Friday 19 September 2008

2008 CARA AGM

17th September 2008
Pavilion, Canbury Gardens

The Chairman of the Committee welcomed the 30 or so attendees and provided an overview of the aims of Canbury & Riverside Association (CARA). CARA is a non-political and purely voluntary organisation whose aims and objectives are the protection and enhancement of amenities within the area for residents and users alike.

The Chairman offered thanks to all of members who have supported CARA in the last 12 months along with the team of dedicated and hard working Committee members.

A very busy year was reviewed with teams being involved in:

  • Hotel Development Review (more later)
  • Boaters refurbishment - consultation & support to improve this important local amenity
  • Christmas carols
  • Post Office Closure - analysis, action - sadly the decision appeared to have been a ‘fait accompli’
  • Richmond Road Parade - new trees planting, paving & landscaping + bus stop
  • Riverside Litter Pick & Clear Ups - 3 carried in out in 2008 Feb, Mar & Sep
  • Thames Landscape Strategy - regular reviews + guidance on local views. Success with the new sensitive lighting in Gardens between the rowing club and slipway
  • Get fit in the park
  • Liaison with Police Safer Neighbourhood team
  • Liaison with Councillors and Council Officers
  • CARA 2008 Grant Programme (more later)
  • Informing people - the new format newsletter to all residents and businesses has been a great success. The web site becoming much more of an active blog style resource has proved popular and the launch of the CARA Community Hub has enabled comments to be posted by residents and other interested parties. The Community Hub can be accessed at http://groups.google.com/group/carakingston
  • Traffic & Parking Reviews - focused on Albany Park Road. No further action likely as no majority view.
  • Planning Reviews - affecting LHR and Albany Park Road
  • Canburys Gardens Maintenance - working in association with Quadron who do a great job in keeping the gardens up to a high standard.
  • Kingston Town Centre Management
  • Getting back in touch with the Albany - thanks to having a Committee Member who lives in the Albany, communication with the residents in this gated community have been revived.
Despite being joined by three new excellent and active members (Claire Fergusson, Marilyn Mason and Richard Mobbs) in the last year, the Chairman commented that the Committee was still under some pressure as a result of the bidding farewell to one committee member (Helen Moss) and a request was made by the Chairman for new people to become more active.

People need to understand what is required in being involved in working with CARA. It is not an NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) organisation but balanced with no agendas, no politics and no single issues beyond the core brief stated previously. The Committee fosters a constructive mix of views and opinions through friendly debate and respect for all concerned. Above all it has as an aim, the encouragement for people to take responsibility to affect change for the positive in the immediate neighbourhood and beyond.

An existing member, Glenda Leveson of Albany Mews put herself forward to stand for the committee, which was received with thanks.

Election of the Committee
The following members who offered to stand for the Committee were duly elected:
  • Bazil Arden
  • Penny D’Souza
  • Claire Fergusson
  • Clare Francis
  • Glenda Leveson
  • Marilyn Mason
  • Richard Mobbs
  • Hugh Scantlebury
  • Trevor Willis
Membership Report
The Chairman reported that out of the 725 known addresses covered by the CARA area, there are currently 183 members. Furthermore CARA now extends the distribution of the newsletter to an additional 100 or so parties in the Council, local businesses, shops and volunteer groups.

This represents a second year of consistent growth in year on year membership which has been aided by the publication of regular and professional looking newsletters, issuing renewal notices etc.

A request was made for all parties where possible to supply CARA with valid email addresses to enable us to communicate more effectively and in a more environmentally sensitive manner (with less reliance on paper).

Finance Report
Richard Mobbs presented the accounts to 31 August 2008.

Subscriptions were £165 up at £902 partly because the previous period was only 10 months, but also due to an increase in members, with deferred income standing at £562 (future year subs). Total donations received came to £55 and interest received from the bank coming in at £104.

The two major expense items in the year were grants issued under the 2008 CARA Grant Programme of £1,000 and printing & distribution costs for the newsletters and other materials of £598.

Reserves stand at £1,383.

Hotel Development Update
A run through of the progress (or lack off) on the proposed redevelopment of the power station site was given, focusing on CARAs activities in fostering communication with the second scheme's architects, councillors etc at the various forums and workshops (the notes of which are documented in full on the CARA web site). In summary the first scheme (the one with the towers) was rejected in November 2007. The second scheme was agreed in principle by the RBK Development Committee in June 2008 but appears in abeyance whilst the outcome of the Public Enquiry / Appeal against decision on 1st scheme (completed July) is made public. The decision currently rests with Secretary of State.

Rose Theatre Update
Kate Tebb kindly gave a briefing on the latest productions which include A Doll's House (9 September - 27 September By Henrik Ibsen and directed by Peter Hall) and Born in the Gardens (30 September - 11 October by Peter Nichols and directed by Stephen Unwin) along with a preview of the winter and Christmas programmes.

CARA 2008 Grant Programme
This is the second year of operation (having been originally launched at the 2006 AGM). It was agreed that on this occasion a maximum of £1000 in new grants were to be awarded by 30th June 2007 (max £500 per submission). Despite some apathy in terms of applications (again!), 3 new awards were made in the year ended 31st August 2008:
  • Kingston Rowing Club £500
  • Andrew Cunliffe (Albany Sailing) £300
  • Ignite Youth Group £200
There are no plans to run the scheme in 2008/9, but the process may be repeated subsequently depending on reserves / surpluses available.

Guest Speakers

Metropolitan Police
Inspector Mick Mills introduced the main elements of the Safer Neighbourhood and Safer Transport teams, which were explained in more detail by our local Safer Neighbourhood Sergeant - Mark Phinn and the Kingston Safer Transport lead, Sergeant Stephen Sharrack.

Sgt. Mark Phinn explained the priority of getting people to know once again who their local police are. Whilst the area suffers little major crime, burglaries and motor vehicle crime continue to be a problem. This is exacerbated by too many people not securing (locking) their vehicles properly. He also commented on the fact that whilst open spaces are always likely to attract a small amount anti-social behaviour, the team of regular Police Constables and PSCOs (Police Community Support Officers) is working well to head off such issues by becoming a familiar presence for local people and patrolling areas of concern at the most relevant times (e.g. Friday / Saturday evenings).

Sgt. Steve Sharrack gave an introduction to the Safer Transport Team which was introduced by the Mayor of London, TFL and the Metropolitan Police to improve passenger security and confidence whilst using public transport. Using a video of some real CCTV footage, Steve gave an entertaining presentation highlighting the value of ensuring those using the transport services (where they live in RBK or not) observe the same high standards of behaviour as the majority of the populace.

Mark Muir - Manager at The Boaters Inn
Mark thanked everyone for their support during the six months that have elapsed since The Boaters reopened. In particular he gave praise to CARA for getting involved in the original pre-opening consultation exercise, and the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team for providing the additional patrols in the Canbury Gardens which have helped to keep any undesirable behaviour in the area down to a minimum.

Mark commented that overall the first six months had been a success but that expectations are high. As with any new business there are highs and lows, and Mark and his team will be focusing on ensuring a higher degree of consistency of food and service over the coming months.

The Boaters will shortly be distributing a newsletter promoting the new seasonal menus, upcoming events and Christmas specials. There were a couple of questions regarding the use of the outside bar, opening hours etc. and some general feedback requesting further menu variety.

Close
The Chairman thanked all the guest speakers for coming along and then proceeded to summarise some of the areas we will be focusing on in the months ahead which include:
  • Hotel Development - communicating the outcome of the Public Enquiry
  • Canbury Gardens - further work on landscaping, Bulb Planting, LHR Verges etc. in association with the Parks Department / Quadron
  • Thames Landscape - River into Kingston initiative, finding out what is going to happen to Turks Boatyard etc.
  • Environmental issues
  • New Refuse & Recycling systems - due to be introduced in the Autumn of 2008 (for details see comments on the CARA Community Hub)
  • Water - issues caused by having too little (low water pressure) or too much (flooding) and what measures are being taken to alleviate both.
After receiving a number of questions from the floor, the meeting was duly closed.

Monday 15 September 2008

CARA Litterpick / The Big Tidy Up - Sept 2008

As per the lead story, a very successful event. Thank you to everyone who came along. First off everyone received a thorough briefing on what we intended to do, along with safety information.






CARA provided helpers with high visibility vests, gloves, rubbish bags and litter pickers and there were badges and Wall-E* stickers galore for the kids. The Safer Neighbourhood Team were around to provide support, meet some local residents and help in case we identified any sharp or dangerous items.





Trevor Willis and and a couple of willing volunteers manned a boat, pulling large amounts of tough to get at flotsam from the river and bankside.





...coping with the occasional bout of engine trouble!






At the end of the day we collected over
9 bin-bags of rubbish, one boot, two broken fishing rods, and two bins full of recyclables, which included an astonishing 63 vodka bottles!




Well done everyone!! Thank you to everyone who came along.







Saturday 13 September 2008

CARA litter-pick

Thank you to everyone who helped with the CARA litter-pick, part of the national Great Tidy-Up, today. We collected 9 bin-bags of rubbish, one boot, two broken fishing rods, and two bins full of recyclables, which included an astonishing 63 vodka bottles!

Wednesday 10 September 2008

New waste / recycling system in the CARA area - update

Some answers I've just had from RBK to questions from the CARA committee about the new system:

When will it get here?
The area between Lower Ham Road and Richmond Road will be in phase 4 of the change which is currently scheduled for delivery of containers at the beginning of November. You should start receiving more information from the end of September. And the Council will be holding "road shows" around the borough to explain the new system.

Who owns the new bins? The new bins and containers will be owned by the Council and as such if damaged or broken they will be replaced by the Council free of charge, although residents are expected to look after them and wash them occasionally if required. If a resident repeatedly asks for replacement bins the Council will follow up with a call from a member of staff. The average life for a wheeled bin is about 7 years, and repairs such as new wheels or lids can extend this even further.

What do we do with our old dustbins? The Council's experience of similar changes in Berrylands suggests that many residents find alternative uses for their bins, for instance in the garden, and there are some suggestions in the service information booklets that come with the new bins. Alternatively old bins can be taken to Villiers Road Household Re-Use and Recycling Centre - and some can be recycled. The Council understands that not everybody will be able to move their bins to Villiers Road so is planning a pick-up of old bins in the New Year.

Saturday 6 September 2008

CARA Annual General Meeting 2008

Notice is hereby given and all are cordially invited to attend:

Annual General Meeting of the Canbury & Riverside Association
Wednesday 17th September 2008 at 8pm
The Pavilion in Canbury Gardens

Guest speakers:


Metropolitan Police - Inspector Mick Mills will speak on local police matters.
The Boaters Inn - Mark Muir, the manager will discuss developments at the pub


The AGM Agenda will be as follows:
  1. Chairman’s statement
  2. Membership update
  3. Finance report
  4. Report on the 2008 CARA local grant programme
  5. Proposals for those standing for committee
The following committee members are standing for election:

Bazil Arden, Claire Ferguson, Clare Francis, Marilyn Mason
Richard Mobbs, Hugh Scantlebury, Penny D'Souza, Trevor Willis

At the end of the meeting there will be an open forum for questions and answers.

Notice of resolutions of matters to be raised at the AGM must be submitted to the Chairman no later than Monday 15th September.

This is your chance to find out more about the work that CARA does on your behalf - and perhaps to be inspired to join the committee or the association (see the Chairman’s message below). The more members we have the stronger we are and the more we can achieve for all who live in this beautiful area of Kingston.

A personal message from the CARA Chairman:

As you can see from the notice above, we are very pleased to invite as many of the local residents as possible along to our 2008 Annual General Meeting. I am very pleased to report that the Committee have worked hard on a number of projects and run a number of events in the support of our aim of protecting and enhancing amenities within the area for residents and users alike.

Once again though, we would like to ask more people to be involved in the CARA Committee - despite being joined by some excellent new members last year, we still need more.


The commitment required is not too arduous (otherwise none of us would do it). The Committee meets every six weeks or so for a very balanced and convivial couple of hours at which we discuss developments in the local community and agree follow up activities. Actions are shared amongst members and might typically involve putting a call in to a local councillor; writing a letter or getting involved with one of our key liaison groups which include the Police Safer neighbourhood team, the Thames Landscape Project, Kingston Town Centre Management or the RBK traffic and parks officers.


We have achieved a lot in the years that I have been involved. I get a lot back from my fellow committee members and local residents alike. It's a great way to find out what is going on and get to know people who live locally and who share a common interest in maintaining the special nature of our neighbourhood. I would obviously strongly recommend it.


The more people we have, the more we can achieve. Please help by joining us; even if you can't commit to come to every meeting, we would be very pleased to have you on board. You can join up at the AGM or if you want to find out more beforehand then please contact us via email to cara.kingston at gmail.com


Thanks to everyone to their continued interest in our activities. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the AGM next week.


Hugh Scantlebury (Chairman)