MINUTES FROM THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

5^th May 2011 at 7.30pm at St Thomas Aquinas Hall, Ham Common

 

   1.             OPENING MEETING

1.1.          The President, Stephen Jakobi, opened the proceedings and welcomed everyone present at the meeting. He introduced Anne Powell, the Chair of the HPA.

 

   2.             CHAIRMANS REVIEW:  HIGHLIGHTS OF 2010-11

2.1.          The Chair highlighted what the HPA stands for and what has been achieved during the year.

 

2.2.          HPA strive to preserve and maintain the environmental and architectural integrity of this historical and special semirural area.  

·        The Mayor is now responsible for maintenance of Royal Parks.  The Chair is involved in consultation with the Mayor as the HPA is aware that this political change may present commercial risks.

·        Ham Pond:  The Chair thanked Zoe and Vanessa for the excellent work they have done on restoring and maintaining Ham Pond, sighting this as a fine example of Big Society in action within the community.  The Chair did raise concerns that we, as a community will need to raise more and more funds separately from the Council

·        Signage: HPA Committee prevented a BT box from being installed on Petersham Road.

·        Ham Common Woods: 

·        Petersham Meadows:  Transferred back to the National Trust who threatened to remove the cows following an incident on 1^st May involving a dog.  Sylvia Peel is negotiating with the Trust to prevent this.  Cllr Miller did highlight that this was the first serious incident in ten years and that he could see no reason to remove the cows.

 

2.3.          HPA work to improve local facilities, including trying to reduce anti-social behaviour, graffiti and crime generally.

·        The Chair attends the quarterly Police Liaison Group (PLG) meetings who have new Sergeant.  The safer neighbourhood team phone number was given at the meeting -  0300 123 1212. 

·        The Chair highlighted that on 9^th July from 10am – 4.30pm, a drop in session will be held by the Police at Grey Court in an effort to get views on what is important to residents and members were encouraged to attend.

·        HPA work closely on projects with Ham United Group, the Bird and Butterfly Garden, The Community Garden at Grey Court in a bid to build bridges in the community

 

2.4.          HPA work with, and make representations to, our local Council, Ward Councillors, the Police and other stakeholders, to support local improvements, and encourage high standards of planning and development.

·        The Chair advised that a summary of planning applications is printed regularly in the Richmond & Twickenham times and members were encouraged to review this.

·        Members were made aware that the Committee had objected on behalf of the HPA to applications from The German School, The Petersham Nursery (application to extend night licence) and Sudbrooke Lodge.  Reasons were given at the meeting.

 

2.5.          We arrange volunteer activities of special concern to Members that foster community spirit, such as the maintenance of Ham Pond, and "clean up" days in the area.

·        Regular clear up days on Ham Pond, The avenues, the towpath are organised by the Committee and other residents.

·        The Chair highlighted that BCTV may need to chart out their time in future, given the changes in government funding

·        Ham Pond maintenance and improvement

·        Christmas carols

·        Ham Fair – scheduled this year for 11 June 2011.

 

2.6.          HPA host an annual Garden Party for our Members in the summer.

·        Events such as the summer party are designed to encourage  a sense of community and commitment to working together:

·        Fund raising will become increasingly important, constraints on local government spending and Ham Open Gardens (22 May) with 16 gardens will be a big fund raising exercise to the committee. 

·        The Chair gave special thanks to Vicky Wicks for leading the organisation of the Ham Open Gardens this year and also to the children of Grey Court School who had designed the posters and would make up 30 volunteers of 14-16 year olds to help on the day.

 

2.7.          We run occasional events and raise money to benefit the Association's aims.  This enables us to support a variety of local environmental and other groups.

·        Ham Common Woods.  The Chair announced that a joint project including Thames Landscape, Richmond Council, Grey Court school and HPA was due to start.  The objective is to refurbish the pond opposite Park Gate House at Ham Gate entrance to Richmond Park.  The Chair encouraged members to join as volunteers.

 

   3.             STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR 2009-10

3.1.          The Chairman congratulated the Treasurer, Pauline Gizejewski, on the excellent job she had done in her fourth year of looking after the Association’s accounts and producing the year end statement.

 

3.2.          The statement of accounts and the report of the Honorary Auditor were noted and thanks were given to Tony his assistance. 

 

3.3.          It was noted that the income reflected for Ham Pond is specifically ring fenced for that project and it is likely that a separate account will be allocated for the Ham Common Woods pond project too.  There were no other questions and the accounts were approved.

 

3.4.          RESOLVED:            That the statement of accounts for 2010 be approved.

 

   4.             MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 26^th APRIL 2010

4.1.          The minutes from the last AGM were agreed as an accurate record.  This action was  proposed by Jo Chambers and seconded by Mary Seager.

 

   5.             ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

5.1.          The Chairman reported that two committee Members were standing for re-election and they were Stuart Saul and John Asbridge.  Accordingly, it was proposed by Charles Doe and seconded by Jo Chambers.

 

5.2.          RESOLVED:  That Stuart Saul and John Asbridge re-elected to the Committee.

 

   6.             PRESIDENTS ADDRESS

6.1.           This was given by Stephen Jakobi, who advised members that he usually tries to get something interesting of historical reference, connected to the theme of the evening being Localism and The Big Society and his theme was the history of the Association. 

 

·        1933 – The first meeting was held in September 1933 because of a piece of local government in which Ham had no representation.  This was a well attended, private meeting which grew into the Ham and Petersham Rate Payers Association for the political representation of Ham on the local Council, quite a different purpose to what HPA has come to mean for us today.

·        1930’s – The bi-pass saga started in 1912 and came to a head in 1936 and 1960.

·        1940 – World War 2 broke out and the association was suspended.

·        1947 – HPA revived after the war but still very politically  motivated.

·        1948 – recorded a dance for 200 members on 1^st October with catering done by the Fox and Duck at a cost of 6 shillings and sixpence.

·        1951 – membership dropped to 20.  Alan Tolbert became chair, but too late to take action on the planning application that is now Parkleys.

·        1959 – New threats to the area when a 14^th century hall on a local farm was just knocked down.  There were also an issue with developing on what has now become Ham playing fields and the preserved open space.

 

6.2.          The President closed his address advising that the Association had come a long way and that it still had work to do and he proposed a vote of thanks to the current Chair and there was lots of clapping for Anne.

 

   7.             PRESENTATION ON BIG SOCIETY AND LOCALISM

7.1.           A slide show was given to members by Andrew Beedham, Vice Chair  of Ham United Group (HUG) on Big Society and Localism – what is it and how will it affect Ham and Petersham?  The highlights from this presentation included:

 

7.2.           6 May 2011 marks the first anniversary from the  general election and the formation of the coalition government which launched “Big Society” on 18 May 2010 to:

·        Give communities more powers

·        Encourage people to take an active role in their communities

·        Transfer power from central to local government

·        Support co-ops, materials, charities and social enterprise

·        Publish government data

 

7.3.           Members were advised that many new and wide ranging policy initiatives had been launched under the Big Society banner and that these were currently constantly evolving, however it was clear that there are three distinct but related policy strands

·        Philanthropic action: what we can do for others

·        Public sector reform: or what the state can do for us

·        Community empowerment: or what we can do for ourselves

 

7.4.           Community empowerment is at the heart of the Localism Bill which will give new rights for local people including, local referendums, community right to challenge and bid for services, community right to buy local assets, council tax referendums, changes to planning.  The  two issues that are likely to have most impact on Ham and Petersham are Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Planning.

 

7.5.           The criticisms and concerns highlighted to the Localism Bill included:

·        Decentralisation is just a longer word for cuts

·        Local control could result in a postcode lottery

·        Do people in the community  have enough time

·        Local people are incapable of managing public resources

·        A charter for NIMBY’s

·        No community independence without fiscal control

·        25% Conservative and 33% Lib Dem councillors do not support the Localism bill

 

7.6.           Generally it was felt that this “big society” and Localism Bill was a good opportunity for the Ham and Petersham area, which is well set up to take advantage of the changes through organisations such as the Ham and Petersham Association and Ham United Group etc.

 

   8.             ANY OTHER BUSINESS

8.1.           Members were reminded of a few dates which included:

·        Ham Open Gardens would be held on Sunday 22 May 2011 from 2-4pm

·        Ham and Petersham Association Summer Party at Ham House on Sunday 12 June 2011

·        Village Planning event at Grey Court School on 9 July 2011

 

8.2.           The Chair concluded the meeting by advising that there would be better communications and more partnership working between HPA, HUG and Ham Amenities in future.  Members were then thanked for attending the AGM.

 

8.3.           The meeting ended at 9pm with many members staying for a glass of wine.

 

8.4.           The attendance list recorded 73 people at the AGM on 5^th May 2011.