Long Leys Community

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Minutes of 2016 Annual General Meeting

Minutes of Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 31st May 2016 at 7.00pm

Discovery House Cafe, St Georges Hospital, Long Leys Road

Meeting opened – welcomes and thanks (GS)

  • To all for coming.
  • To Donna at Discovery House Café for allowing use of venue.
  • To Councillors and hospital representatives
  • Confirmed meeting quorate
    • required: 4 committee + 6 from LLRA area
    • Total attendees: 5 committee + 27 residents + 5 councillors/hospital = 37

GS introduced LLRA committee (was 7 now 5)

  • Gary Stimson (GS) – Chair
    • Carram Way
    • Carholme Community Forum
    • Carram Way parking
    • Cemetery (formerly)
    • SEC / Tanglewood Care home
  • Deb Lisseman (DL) – Vice-Chair
    • Manrico
    • PoC with St Georges Hospital
    • Carols on the green
    • St Georges green spaces
    • Notice boards
    • SEC
  • Keith Newsome (KN) – Treasurer
    • Albion Close
    • Co-organiser, presenter Carols on the Green
  • Janet Walker (JW)
    • Albion Close
    • Eco homes development (point of contact with the developer)
  • Tony Wass (TW)
    • Albion
  • Denise Clamp (retired) – Secretary
    • Berrildon
  • John Shipton (withdrawn from LLRA)
    • Mitchell Drive coverage
    • Commons Advisory Panel
  • New forum – www.stgeorgesonline.boards.net
    • Thanks to MrC 85 for setting up (not LLRA, and not censored!)
    • Independently run for the community, and free
    • Preferred LLRA channel for dissemination of new information
    • LLRA also monitor and contribute to St Georges facebook

GS gave an overview of LLRA’s mandate

 LLRA is a legally recognised entity, representing interests of local residents

    • Geographically constrained A57 to Yarborough Hill
      • And side roads – Albion, Mitchell, Oakleigh
    • Conduit between Councils / organisations and residents
    • Decent network of contacts
    • And experience of “how things work”
  • LLRA is not a parish council – no special powers
    • Always advises (and helps) individuals to represent their views on planning, etc.
    • LLRA does not really have a ‘louder voice’ than individuals
  • LLRA is not (allowed to be) political in any way
  • LLRA is a member of Carholme Community Forum
    • Local issues including
      • Highways / traffic / parking
      • Street cleaning / Refuse / Antisocial behaviour
      • Policing (local priorities)
      • Housing and planning
  • LLRA is a member of Commons Advisory Panel
    • Self-explanatory
    • We get a say in what happens to the Commons
    • Need a representative (see LLRA Admin section, below)
  • Explanation of missing previous AGM
    • LLRA mainly came in to existence to keep the St Georges Park developers ‘honest’
    • Addressed a selection of ‘settling in’ issues with varying degrees of success
    • Interest waned as issues resolved and founder committee members left the area
    • Then experienced failed efforts to have a quorate (i.e. legitimate) AGM
    • Remaining core committee put LLRA into ‘maintain existence’ operating mode
    • Not in strict compliance with constitution
    • AGMs became less regular, typically when there was a high profile issue
      • Albion Housing last time
      • Hospital developments this time
  • It was stressed that:
    • Committee are all normal people with plenty to occupy their days
    • No empire building on the committee, and it’s not anyone’s ‘baby’
    • Anyone is welcome to join and make LLRA more active if desired
  • In the meantime
    • LLRA existence is maintained, it is recognised by local authorities, and can be strengthened if/when required
    • Easier than starting an association from scratch
    • We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact we live in a nice area
    • Not having issues to complain about isn’t a bad thing!

Updates on previous issues

  • Albion development – GS/JW
    • Janet Walker (voted in at previous AGM as residents point of contact), gave a report on the development.
    • LLRA obtained a formal PoC within Lindum Homes
      • Tony Lawton, MD – proved useful
    • Attendees were invited to raise any issues
      • No on-going care of ‘abandoned’ green space
        • GS had previously raised this at CCF – Neil Murray looking in to it
        • ACTION – Neil Murray confirmed that this was still being investigated
        • (Post meeting note – Neil Murray subsequently elicited a response from the developers, and the abandoned green space is now under a maintenance contract. The grass appears to be cut regularly)
      • Safety of drainage area / pond was questioned
        • Possible requirement for design modification and/or signage
        • ACTION – Karen Lee offered to investigate
  • Cemetery – GS
    • Complete and in use
    • LLRA not aware of any issues
      • No issues raised by attendees
    • New hedge on cemetery side supposed to be nominally 1.5m (5ft)
      • GS has contacted officer responsible re hedge trimming
      • (Post meeting note – Hedge has now been trimmed to 1.5m)
    • Have a PoC for any issues – Nick Barton at City Council
    • Attendees were invited to raise any issues
      • No issues raised
  • Green spaces on St Georges – DL
    • Are now completed
    • Question-mark over who’s maintaining?
    • ACTION – DL working to establish who is responsible for the various green spaces and resolve issues of variable quality of maintenance, e.g. grass cutting
    • (Post meeting note – Now resolved. Ownership and points of contact now established. Ground care quality improved)
    • Attendees were invited to raise any other issues
      • No issues raised
  • Social Education Centre (SEC) – GS
    • Site sold to Tanglewood care homes
    • 75 bed care home – unspecified occupancy (they provide all types of residential care, not just retirement homes)
    • Requested update on execution
      • Build schedule
      • PoC for development
    • £70k (=10% of sale value) in Escrow with City Council for local projects
      • LLRA don’t own the money, but are required to countersign spend
      • 9 years left to spend it
    • Attendees were invited to consider projects which would benefit from the money. The following were suggested:
      • Nature area / trail between Manrico and the allotments
      • A bike lip/rail on Higson Road steps (or pram ramp?)
      • Extend anti-slip coating on Higson steps to lower sloping section
  • St Georges Hospital – GS/DL
    • Discovery House is now open
      • Café and shop for use by local people (thanks Donna)
    • New planning application in for psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU)
    • Ian Jerams, representing hospital, presented plans and took Q&A from attendees:
      • Minor building work planned for PICU
      • Secure ward and fenced garden area
      • No other major developments planned over next 5 years
      • Future of Gervas House uncertain – may be demolished
      • There is not a shortage of parking on site, parking on Carram Way is lazy/inconsiderate. Hospital are improving car park signage, and identifying/educating persistent employees
      • Noted that not all bad parking is associated with the hospital
  • Higson Road steps – GS/DL
    • Originally refurbed in response to LLRA request
    • No ongoing issues LLRA are aware, except:
      • Aware that bottom half can be icy – extend antislip?
      • Some interest in a cycle ramp on steps
    • Attendees were invited to raise any other issues
      • No issues raised
  • St George’s Bus subsidy – GS/DL
    • It was widely reported that service was under threat
    • Inaccurate reporting in the Echo & Lincolnite
    • Checked with PC coaches (twice in fact)
    • This particular route not at risk (could be in any future review of course)
    • Not strictly relevant for LLRA to object to cuts to other services not affecting our catchment area
    • Directed people to object personally if concerned
  • Carram Way parking – GS
    • Mainly (now) opposite end to Utopia
    • Can’t enforce by parking warden without yellow lines
    • Highways acknowledge there’s an issue
    • Not highest priority in the city
    • Not so much budget, as time to do all the mandatory admin
    • Police have leafleted houses / cars, and door-stepped people
    • Had some initial effect but now wearing off
    • Raised at CCF requesting yellow lines from highways, and police enforcement in the meantime
    • Many supporting comments from attendees felt very strongly about this issue
    • Robert Parker advised that supporting evidence of need for yellow lines would be useful
    • ACTION – All to provide photos etc., LLRA will collate and contact PC coaches to see if they record issues (cameras in buses?)

 

 New issues – from residents

  • Revised street lighting times
    • Majority of resident dissatisfied with early switch off of street lighting
    • Particularly the ‘extra early’ 22:00 on some estate roads
    • Midnight switch off more generally used slightly less of an issue
    • A minority of residents actually preferred the resulting ‘dark skies’ environment
    • Robert Parker advised that any revisions would need to be evidence based, so recommended collating evidence of ASB, accidents, etc.
    • ACTION – All to provide evidence, LLRA to collate.
    • (Post meeting note – All streetlights were subsequently set to turn off at midnight a few days after this meeting)
  • Spate of (primarily) car crime was noted
    • Primarily exploiting lapses in security by car owners
  • White Gables – planning application
    • Planning application to convert to a ‘Supported Housing Scheme’
    • (Post meeting note – Planning permission subsequently granted)
    • LLRA not notified, so could not pass on any notification
    • Incorrectly pictured by Lincolnite as being adjacent to St Georges estate
    • House actually located on lower Long Leys between bypass bridge and A57
    • Some objections independently raised by residents
  • Proposed cuts to fire service
    • Was raised to promote awareness
    • Majority of residents objected in general
    • No specific issues raised
  • LLRA furnished notice board adjacent to St Georges hospital
    • Noted to be in need of maintenance
    • ACTION – Gary Lisseman volunteered to varnish, etc. (Many thanks!)
  • Spate of (primarily) car crime was noted
    • Primarily exploiting lapses in security by car owners
  • Mobile library service
    • Some residents were unaware of the library visiting times
    • ACTION – DL will post times on notice board, forum, and Facebook
  • Virgin Media
    • Some residents interested in lobbying VM for cable
    • Needs a certain %age uptake for VM to act
    • Residents invited to register interest on https://cablemystreet.virginmedia.com/
  • Water Meter replacements
    • Quite a few water meters seem to be being replaced by Anglian Water
    • Low quality ‘making good’ of pavements was noted following replacement
    • The initial ‘making good’ is a temporary fix. A permanent fix is after some settling time
  • Carholme Gala (aka Westfest)
    • September 18th at the Grandstand which is on from 12 – 4
    • Karen Lee looking for volunteers to help – please contact karenelee@hotmail.com

GS conducted formal LLRA administration

  • Treasurers statement – GS/KN
    • LLRA is not a financially driven organisation
    • Doesn’t employ anyone, doesn’t pay tax, etc.
    • Currently has £593.58p in the bank
    • Up from £183.42 at last (2013) AGM
      • Grant awards from councillors
      • Partly covering previous expenditure
    • No withdrawals in past 3 years
      • About to pay AGM leaflet printing/delivery costs (£60 + £15)
    • Small cash float from notice board
    • Not maintaining formal accounts
    • It was noted that to comply with LLRA’s constitution, formal accounts should be maintained and audited (could be a simple spreadsheet, independently verified by cross checking bank statements and receipts)
    • ACTION – Produce audited accounts for next AGM – LLRA Committee
  • (Re)election of committee members – GS
    • Constitution requires one third to stand down, may be re-elected
    • All current committee members stood down
    • The following were proposed, seconded, and (re)elected by majority vote
      • Chair – Gary Stimson
      • Vice Chair – Deb Lisseman
      • Treasurer – Keith Newsome
      • Secretary – no volunteers
      • Tony Wass – committee member
      • Janet Walker – committee member
      • Gary Lisseman – committee member and LLRA Commons Advisory Panel representative (note that two committee members from one household is a breach of LLRA constitution, but in the absence of any other volunteers this is accepted by exception)
    • It noted that committee members can be co-opt at any time, should anyone wish to volunteer after the meeting
    • John Thorpe thanked the committee for their efforts on behalf of residents
  • Review of constitution – GS
    • The constitution was briefly reviewed
    • No revisions were deemed necessary
  • Date of next meeting – to be announced
  • Meeting close
    • GS thanked those present for attending and their participation, and closed the meeting