SILVERY SANDS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD AT ST PETERS CHURCH HALL,
MONDAY 21st MARCH 2005
The past twelve months have been fairly settled, but
despite appearances, they have not been without some activity by your committee.
Believe it or not, some work has been going on behind the scenes!
Time has been spent investigating the different road surfacing treatments that might be used to maintain our roads, and contactors have made site visits and given advice and firm quotations. This has allowed the committee to develop a proposed maintenance programme for the next two or three years or so. Plans have also been drawn up for gateway effect posts for Wheatsheaf Lane that we discussed at last years AGM. These plans have been submitted to Spelthorne Council for pre- application advice and the Council has found the proposal acceptable in principle. We will discuss both of these issues later in the agenda and agree our way forward.
The floods issue, which took up a considerable amount
of time during the previous year, has now moved into a longer-term phase of
operational reviews by various working groups. In due course they will report
and make recommendations on flood alleviation measures for the future. This
winter’s flood season seems to have passed without further problems, but it is
important that we keep in touch with developments and any future proposals,
which we are able to do mainly through our association with the ThamesAwash
pressure group.
Linda will report next about the Association’s funds and membership, but in overall terms the results of the last 12 months are similar to previous years. A small number of residents still prefer not to join the Association, but we will invite them to contribute towards the cost of any repairs that we undertake in the future. Nevertheless, in overall terms, the Association retains the support of the overwhelming majority of residents.
In contrast however, it was a difficult and a
disappointing decision that we had to make in canceling last years summer
party, particularly so as a considerable amount of preparatory work had already
been undertaken by the committee.
I am not sure whether there is a growing lack of
enthusiasm for this kind of event, or whether it was simply circumstantial with
people already committed and unable to attend. We will discuss this more fully
later on the agenda, before deciding whether we should try again this
year.
Finally, and once again, my thanks are extended to
all members of the committee for their support, advice and their efforts during
the past year.
In particular I would like to extend a big thanks to
Ann who has done a sterling job as the Association’s secretary for several
years. I think she deserves a break after such a long stint – enjoy your
retirement Ann!
The Treasurer submitted a balance
sheet showing income and expenditure for the year to 31.12.2004.
Out of 84 houses, 64 paid for 2004,
with a total of £1,470.00 in subscriptions received in 2004. After going through the expenditure for the
year of £96 we were left with a balance in the account of £8,227.14, she
further proposed subscriptions for 2005 would be £62 as agreed at last year’s
AGM, working on the principle subs to be kept inline with inflation each
year. K. Slater suggested the
subscription should remain at £60, but following discussion and a vote, it was
agreed, with one vote against, that the subscription for 2005 would be £62.
Joan Tate asked how many of the
houses were in fact empty – it was not known.
The treasurer informed the meeting
that a Nationwide Treasurer’s Account had been opened to gain a better rate of
interest.
ELECTION OF COMMITTEE:
As mentioned in
the Chairman’s report A. Peake was standing down from the board and as
secretary.
Geoff Richardson agreed to remain
and stand as chairman and the remaining members, Linda Graves, Paul Dodd, Bob
Douglas, Richard O’Halloran and Alan Seward all agreed to stand again and were
proposed by David Rowley and seconded by Sue O’Halloran.
A new resident, Gulbin Musters of 87
Thames Side volunteered to join the board and act as secretary, this was
agreed.
The Chairman informed the meeting
that K.Slater had recommended a company to use for re-surfacing the roads
called ASI and that he had invited them, along with O’Hara and one other
company who did not respond, to quote for various road surface treatments and
options. Various drawings, proposals and
quotations were available for the meeting to see and the Chairman and K.Slater went through the quotations. We had
a quote from ASI for Thames Side for £8,900 and one from O’Hara for the same
area at £19,000.
The vast difference in the two quotes
according to K.Slater was due to the fact O’Hara were quoting for a thick
surface overlay whereas ASI were quoting for a restorer/preserver/rejuvenator
system plus using a Rhinopatch system to repair potholes which K.Slater said
were very good and should preserve what’s already there for c.7 years. A quote was also given to Rhinophalt
Wheatsheaf Lane, a treatment that sinks in, bonds and penetrates the existing
surface to prolong its life.
Sue O’Halloran asked if the potholes
would be filled in but was told they would have to be treated separately.
P.Berquis asked about soakaways but
K.Slater said these were not in the quote, this was a surface treatment only.
D.Blum asked about drainage and the
potholes outside his house as he gets large ponds each time it rained, K.Slater
agreed a soakaway was required but as it would have to be deep it would be very
expensive, R.O.Halloran suggested looking at a map of the drainage system for
the area to see if anything could be done.
After much discussion the Chairman
said the proposals were to resurface Thames Side with the ASI Rhinoseal
treatment this year, and to rejuvenate Wheatsheaf Lane with the ASI Rhinophalt
treatment next year, and asked the meeting if they were in agreement with this,
it was carried unanimously.
Following discussion at last year’s
AGM about installing ‘chevron style’ posts at the end of Wheatsheaf Lane to
encourage the perception it was a private road the Chairman asked for a show of
hands to spend £110 to put in for planning permission now the drawings had been
done, there were 3 No’s, the rest of the meeting were in agreement. Discussion ensued and the Chairman asked
again who was for the idea and who against, there were 18 for and 6 against, it
was agreed the application would go ahead.
Andy Duncan asked if the permission was granted would there be an
emergency meeting before anything was done and the chairman agreed there would
be.
The Chairman explained the reasoning
behind cancelling the party in 2004, namely that out of the 20 households that
responded giving 70 attending, nearly half this number came from just 4
households inviting family and friends, which from the neighbourhood, and the
essence of the party, was not a very good response, there was also a shortage
of volunteers for collecting, storage and supplying the music which made the
mechanics of the day very difficult to manage and the chairman and board
finally made the decision to cancel, as it turned out, the weather was
appalling so with hindsight if was probably a blessing as it rained most of the
day and all night!
The Chairman asked the meeting if
they still wanted to continue with the party idea, D.Blum said it would be a
pity to stop and financially it was worth doing as we made a small profit, though
as the chairman pointed out, that was not the idea. David Drew asked if a licence was needed if we had music, C.Miles
responded it was required if you sold alcohol.
The Chairman asked for volunteers
for 2005, Greg Harvey, Gulbin Musters and Sue O’Halloran offered their help and
J.Tate said it was a nice opportunity for new residents to get involved and
meet people.
It was agreed the Chairman would ask
residents in the next newsletter if they wanted a party and would they be
prepared to help if they did.
The Chairman touched on the subject
of youths and anti-social behaviour and informed those present of a meeting
with the local councillors and police that was taking place the following night
at the Community Centre in Staines at 7pm, several members at the meeting said
they would be attending. The Chairman
was asked if a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme was still in force and he said he had
asked a policeman about it recently who had seemed vague and didn’t know much
about it, it was mentioned that Jim Russell had indicated if there was such a
scheme he would be happy to be involved.
The Chairman asked if residents
still wanted to contribute to the Thames Awash scheme, C. Miles commented the
SSRA funds were for the roads but the chairman reminded him the constitution
was amended last year, as agreed, following the severe flooding as it was felt
the riverside was just as much a factor to be dealt with as the roads now, a
show of hands gave 10 against and 7 for, it was mentioned individuals could
contribute if they wanted to.
The Chairman commented on a letter
from Spelthorne re any proposed future planning proposals for the field owned
by Strodes College which stated that they viewed the future of the field as
only suitable for agricultural, forestry or outdoor sports/recreational use and
in any event the EA would have to be consulted and as the area was a designated
flood plain it was more than likely planning permission would not be given.
On closing, Andy Duncan gave a vote
of thanks from the floor to Ann Peake as she was standing down, for her
services as secretary.
The meeting closed at 9.25pm.