MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD AT ST PETERS CHURCH HALL, WEDNESDAY 19TH
MARCH 2003
At the last
AGM I reported that funds would stand at just £ 34.00 when all of the envisaged
bills had been paid and that I expected to collect £1,020.00 probably and a
further £ 370.00 possibly. As at 31/12/2002 the funds stood at £ 1646.22 so
clearly Gordon Brown would admire my prudent forecasting. This figure is
unaltered as of today, I have a promise of payment of £ 50.00 in respect of
2002 which I believe will materialise.
On a road
by road basis there are 3 households in Wheatsheaf Lane who do not support us.
Last year I received a payment from every house in Riverside Close, you may draw
your own conclusions as to why
this happened for the first time.
4
households in Thameside failed to support us but one of these was empty last
year and now has tenants and one was owned by a serial non payer who has moved
out. I have spoken with both of the new people who seem disposed to support us.
.
As advised
in the Winter newsletter it has been decided not to continue with the Public
Liability Insurance.
My
ex-employer’s trusty old laser printer has finally given up the ghost and I can
no longer print newsletters etc for the SSRA for nothing. The figure shown for
photocopying reflects this and must inevitably increase unless anyone can
access either a printer or photo-copier F.O.C. on behalf of the Association.
Joan Tait
commented that the reason why there was less profit from the summer party was
due to the committee responsible for the party arrangements being given the
wrong numbers at the last minute and having to buy extra food.
David Prangley
asked for a vote of thanks for David Rowley and all his hard work.
The
Chairman began by welcoming a new resident, Paul Deschamps at 72 Thameside.
At the last AGM we were celebrating the completion of
the resurfacing of Riverside Close and mourning the loss of our bank
balance. Since then and into the future
we are rebuilding the finances ready for the next stage of resurfacing the
access road to Thameside, hopefully in about 2 years time at the going rate of
subscriptions.
Onwards through the year to the summer party – another
great success thanks to Joan Tait and her many volunteers for the food, Phil
and Susan Berquist for the marquee, music, tickets etc., David Prangley for the
quiz, all the many others who manned the BBQ’s, help erect the marquee, collect
and return tables etc. and of course David and Pauline Rowley for all sorts of
help and guidance throughout, everyone did a great job and it was a great
success.
Then onwards to the great flood! I did warn you a couple of years ago that
instead of frittering your time away on summer parties you would be far better
employed building an ARK!
Many of us were affected in one way or another and
there will be more about this from David Rowley later.
David
Rowley informed us last year that he would be standing down from the committee
at the end of the year and Linda Graves would be joining the committee to take
over the job of treasurer. Before we
advance to the election of the committee for 2003-04 I would like to pay
tribute to the work David has done for the association.
He has been on the committee now for more years than
he probably likes to remember and took over the treasurer’s job in, I believe,
1995. The job of treasurer is a most
frustrating task, you watch the subscriptions come in, too slowly at times to
match the rising costs of repairs but David has always had a clear view of the
job in hand and the strength of character to make sure the job gets done in
spite of all the difficulties. He has
been so well supported by Pauline, his wife, who herself has done much to
further the progress of the Association.
I would therefore like to couple her name with David’s when I thank him
for all the sterling work he has done for the Association, on your behalf.
David Prangley is also leaving us, and he, and his
wife Alison, have also done much supportive work for the Association and we
wish them both well in their new venture
ELECTION OF COMMITTEE:
As previously stated, David Rowley was resigning as
was David Evans and David Prangley.
Geoff Richardson agreed to remain and stand as
chairman, Ann Peake agreed to remain and stand as secretary and Linda Graves
was joining the board and agreed to stand as treasurer, these were all proposed
by David Blum and seconded by Bob Grainger.
Susan Berquist, Tony James, Alan Seward, Bob Douglas, Paul Dodd and
Richard O’Halloran were proposed by Freda Douglas and seconded by Mrs.
Prangley.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
David Rowley commented that the Terms of Constitution
for the Association were primarily set up to deal with the roads, they could be
amended and due to the problems caused by floods this year to the area it was
asked if the mandate should be amended to cover the issue of flooding, those
present at the meeting agreed that it should be changed. Geoff Richardson, the new chairman said that
the new committee would meet and draw up a new constitution to cover flooding.
Pauline Rowley asked if any funds would be going into
this new area and G.Richardson said they would not.
Re the flooding, D.Rowley commented that 5 houses had
suffered sever flooding, (water over floorboards), 4 in Riverside Close and 1
in Thameside and there were at least another 4/5 on the brink. Using the Environment Agency’s yardstick of
flooding, i.e. 300ml or 12inches from floor level another 10-12 houses were
affected. A.Seward asked if the
constitution could be changed now but the chairman wanted it left to the next
committee meeting.
D.Peake asked why the constitution was being
restricted to roads and flooding as he felt much more could be covered making
the SSRA a more comprehensive and effective association. He said he had found that other local areas
had much stronger associations and felt if we took a stronger stance than
locals would be more encouraged to get involved. D.Evans responded that he felt the responsibility and strain
would be too much for any committee to handle in an area where so many people
had different views on how they wanted the neighbourhood to be. David Blum commented that the field,
although not covered by the constitution, had always been a significant issue
over the years as had dealing with the waterfront and he felt the roads and now
the floods were more than enough to cope with.
D.Rowley further commented that the SSRA had no power
as such which would make dealing with any awkward people or problems rather
difficult reminding the assembly of the days when the roads were cleaned up and
trees cut which did not go down well with everyone.
J.Russell asked about Neighbourhood Watch and D.Evans
replied that we were in a scheme but we did not keep up with current events as
these days if you wanted to be active you had to agree to be in contact with
the local police station and aware of all that was happening locally and he
found the extent of involvement somewhat prohibiting.
G.Richardson said if anything came up that the
committee felt warranted dealing with he would be happy to consider it.
David Rowley mentioned it was suggested at the last
committee meeting that subscriptions for 2003/04 would be going up to £60, this
caused some dissention. P.Berquist
suggested a £5 increase, after much discussion D.Blum suggested £50 this year,
£60 next year or £100 if you wanted to pay 2 years in one go, this was found to
be favourable and was therefore proposed by D.Blum and seconded by D.Rowley.
David Rowley commented that he had been to the EA
meeting and made contact with an action group called ThamesAwash and suggested
that as an association with 84 houses we should join and he would be happy to
be the representative.
Their tel. no was 01784 452 805 and Phil Scott was the
co-ordinator, they preside over 3 areas of flood risk action groups and they
need numbers of who were affected and funds to get answers from the EA as to
what actually happened and he urged anyone who had not contacted them to get in
touch and register their details to add weight to the fight.
From our point of view Silvery Sands let us all down
badly and the bank needs building up, drainage was a problem and dredging needs
badly doing, at present an independent consultant was due to give a report at
the end of March, A.Seward commented that the EA would spend according to the
number of houses affected.
J.Tait thanked D.Rowley for his help at the time of
the crisis, advising on sandbags etc., he said for future reference he would
let people have the floodline numbers and sandbag details.
I.Evans commented that using bin bags with the
sandbags helped their effectiveness.
G.Richardson asked if anyone had had their insurance
renewal premiums yet, only one member, 97 Thameside, said that they had, and
there were no problems.
D.Evans asked if we wanted the annual summer party, it
was agreed to go ahead, the last Saturday in June, the 28th. M.Braund at 24 Riverside Close agreed to be
the co-ordinator for the food, N.Keyser said his van would be available, Paul,
Alan, Jim and Nick said they would help with tables etc.
Joan Tait asked about graffiti down Thameside and
asked if a gate could be put at the path adjoining No.97 to stop youths using
Thameside to get to the river, this was agreed to be done and the cost would
come out of funds.
D.Rowley said he had had a letter about improving the
sign at the end of Wheatsheaf Lane for 67-71 Thameside and it was agreed this
would be done, P.Deschamp commented he could supply any road signage at cost!
I.Evans asked if we could be included in the A-Z, it
was agreed this had come up for discussion before and details submitted and it
was felt a reprint had probably not come out yet.
David Blum suggested a vote of thanks to David Evans
for his chairmanship duties and all his help over the years and this was
heartily agreed.
The meeting ended at 9.20pm.