Ditchling Rise and Area Residents Association
Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday, 18th October 2011
at 147 Ditchling Rise
Present: Angie Meaden Bonnell (Treasurer), Elspeth Broady (Joint Secretary), Daphne de Boissière, Mark de Boissière, Madeleine Cary, Sylvia ?, Diane Harris, Mike Jones (Cllr., Preston Park, Gr) Trudy McGuigan (Vice Chair), Bonnie Scovell (PCSO), Shirley May (Joint Secretary), Chris Sevink (Chair). Yolande Sheppard-Walters, Mary Stevens,
1. Apologies
Ian Davey (Cllr., St Peter’s NL, Gr), Lizzy Deane (Cllr., St Peter’s NL, Gr), Jim Grozier, Amy Kennedy (Cllr., Preston Park, Gr), Leo Littman (Cllr., Preston Park, Gr), Pete West (Cllr., St Peter’s NL, Gr)
2. Minutes of previous meeting: agreed.
3. Matters arising
re. 7 Postal Services. Elspeth reported that individual residents can go to the Royal Mail website > Personal Customers > reporting problems with delivery and or commenting specifically on Royal Mail staff. If individuals’ specific problems are not dealt with, then a collective issue could be raised by DRARA.
4. Planning issues
Chris circulated a draft letter to Gillian Marston, BHCC Head of City Infrastructure, cc’d to Gerard Cormack, Planning Enforcement, clarifying DRARA’s concerns over non-enforcement of planning regulations in relation to the Scaffolding Yard, Springfield Rd. He stressed the letter should not be ‘complaining’ but rather highlight issues which seem to be indicative of BHCC’s non-strategic and haphazard approach to planning in our area. Chris felt this was in part because there was no ‘neighbourhood plan’ for our area to direct planning decisions and protection/enhancement of open spaces.
This further linked to the lack of clarity from BHCC and elsewhere on what a ‘neighbourhood’ should be, what kind of development framework should exist for neighbourhoods and for principled participation in planning and development by residents and local groups. BHCC had trialled a neighbourhood forum some years back in Brunswick but there seemed to be no updated information on this.
It was agreed that Chris should send the letter.
Mary volunteered to send on details about policies/pledges on protecting green infrastructure:
- http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/green-infrastructure/
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/11/scheme-green-spaces-urban-areas?CMP=twt_fd
- http://www.brightonhovegreens.org/assets/files/localparties/brighton/publications/manifesto/Manifesto_A_Fresh_Start_for_a_Fair_City_low_res_2011.pdf
p.19 on encouraging local food growing and habitat encouragement - http://brightonhovelabour.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Labour-Brighton-Hove-Manifesto-2011.pdf -p.27 increase no of allotments
5. Neighbourhood Forums
Linked to the previous discussion under 4, Elspeth had e-mailed BHCC community team, to ask how an area became a ‘Neighbourhood’, as listed on http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1212034, but had had no reply.
Mike suggested that DRARA contact Cllr. Ben Duncan, Cabinet Member for Communities, with a special interest in community involvement and neighbourhood forums.
Action: Elspeth to follow up BHCC query and invite Cllr. Duncan to a forthcoming meeting.
6. Street Party debrief
Madeleine showed her short video sequence of the Street Party: many thanks to Madeleine for this and for organising the event. Despite concerns about the weather, the 11th September Street Party in Shaftesbury Place had been a great success. Madeleine highlighted the following issues for any future Street Parties:
a) dealing with the Council had been particularly onerous this year, and had required a lot of time; it was vital to stress that the Street Party was not a commercial venture.
b) despite leafletting both the main DRARA area and the streets between Clyde Road and Stanley Road, and around 50 posters, some residents thought the Street Party was for Ditchling Rise only – need to clarify this in future.
c) it had worked very well for children, but clear physical barriers were needed to block off the street to ensure safety, and perhaps a more clearly defined area for children with activities.
d) music: it was felt that loud, amplified music was not desirable, but the acoustic ensemble worked well this time.
e) there needed to be activities/stalls/things to look at to encourage people to ‘browse’ down to the Party, and to make it easier for people to mingle/talk to each other
7. Future events
A Christmas event was mooted, again using Shaftesbury Place as a focus, perhaps festive singing with mulled wine, chestnuts and mince-pices?
Action: Diane to raise this with Philip Wells who had organised carol singing in Shaftesbury Place. Elspeth to raise the idea of using the station terraces/and or waiting room with Southern.
Ideas for the AGM (likely to be end of January): focus on ‘Localism’, ‘Community involvement’ and invite Amy Kennedy to lead discussion (Amy had agreed to talk about localism at a DRARA meeting).
8. Community Safety
Bonnie reported that arrangements for match days seemed to be working well and residents agreed. It was noted that bike theft was a particular problem in our area, but it was difficult to identify any specific solutions to this.
9. London Road Station Partnership
The gardens had been open during the Street Party, with lots of interest: now 17 ‘partners’ were signed up. The LRSP had submitted an application for £600 to BHCC’s Environmental Sustainability Grants/Hedgecock Bequest scheme to support the development of small scale community composting. Southern Railway had continued to be supportive, as was Harvest (BH Food Partnership).
LRSP blog: http://londonrdstationpartnership.wordpress.com/
10. Treasurer’s report
Angie reported that DRARA funds were still in the region of £90.
11. AOB
11.1 Street cleanliness and dog etiquette
Ty Jefferies had e-mailed to complain about dog owners dumping dog mess in bags at the bottom of trees in the street, rather than using the bins available at the bottom and top of the street.
Action: Elspeth to make some laminated notices for the street, (see the window poster campaign against dog mess in Kingsbury Road) asking dog owners to deposit plastic bags of dog mess in the bins.
11.2 Digital switchover
Madeleine outlined the Digital switchover campaign for which she was a volunteer and asked all to refer to her anybody who might be eligible for help in making the switchover to digital TV on 7./3/12.
11.3 CPZ
Mark raised concern that an extension of the CPZ to Springfield Road might mean an increase in parking in the DRARA area as this was nearer to shops etc. It was suggested that any concerns should be raised when consultation about any changes to CPZ took place.
11.4 Open Market
Yolande mentioned that traders in the Open Market were sadly having to close, given the re-development of the Open Market. Chris explained that there had been extensive consultations on the re-development of the Open Market. (More details were presented at the London Road Local Action Team Open Meeting 1st November 2011).
12. Date of next meeting: Wednesday 23rd November 2011, 7.30pm 147 Ditchling Rise
Ditchling Rise and Area Residents Association
Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday, 14th February 2012
at 147 Ditchling Rise
Present: Angie Meaden Bonnell (Treasurer), Elspeth Broady (Joint Secretary), Madeleine Cary, Daphne de Boissière, Mark de Boissière, Steve Foster, Trudy McGuigan (Vice Chair), Bonnie Scovell (PCSO), Chris Sevink (Chair), Mary Stevens.
1. Apologies
Ian Davey (Cllr., St Peter’s NL, Gr), Martin Digon, Diane Harris, Abby Hone, Mike Jones (Cllr., Preston Park, Gr) Amy Kennedy (Cllr., Preston Park, Gr), Shirley May (Joint Secretary), Graham Simons, Pete West (Cllr., St Peter’s NL, Gr) Philip Wells
2. Minutes of previous meeting: agreed.
3. Matters arising
3.1 Planning issues: Gerard McCormack had agreed to attend next meeting on 13/3. Still no response from Martin Randall.
Mary mentioned that Brighton & Hove City Council were running a consultation on HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation).
Action: Mary to write a piece on HMOs for the website.
5 Update on Network Rail meeteing 9/1/12
Elspeth reported that the meeting organised by Caroline Lucas MP had been very well attended, mostly residents from Springfield Road where there was particular anger at the lack of notification and information on the tree felling on the North side railway siding. Network Rail were asked to ensure better communications with residents (and residents’ groups) in future in relation to the upkeep of the environment around LR station. Elspeth had written to Gareth Edwards, Community Officer at Network Rail, asking him to keep in touch with DRARA on any future works.
4. The AGM
It was agreed that the AGM had been a successful event: between 35-40 had attended, more than last year. Robin Reed’s presentation had been well pitched to interest those attending.
The ‘bar’ had not covered its costs through donations, and in future, it might be important to have someone serving drinks, rather than self service. One idea might be to invite a local off licence to organise a wine-tasting as part of the social side of the event.
Diane had written to say that the ‘Public Meeting’ format seemed to have worked well and suggested we might organise another ‘Public Meeting’ later in the year.
It was agreed that it was useful to invite representatives of other community associations (e.g. Springfield Road, PCA) to the AGM. Elspeth reported that SPARA (Springfield Area Residents Association) was to hold its inaugural meeting on 7/3/12 and that Jo Whitehead had asked for a member of the DRARA Committee to attend. It was agreed that we should encourage a representative from SPRARA to attend our meetings.
Action: Steve and Madeleine agreed to attend SPRARA on 7/3/12
5. Events
5.1 Street Party
It was agreed to plan the Street Party for Sunday 15th July rather than on the ‘Big Lunch’ date/Jubilee long weekend when a) many people might well be away and b) many other street parties might be taking place.
Action: A Street Party sub-Committee was formed of Madeleine, Trudy and Steve.
5.2 Other events
Trudy agreed to look at planning a Local History Day, probably in the autumn.
6. Community Safety
6.1 Tagging on LR station bridge
Elspeth reported on discussions with Edward White of Springfield Road, and with Sarah Leach, BHCC Officer with responsibility for graffiti, re. recurrent tagging on the station bridge. Chris had ascertained that the bridge was the property of Network Rail, but was maintained by BHCC. BHCC had twice come along in the last three weeks to paint out tags only for more to appear. Edward had arranged for BHCC to provide residents with paint and paint brushes, so that tags could be painted out immediately. Elspeth and Angie had volunteered to be part of the ‘Bridgewatch’ group.
6.2 Noise from neighbours
A resident had raised the problem of noisy neighbours at the AGM, and had been encouraged to attend the meeting. In his absence, it was agreed to look longer term at talking to community officers at the two universities and letting agents to see how we could encourage ‘good neighbourliness’ with the transient student population.
7. Shaftesbury Place: parking and trees
DRARA welcomed the planting of a small tree outside 2 Shaftesbury Place to replace the tree felled in summer 2011. Elspeth also reported that a new tree had been planted on the corner of Stanley Road and Shaftesbury Road, after requests from residents there. Thus far, the elm tree in Shaftesbury Place also felled in summer 2011 had not been replaced. Elspeth reported that she understood from Edward White that he was encouraging the Arboricultural Service to replace that tree this year.
There were concerns about that any replacement tree should be smaller than the elm as the original tree had shaded some residents and produced heavy leaf fall in the autumn. It was also felt that any discussion of replacing the elm should take into consideration broader discussions about the arrangements for parking in Shaftesbury Place, and possibly widening pedestrian-only areas, increasing the number of trees and installing planters. Chris reported that he had been in touch with Robin Reed on this issue and had arranged to meet him on 20th March.
Action: It was agreed that Chris would talk further to Madeleine and Shirley, and that we would try to consult with residents in Shaftesbury Place before the meeting with Robin Reed.
8. Web-site
This item was not discussed fully as Shirley (Webmaster) was not present.
9. LRSP and Preston Circus Planters
Elspeth reported that she had met Alan Griffiths from Cityparks and that BHCC would provide replacement growing medium for the 4 planters after April. The priority now was to get together a volunteer group to plan the resurrection of the planters.
10. Treasurer’s report
Angie reported that DRARA funds were in the region of £50 after the AGM costs.
11. Date of next meeting: Tuesday 13th March, 2012. 7.30 147 Ditchling Rise.