The meeting was held at Khans Indian Restaurant, Brixton Water Lane, London SW2.

Those present: Tim Sutton (Secretary), Garry Turnbull (acting Chair), Anne Brown, Elizabeth Owen, Pelle Kraft, Jeremy Beer, Nick Berry, Dai Lewis, Janet Paske, Naz Persand, Philip Barcham, Joan James, Karen Meares, Henrietta Mayhew, Barney Mayhew, Linda Himbert, John Yates, Lia Litosseliti, Zelda Rhiando, Stuart Taylor, Jackie Meldrum (Tulse Hill Ward Councillor) and Jeff Turner (Tulse Hill Ward Police Officer).

APOLOGIES of absence were received from Toren Smith (Tulse Hill Ward Councillor).

Unlike JAG monthly meetings, it was decided to keep the evening informal. To begin with JAG members, Councillor Jackie Meldrum and Jeff Turner were invited to give a resume of the past year and their thoughts on the future. There then followed an open debate where all residents could give their views and concerns regarding Josephine Avenue. The main topics discussed were parking and crime, especially prostitution. Other matters raised included drug dealing in the area, Urban Art 2004, traffic calming and the lack of attendance at JAG meetings.

(At times several people would be talking at the same time which made this meeting difficult to minute, however I hope I have recorded the key items)...

1. Reports

CONSERVATION, TREES AND WILD-LIFE - Elizabeth Owen reminded members of the laws governing pruning of trees and outlined it’s importance in the over-all appearance of the avenue. It was agreed that the latest Street Clean had been very successful with a very good turn out of residents from both sides of the street. Five bird boxes had been purchased from Brockwell Park Greenhouses and a further thirteen were built by Paul at number 7 Josephine Avenue (members expressed their thanks for all Paul’s hard work). Thirteen of these were erected during the day and the remaining five are available for purchase at £5 each (contact Elizabeth on tel: 020 8674 1598). Residents were asked to monitor the boxes and to contact Elizabeth if any inhabitants were spotted.

URBAN ART - Tim Sutton reported that Urban Art 2003 had raised roughly £800 for JAG funds (income £1,600, expenses £800, profit £800), much of this would be needed to fund next year’s event which is hoped will be even bigger. Tim outlined his vision of what Urban Art could become if more residents participated. The event could be extended to use the private gardens (these do not have the same restrictions as the pavement areas currently used). This could mean that, as well as paintings, Urban Art could also show 3-D work, sculpture, arts and crafts, a children’s area and even music. Tim explained that this is purely dependent on how much time and effort residents are prepared to give. The small amount of people presently involved are badly stetched as it is, so for more to happen will take more voluteers, it’s up to you guys.

JAG FUNDS - Graham informed the group that JAG funds were in a very health condition at the moment and asked for residents views on what the money should be spent on. Suggestions so far include repainting or renewing the carriage-way street lamps and also a notice board for the avenue.

PARKING - The view of all those present was that, since the introduction of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) in surrounding streets, weekday parking in Josephine Avenue during office hours was reaching crisis point. Commuters were parking in the private carriage-ways and also parking so close to the private entrances that visibility was obscured for residents trying to drive out into the road.  Several residents had witnessed near accidents in the street and it was felt that it was only a matter of time before a serious accident occurred.

A month previous, Graham and Tim had taken part in a BBC Newsroom South East report concerning similar parking problems in a neighbouring road. Talking to councillors it appeared that if residents were to apply for a CPZ in Josephine Avenue it would take a minimum of 2 years to be implemented. However, it also came to light that, due to a shortfall in funding, this process might take even longer. It also appeared that Lambeth Council’s consultation over such schemes was a very much ‘take it or leave it’ approach with little flexibility in the type of zoning applied.

It was decided that if residents were to benefit from a parking zone JAG would need to combine our efforts with the surrounding streets to ensure the avenue gets a scheme that would benefit residents and not just commuters and Lambeth Council coffers.

As a short term measure Jackie Meldrum suggested that double yellow lines should be painted around private entrances and street corners. In a recent survey conducted by Toren Smith (local ward councillor) it was found that the majority of residents of Josephine Avenue, Appach Road and Leander Road were in favour of controlled parking.

Residents at the meeting also suggested mirrors and ‘private parking’ signs on carriage-way entrances.

CRIME - Jeff Turner reported that police resources for the ward had increased during the last year. Also, the vice squad had been increased to 1 sergeant and 4 constables. Much of the ward officer’s work involved the estates and especially St Mathews Estate which is currently conducting a ‘clean up’ campaign (whether this would displace crime into Josephine Avenue was unknown). Crime figures for the avenue so far this year include 4 robberies, 2 bag snatches, 19 cases of prostitution and 1 kerb crawler (comparable figures for last year were not available at the meeting).

Residents complained of the drug dealers on Tulse Hill parade and the adverse effect it was having on the area. Jeff informed the group that from his experience the dealers were only selling marijuana, and not crack, which made prosecution almost impossible under current laws. No crack houses were known of by the police in the immediate area so the number of prostitutes using the avenue should decrease for the time being. For exact details concerning prostitution, drugs and what the police are doing JAG would need to contact the vice squad.

2. OTHER ITEMS

GARDEN MAINTENANCE - Tim informed the meeting that JAG had been working closely with Wendy Hurst at London and Quadrant (L&Q)Housing Association during the past 6 months with regard to the thirteen garden properties they own in the avenue. Properties which were in need of maintenance (mainly over-grown hedges) had been identified and immediate work would be carried out by L&Q over the coming month. A review of long term maintenance would be carried out early next year.

GARDEN AREA 58-60 JOSEPHINE AVENUE - An idea was proposed that the private garden between 58 and 60 Josephine Avenue could be turned into a community space. It was noted that this had been talked about in the past, however if any residents wanted to take this on as a project it could be very successful.

JAG MEETINGS - Concerns were raised about the accessibility of JAG meetings to residents of the avenue. Possible changes included choice of venue, distribution of minutes, earlier notification of meetings, inclusion of Appach Road into the Group and choice of week day to meet. It was decided to discuss these matters in more detail at the next meeting to be held on Wednesday 10th December at 1 Helix Gardens, 8.00pm.

GET INVOLVED - A comment that was repeated several times during the evening was that ‘Lambeth Council and the Police will only respond to those groups that shout the loudest’. I think all those present would agree that things should be done to improve the lives of residents in Josephine Avenue, but talk is cheap and discussing it amongst ourselves will get us nowhere. Let’s hope the enthusiasm shown at the meeting will be a new beginning for the group and the start of renewed action in 2004.

3. The next JAG meeting will be held on:

Wednesday 10th December, 2003 at 1 Helix Gardens at 8.00pm, PROMPT!

Meeting closed at 10.15pm