Annual Genaral Meeting 25th November 2010 Minutes

Present
Graham Tigg (Treasurer, Chair)
Jackie Aust-Lean (Committee member)
Marise Lee (Committee member)
Carol Stone (Committee member, Minutes)

10 Residents

Apologies
Richard Palmer (Committee member)

1. The Chairman welcomed those present and introduced members of the Committee. A special thank you was given to Jackie for hosting the AGM and Carol for her work in progressing most of the actions over the past year.

Overview of the year 2009-2010
2. The Chairman provided a brief resume of the Committee’s work during the past year.

Street maintenance and road markings
In response to repeated requests by the Committee, the residents’ parking road markings had been repainted in late spring/early summer. This work had been necessary following pipe replacement work undertaken by Thames Water several years ago.
In cases where paving stones had been lifted by tree roots the Council’s remedy was to resurface the area with tar macadam, which was unsightly.

Trees/leaf clearance
Extensive pruning of the trees in the road had taken place in December 2008 on a regular three-yearly cycle. The growth at the foot of the trees tended to be removed by the Council on request, with some residents dealing with those trees directly outside their premises. Leaf clearance had recently taken place, unfortunately before most of the leaves had fallen (subsequent to the AGM full street cleaning took place in December).
Residents thought that it would be helpful to have a timetable. The Chairman observed that, because it was not possible to close the road for street cleaning, individual residents with vehicles had some responsibility to facilitate cleaning access.

The ‘snickett’
In 2009 the possible installation of CCTV cameras, for security purposes, at the UPR end of the footpath beside the railway embankment to Turnham Green Terrace (the snickett), had been raised with the Council. Following a number of reminders, one of our Homefields councillors eventually advised this would be a matter for Transport for London (TfL). Those present at the meeting agreed that the matter should not be pursued further: there was no history of incidents in the snickett and the overhead lighting had been improved. There continued to be a problem, however, during 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 cut back some of the overhanging branches (subsequent to the AGM overhanging foliage had been cut back again). The committee appreciates this independent action by residents.
TfL contract the Council to clean the snickett and the Committee reminds the Council of this as necessary.


Refuse/recycling collection
On the whole the new arrangements for the weekly collection of refuse and recycling appeared to be working well although there continued to be some confusion about the fortnightly alternating collections of garden waste and plastics. It was noted that residents had not received up-to-date collection date calendars from the Council. Also noted was that pavements and the road were often strewn with litter following collections. One resident complained that, despite having contacted the Council on numerous occasions, her food waste container was not collected from the boundary of her property. The Committee undertook to raise the foregoing matters with the Council (subsequent to the AGM the Council have sent residents new collection calendars as requested).

LMC planning application
3. Residents had been informed of revised proposals for the redevelopment of the site at 104-108 Chiswick High Road. They are substantially similar to those approved in April 2010 but no longer retain the existing front elevation of the building – it will be rebuilt in the same style instead. The Committee did not wish to make any further comments on this application. Residents could view the plans and follow progress online here http://planning.hounslow.gov.uk/Planning_CaseNo.aspx?strCASENO=P/2010/3115
(note that the library provides online facilities for this).

Mice
4. In response to a comment by a new resident at the 2009 AGM about the presence of mice in their house, the meeting noted that this was a common problem in the road, exacerbated by the long terraces of houses. The Chairman advised that the Committee had discussed a request for a coordinated eradication programme involving a number of properties and rejected it as being logistically too complicated. The Council operates a pest control service for which a charge was normally made.

Treasurer’s report
5. In his capacity as Treasurer, the Chairman reported that there was £547.75 in the Association’s account, compared with £570.02 in November 2009. £15 had been received in donations and £0.45 in interest. £30.50 expenses had been incurred for the 2009 AGM plus £7.22 for photocopying of the 2010 AGM flyer.


UPRRA Website
6. The Chairman mentioned the Website 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.

7. The site can be used to communicate with residents with internet access and readers can comment on entries.
The Chairman asked attendees to include their email addresses on the attendance list. Resident’s names and email addresses would not be published on the website.


Committee membership
8. 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.

Street party
9. The possibility of holding a street party in 2011 was discussed briefly. Such a party had been held in 1977 to mark the Queen’s silver jubilee. It was agreed that the views of residents should be canvassed before any approach to the Council should be made regarding the necessary permissions. The Chairman was asked to explore the possibility of seeking residents’ views via email and the website.

Dates of future meetings
10. The next AGM would be held in November 2011, on a date to be notified.

11. A Committee meeting would take place early in 2011 in order to take forward issues raised at this meeting.

12. The meeting ended at 9.50pm.

UPRRA AGM 2010 Notice

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2010 AT 7.30 pm
33 Upham Park Road

Come and meet your neighbours over drinks and nibbles - all residents are cordially invited to attend.

The aim is also to meet the people who live in our street so this year the meeting will be kept as informal as possible. Matters of local interest will be discussed, such as: -

• tree maintenance
• street cleaning
• refuse/recycling collection

Members of the UPRRA Committee are: -
Jackie Aust-Lean (No. 33)
Marise Lee (No. 10B)
Richard Palmer (No. 19)
Carol Stone (No. 56)
Graham Tigg, treasurer (No. 22).

If you have an item which you would like us to discuss, please contact a member of the Committee before 23 November.

PLEASE COME - WE HAVE PROVED OVER THE YEARS THAT COLLECTIVE ACTION CAN ACHIEVE RESULTS!

Committee Meeting 18th October 2010

Present

Carol Stone

Jackie Austin-Lean

Richard Palmer

Marise Lee

Apologies

Graham Tigg

‘Snickett’ Cleaning

There was a recent clean-up, but it’s not frequent enough. It was noted that it tends to get cleaned just before the leaves fall (early Oct) and then not again till early Dec. The Council has a contract with London Transport to clean the snickett but as it is not on any maps in the area, perhaps it tends to get overlooked.

Fly Tipping

This comes and goes. At the moment, Carol telephones the Council and they send people to remove the items. It is possible that people from other Boroughs with less frequent rubbish collection may dump their items on our street.

Rubbish Collection/Recycling

Sometimes rubbish is left on the street especially if the foxes have broken into the bin bags. This reveals some food waste which attracts flies and creates mess on the street.  Carol will email the Council  to ask what instructions the rubbish collection men are given and to request that they clear all the rubbish properly, leaving nothing behind. It was also noted that we need a new card to let us know where we are with the alternate plastics/garden waste recycling.

Street Cleaning

This happens at odd times, about 3 times a year. Richard noted that it’s normally just before the lime trees flower. Carol will email the Council for a street cleaning timetable but keep it open ended. There was also a discussion on windows and the position of satellite dishes on the street, especially those on the front of houses which can be an eyesore. However, this is not a conservation area so there are no regulations governing any adjustments to the exterior of a property. There seems little point in getting this street designated as a conservation area.

CCTV for the ‘snickett’

No further action will be taken

Trees

A resident wants the Council to cut down the trees on the street and may turn up at the AGM to discuss this. This may not be beneficial for the street but perhaps cutting down alternate trees may be feasible. The trees are old and could benefit from being cut/topped. However this could incur more problems with heave in houses etc. This issue will be raised at the AGM to notify residents.

AGM

Jackie has kindly agreed to host the AGM again, but time will be limited. At the moment we’re looking at the 25^th Nov. It was agreed that it should be packaged as an ‘Opportunity to meet ones neighbours and raise any issues on the street’. It was also decided not to invite a Councillor this time but maybe to ask the local Police. The aim is to keep it informal to build community spirit and to keep the AGM ‘bit’ short.

Committee Meeting 12th May 2010

Present
Carol Stone (Host, Chair)
Graham Tigg (Treasurer, Minutes)
Jackie Aust-Lean
Marise Lee

Apologies
Richard Palmer
Phil Hullah

Committee Membership
Phil Hullah has joined the Committee. Unfortunately he had to pull out of attending at the last moment so the meeting welcomed him in his absence.

Snickett CCTV
Carol contacted Councillor Oulds for an update, but he was apparently unaware of the history and any progress so is finding out.
Carol will chase Councillor Oulds for an update.

Street Maintenance and Cleaning
The Snickett was cleaned before the meeting. Jackie conversed with the Council cleaning team who were not clear that it was their responsibility until they made a phone call to check.
Carol will email the Council to remind them that Metronet have contracted the Council to clean the Snickett.

Following Carol’s efforts the parking bay lines are due to be painted by the end of June 2010.

The large puddle that remains after rain by the Futon shop wall has been referred to the Council’s Drainage section.

Fly Tipping
Phil Hullah has asked the Council to look into putting up a tipping notice on the Futon shop wall opposite LMC. The meeting felt this would have little impact beyond creating yet more signage. CCTV was thought to be more effective.
Carol will progress CCTV covering the LMC end of the road with Councillor Oulds


LMC Planning Application
Planning permission was approved on 21st April subject to Legal Agreement. There is no information on when work will start.

Subsequent to the meeting Graham has read the Planning approval document. Of interest is that there is no approval for restaurant use, there will be underground parking space for 10 cars with access via a car lift and the existing upper frontage of the corner building be preserved.

Council Matters
The Homefields Councillors were re-elected in the May election.

Neighbourhood Policing
Sgt Jonathan Adcock has retired and has been replaced by Sgt Mick Rawling. The full team is now  Sgt Mick Rawling, PC Antony Murray, PC Kevin Howes, PCSO Kieran Leighton, PCSO Mark James, Ikechukwu Ebosie.
For more information see the Safer Neighbourhoods Team post.

Dates of future meetings
The meeting agreed to hold the AGM in November with a Committee meeting to proceed it in October.

With relatively few issues to progress the meeting agreed to review the need to meet before October over the summer via email.

Committee Meeting 28th January 2010

Present
Carol Stone (Host, Chair)
Graham Tigg (Treasurer, Minutes)
Richard Palmer

Apologies
Jackie Aust-Lean
Marise Lee

Note that a fuller background to the following items appears in the AGM 2009 minutes here.

The agenda of the meeting was the items raised at the AGM plus the letter from Phil Hullah on fly tipping.

Snickett CCTV
Following the absence of a Councillor at the AGM, Carol has subsequently established from Councillor McGregor that CCTV is now Councillor Oulds remit.
Carol will contact Councillor Oulds for an update.

Street Maintenance and Cleaning
The street was cleaned in December and this removed the last of the leaf fall that wasn’t hidden under parked vehicles. The snickett was cleaned on the day of the meeting.

The parking bay white lines still need re-painting. The AGM raised concern about the large puddles that formed near the driveway at the back of the Futon shop.
Carol will report the white lines and flooding to the Council.

Refuse and Recycling
Collections were disrupted by the weather the first week of January and a plastics collection was missed.
The meeting discussed a perceived increase in the mess left on the street on collection day (Wednesdays). Part of the problem is that animals break into bags because they smell food and the ensuing mess is not cleared by the collection teams. If all residents used the kitchen waste bins for food this should not be an issue.

Fly Tipping
Phil Hullah wrote to Carol about fly tipping opposite LMC (the wall by the Futon shop) and a lack of response from the Council on his reporting of the matter. Carol has discovered that LMC took it upon themselves to clear this up and this may have created some confusion with the Council.
Carol will contact Phil to discuss.
Graham will email Phil about adding him to the email circulation list.

LMC Planning Application
This is progressing with application details now available on the Hounslow website here. The next milestone is the Sustainable Committee meeting on 17th February 2010.
Apparently Thornton Avenue residents have objected to possible restaurant use of the retail units.

Mice
The AGM raised the issue of mice in houses – something many properties have suffered from for years. There was a perception that one household using a pest control service simply sent the mice to a neighbour temporarily. The idea that a number of adjacent households could co-ordinate a pest control service to solve the problem was suggested. Note that pest control of mice is a chargeable service from the council or elsewhere.

The meeting discussed this and felt that co-ordinating such an exercise was impractical with issues such as how many households to include, gaining agreement of all concerned, organising payment, visit appointments etc.

Next Meeting
Committee - 19:30 Wednesday 12th May 2010 at Carol's.

Graham Tigg