JOSEPHINE AVENUE GROUP

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting

09.12.2009 at 7.30pm

Raleigh Park Baptist church Hall

Those present: Gary Turnbull (Chairman), Nick Berry (Treasurer), Louise Belson (Secretary), Carol Nayler, Julia Wait, Timothy Sutton, Tim Fairhurst, Karina Haggerty, Nigel Whitehead, Monica Whitehead, Seamus MacBride, Emmanuel Parrin, Siobhan Lynch, Chris Nicholson, ( Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate) Cllr.Marcia Cameron, 

Apologies: Sibylle Walter, Cas Bonner, Izzi Ramsay, Tom Perring, Chris Rodier. Peter Claasen (co-chair), Cllr. Adedamola Aminu, Cllr.Toren Smith, Chuka Umunna (Labour Parliamentary Candidate), Rachel Gailey, (Safer Neighbourhood Team),

Agenda

1. Summary of 2009. Garry Turnbull (Co-Chair)

2. Election of Officers

3. Treasurers Report

3. Any Other Business

4. Open Discussion

Gary Turnbull (GT) gave a rundown of the year’s main events in Josephine Avenue: He said that 2009 had been a pretty good year overall. There had been a noticeable reduction in vice on the street, and thanks were due to Owen Farmer (vice squad) and his team. Urban Art had been a resounding success once again, and thanks to Tim Sutton for his organization. Louise Belson has been extremely busy all year; organizing street cleans with the help of the Freshview Team. This had been responsible for keeping the street looking its best, with post and rails being painted, litter & dumping cleared, hedges trimmed. The missing access road entrance pillar and damaged railings outside Number 27 had been rebuilt by volunteer residents with materials funded by the JAG. Thanks to all involved. The year has also seen the creation of a new community vegetable garden and an area for children to garden. One major surprise was the arrival of new access road streetlamps without any prior warning from Lambeth. (Nick Berry (NB) expressed the hope that maybe the next thing will be the dangerous highway pavement being replaced. GT said that Lambeth had accepted responsibility for maintenance of the access road lights. Another surprise was the 20 or so new trees. It had been reported that this had been carried out in connection with the Josephine Avenue cycle route. GT went on to say that there has been yet another application for developing the derelict site at 85 Brixton Hill, this time for 9 rather than the previous 13 or even 15 flats. Residents are keen to see the end of the un-maintained vacant plot. In his opinion, the latest plans do not appear to be too offensive. 

GT then spoke of the new initiative, proposed by JAG for JA, Brixton Hill, Arodene Rd, Helix Rd and the surrounding area in the form of a new Brixton Hill Steering Group to co-ordinate opinion on local issues, and to work with Safer Neighbourhood Teams, the police and Lambeth Council on a regular basis. Issues would include, vice, ASB and traffic management. One of the new issues which the group will deal with will be the licensing situation on Brixton Hill which seems to be spiraling out of control. 

He wished for continued success in the new year, and finished with a plea for more residents to get actively involved.

GT invited Tim Fairhurst (TF) to say something about the project that he has set up on behalf of the JAG, with Kingston University Landscape School.

1. Landscape Scheme for Josephine Avenue 2011

Tim Fairhurst said that representatives form the university had surveyed the street and had been very excited by the unusual and distinctive layout of JA, as well as the combination of private housing and housing association property and its history and Rush Common status. It was now almost 25 years (1986) since the last round of funded landscape work on the street. The university had invited the JAG to prepare a design brief. Draft designs will be carried out by students from from KU in Spring 2010. TF hoped that they would come up with interesting ideas. Draft schemes should be ready to be examined by all residents around next May. After consultation and should residents wish to go ahead with works, the university and the JAG will seek funding aiming at completion of work in 2011. 

Marcia Cameron (MC) suggested asking residents for old photographs of the street to help KU’s students, and Timothy Sutton (TS) proposed a memory tent to be set up during Urban Art in July. 

GT invited Timothy Sutton to give a report on the Urban Art Fair on Josephine Avenue 2009.

1. Urban Art 2009

Tim Sutton said that the Urban Art Fair 2009 took place over the third weekend in July. The event has become less and less dependent for footfall on the Brockwell Park Fair, and is now attracting people independently. The tube station at Brixton had been closed again that weekend, but UA was busy nevertheless. There appeared to be more visitors, the weather held, and the event had been opened by the Mayor of Lambeth, accompanied by Rachel Agnew from ITV’s ‘Loose Women’.

There had been over 100 artists exhibiting, and splitting up the pitches down some of the side roads had proved successful. The event had been in Time Out on the Critics’ Choice page, and hopefully will be again in 2010. One couple from Essex had bought so much work that their Mini was unable to cope with the load, and the husband had had to return home by train! A big thank you to the marshalls, Nick, Tim and Gary, and to Christine for organizing the food. Also, thanks to Chris and Graham for organizing the sound stage. There were also three volunteers from Arts Volunteers who had been fantastic.

Total Artist Sales: £30,366. 

JAG Received: £1,411.20. 

Donation to Trinity Hospice: £1,627.43. 

TF suggested that JAG and Trinity Hospice might share the proceeds from next year’s UA rather than a day each, in case there is a large imbalance between the two days. TS said that it was easier to have separate days, as it was clearer to have one day that is a charity day.

TS said he would be meeting with Rachel Heywood prior to UA 2010 with a view to getting local schools involved. TS noted that the involvement of schools was problematic mainly as UA takes place outside of term time. He also said that for 2010, he was looking into the idea of closing part of the road off, possible at the second junction with Appach Road. More art could then be displayed in the extra space. We also need more volunteers for next year!

Louise Belson (LB) suggested the JAG seek arts or education funds for a specialised project worker to run an Urban Art schools project.

GT thanked TS for once again organizing UA, and noted that it was JAG’s only source of funding.

3. Elections

GT was proposed to once again serve as Co-Chairman (Unopposed) GT agreed.

GT proposed LB to stand once again as Secretary. (Unopposed) LB agreed.

GT proposed NB to stand again as Treasurer. (Unopposed) NB agreed.

GT proposed Julia Wait to stand as co-Secretary. (Unopposed) JW agreed. LB thanked her.

4. Treasurers Report.

Nick Berry B then gave the Treasurer’s report.

Income for the year had been £1411.20. 

Total Expenditure was £2232. 00. 

JAG Account Balance: £5677.55

Expenditure included: 

£100 Donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:

£200 Donation to the children’s garden and painting project on the avenue.

£541.98 Donation to the Lambeth Open (Open Studio Event) for printing costs. 

£200 Donation to Tulse Hill Junior Citzens programme. (Organized by the SNT)

Costs to repair railings and pillars

JAG printing and catering costs, 

GT then opened the discussion up for any other business and open discussion.

5. Any Other Business

TS said thank you for the help with the Lambeth Open, and said that the artists involved had been very grateful. 

TF asked for an email list for those expressing interest in the Landscape project.

Proposals were requested inclusion in the JAG newsgroup information base:

MC mentioned www.tulsehillview.org. Might be good to add as a JAG link. GT said that he would forward the link to the group.                                                                                                   Action GT

TS said that the technology on social networking sites has moved on leaps and bounds from the present rolling notice board system, and that he would look into developing a more suitable website.LB asked if he meant like the Dulwich Forum? TS agreed, and LB said that that would be a brilliant idea:

Resident reports on the vice situation and the noise problem could be included and so recorded on the site, a list of contacts would aid cohesion. Also useful might be: a history of the barrier installation, use of injunctions Section 222, a history of Rush Common and Rush Common Guidelines.                                                                     

Seamus bemoaned the lack of effectiveness of the ASBO hotline, saying that it had been pointless in his experience, as action was only taken 4 days after his complaint was left on the answer phone. GT pointed out that the answer phone was at least a way of logging complaints, and therefore not completely useless. CN affirmed that it was important that the police at least were aware of the complaints. Seamus said that the message appeared to be that we must keep talking to the machines. 

EP said that South Beach’s application for a change of use had been refused.

GT thanked those present for attending.

The meeting closed at 9.30pm

Next JAG Meeting

Wed 10th February 7.30pm

1 Helix Gardens.

                     Everyone Welcome