Lower Streatham Neighbourhood Watch and Residents Association. Minutes of meeting held on October 15th 2003. In attendance: Roger Legate (Chair), Rebecca (Kempshot), David (Guildersfield), Ian (Tankerville), Tony (Buckleigh), Val (Pennistone), Kaz (Pennistone), Mary (Pennistone), Eddie & Pauline (Pennistone), Claire & Marco (Buckleigh) Cllr Dave Malley. Simon Hooberman of Streatham Vale Property Occupiers Committee (SVPOC) 1. . Apologies: Cllrs Tim Sargeant & John Kazantzis, Jonathan (Kempshot), PCs Jackie Russell and Lyn Pool. 2. Minutes of meeting of 2nd September and matters arising not covered later: - approved. 3. BUS LANE in Greyhound Lane / The Vale– feedback from well attended public meeting of 15/9 was that TFL were listening to some concerns but were now adopting an all or nothing approach to bus lane and improvements to traffic flow / pedestrian safety. a. Concern was raised on the impact to shops near station and at top of Vale and the lack of consideration of future impact of Homebase redevelopment (now back on cards). b. Agreed that Chair & Rebecca in joint letter / council lobbying with SVPOC to get transport engineer / planner and council to attend meeting to hear resident group ideas. c. Agreed that Chair & SVPOC to write to each shop owner to canvas support for parking /bus bay arrangements to improve flow but keep businesses viable. 4. Deputation to Council / Streatham Area Committee – feedback from Area meeting of 10/9 was that it was a talking shop rather than action taking forum. Deputation is 3 mins speech at beginning so would raise issue and profile at council, but not necessarily produce result. a. Postponed decision to submit deputation to LSNWRA November meeting b. Points to push (in tandem with SVPOC) to keep pressure on – Footpaths, Parking, rejuvenation/ investment, CCTV 5. Crime Figures – a. on immediate patch 0 robberies, 6 burglaries b. on the Common / High Rd – 5 robberies by group of youths in Common c. Member recounted being mugged on High Rd by Natal Rd by 2 13/14 yr old girls. Police response supportive but no result yet. (Rebecca to follow up with police). d. recent assaults/ robberies in Tankerville / Kempshot (Lone women after dark having bags/ rucksacks taken and being hit hard about head)– none since alert went out. e. Bike Gang – recurring cases of group of youths (mix of race & ages from 10 upwards, boys and girls) riding aggressively en masse on pavements in Ellison/ Kempshott – being abusive and threatening if challenged. Police appealing for info to identities / locations to tackle. f. Still under reporting of youth on youth bullying and mugging for cash /mobiles. Reminder that even just reporting helps police build picture and lift culprits even if individual victims are reluctant to testify. 6. AOB a. PENISTONE RD – Behaviour of family in one house is causing serious nuisance to all in vicinity. The family concerned has been housed there by Lambeth in private rented accommodation. Unacceptable / inconsiderate behaviour includes – gatherings of large nos. and loud talking / shouting audible several houses away every weekend to 3 am, revving of car engines and racing up to 3am, 3 yr old child running naked in street and doing her toilet there, and rubbish in front garden (concern also expressed that older children are constantly begging in local area). Residents experience of direct appeal to moderate behaviour of the group is hostility, spitting and no improvement. Appeals to council noise nuisance team falls on deaf ears as noise is not using amplified equipment and team claims it is powerless. Police are regular visitors and have discussed behaviour – especially regards to children. It was emphasised that it is not the people but their behaviour that unless addressed will result in confrontation in foreseeable future as other residents reach breaking point. (at which point bad publicity would follow). ACTION – Councillor Malley to challenge Environmental Services over noise nuisance issue and Social Services & Housing regarding anti social behaviour of tenants they are responsible for. ACTION – Val (Pennistone) to lobby Keith Hill (MP) matter of Policy regarding standards of behaviour expected by refugees given state support. ACTION – David (Guildersfield) to contact beat officer about ASBO procedures. b. Pennistone Rd – One house has recently been converted to hostel – rented by a northern local council to house single people. House is unsafe and unsanitary after the conversion – reluctance from Lambeth Env Services to enforce building regulations on HMOs to be investigated by Cllr Malley. c. St Bartholomew’s has a Orchestra based there – concert on 20th at 7.30 at Immanuel Church all invited – see LSNWRA website for contact details. d. CCTV – Mobile camera’s have all been re- allocated to different areas or have failed to work. Issue is of concern to SVPOC too due to no of daylight raids on shops in Vale. Proposal for joint action / deputation to council –Agreed. e. Ellison Rd – reported that 40 is being renovated for sale by family, 59 is apparently re-squatted (again?! – Rebecca to investigate reports / inform Police). f. Gathering of the Watches – Susan (recently appointed Crime Reduction officer at Town Centre Office ) wants to organise meeting of watches (& maybe Residents associations) – volunteers or contact details of other groups to Rebecca to pass on (David (Guildersfield) to attend /assist) g. Streatham Crime Reduction Committee – hopes to have funds for grants for next year – to get approval in principle we need to start submitting plans. NEXT NEWSLETTER and PUBLIC MEETING Agreement to produce newsletter for December – to be distributed in January with AGM / Public meeting late Jan / early Feb ACTION – ALL - get thinking on ideas for newsletter / theme for meeting. 7. Date of next meeting: Tuesday November 25th at 8pm at the Pied Bull. ACTION – ALL – invite a neighbour.