Gheu Team Meeting

WALWORTH SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 7pm - 7th February 2013: St Peter’s, Liverpool Grove SE17.

ITEM COMMENTS ACTION 1. a) PRESENT: Jeremy Leach, Jay Hayter, Marek Drewicz, Jane Leek- Kelly, Rev’d Peter Stevenson, Peta Steel, Norma Lawrence, Adrienne Shaw, Richard Rees, Patrick Blunt, Father Andrew Moughtin-Mumby, Cllr Dan Garfield, John Jefferis, Jenny Jefferis, Cllr Cathy Bowman, Susan Crisp, Amanda Sewell, Ian Powe, Celia Harvey, Charles Harvey, Rev’d Alan Wild, David Clark, Filip Vermeiren, Jim Beedell, Harriet Hill-Beck, Toby Eckersley.

b) APOLOGIES: Cllr Patrick Diamond, Cllr Anood Al-Samerai, Canon Grahame Shaw, Christine Tan, Paul Fleming, Anne McNaughton, Ron Nielsen, Isobel Durrant, Robert Hadfield, Diana Cochrane, Andrew Stedman, Ed Burgess, Anthony Kelly. 2. WELCOME & JL welcomed the group to the 1st AGM and thanked Father INTRODUCTIONS Andrew for use of the Church and the refreshments.

JL covered matters arising from the previous minutes which related to the proposed Northern Line extension at Kennington Park. Ed Burgess provided an update from the KPNAG, who have been promised a meeting with TFL later in the spring about the potential for moving the location of the vent shaft. WS members had concerns both about the capacity of the platforms at the station and the lifts to deal with the numbers of travellers once the extension has been built. 3. AGM BUSINESS Overview of the last year: JL ran through the Chair’s report (also available on the Walworth Society website), giving an overview of the events and activities of the last year. JL mentioned that the Society has grown rapidly and now has over 230 members. Thanks were also given to Father Andrew and Fiona Parry of Lend Lease for their generous provision of meeting venues over the last year. Thanks were also given to Canon Grahame and Adrienne Shaw for all their contributions to the Society, as they will soon be leaving the area.

Discussions: Cllr Garfield paid tribute to the work of the Society, specifically in respect of the Manor Place 1 Campaign. JJ gave an update on progress with the Lorrimore Square green space designation.

Plans for 2013: The point was raised that more could be done to raise awareness of local heritage and planning designations and what they mean (such as conservation areas and listed buildings). It was suggested that this could be something for the Society to focus on in the coming year, perhaps through the website.

JL mentioned the on-going ambition to secure a Conservation Area along the Walworth Road.

Jane L-K mentioned the issue of gambling and a desire for such social concerns to be a part of what the Society pays attention to. Fthr AM-M supported the suggestion.

Cllr CB mentioned issues and opportunities over vacant shop units and the vibrancy of the high street. Suggested the Society submit and email to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which she chairs specifying concerns. JL to draft.

JH mentioned the need for the Society to become an established statutory consultee to ensure adequate warnings on relevant planning applications.

Susan Crisp Chair of The Friends of Burgess Park, mentioned a May Fair on 18 May and invited the Society to attend. There is also an ambition to open up the old Library and Baths on Wells Way to the public, as part of the Open House initiative, and would like to do it as a joint project with the Walworth Society.

Fthr AM-M mentioned opportunities for better engagement with youth groups.

Amanda Sewell mentioned the ease of setting up Neighbourhood Watch initiatives in an area to address issues of Anti-Social Behaviour etc and how these are strongly supported by the local police (SNTs).

2 Treasurer’s Report: The Society’s Treasurer JH introduced the financial report, including the grant secured for the Story of East Street project and minimal expenditure on materials and website hosting. RR suggested it might be worth investigating funds from Tesco, Morrisons and other local businesses.

Election of Officers:

JL handed the role of chair to TE for the election of the Chair. Chair – JL was nominated by RR and Andrew M-M and elected with a unanimous vote. The chair was then handed back to JL. Vice – RR and NL nominated Rev PS. Unanimous vote. Secretary – RR and Amanda Sewell nominated MD. Unanimous vote. Treasurer – Jim B and AS nominated JH. Unanimous vote.

Committee Members – NL, SC, AS, BJ, MB. JL invited other people to become committee members. Jane L, Fthr AM-M, Amanda Sewell, RR, Harriet Hill expressed their willingness to serve as committee members. The meeting voted for these committee members. The meeting thanked Adrienne Shaw for all of her efforts supporting the society as a committee member over the past year.

4. PROJECTS East Street Project: Rev PS gave feedback on progress on the story of East Street project and a sample of the material that is being produced. HH mentioned Eva Sajovic and her colleague Rebecca who were involved in documenting the history of the Heygate. Jane L-K suggested possibility of adding to the Wikipedia entry for East Street. RR mentioned the group could possibly contact local historian Stephen Humphreys for material. JL suggested we prepare a leaflet to promote the event which everyone can help distribute in advance of the 29/30th June event. Rev’d PS was very much thanked for the superb efforts that he and the other members of the working group had put into the project to date.

AOB RR mentioned the ‘Walworth Day’ which is likely to be coming up in June/July. Fthr AM-M mentioned potential for 3 linking up the event with the ‘Party in the Park’.

JL queried whether there is a calendar for publishing upcoming local events and whether the Society’s website would be a suitable vehicle for this.

PB gave an update from Business Extra, reporting on a tough trading period. Two big events coming up: an Easter Procession (St Peter’s to the Heygate) on Palm Sunday (24th March) and the Charlie Chaplin Festival (14th April).

JB mentioned planning permission submitted for cycle lockers on the Nelson Estate which might harm the setting of conservation area.

Fthr AM-M mentioned proposal to erect royal coat of arms at the church and asked for the Society’s support.

RR suggested the Society might seek a patron/president.

Date of next meeting: Thursday 7 March at 7pm – Venue TBC