Wed 14 October 2009. 7.30pm 21 JA

Josephine Avenue Group Meeting.

Minutes

1. Apologies. From:  Garry Turnbull, Rachel Gailey Community Safety, Raj Patel (SNT) Don Bruce, Anne Brown

2. Those present: Tom Perring, 5 Arodene Rd; Lilian, 26b JA, Frances Forrest; Brixton Hill, Sam 38 JA, Anne 38 JA; Chis van Duuren 13JA, Louise Belson 21JA (sec), Tim Sutton 1 HG, Peter Clasen (co-chair) JA; Ben Sowton, Arodene Rd.

A/Chief Inspector Simon Corbin, Lambeth Borough Police;  Sergeant Owen Farmer, Vice Unit. 

Cllr. Marcia Cameron. Additional residents joined the meeting late.

3 The meeting was chaired by Peter Clasen (co-chair)

4. Minutes of Sep meeting. The Sep. meeting did not take place.

5. Children’s Garden Donation. JAG members at the meeting voted unanimously to donate £200 to the project.                                                                    Action: LB advise NB (Treasurer)

6.1 Vice on JA and surrounding area.

Report: Chief Inspector Corbin and Sgt. Owen Farmer gave the meeting a detailed report on current vice activity on JA and the surrounding area explaining both their long and short term policies to deal with it successfully. CI Corbin reported that resources had been re-allocated and the vice unit was now fully and successfully active in the area. 

Residents reported finding used drugs and condoms in their gardens. Residents from Arodene Rd. reported a major rise in prostitution and late night brawling on Arodene and Helix since the instalment of the road end closure on JA. Sgt Farmer advised that residents should not approach street workers, dealers or pimps but instead should make a report with a description directly to the Vice Unit on: 077680 23139. 

Action:                      LB to post phone contact on noticeboard, next meet flyers & website.

6.2 Trial barrier Survey results. LB provided the meeting with copies of the report and survey results. 

6.3 Reinstatement of Josephine Avenue Steering Group. PC reported that GT had suggested that 

the best way to tackle rising or spreading ASB in the wider area was to re-establish the Josephine Avenue Steering Group. He said (email): “I think this is a good way forward for the wider community as it was always intended to point to a wider more holistic approach. Just that previously the wider community seemed unable to perceive the problems.

It should involve, Community Safety, SNT, Drug and Alcohol team, Police, Jag, Lambeth Traffic Dept, and as much of the affected local community as possible”  LB said that the steering group had been vital in giving JA residents, police and all those concerned the information needed to find ways to reduce ASB and had resulted in better policing and successful traffic control measures on JA

Following a short discussion, the JAG agreed to seek to establish a steering group to include representatives from Arodene Rd, Raleigh Gardens, Brixton Hill, Leander Rd, Helix Gardens, Helix Rd, Josephine Avenue, Appach Rd and other local streets most affected by vice and ASB. 

Action                                                           LB to contact Rachel Gailey, Community Safety.

6.4. Open Discussion. 

6.4.1.Residents expressed considerable concern at the increase of late night licenses on Brixton Hill and that the licensing system which allowed this, taking no notice of the increase in ASB, drunk driving and major distress and disturbance they brought to a community, which was already suffering from high levels of vice and ASB. They thought that the high number of alcohol and late night licenses on Brixton Hill was entirely inappropriate in a residential area and that it served to actively further attract vice and ASB into the area. They were also very concerned that the license application process disallowed or made it almost impossible for evidence of disturbance  to the wider community to be taken into account. 

Clr. Cameron said that she and Clr Toren Smith were keen to help residents on this issue.

She suggested that residents organise themselves to record and report disturbances.

Sgt. Farmer said that all disturbances should be reported and residents should keep diaries of disturbances with as much detail as possible.

Action: Cllr. Marcia Cameron will consult with Cllr Toren Smith and report to residents.

6.4.2. Residents of Arodene Rd said that the barrier on Josephine Avenue had been put up without consultation outside JA and that it had caused an increase in traffic and in prostitution to spread into Arodene Rd and Helix Gardens. BS thought that it only served to displace prostitution into neighbouring streets and that it should be removed.  

6.4.3 LB reported that Clr Toren had suggested that area wide traffic control measures could help to control kerb-crawling and prostitition in the wider area, if residents wished to request it. Some residents of Arodene Rd agreed this should be considered.

7. Trees on JA. TF/ LB. LB reported Ian Leonard, Lambeth Tree Officer had carried out a survey of Josephine Avenue trees with herself in Sep. at JAG request and had given his opinion of arborocultural work needed. He had given her the Lambeth Recommended Contractor List.

8.JA  Freshview/Streetclean. Nov 14. LB. reported  this was organised.

9. JAG Donations. JAG voted to donate £200.00 to the children’s garden winter project, and voted to pay for 6 new oak fence posts provided that free-holders were asked to contribute.

GT suggested as follows by email: 

“As we are always looking for a suitable cause to support locally, how about this.....

A group of parents including 2 sets from Josephine Avenue, who were involved in running the football team at our local primary school, Sudbourne Primary School, have for 12 years now been organising and running a once a year 7 a side tournament for all Lambeth Primary Schools. "The Sudbourne 7s".   Part of the small amount of annual funding required for this most worthy event has recently been lost in bureaucratic reshuffling. I think it would be an ideal event for JAG to support in some small way on an annual basis as it involves local children and sport which is something we have looking for for a number of years to sponsor.

If the Group thinks this is a good idea, I will ask Gary Cornforth, Lambeth Primary School Football Co-ordinator to attend the next JAG meet and explain in more detail what the Sudbourne 7s is all about.”

The meeting thought this was a good idea and agreed to invite Garry Comforth to the next meeting.

Action GT 

AOB

10. Lambeth Open. Tim Sutton said “Many thanks to the JAG for their donation to help fund the event. Our first Lambeth Open event was a great success. Feedback from both artists and visitors has been fantastic.”

11.The next meeting will be Wed Nov 11 2009. 7.30pm at 21 JA

The meeting finished at 10pm.