Minutes for the Josephine Avenue Group AGM,Wednesday 4th December 2002.

Those present Simon Bond, Sue Bond, Elizabeth Owen, Chris van Duuren (treasurer), Maurey Lancaster (chair), Conrad Giwa (Step Forward Housing Association), PC Jeff Turner (Local Police Ward Officer), Anne Brown, Roger Blanton and Timothy Sutton (secretary).

Apologies Jeremy Beer, Garry Turnbull, John Yates, Belinda Cooper were received. Apologies were also received from Wendy Hirst (London Quadrant Housing Association) on Thursday 5th December.

1. Introductions Due to the poor attendance of the meeting it was decided that opening addresses from JAG were unnecessary. Looking on the positive side it was decided that the lack of residents was a sign that things were improving in the street. Also, being so close to Christmas, might not have helped.

2. CRIME and PROSTITUTION - PC Jeff Turner confirmed that the Lambeth Vice Squad has been reduced from one sergeant and five officers to one sergeant and one constable. He also reported that the Tulse Hill Ward (which includes Josephine Avenue and Helix Gardens) has been expanded to include the Tulse Hill Estate and St Mathews Estate. Present local police operations involve the raiding of local ‘crack houses’, but as PC Jeff Turner said “as soon as we close one down the same dealers will open another somewhere else” (in Brixton Central the police are raiding 12 crack houses a week!). Apparently there are certain individuals used specifically by the drug dealers to spot empty properties for squatting. At the moment the police are monitoring a flat in St Mathews Court which is suspected of being a new crack house.

PC Jeff Turner was told by the Group that the prostitution problem still continues in the Avenue with the added menace of pimps guarding their girls at the Brixton Hill end of the road. It would seem that Brixton Police are already too busy coping with the drugs problem and therefore prostitution is given a low priority. Most arrests concerning prostitution are carried out by the Central Scotland Yard Unit who carry out operations in the area every couple of months or so. Arrests over the last four months ranged roughly from fifty to eighty a month, however many of these are repeat offenses and the girls simply pay the fine and go straight out on the game again. Only four girls have been given ‘antisocial behaviour orders’ (not the ‘one a month’ as promised last year) and although they have been repeatedly arrested, non of these have been sentenced.

It would seem that the local police have reached a stale mate with both drug pushers and prostitutes in the area so probably our best defence is to watch out for ourselves.

3. LIGHTING and SECURITY CAMERAS - PC Jeff Turner agreed that improved street lighting would increase safety in the street, however whether this would deter prostitutes he was not sure. Concerning the failed installation of a security camera, PC Turner had no knowledge of this and thought the installation of such a camera very unlikely in our street. PC Turner agreed to investigate the matter and report back to the group. It was also decided to contact Jackie Meldrum to investigate the possibility of improving the number of lamp posts and/or increasing the brightness of the existing ones.

4. Street Cleanliness and Fly Tipping - It was decided by the group that the street is looking much better and that the street cleans are definitely working. Conrad offered to remove the two remaining abandoned cars outside number 50 Josephine Avenue once he was given the relevant details (make of car and registration number). Conrad also agreed to encourage his tenants to participate in any future street cleans if we were to give him the relevant details in advance.

5. Traffic - The general feeling in the group was that traffic is moving far too fast in the Avenue and that this should be looked in to. As far as blocking the street off, it was thought that this would create a ‘dead zone’ and that as a result street crime would probably increase. Some form of chicane however might work. The group decided that some kind of speed testing should be done in the road to establish the exact speed of vehicles in the street and possibly Jackie Meldrum may be able to help us on this.

6. Urban Art and Fundraising - The group thought that the Urban Art fundraiser had been a success and that next year’s event should again take place on the same weekend as the Brockwell Park Country Fair. If the event becomes more successful then maybe it could be moved to another weekend when artists are less likely to be on holiday. Tim will be contacting Lambeth Council in the new year to check that they are still willing for the event to take place in 2003. It was also decided to approach local businesses, e.g. Ritzy Cinema or Hobgoblin Pub, for sponsorship of leaflets etc.

7. Other Matters

Telecommunications Mast The group are aware of a proposal to erect a 15ft telecommunications mask on the pavement of Brixton Water Lane, outside Carpet Right. There are also plans to install telecommunications antennas on the roof of Nevana Court on the other side of the road. After a vote no clear decision could be made as to whether we agreed to these or not, however it was decided to publish details on the web site and let JAG members make there own individual response on this issue.

Carpet Right Forecourt - Sue Bond reported that JAG is still waiting for a reply to our letters complaining about the appalling state of their forecourt area. The group may consider staging some form of protest if nothing done.

Tree Surgery - JAG now has a list of London and Quadrant Housing Association properties in Josephine Avenue and it was decided that they should be approached for a financial contribution if JAG does any work on their trees.   

Re-election of JAG Committee

Garry Turnbull and Maurey Lancaster - Joint Chair (nominated by Sue Bond and seconded by Tim Sutton)

Tim Sutton - Secretary (nominated by Chris van Duuren and seconded by Elisabeth Owen)

Chris van Duuren - Treasurer (nominated by Tim Sutton and seconded by Maurey Lancaster)

8. Date for next JAG meeting will be Wednesday 15th January 2003 at 1 Helix Gardens, 7.30pm.