Those present: Garry Turnbull (Co-Chair), Tim Sutton (Secretary), Chris Van Duuren (Treasurer), Keith Hill MP, Toren Smith (local ward councillor), Paul Asquith (Lambeth Community Relations Officer), James Ross and Diarni Gudnason (Lambeth Transport and Highways), Diane Martin (Trust), Amanda and James Cumberland, Janet Paske, Elizabeth Owen, Alice Evans, Pelle Kraft, Geoff Blake, Juliet Davies, Gabrielle Dawnay, Richard Tilley, Shelley Davies, Alex and Clare MacDonald, Philip Barchan, Nazmoon Persand, Nick Berry, Jason Morell, J C Wanderberg, Semen delos Dioses, Bernardo Sanchez, Maria Koutsoubou, Lia Litosseliti, Sarah and Adrian Ashworth, Grant Winters, Nathalie Koerfer and Sibylle Walter.
1. APOLOGIES of absence were received from Emily Hare, Kate Newham, Pete Tyson, PC Keith Dempster.
2. ADDRESS FROM KEITH HILL MP Mr Hill apologised that he would only be able to attend the meeting until 8.30 due to another engagement. However, rather than speak, he was more interested in listening to residents, both at this meeting and also at his advice surgeries (call 020 7219 6980 or email hillk@parliament.uk for an appointment). He also stressed the importance of ward councillors, such as Toren Smith, when it came to local matters.
The topic of discussion then turned to the number of prostitutes, pimps and drug dealers using both Arodene Road, Helix Gardens and Josephine Avenue, and the resulting problems faced by residents. These included condoms in gardens, women residents being propositioned, threats of violence from pimps, etc. etc. Mr Hill said he had experience of a similar situation in the Streatham Hill area. This had been successfully stopped with a combination of traffic control (one way roads), law enforcement ('Streatham Rangers') and improved lighting. Other prostitute activity, in New Park Road, had been stopped by the use of Wardens and Mr Hill advised the group that present government plans aim to expand this scheme by another 20,000 over the next 3 years. It was noted that both JAG and Toren Smith would be attending a meeting held at Brixton Police Station on 15th December to discuss these very issues. Mr Hill expressed an interest in attending this meeting.
3. ADDRESS BY DIANE MARTIN Firstly, Diane thanked JAG for its £500 donation to the 'Trust' charity at the beginning of the year. She explained that the task of befriending the girls, e.g. hot soup, free condoms, drop-in centre, took a long time. There had been a few success stories and she was hopefull for the future. She also explained her liaison work with Lambeth Council and assured the meeting that residents' concerns would be included in these discussions.
4. ADDRESS BY PAUL ASQUITH Paul, like Mr Hill, was also attending in a listening capacity. A variety of topics were then raised including the route followed by prostitutes when working the street; this normally started by scoring drugs in Arodene Road, soliciting in Josephine Avenue followed by sex in Helix Gardens (numbers 15 and 17 seemed to be the most popular). Residents were perplexed it was such common knowledge locally yet the police seemed to do little about it. Paul advised that anti-kerb crawling operations were very costly, however the vice squad had carried out a crack down the previous evening which had resulted in a number of arrests. The effectiveness of which was thrown into doubt when two residents pointed out that they had seen a girl working the avenue on the way to the meeting. The subject of off-licenses trading after hours was also mentioned and Paul reported that Lambeth Trading Standards were taking action on this.
5. CONTROLLED PARKING ZONE: James Ross outlined a brief history of the consultation process and informed residents that work would start, e.g. lines, machines and signs, in the prescribed roads (including Josephine Avenue, Helix Gardens and Appach Road) in the week starting 12th December. Residents would be informed in writing 7 days before work commences. Leaflets would also be put on car wind-screens and a resident suggested that the road should be 'coned' on the Sunday (when the avenue is empty) and work start on the Monday. The scheme would be enforced from 30th January onwards by which time residents would have been given the opportunity to buy permits and books of visitor's tickets (residents were concerned by the news from Toren that the already over-crowded parking shop in Arlington Parade may be closed and then combined with the also over-crowded Housing Benefit Office). Costs for a permit would be £60 per annum on proof of residency.
People at the meeting were also worried that the new parking regulations would increase the number of commuters parking on the private carriage-ways. This is something JAG would monitor and could spend money on in the future, e.g. private clamping/towing firms, more 'no parking' signs, etc. etc.
6. Treasurer's report Chris reported that there was a total of £3,824.00 in JAG funds. She also informed the group that she would not be standing for re-election. Members thanked her for all her hard work over the last four years.
7. URBAN ARt 2006 Tim reported that the fund-raising summer art fair brought in a profit of £1,734.07 for JAG funds. For the first time all pitches had been sold and, as in previous years, the average artist's sales had risen. It was thought that the numbers of visitors could have been improved, so leaflet distribution and marketing would need to be reviewed before next year's event. In general the reaction to the Urban Art event had been very good from both the local community, visitors and exhibitors. If residents would like to get involved please call Tim Sutton on 07803 206 204 or email tim@urbanart.co.uk
8. STREET NOTICE BOARD It was agreed by those present that the temporary wooden structure erected outside number 39 Josephine Avenue was the preferred option (see minutes of 08/11/05 meeting).
9. TREE MOTH Graham Lane informed the meeting that there maybe evidence of the Leaf Mining Moth having infested the Horse Chestnut trees in the avenue. JAG would keep an eye on the situation and if necessary take action, funds allowing.
10. DERELICT SITE 85 BRIXTON HILL After 17 years of neglect it would seem that something may finally be done about the derelict site at the end of the avenue. John Laylor (Lambeth Housing) will be meeting Mr Ansari (owner), the Planning Department and Levitt Bernstein (council architects) on 6th December. JAG will be writing to Mr Laylor to outline residents' concerns for the new development.
11. Election of Committee members The following residents stood, and were seconded, for the following positions on the JAG committee:
Mr Garry Turnbull - Chair Mr Timothy Sutton - Secretary Mr Grant Winters - Treasurer
12. OTHER MATTERS
a.) Ammendment of the constitution It was noted that the present JAG Constitution, written in 1988, had become very out of date and needed revising to accomodate the expanded functions of the group. This will be discussed at the next JAG meeting.
13. NEXT JAG MEETING will be held on Wednesday 14th December, 8.00pm at number 6 Appach Road.
P.S. Now that we have a notice board at 39 Josephine Avenue the expense of distributing minutes to all residents could be avoided. In future we may only distribute minutes to those who request a copy. If you still wish to receive the monthly minutes please let me know (Tim Sutton):
Tel: 07803 206 204 Email: tim@josephineavenue.co.uk Write: 1 Helix Gardens, SW2 2JH.