Present: James Slattery-Kavanagh (acting chair), Gabrielle Garton Grimwood (note taker), Romano Barca, Simon Berlyn, Bernie Bullbrook, Councillor Geraldine Evans, John MacDonald, Councillor Robert McConnell, Richard Moore, Helen O'Brien, Jane Pickard, Ann Ridley.
Apologies: Councillor Jeremy Baker, Michael Grimwood, Anne Orange, Gerry Slaughter.
2. Minutes/Matters Arising
John MacDonald mentioned that the Board had still not reported back on what was happening at the Business Forum (para 3.3 of minutes of meeting of 11 June). Jane Pickard said that the Business Forum was meeting later in the month.
Romano Barca argued that it was unsatisfactory that businesses were in effect 'squatting' on pavement space (para 3.4). Either the council should take enforcement action to clear the pavement or it should assist the businesses to acquire legitimate usage through adverse possession.
John MacDonald and Romano Barca also mentioned that, although staff from Somerfield supermarket did pull the line of trolleys back within the supermarket's curtilage when it strayed onto the pavement, there had nevertheless been some complaints about obstruction.
Simon Berlyn complained that the previous minutes (para 3.5) had not captured the finer nuances of his suggestions about the unacceptably long wait for pedestrians at pelican crossings and about conserving the frontage of Norwood Road.
Pat Fisher confirmed that the sum spent on the business initiative (para 4.4) was £24,000. Ninety people had attended a business seminar and 24 had received computer training. A forthright discussion ensued. It was suggested that there was a discrepancy over the reported cost: some Board documents had (according to Romano Barca) quoted a cost of £40,000. Richard Moore argued that the cost should be further scrutinised and Simon Berlyn said that the Board had been cavalier with public money. Jane Pickard said that there was to be a wider audit of the NRF grants and lessons would be learnt from that.
It was agreed to ask for a report back at the next meeting, when Romano Barca would also report the outcome of his separate submission to the scrutiny committee.
3. St Luke's Gardens
Simon Berlyn read a paper summarising the steering group's progress to date - which, he said, had been considerable - and invited NAG to make an important decision on the future direction of the gardens project. The steering group considered that St Luke's Gardens should retain their role as a cemetery, war memorial, setting for the church and community facility and open space. Their nine specific proposals, which NAG was invited to agree, were that:
1. the steering group's remit should be limited to the garden itself
2. there should be notice boards within the garden
3. the railings should be reinstated, possibly with gates
4. the gardens should be attractive, with lights both for safety and for aesthetic effect
5. the gardens should remain set out as a war memorial garden
6. there should be access from north and south ends of the garden. The steps should remain in place and there should also be wheelchair access at the south end.
7. a water feature could be included
8. the trees should either be pruned or removed and appropriate new trees planted; and
9. there should be some seating in the gardens.
Simon Berlyn and other members of the steering group present then fielded questions on (inter alia) access for people with disabilities; security against vandalism; maintenance and upkeep; and compliance with relevant legislation. The steering group intended to seek police advice on designing out crime and Bernie Bullbrook undertook to mention this at a forthcoming meeting of the crime prevention panel and at a seminar on problem-solving policing. Simon Berlyn confirmed that the steering group had an action plan but no timetable for project milestones such as having an agreed design, obtaining necessary funding or completing the work. He saw no need for a timetable and suggested that no design would be agreed until it was known whether the railings would be reinstated.
The motion that the steering group should proceed on this basis and work up more detailed proposals was passed by a substantial majority. Two people abstained from the vote, because of their concerns at the slow pace and seeming open-endedness of the project.
4. NAG meetings in August and September
This was discussed as an additional agenda item. It was agreed that the August meeting should be a social event and that the AGM should be held over to September. There were mixed views on whether a speaker should be invited to the AGM. Gabrielle Garton Grimwood asked that those NAG officers who would be presenting annual reports to the AGM should send those reports to the secretary, Michael Grimwood in good time.
5. Norwood Gardens Competition
Helen O'Brien reported that there had been some entries:
1 school
2 front gardens
3 back gardens
4 balconies/patios.
There had been no entries for the 'most improved' and business/community categories. Gabrielle Garton Grimwood would pass the details to the Lambeth Horticultural Society for judging. John MacDonald and James Slattery-Kavanagh were obtaining and donating prizes. It was agreed that the prize-giving ceremony would be held at the start of the AGM and that Councillor McConnell would present the prizes. All entrants would receive a year's free membership of NAG. It was also agreed that some media coverage should be sought.
6. NAG priorities
There was some further discussion of issues which NAG might pursue as priorities:
Romano Barca again suggested adverse possession and businesses obstructing the pavement
Councillor Jeremy Baker distributed a list of the potholes in Knights Hill ward and invited views on which were the worst six which should be dealt with first.
Richard Moore suggested that the junction of York Hill, Lancaster Avenue and Norwood Road should have a pedestrian crossing. Jane Pickard argued that there should also be a pedestrian crossing at the end of Robson Road.
Bernie Bullbrook reported that there had been complaints about the barrow at the end of Chestnut Road blocking the pavement.
It was agreed that this discussion should be the first item on the agenda for the October meeting.
7. Any other business
Councillor Robert McConnell reported that a decision on area committees was expected probably in December, with implementation to follow in (provisionally) January 2003.
John MacDonald reported that Norwood had lost its two Streetscene agents with no warning and there was no information about who the new agents were or how to contact them. Councillor Robert McConnell agreed to pursue this. He also agreed to pursue the matter (raised by John MacDonald) of the cancellation twice by the town centre office of a meeting with the victim of the mugging outside the off licence. John MacDonald also mentioned that the lights outside West Norwood station were still not functioning properly.
Romano Barca reported that the injunction against Kavanagh's was now in place. He invited members to give their views on the cannabis issue.
Richard Moore suggested that Grimebusters should tackle the plentiful graffiti in the area. The police had had some success in enforcing curfew orders but were overstretched: a recent double shooting (for example) had taken up all their available resources.
Bernie Bullbrook mentioned that there was a problem with distraction burglary and everyone, particularly older people, should be on the alert.
