Lower Streatham Neighbourhood Watch and Residents Association MINUTES OF A COMMITTEE MEETING held on: 22 Jan 2003 at: Pied Bull Pub Those Present: Chairman Roger Legate Minutes Tony Booth Rebecca Barnham Ian Dennison David Meade Colin Walker Visitors PC Lyn Poole PC Jackie Russell Councillor John Kazantzis Councillor Tim Sargeant Jean Coleman (Hambro Road) David Crisp (Natal Road) Jill Jones (Estreham Road) 1 Minutes of Previous Meetings The previous meeting on 16 Dec 2002 was aborted due to insufficient members. Approval of the minutes of the meeting prior to that, on 12 Nov 2002, was overlooked at this meeting so they remain to be approved. This will need to be done at the next meeting. 2 General Business Agenda 2.1 A new beat officer PC Lyn Poole was introduced to those present. She has now come to join PC Jackie Russell in our local beat. PC Jackie Russell reports for the current week, practically no burglary, but a bag snatching on Ellison Road and mobile telephones have been staken from people using them in the street. 2.2 The chairman Roger Legate and others commented on the absense of lighting in the section of Ellison Road between Kempshot Road and the railway station and how that is related to the bag snatch which occurred. Councillor Tim Sargeant pointed out that he has now been given responsibility for "Street Scene" and that he should be informed when things like street lighting deficits are not responded to. 2.3 There was a general acknowledgement of the low level of responsiveness of Lambeth Council to requests by the public for putting right of ordinary amenities like street condition and the additional point was made that this end of Lambeth receives far less in its street equipping than does the other end. 2.4 The chairman pointed out that although the police had responded very well to points raised at our AGM, there had been no response from Keith Hill at all, and that generally the connection through the local council also had drawn no response. 2.5 The chairman thinks the problem is that there is an absence of decision making and command which destroys the beneficial effect of good local representation and good or at least well meaning delivery at the point of doing the work. He points out that the petitions which were delivered by our group received no formal response from the Lambeth council. 2.6 Councillor Tim Sargeant is now Deputy Mayor and due to become Mayor some time in May. 2.7 The chairman lead a call to fix up a meeting with the council to put before them the main questions for which we have received no answers from them. We are seeking reactions from the council, especially on behalf of this southern part of the borough. [Action: Chairman] 2.8 A letter will also be written to the police acknowledging the positive efforts and effect they have had since Superintendent Chris Channers arrived. (Subsequent discovery that there had sadly been a murder in Ellison Road on the day of this meeting has altered the conditions pertaining to this proposed letter.) [Action: Colin Walker] 2.9 The chairman raised the issue of a proliferation of graffitti along Greyhound Lane. Councillor Tim Sargeant says that he walks about on behalf of some of the residents associations and observes these things and suggests that something be done similar with our group. 2.10 PCs Jackie Russell and Lyn Poole said that they would be involving themselves with this grafitti problem in the coming week. There was some discussion of the use of private CCTV cameras which is already going on in Natal Road. Perhaps our group could do some of this. It seems that these results could be integrated in with the public cameras for certain purposes. Perhaps we should look to making arrangements to assist people with setting up these schemes on the fronts of their houses if they should feel so inclined to do. 2.11 The three visitors from neighbouring roads said thanks for being given the opportunity to attend. 3 Organisational, Administrative and Constitutional Matters 3.1 The chairman Roger Legate welcomed the visitors from north of Greyhound Lane but pointed out that we are not able to expand to cover their area at this time. However the policy is to continue to maintain communication with such interested parties in neighbouring areas. 3.2 It was decided that the vice-chairman, treasurer and membership list coordinator should meet to fix issues of how to collect subscriptions. [Action: Vice-chair, Treasurer, List coordinator] 4 Any Other Business None 5 Date of Next Meeting Next meeting is due on Wednesday 5 March 2003 at 20:00 at the Pied Bull. 6 Confidential Items None Approval Signed: Dated: