Taken and adopted at the full AGM on 28 March 2006
Chairman Martin Wilberforce
1. Apologies for absence received from Alan Brauner, Simon Hacker, Bob Huxter, Don Hamm
2. Minutes from the previous AGM. MW noted that in item 5, expenditure was only just up, mainly thanks to a Government grant. The adoption of the minutes was proposed by Eric Austin, seconded by Peter Hickman.
3. Matters arising. MW said that several items would be covered in his report.
4. Chairman's address…
The Association has had another busy year with some notable successes, but there are a number of unresolved issues which continue to be of concern and where we must not let up in our efforts to ensure that the Thames Ditton & Weston Green areas continue to prosper and maintain their attractive, essentially residential character.
Thames Ditton Community & Youth Centre. It makes sense for me to report on individual issues in the order in which they appear in Alan Brauner's last Chairman's Report, so I mention this first and happily the news is good. After a lot of effort by our Councillors, agreement has been reached for Elmbridge B.C. to buy the building and twenty car parking spaces from Surrey C.C. and funds have been allocated for repairs and running costs. Now its future is secured, the organisations that use the Centre can plan ahead with confidence. It is not just Thames Ditton people who will benefit from the rejuvenated Centre, for it serves a wider area. The same company that will manage the new Elmbridge Leisure Centre will manage the Centre. I would just like to acknowledge the efforts of Sue Rodger and her fellow campaigners, who have fought so hard for so long. Thank you.
Thames Ditton Community Hospital. The Association has continued to support the Friends of Thames Ditton Hospital in the campaign to preserve the NHS beds in the George Tickler Wing, which the East Elmbridge & Mid Surrey Primary Care Trust wished to close. The PCT's consultation exercise last autumn resulted in widespread public protest which the Friends actively encouraged and supported, so that the PCT has now agreed to continue to fund the 4 NHS beds for the time being and to reconsider the Thames Ditton situation. The Home of Compassion. Following on from the Association's involvement mentioned in last years' report, the scale of the proposals have been modified to overcome the planning difficulties and the Trustees are understood to be progressing the financing of the development.
Flooding and Sewerage. At the Open Meeting last September, representatives from Thames Water reported on their remedial works and answered questions. They outlined plans to expand the surge storage tank and pumping capacity at the Esher Treatment Plant. At that time it was hoped that work would have started this spring, but now we understand these engineering measures are to be incorporated into a larger £9 million scheme to also prevent flooding in Claygate, but not scheduled to start until the end of this year. Thames Water engineers have agreed to meet Association representatives in early April to provide more information. Thanks to our Weston Green Councillors' efforts, the recurring surface water flooding around Esher Station has been alleviated.
Policing. Crime and the prevention thereof continue to be of great concern locally and nationally. Our local Beat Officer, P.C. Greg Turner, attends Association Open Meetings on a regular basis to update us on policing matters and he reports that the introduction of Police Community Support Officers is having a positive effect. At the last Open Meeting it was agreed that for Thames Ditton & Weston Green, Surrey Police's newly introduced Neighbourhood Panel Meetings could take place within the existing framework of his attendance at Association Open Meetings, thus avoiding duplicating time and resources. P.C. Greg Turner is keen for residents to voice their concerns and priorities at these future Panel Meetings.
Traffic. Highways and Parking. Ben Ellis has brought new enthusiasm to the task of Highways Convener since taking over from me and he has had useful meetings with the Surrey C.C. Local Transportation engineers to draw their attention to various problems. The Toucan crossing on the Hampton Court Way -Embercourt Road roundabout has been in operation almost a year, providing safer passage for children in particular. The traffic calming measures in Thames Ditton, whilst not universally popular, have reduced accidents dramatically. Members will be aware that once Elmbridge B.C. can agree with Surrey C.C. how and when to do it, Elmbridge will introduce charges at its remaining free car parks such as at Ashley Road and Southbank. This means that the question of on-street parking generally will have to be revisited after the Council's proposed measures were postponed in mid 2000.
Planning. All local planning applications are monitored and where the Association feels the proposed development is inappropriate, or out of keeping with the surrounding area, it will make representations to Elmbridge B.C. direct and/or support neighbouring residents' own objections. The Association is conscious of the need for more housing regionally and that some renewal and change is essential to a healthy local economy, but it has a responsibility to ensure that such development is not detrimental to the area and the inhabitants. The Association is currently objecting to five or six on-going planning proposals which it and neighbouring residents consider to be unsuitable over-development and in most cases this view is shared by the Elmbridge B.C. Planning Department. In practice, the developers start to scale down their proposals and in some cases an acceptable compromise is achieved. One particular proposal of concern is the Rosemary Simmons Memorial Housing Association's plan for Imber Cross. This is to some extent on design and architectural grounds, but mainly because the proposal is to replace much needed rented sheltered accommodation with a block of flats for commercial sale. The Association works closely and seeks advice from the two local Conservation Area Advisory Committees, set up and sponsored by Elmbridge B.C., one for Thames Ditton and another for Weston Green.
Other Activities. Time prohibits me from reporting many of our regular activities but two things deserve mention. One is the very successful Thames Ditton High Street Christmas Fayre one evening last December, when the Association was able to help the organising retailers with the road closure. We hope this new event will be repeated. I would also like to acknowledge the work put in by our two Weston Green Councillors in the campaign to retain the Millbourne Stores Post Office at Weston Green. Sadly, Post Office Ltd finally went ahead with the closure, but it was not for want of our Councillors' efforts.
Thames Ditton Today. I am sure you will all agree that our quarterly magazine is an excellent, very professionally produced publication. Our Editor, Terry Ford and the rest of the team who sell the advertising, distribute, deliver and contribute to the editorial, they all deserve our thanks and appreciation. The magazine is largely funded by the advertising, so I would ask everyone to try and do business with our advertisers whenever they can.
Our Councillors & Committee. The workload on our five Councillors increases all the time in line with the regulation and bureaucracy meted out by central government and Brussels. We thank them for representing our local residents' interests unfettered by national party politics and for all the other things they do for the Association behind the scenes. I would also like to thank my fellow Officers and 'Committee members, subscription collectors and everyone else who contributes to the Association's activities for their work and support. I am sorry to have to report that Eric Austin is stepping down as Treasurer and I would like to thank him for his work over the last three years. He has kept tight control over the purse strings and introduced anew system of road-by-road analysis of our subscription income. You may have noticed that I have mentioned very few people by name in my foregoing report. This is because otherwise the list would have been so long or I would have left people out, and I believe the individuals will know to whom I am referring anyway. I must however mention three particular people by name and firstly John Barton, who retired as our President last summer after more than thirty years work for the Association in different roles. He was also an Elmbridge Councillor and for many years Chairman of the Conservation Area Advisory Committee. We owe John Barton a great deal, but I must also now tell those of you who do not know already, that sadly John died last Monday after a very difficult illness. As many of you will know, another former Association stalwart, Don McKerrow, died last December. As may be seen from an appreciation in the current edition of Thames Ditton Today, Don served as a Residents' Association Councillor for 26 years and his legacy is all around us today. Finally, on a happier note, we were very pleased when Ann Levick agreed to succeed John Barton as President. Ann has been a member of the Association for some thirty years, eleven of those as Secretary, only retiring two years ago, so we did not give her much of a break!
5. Matters arising from Chairman's address.
Kenneth Melross said that a developer was showing interest once again in the land to the rear of Speer Road, to the back of the Old Pauline's ground. The area is subject to flooding. David Lowe explained how the Sports & Fitness Centre development is now in its final phase. The land concerned lies to the rear of the maisonettes at the Northeast end of the road.
Michael Jackson proposed that the chairman's address be accepted, seconded by Ben Ellis
6. Eric Austin gave the financial report. Donations are up by an increase of £600 to the Magazine fund, £700 to the contingency fund. We had a most successful Christmas party. For the first time, the magazine broke even. We had £12,401 of expenditure, with a total of £998 excess of income over expenditure. Reserves stand at £23,000 in the Contingency fund, £1,132 in the magazine fund. It is felt that funds remain healthy, in view of our activities. A resident asked if we had liability insurance. MW said that we have and we enjoy a good rate through the Civic Trust. Another resident pointed out that we pay £340 for the use of the Vera Fletcher Hall and suggested we should have free use of the hall, as it was for ‘use by the residents'. MW said that we use the hall 12 times per year, so the rate was very good. Edward Rowe as chair of the VFH said that they are regulated by the Charities Commission and must operate on an ‘arm's length' basis. It is on the future agenda for the committee as much free advertising is given to the VFH in the magazine. Ruth Lyon proposed and David Lowe seconded adoption of the accounts.
7. Appointment of Officers. Those up for election were: President Anne Levick, proposed by Peter Hickman, seconded by Karen Randolph, Chairman Martin Wilberforce, proposed by Peter Hickman and seconded by Alan Brauner, Treasurer Keith Baldwin and Secretary Libby Macintyre, both proposed by Maureen Sheldrick and seconded by David Pascoe. There being no other nominations, all elected.
8. Appointment of auditors. Eric Austin said it gave him great pleasure to propose Bob Huxter, this was seconded by Ruth Lyon, duly appointed.
9. Council Elections. LM said that there is limited influence over County matters by the RA, including Highways etc. We are proposing to put forward a candidate, Peter Hickman. He is ideally qualified to serve Thames Ditton, Long Ditton and Hinchley Wood. He is a local resident and has run a local business. Peter is also on the Conservation Committee, winning many battles. Peter has been active on the RA since moving into the area over 30 years ago. Peter will get action taken for local residents, get the bigger picture from Surrey County Council and work to break the stranglehold of national party politics on local matters. Libby proposed Peter as our candidate, seconded by David Pascoe. Peter Hickman responded by saying that there is a chance to break the hold that national politics has on local affairs, especially the large Conservative majority. This is the first time we have tried this. Ruth Lyon confirmed that Molesey and Esher are also putting up RA candidates.
10. Resolutions. There were no resolutions laid before the meeting.
11. Guest Speaker. Mike Hollamby from Brooklands Museum gave a very entertaining and amusing talk, covering the history and current development of the site, detailing one or two of the exhibits. He described some of the initiatives to exploit their role as a Community Partner. Brooklands is also home to a number of special interest motoring and aviating groups. He gave details of the Business Challenge. Brooklands is a charity, but must be run as a business to prosper. 50% of revenue comes from conferencing and banqueting. Other income comes from regular Club and membership fees and entrance charges. Various planned capital expenditures include £10million over the next few years. Mike also gave details of the Concorde restoration project. A resident pointed out that Elmbridge Council had been instrumental in helping the museum to be set up. Ruth Lyon pointed out that when the track is restored, it will be unique in the world to be able to see vintage cars on a vintage track.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2150.