done with regard to planning proposals and Neighbourhood Watch. 

David Tomlinson: David gave a resume of local police organization and a crime report.

There are new “safer neighbourhood teams” in the police  which have 2 Sergeants, 2 PCs and 2 safety officers each.  Vassall Ward (N. side of SPR and over Brixton Road) now work from O’Neil House and is run by Sergeant Sarah Ward.  Stockwell Ward (S. side SPR and over Stockwell  and Clapham Roads) work from Union Street police station and are run by Sergeant Geoff Ross.  David is in regular contact with both Sergeants so if you have any information (even a hunch) that you think is relevant to the police please contact David.  As a result of Roberta Bonnometti’s vigilance and the liaison with the police the prostitution problem around the allotments has been resolved. 

The Stockwell panel is chaired by Ian Sweeney and David attends the Lambeth Police Consultative Group.

David does regular crime reports which showed 5 street robberies between June-August this year.  Each time the victim was a female attacked by gangs of young males after their mobile ‘phones.  People are VERY VULNERABLE going into their houses, in particular lone women.

Burglaries tend to be opportunist through lower level windows and doors.

Doorstep scams:  people have been excellent about reporting these to the David who in turn reports to the police.  The latest (since the AGM) are very plausible, well dressed Iranians driving an up market convertible with the number plate SHAH!!  Please don’t sign anything or give money but tell David about them.

Most crimes are drug or alcohol induced.

For statistics of crime across Lambeth please see the website.  Detection rates include domestic violence numbers which are quite small.  Locally  75% of calls to the police are responded to within 12 minutes of the call which is the best rate in Lambeth.

David said that he is very happy to take up AGT’s suggestion of a separate neighbourhood watch meeting and he would invite interested parties such as the local Police Sergeants and Megan Jones who is involved with the local drug and alcohol treatment units.

AGT: thanked David for his report and then asked Liz Aves to talk about traffic calming measures.

Liz Aves:  told the meeting that most of the traffic calming measures for the conservation area are now in place.  She thanked David Tomlinson for seeing her initiative for these measures through to being done!  The contractors paid for the mistake they made in putting red tables in instead of the required black ones that we now have.  There is to be another table at the T-junction between St. Martin’s and St. Michael’s Roads but the council person cannot get hold of the contractor at the moment!  There are 20mph notices at the boundaries of the conservation area but these are not very conspicuous and therefore not very effective.  The council would like a meeting with the residents of Burnley and St. Martin’s Roads as part of a consultation to include the police and emergency services.  The council are being very co-operative over these measures.

Monica Armitage Smith:  asked if the 20 mph area is to be extended to which Liz Aves responded that this is under discussion.

Christopher Chitty:  pointed out that there is a 20 mph sign at the end of Stockwell Park Road but no further reminder.  Liz Aves responded that this may be because it was thought that residents did not want the roads in the conservation area cluttered with writing but that we could address this issue with the council and have markings put on the roads.

Bill Tilden:  noted that the tables are not very high so there is little effect on the speed at which many people drive in the area.

Re lighting:  Simon Doff  has been very active in this area as a result of which we now have good and appropriate lighting in Groveway and Lorn Road and the rest of the area is part of a 5 year plan to renew and improve all the lighting.  As yet we do not know which year will include us as decisions are made per financial year.  2006 – 2007 was year 1of the plan.  Again we have to thank the Tomlinsons for their work on this.

Re parking tickets:  Liz has sent an e-mail to Cllr. Boyer  concerning the overzealousness of the ticketing people but had not received a response at the time of the AGM.

Trees:  part of  traffic calming measures is that trees are to be planted on “Cornish Corner” at the junction of Groveway and Stockwell Park Road.

AGT:  thanked Liz for her environment report.  He invited Susan Shaw to speak about the type museum.

Susan Shaw:  reported that reports of the museum closing are very misleading and she is very optimistic about plans for the future.  She reported that Lambeth is now renewing street name signs to include “London Borough of Lambeth” on them which means that the ones the Type Museum designed are not being used any more which were designed to be seen clearly from a distance which she feels the new ones are not.

AGT:  thanked Susan Shaw and invited David Tomlinson to give a round up on the 14 – 24 Stockwell Park road development.

David Tomlinson: The whole process from the idea of demolishing the old people’s home to finishing the development took six. During that time the residents managed to negotiate for a good quality development through perseverance, a sound knowledge of the facts and eagle eyes throughout the building of the development.

AGT:  told that meeting that Christine Keiffer had requested to talk to the meeting about the almshouses.

Christine Keiffer:  told the meeting that the friendly almshouses on the Stockwell Park Estate were set up for needy, vulnerable women in 1852.. Christine now chairs the committee running these and Mary Stott does the gardens.  Christine said that the management feel that in the new plans for the estate the almshouses will be surrounded by buildings that would make that immediate area totally inappropriate for elderly vulnerable women to live in.  She said that the committee had suggested that the almshouses be moved to the Redmayne House site and the proposals for that site be moved to the present position of the almshouses, but this does not seem to have been considered.

Christine also appealed for anyone who would like to be involved in the almshouses to come forward.

AGT:  asked George Clarke to report on the Stockwell Park Estate development plan.

George Clarke:  informed the meeting that there are people living in appalling conditions on the estate and that the residents voted tfor independence as the only  way to improve their lot.  From January 2007 the Community Trust Housing will be a charity which will be a social landlord with tenants as the majority on the board as well as other interested parties.  The aim is to have 80% of the 1,336 homes at a good standard by 2010.  At present there are no cash assets so the plan is to demolish 185 homes, create 553 and out of these keep 185 for rent and sell the rest to create cash to carry out other building and improvements.  The outline planning permission requested so far has concerned density, scale and location.  Although the development will mean more neighbours for this area many of them will be owner occupiers and the tenants will be selected.  The landscaping will also be an improvement.  The concerns about density, scale, loss of privacy, light and trees that came up at the July meeting have led to the buildings being scaled down and stepped back, heights being reduced and trees preserved.  The revised plan has been submitted and consultation started which will last until the November planning meeting of the council.

AGT:  thanked George and then invited William Coales to propose that the committee of the Association be re-elected which was seconded by Vicki Wallis.  William and Vicki also proposed and seconded that David Tomlinson continue as the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.

AGT declared the meeting closed, but Caroline Hirst proposed a vote of thanks to AGT for his unceasing, stalwart work for the Association.