MINUTES OF JAG MEETING 9 JAN 2008
Those present: Chris van Duuren Roger Blantern, Victoria Hardie, Sibs Walter, Louise Belson (Secretary) Jim Carter (Safer Neighbourhood Team), Keith Dempster (Safer Neighbourhood Team), Cllr.Marcia Cameron, Colin Roberts (Transport and Highways)
Chris van Duuren chaired the meeting. She welcomed all those present. She suggested that Item 6 on the Agenda be advanced and the SNT report be added to the Agenda.
1.Apologies received from: Garry Turnbull. (Chair), Nick Berry (Treasurer), Tim Sutton,
Anne Brown
2. Minutes 12/12/07 Minutes Approved
3. Josephine Avenue Road End Closure
Colin Roberts (Transport and Highways) gave the meeting an update on the proposed closure process, timing and draft design:
The Experimental Order for a temporary trial barrier at the junction of Josephine Avenue and Brixton Hill will be advertised for 28 days at the beginning of February. Following two weeks assessment of any objection received and the required advertising of the Order, the temporary barrier is scheduled to be installed in mid March for a period of approx: 6 months. During this period, Transport and Highways will monitor traffic flow on Josephine Avenue and surrounding roads. The trial barrier will be a simple functional roadblock.
He presented to the group 4 draft scale plan options for the layout of a permanent barrier together with a proposed through cycle route from Lambert Road across Brixton Hill and associated alterations and pedestrian crossing on Brixton Hill and these were discussed by the meeting. He asked that residents who so wished become actively involved in the design process for the proposed permanent barrier and delivered to the meeting a 1:200 scale plan of the Josephine Avenue/Brixton Hill road end for residents to use in presentation of their proposals. Any design proposal must incorporate a minimum pavement width on both sides of 1.8m, a minimum cycle access width of 1.2m (The optimum width is 1.5m). Mr. Roberts advised that designs that did not unnecessarily decrease currently available parking space on Josephine Avenue would be most acceptable to most local residents and visitors. He pointed out that the barrier was not required to be a gate or a standard metal bar structure (as perhaps residents have imagined). It could for instance be permanent planter boxes or shrubs. He reminded the meeting that residents had led and been very much involved with the re-landscaping and installation of railings that had successfully transformed Josephine Avenue in 1985 and suggested that any design should be in keeping with that project. He said that the final design must comply with Rush Common Guidance and receive Rush Common Consent.
Louise Belson asked if this meant any structure should have an open nature and be no more than 1 metre high. Colin Roberts said that Transport and Highways legal department would clarify and inform.
Roger Blantern said that the barrier should enhance rather than diminish the avenue and could be designed as a celebratory object. He thought this might also make it less likely to be subject to vandalism. Possibly a design that celebrates the visit of Nelson Mandela to the HIV and AIDS Awareness Concert in London next June might be appropriate. LB suggested that Lambeth Arts might be consulted. Cllr. Cameron suggested that additional resources for such a proposal could be sought by the JAG from the Lottery and other arts and environment funding bodies.
Residents pointed out the need for additional street lighting at the site of the barrier pointing out that although the new street lights on Josephine Avenue provided light levels that meet European standard, several residents thought the Avenue still too dark
Colin Roberts confirmed that some residents were concerned that the barrier road end would be under lit and that increased lighting was advisable. Cllr. Cameron said that she would investigate the possibility of additional funding for increased lighting levels at the barrier. Action MC
Residents asked if crime stats in JA and its feeder roads during the trial would be collected. Sgnt. Jim Carter and PC Keith Dempster confirmed that they would be.
The meeting agreed to post the scale plans on the website and to make them available to any resident who requested them. Colin Roberts requested that all design suggestions be completed by June 2008 and advised that a good barrier design should be coherent, direct, attractive, confluent and safe. The group thanked Colin for his input and his attendance at the meeting. Action LB
4. Safer Neighbourhood Team Report. Sgnt. Jim Carter reported:
Vice and prostitution activity in the area had decreased this month but the incidence of burglary had increased, particularly that of bay window houses.
Burglars were targeting laptops and unusually, these had not been traced in the course of police operations. Lambeth Police are running an anti-burglary operation in the Tulse Hill area. He reminded residents to ensure they had good window locks in place.
The next meeting of the SNT will be 17 Jan 2007 at the St. Martins Community Hall, St. Martins Estate. 7pm. Hilary Box regularly attends meetings on behalf of the JAG but any resident is also welcome.
‘Community Freshview’ is a Lambeth run scheme open to local neighbourhood groups. Lambeth provide skips, materials, tools and some labour to clean up particularly unsightly, littered, overgrown or graffiti covered areas.
The scheme was operating in Arlingford Road and Brailsford Road and the Josephine Avenue area on January 25 and he asked the group if there was an area of Josephine Avenue that needed special attention. The residents said that trees blocking light needed pruning. Sgt Carter will report this and ask if it can be done. Roger Blantern and LB will survey the street, pinpoint the worst areas and forward the information.
Action LB & RB
Sgt. Carter criticized the policy of apprehended repeat kerb crawlers appearing at Camberwell Magistrates Court and receiving only a fine. They have not been disqualified from driving nor lost their license. Loss of license usually presents considerable difficulties for the offender and is an effective deterrent. He feels a fine is an ineffective policy and leads only to re-offending. The group supported him in his opinion.
Cllr. Marcia Cameron said that she would discuss the issue with Cabinet Member for Safer Communities Cllr. Mark Bennett. Action MC
Victoria Hardie asked if Di Martin from the community-based project supporting women involved in, or recently exited from, prostitution in south London could be invited to a JAG meeting to inform residents of the current work of TRUST (in support of sex workers in court.) LB said that the JAG had contacted Di and she would like to attend a meeting but had not been recently available. LB will invite again.
5. Increasing 24/7 Activity, Alcohol Sales, Late night licenses on Brixton Hill.
It was suggested that the JAG ask a Public Question on the advisability of a lack of overall policy on the issue of late night license and alcohol sales in a residential area and ask for a change in policy.
Cllr. Marcia Cameron suggested that this be backed up with a petition and that she then make a formal Members Enquiry. LB will inform residents through the minutes and the JAG Newsgroup. Action LB
6. Identify and Elect Additional JAG Officers. Roger Blantern agreed to stand as co-chair.
7. JAG Treasurers Report. Report at the next meeting as NB unable to attend.
8. Urban Art. 2008 Cllr.Marcia Cameron confirmed that Lambeth Council had agreed that a license fee would not be charged this year. The meeting thanked her and the Councillors involved in the change of decision without which Urban Art 2008 would have been cancelled. LB asked Clllr. Cameron if the decision could be confirmed in writing by Frank Sarkodie and forwarded to Tim Sutton. Cllr Cameron said she would so request.
9. JAG Donation FWA. LB reported: At the request of Cllr. Cameron, Lambeth Building Control have been in direct contact with the newly appointed FWA Area Manager with responsibility for 27 JA. They will keep in direct contact with the JAG to report progress. They have surveyed the damage and have not issued a dangerous structure notice but do require that the FWA carry out urgent repairs or they will. The FWA will be billed for the costs to Lambeth
10. AOB
10.1 Pillar Maintenance: Roger Blantern asked if the most recent costs for paint for pillars could be re-imbursed. The meeting agreed.
10.2 Trees: LB reported that she had received positive responses to her November letter requesting help. Trees for Cities had offered both funding advice and professional help in surveying the trees and plants.
Cllr Cameron suggested that there was considerable available help and funding for environmental groups and she knew of local community environment groups who had been very successful. LB said she would prepare an action plan and present it to residents for comment. Action LB
10.3 Chris van Duuren asked the secretary what help was needed this month. LB asked for volunteers to help distribute the minutes. Sibs Walter volunteered.
11. NEXT MEETING: Wed Feb 13, 8pm at 21 Josephine Avenue.
The meeting ended at 9.45pm
ACTION: MC Investigate possible barrier lighting funding; consult Mark Bennett re non-loss of license for kerb-crawlers; request written confirmation re UA license.
LB: Minutes, notice board, post barrier plans and 24/7 proposed public question issue on newsgroup, environmental group action plan. SW: help distribute minutes, RB: pinpoint worst areas of JA.