Minutes - September 2011

Surrey Gardens TRA General Meeting
Minutes
5 October 2010

In attendance: Tony (Chair), Cath (Treasurer), John, Melissa, Brian

Apologies: Marcus (Vice-Chair), Megan (Secretary), Sue, Natalie

1. Chair opened meeting

2. Chair’s report

a. Tony thanked those who attended the picnic for coming, in particular Cath (for organising the bouncy castle), Megan (for shopping and cooking), Natalie, Andrew, Sue and Tom (for cooking). Tony reported that, despite the weather, a fun time was had – with more parents accompanying their children than in previous years

b. Tony reported that his Stage II complaint to the Council is still outstanding. Tony to chase

c. Tony reminded the meeting that a charity had expressed an interest in moving into the unused garages below the new flats on Lorrimore Sq. Unfortunately, the latest news was that this would not now be happening

d. Tony reported back to the meeting that the first draft of the heritage signage had been fed back on, and redesigned. The new designs were shared with the meeting, with the following key points emerging:
i. Better to remove the map from the timeline
ii. Need to ensure we use ‘plain English’
iii. The lectern versions were well received – could both signs be produced in this style?
iv. Spell out “Surrey Gardens Tenants and Residents Association” in full
v. Remove all telephone numbers and web addresses, as these details age quickly (making the boards seem less relevant)
vi. Tony reminded the meeting that this was the final opportunity for the general public to input into the designs, and detailed next steps as follows: share the new designs via the website and wait for feedback. Share designs with Heritage Lottery Fund for sign off. Feed back any further changes to Browse Bion for a final, third version, to be produced. These will be signed off by the Project Team

3. Treasurer’s report

a. Cath reported approximately £6,500 in the TRA account – of which £4,500 is Heritage Lottery Fund money

b. Cath reported that we are currently owed approximately £2,000 in insurance money from the Council. Tony to forward a Housing contact to Cath to contact regarding the outstanding money owed

4. AOB

a. Tony suggested that the TRA pay Tim Norris to conduct remedial works on the animal statues in Lorrimore Gardens. Approximate cost £500. The meeting agreed. Tony to commission Tim Norris

b. Tony also noted that the gates to Lorrimore Gardens are in need of stripping and re-painting. Tony to look for a potential supplier to conduct the work and report back with a cost to the TRA

c. Tony reminded the meeting that the AGM is approaching fast. Tony will be standing down as Chair this year. New committee members will be required if the TRA is to continue

d. John reported that the ‘lay-by’ area on Lorrimore Rd is, once again, being used as a dumping ground. Tony to follow up with Housing

e. Brian reported that a Council official had been to Lorrimore Sq to inspect communal stairwells for fire safety. Tony to follow up with Housing on the outcome

5. Next meeting

a. October – actual date to be agreed. This meeting will not be leafleted, but will be advertised on the website and via e-mail

6. Thanks for the Chair and close

Heritage signage - feedback

Following the release of the initial designs for the heritage signage in Pasley Park, feedback has been collated and posted onto the History of Pasley Park website here.

Stay tuned for the next set of designs! In the meantime, should you have any further feedback on the project, please contact the team at pasleyparkhistory@gmail.com.

Annual Picnic in the Park

Many thanks to those of you who came to the Annual Picnic in the Park on Tuesday. Despite the weather, the picnic went ahead in the church hall - whilst the bouncy castle was up most of the night for the children. Enjoy the rest of the summer, and stay tuned for our next meeting!

Heritage signage

The first designs of the heritage signage for Pasley Park are now complete. You can find the designs here. The consultation on these initial designs is now open (for the next couple of weeks), and your feedback would be very welcome! Please do let the project team know what you think about any aspect of the proposals - the good and the bad. You can post your comments directly onto the website, or send them to the usual TRA address: surreygardenstra@gmail.com.

More designs to come over the next few months - stay tuned!

Minutes - June 2011

Surrey Gardens TRA General Meeting
Minutes
7 June 2011

In attendance: Tony (Chair), Marcus (Vice-Chair), Cath (Treasurer), Sue, Natalie, Andrew

Apologies: Megan (Secretary), Jenny, John, Melissa, Grahame, Alison

1. Chair opened meeting

2. Chair’s Report:

• Tony confirmed that the walkabout with the tree section of the Council had yet to take place. Sue volunteered to follow up with the tree section


• Tony has received a letter apologising for the delay in addressing the Stage 2 complaint regarding the Tenant Fund application. This is now due to be addressed by 1 July


• Tony confirmed that Browse Bion (http://www.browsebion.com/home/index.html) has been appointed as the provider for the heritage signage project. A Project Team meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 9 June, which Tony will report back on. It is hoped that first drafts of signage will be ready in time for the annual Picnic in the Park in July


• Tony has received contact from the Council with a proposition to convert some of the garages below Lorrimore Square into an office/sales space for a local furniture aid charity (Furniture Aid South Thames: http://www.furniture-aid.co.uk/). The charity currently has a warehouse in Oval, but now needs to relocate. The Council reports that the garages in question are not currently in demand. They also point out the benefits of having a space occupied and used versus not (i.e. potential otherwise for vandalism, fire etc). The meeting was in agreement that this was a sensible proposal, and in keeping with the ethos of the area – noting that it could also be of use to local Tenants and Residents. Marcus raised the possibility of well-meaning people dumping items outside the property as donations, which could swiftly become unsightly. Tony promised to raise this with the Council, and to e-mail out to the wider TRA group for further thoughts and issues


• Tony confirmed that Tim Norris (the sculptor responsible for the carved animals in Lorrimore Gardens) had been in touch to suggest that the sculptures require some remedial work. Tim suggested this would require approximately two days of his time (c.£500). Tony suggested the TRA should defer a decision on this work until such a time as the Tenants Fund has been paid from the Council. All agreed

3. Treasurer’s Report:

• Cath reported that the insurance money has now been paid, leaving £1,325 in the TRA account (not including the £4,000 HLF money). Cath will pursue claiming the insurance money back from the Council


• Cath confirmed that the Tenants Fund had not shown on the TRA accounts by the time of the meeting, but that this was now due


• Cath confirmed that, due to a missing invoice, the insurance claim for the damaged roundabout from last year had still not been resolved. The insurance company has confirmed willingness to pay upon receipt of an invoice, meaning a further £772.45 (less £100 excess) is also due back to the TRA

4. Any other business:

• Sue requested that the TRA hire a heavy duty drill in order to fix the art in the park that was recently damaged. Tony to liaise with Sue to hire on an appropriate day and Sue to purchase fixings, claiming back from the TRA


• It was noted that the demolition of 113 Lorrimore Square has begun. Tony confirmed that he has already contacted the Council around the further promised consultation regarding materials to be used, but has had no reply. Tony to try again


• Marcus to contact the Council regarding the graffiti that has appeared on the doors of the electricity sub-station in Lorrimore Square


• Andrew reported back from the Housing Area Forum. Several TRAs suggested that the Tenants Fund would not be paid for a year. Tony to check with Council Officers


• TRA Annual Picnic In the Park – it was suggested that the Annual Picnic in the Park be delayed by a few weeks, so as to allow sufficient time to plan. All agreed. Budget for food, wine and provisions set at £100. Natalie, Sue, Cath, Andrew and Tony to share food preparation and purchase. Tony to e-mail out tasks to all and to confirm availability of picnic tables with Fr Grahame. Cath to organise a bouncy castle

5. Next meeting: – the next meeting will be the Annual Picnic in the Park, to be held on Tuesday 19th July, from 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm in Lorrimore Gardens, Lorrimore Square. This meeting will be leafleted and advertised via the website and e-mail

6. Thanks from the Chair and close

Minutes - May 2011

Surrey Gardens TRA General Meeting
Minutes
3 May 2011

In attendance: Tony (Chair), Megan (Secretary), Cath (Treasurer), Jenny, John, Brian, Natalie

Apologies: Jenny, John, Melissa, Andrew, Marcus (Vice-Chair), Adrienne

1. Chair opened meeting

2. Chair’s Report:

• Park closure – Tony has contacted the council regarding having the park closed in the evenings. He has had no response from initial communications, but has now escalated to the Head of Parks


• Tony has contacted the council regarding Tree Works in the square. Trees have been pollarded and there is concern that these will not grow back. The Council has offered a walkabout to address concerns. This is yet to be arranged


• Tenants Fund – Tony has contacted the council regarding the tenants fund multiple times. Since our last meeting, Tony has written to the local Ward Councillors, and escalated his formal complaint to a stage 2. The council has said that there are new forms for claiming for the Tenants Fund, and the Surrey Gardens TRA is participating in trials of new forms. Tony has completed and sent these in and is waiting for a response


• Tony met with Christine Wildhaber (from Southwark Council) and Judy Aitken from the Cuming Museum. Christine has quotes for the signage. Tony has researched and drafted the original park on a current day map as an input to the sign (including notes of key points of interest) and sent to Christine and Judy. Next steps are to appoint a company to complete the signage and to commission the first draft designs for further consultation. Tony to update at next meeting

3. Treasurer’s Report:

• We have more than £6,000 in the bank, of which £4,500 is Heritage Lottery Fund money, whilst just under £2,000 is required to pay the insurance for the park (to be refunded by the Council)

4. Any other business:

• There was no other business

5. Next meeting – the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 7 June 2011, 7.30pm in St Paul’s, Lorrimore Square; this meeting will not be leafleted, but will be advertised via the website and via e-mail as normal

6. Thanks from the Chair and close

Walworth Garden Farm: Spring Plant Sale

It's that time of the year once again: for every Saturday and Sunday in May, Walworth Garden Farm will be running the annual plant sale where a variety of bedding plants, herbs and small shrubs (all grown by trainees and volunteers at the Farm itself) will be available to buy at great prices.

The Farm itself is a registered charity, and relies on funding from sources such as the plant sale in order to keep running. So go along, help out your local charity, and get gardening whilst the weather stays nice!