Annual Genaral Meeting 12th November 2009 Minutes

Present
Graham Tigg, Treasurer, in the Chair
Jackie Aust-Lean (Committee member)
Carol Stone (Committee member)

16 residents

In Attendance
Police Community Support Officer Ike Eboise

Chairman
1. The Chairman welcomed those present and introduced members of the Committee.

2. The Committee had hoped that one of the local councillors representing Homefields ward would be able to attend the meeting but, in the event, this had not been possible.

Community Support Officer PC Ebosie
3. PC Ebosie gave a brief description of the work undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Chiswick Homefields Team under the Safer Neighbourhoods initiative.

4. More details on the local team are here

5. PC Ebosie reported that crime statistics for Upham Park Road (UPR) from May to November 2009. There were no Burglaries, Thefts from motor vehicles, Thefts of pedal cycles or Antisocial behaviour. There were 3 incidents classified as “Other”.

6. Residents should make a note of the unique reference number (IMEI number) of their mobile telephone so that the telephone can be immobilised if stolen and the theft reported to the police. The identifier could be found behind the battery or by keying *#06# into the telephone.

7. PCSO Ebosie covered the Ringmaster Messaging System, giving up to date information about local crime. The service was available by telephone, email or fax. Further details were available from the Hounslow Ringmaster office on 020 8247 6443.

8. Overview of the year 2008-2009
The ‘snickett’
In 2008 a majority of residents had supported a proposal to install CCTV cameras, for security purposes, at the UPR end of the footpath which runs along the side of the railway embankment to Turnham Green Terrace (the snickett). Councillor Gerald McGregor had undertaken to raise the matter at an appropriate meeting of the Chiswick Area Committee. To date there appeared to have been no progress in this matter although it was understood that rolling out CCTV to improve security was a priority.
Overhead lighting in the snickett had been improved but there continued to be a problem in the summer months from overhanging trees in the back gardens of the houses along the north side of Thornton Avenue. A group of UPR residents had trimmed overhanging vegetation for which the road was grateful.
Parking
There had been insufficient support from residents for a proposal to introduce double yellow lines at the embankment end of the road to permit 24 hour turning, with the consequent loss of overnight parking places.
Traffic lights
The previously erratic operation of the traffic lights at the junction with Chiswick High Road (CHR) had given rise to problems. During the course of the year, as part of a review of traffic flow along CHR, UPR had been accorded its own dedicated phase at all times and the arrangement was now working well.
Trees/leaf clearance
Extensive pruning of the trees in the road took place in December 2008. Street cleaning and leaf clearance was undertaken just before leaf fall at the end of October 2009. It was assumed that there would be a further exercise before the end of the year.
Street maintenance and road markings
There were a number of outstanding issues which the Committee had previously raised with the Council but which had not yet been fully resolved. In particular, the residents’ parking road markings had not been repainted following work by Thames Water (but the more critical yellow lines had).
In response to complaints about the dangerous state of some of the paving stones which had been lifted by tree roots, the Chairman pointed out in such cases the Council’s remedy was to resurface the area with tar macadam which was unsightly.
On the other hand, a number of persistent puddles had been dealt with by the Council. One resident observed, however, that the road had apparently subsided in the driveway behind the Futon shop and that the depression was flooded whenever there was heavy rain.
The Committee undertook to pursue the foregoing matters with the Council.
Refuse/recycling collection
The new arrangements for the weekly collection of refuse and recycling material appeared to be working well although there was clearly some confusion about the fortnightly alternating collections of garden waste and plastics. Residents were recommended to consult the calendars which the Council had distributed giving full details of collection dates. There were a number of comments about the fact that bags and boxes were not always correctly replaced irrespective of whether they bore the appropriate house number.

LMC planning application
9. The Chairman invited Frank Grech of LMC to update the meeting on revised proposals for the redevelopment of the site at 104-108 Chiswick High Road. A previous planning application had been rejected by the Council on a number of grounds and a subsequent appeal had been unsuccessful. The architects now proposed a development retaining the existing front and side elevations of the building, plus it would be considerably smaller in overall size and bulk than the previous proposal. The roof would be reconstructed but would be similar in height to the existing roof. The ground floor would be allocated for commercial/retail purposes.

10. The plan envisaged the construction of two three-bedroom two-storey dwellings which would front on to UPR. The houses would be contemporary in design but would be similar in size and bulk to the existing dwellings in UPR. Underground car parking facilities would be provided for the residential units.

11. LMC hoped that these new proposals would meet the objections raised by some residents and by the Council in response to earlier proposals. A further application would shortly be submitted to the Council for consideration. Residents would be able to view the plans at the Chiswick library.

UPRRA Website
12. The Chairman introduced the Website (using www.blogspot.com) which he had established for the UPRRA at www.uprra.blogspot.com. At present it included information about the Residents’ Association, including its genesis, terms of reference and achievements.

13. The site could be used to communicate with residents who had internet access and there was a facility for everyone to comment on entries. The Chairman asked attendees to include their email addresses on the attendance list so that they could be contacted occasionally whenever the site was updated. The minutes of the meeting would be posted on the site.

Mice
14. A new resident drew attention to the presence of mice in his house. This seemed to be a common problem in the road, exacerbated by the long terraces of houses. The meeting noted that the Council operated a pest control service, for which a charge was normally made, but several residents pointed out that treatment of individual houses was unlikely to be effective and that a case could be made for the treatment of several houses as a single exercise. The Committee agreed to explore this with the Council.

Treasurer’s report
15. In his capacity as Treasurer, the Chairman reported that there was £562.80 in the Association’s account, compared with £592.41 in December 2008. Expenses were incurred for the 2008 AGM and for the photocopying of the 2009 AGM flyer.
The Committee was keen to keep the finances healthy to meet unexpected needs, for example a Solicitor’s letter, and the Treasurer stated that donations were welcome.

Committee membership
16. There were currently five members of the Committee. The Chairman invited any resident who was interested in serving on the Committee to contact one of the existing members. It was desirable that potential members should have easy access to email as this was the preferred method of communication between members and with Council officials.

Dates of future meetings
17. The next AGM would be held in November 2010, on a date to be notified.

18. A Committee meeting would take place early in 2010 in order to progress issues raised at this meeting.

19. The meeting ended at 8.45pm and the Chairman thanked Jackie for her generous hospitality in hosting the meeting.