THE FRIENDS OF PALMEIRA AND ADELAIDE
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES
THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION
Held at the Cornerstone Centre on Saturday 9th January 2010 at 10.30am
Present Chairman: Ruth Addison
Committee: Barbara & Balint Bodroghy
Susie de Castilho
Sheena Cox
Randall Hart
Richard Hawkes
Susan Hunter
Tim Kirkup
Katherine Simpson
The Chairman opened the meeting, thanking all those present for their fortitude in the face of inclement weather; the Chairman confirmed existence of a Quorum with the presence of 22 members (with apologies from Rory Connelly, George Gwyer and Margaret Nussey), and noted that Minutes of the previous AGM, Comments on the Annual Report, Annual Accounts and the List of Candidates standing for Committee election or re-election having been distributed to Members with the Winter Newsletter, unless comments or objections were raised at the meeting, the Minutes, Accounts and election of Committee members may be agreed by acclamation.
1. Minutes of Twelfth AGM: Agreed by acclamation as to content (see above)
2. Comments on Annual Report: Agreed by acclamation as to content (see above)
3. Annual Accounts: Agreed by acclamation as to content (see above)
4. Committee Members: Elected by acclamation (see above)
The Chairman noted that FOPA’s Constitution allows a person to occupy the Chair for only two consecutive years. As a consequence, she ceases to be Chairman after this meeting. She is very pleased to continue as a Committee member because with completion of the Survey presented at this Meeting the Committee has received new priorities and a mandate to act in the interest of the Membership and all other residents.
Three current members of the Committee, Sheena Cox, George Gwyer and Randall Hart, wish to stand down. The Chairman thanked them for their invaluable contributions to improving our amenities and heightening our enjoyment of them; she invited members to signal their interest in taking part in the work of the Committee, with particular reference to managing social events, the care of our gardens and the disposal of waste.
The Chairman also thanked George Gwyer, Richard Hawkes, Tim Kirkup and Susan Hunter for their work on the Survey and Richard and Ted Davies for its presentation.
In response to a question from Trevor Giddings it was noted that specific responsibilities on the Committee, including its chairmanship, are normally agreed at the first meeting of the new Committee, due to be held on Tuesday, the 19th of January.
4. Survey results and projects for 2010
Richard Hawkes, with technical assistance from Tim Davies, presented the results of the extensive Survey conducted by the Survey Team under the Direction of George Gwyer. A summary of the results had been distributed to Members with the Winter Newsletter. The following summarises comments made from the floor; numbers in [square brackets] refer to numbers in the Questionnaire.
Richard Hawkes noted that percentages quoted in the survey refer to the percentage of respondents answering a particular question and as a result do not add up to 100%.
Katherine Simpson noted that as a result of the survey, membership had increased by 9 and further recruitment is likely.
Additional plantings [1]: in Richard Albright’s view this could result in an increase in the plant theft.
Judith Taylor commented that the comparison of the attractiveness of Brunswick and Palmeira & Adelaide [4] may not be quite fair because the former is enclosed by railings and is perhaps more intensively used for sport and amusement.
Richard Hawkes noted that the aim of question [4] was subtly to elicit views regarding the re-instatement of railings in Palmeira & Adelaide. The results do not provide even tacit support for this proposition, which is, in any case, subject to many constraints, including very high first and maintenance costs and objections by some residents (particularly those living at ground or first floor level and those enjoying the views while walking) and by the police (as shrubs tend to grow along railings which inhibit inspection by foot patrols or from patrol cars).
There is strong support for increasing provisions for cycle parking [8] both in our membership and at the Council. According to Susie de Castilho the Council’s current budget is already spent (much of it in Brunswick Square). Sheena Cox suggested that the abandoned huts at the bottom of Adelaide gardens might be converted to serve as a covered cycle park (this would require the removal of doors, provision of secure anchorages and lighting [14]).
Richard Hawkes and others commented on the poor and possibly dangerous state of the south retaining wall of Adelaide Gardens [9]; a particular problem is poor drainage causing water to build up behind the wall (now probably frozen) which requires attention.
Control of the pigeon population using hawks [10] received strong support in the survey. Richard Hawkes explained that while initially very expensive the promised results are attractive – no physical harm to pigeons, long-term relief achieved by disruption of nesting habits and no harm to song-birds; unfortunately gulls and magpies are unaffected by the presence of hawks. Judith Taylor recalled that the Council are looking for a new home for falcons now nesting on Sussex Heights – could we offer them a nesting place? Randall Hart noted that in the past the Council from time to time undertook to remove eggs and Balint Bodroghy recalled that in the distant past they sent around marksmen to shoot pigeons to help control the population. Judith Taylor and Suzie de Castilho talked about their success in driving away pigeon by persistently disturbing them with broomsticks whenever they alight in the vicinity of their flats and others talked about placing against the skyline frighteners such as a dummy owl with huge eyes (sold by a Shoreham pet-shop for about £30) or metal silhouettes of flying birds of prey. Richard Hawkes noted that the survey provided a clear mandate to address this problem and the Committee will no doubt wish to examine the options, including relocation of falcons from Sussex Heights, hiring Hawkforce (for which some £1000 would have to be raised from the membership) and assorted DIY measures such as plastic bags on broomsticks, plastic owls and metal silhouettes.
Strong support was also given to the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in Palmeira and Adelaide [11], which is now under consideration by the Council. Ruth Addison and others noted that this is a complex issue affecting signage, road marking, proposals for one way traffic flow, the introduction of humps at least at points of entry, parking, pedestrian safety, fuel economy and access by emergency vehicles. FOPA wish to be involved in the debate and to exert influence over its outcome.
Activities considered undesirable by some respondents included dogs fouling the gardens, fireworks, insensitive placement of barbecues, noisy late-night gatherings and flagrant drug dealing. There are statutes or regulations circumscribing such activities but enforcing them is difficult and beyond the resources of the authorities. Ruth Addison advised anyone wishing to influence the priorities of the police in dealing with these matters to attend meetings organized by the police expressly for this purpose.
The poor state of maintenance of some properties in the area was noted. Richard Hawkes explained that there is little one can do about it – management companies, even when willing to act, are often hampered by recalcitrant tenants. The Council has powers ultimately to intervene by serving notice under Section 105, but lacks resources to follow up a failure to comply (in contrast, the recent regeneration of St Leonards and Hastings was helped by grants from European funds). Richard Hawkes and Katherine Simpson reported that plans for the redevelopment of the Festive restaurant site have now been approved and work is due to start on the 10th of May.
Parking regulations and provisions were discussed in the context of question [12] and in response to some unsolicited comments – unification of Zones M, N and O, changing restrictions from ‘9 to 8’ to ’10 to 9’, provision for large vehicles like caravans and better control over disabled permits.
The Meeting closed at 12.30 with hot mince pies, biscuits and a glass of sparkling wine.