Holland Park Residents Association AGM minutes, Monday 27th June 2022
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HOLLAND PARK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION HELD AT 6.30 p.m. ON MONDAY JUNE 27TH 2022 AT THE ECOLOGY CENTRE HOLLAND PARK
1. Welcome, introduction and apologies
1.1 John Cowdry [JC], Chairman, welcomed and introduced the Met Police officers, PC Adam Cottis [AC] & PCSO Clifford Alexander [CA]; Councillor Johnny Thalassites [JT]; committee members Judy de Haas [JdH] and Katy Michael [KM]; and welcomed all HPRA members (attendance as per register), and noted that this was the first AGM since 2019, 2020 and 2021 having been ‘lost’ due to Covid.
1.2 He particularly also welcomed and thanked minute-taker, Anselm Frost [AF].
2. Policing – Safer Neighbourhood Team
2.1 AC presented a brief report and then took questions from the floor.
2.2 Team of three covering two wards (Holland and Campden), namely himself and CA, and PC Rachid Benhsain (not present).
2.3 He reported that the crime level in our ward is low (“very good” figures). Perpetrators generally come from out of the area. Principal infringements are at present thefts of, for example, watches, cars, catalytic converters.
2.4 JC urged car security measures against break-ins (be sure to lock; hide valuables; use steering wheel lock). Raids have been carried out recently at nearby drug hotspots in Holland ward but not in the area of the HPRA), and those hotspots have been closed down.
2.5 A question was raised about cycling, especially the very antisocial practice of cycling on pavements. AC replied that police can fine cyclists, but do so rarely. The more reports of offences are sent to the Police, the more likely action is. Resources are usually as a matter of practice channelled towards known problem areas, so the more reports that are received, the more likely it is that police resources would be applied to the reported problem/s. Member urged always to report infringements using the email address:
AWMailbox-.SNTBSHolland@met.police.uk
2.6 A question was also raised about antisocial behaviour of motorcycle and moped delivery drivers, to which AC replied that the police have taken some action on restaurants where moped drivers block the road / pavement. Reporting offences, also to AWMailbox- .SNTBSHolland@met.police.uk, is the appropriate action to try and tackle this problem.
2.7 AC reported on car convoy driving: police have issued S59 Orders (Police Reform Act 2002) on cars in convoy revving in Holland Road (second offence leads to confiscation of car), and have confiscated IT equipment from organisers of these ‘events’, and charged them
2.8 Sale of Notting Hill Police Station: JT reported that the Council has bid for the building, aiming to retain it as a community asset with a police presence. Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC) is taking legal advice as to appropriate definition of ‘best offer’, as the meaning needs to balance financial and community values. JC proposed that the Residents’ Association issue formal support to the Council’s bid; no objections raised.
3. Councillors’ Forum
3.1 JT was present throughout meeting; others sent apologies, as noted.
3.2 As reminder to members, our ward councillors are:
3.2.1 JT, now Lead Member for Finance and Customer Delivery; Vice Chair of Admin Committee; elected 2018;
3.2.2 Aarien Areti, now on Environment Select Committee, Licensing Committee, Planning Applications Committee; elected 2018; and
3.2.3 Lucy Knight, currently Vice Chair Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee, Licensing Committee; newly elected, in 2022.
3.3 Speeding and volume of traffic on the streets called Holland Park is the biggest issue raised with Councillors by residents. Satnavs seem to be the principal cause of car, coach and lorry drivers being directed to use Holland Park as a rat run around traffic lights on Holland Park Avenue.
3.4 There was a lengthy discussion around this topic, with member AA strongly expressing the view that the RBKC needs to do more to protect the interests of its residents and the residential nature of it their streets.
3.5 JT led a report on the traffic calming measures that are about to be installed on Holland Park, and explained why implementation has been taking so long (viz., (i) needed two rounds of financing (cost rose from £30k to £60k); (ii) consultation processes that have to be followed; (iii) plan into work programme (strategic priorities take precedence over Ward priorities); (iv) lead-in to mobilise work team. He went on to report that the HP project will be has been faster than many Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) projects.
3.6 Installation scheduled to start in July, to finish September 2022.
3.7 The meeting was reminded that the calming measures are to comprise a raised cross-over at the entrance to the park (next to the Greek Embassy); five bumps on the north part of HP, and five bumps on the east/south part. The last bump to be installed will the one to be placed right next to the echelon parking bays (which are planned to be reconfigured) to the south of 80 Holland Park.
3.8 Scepticism expressed by members that whilst bumps may reduce speed, they may well not reduce the volume, of traffic using our streets.
3.9 JT also explained budget for highways works: Council no longer gets a £1.5m grant from Mayor’s office. The context is that the Council has to find £40m of savings from the revenue budget over three years. He said that there are streets with worse problems, and those are a higher priority for funds.
3.10 One member suggested the key issue is the will to resolve the problem rather than cost.
3.11 Other options to reduce volume of traffic, and issues around this, were noted / mooted and discussed:
3.11.1 Noted that there is a lack of alternative streets drivers can use to avoid congestion on Holland Park Avenue;
3.11.2 Holland Park had two sets of iron gates “back in the day” (C19?), one member pointed out;
3.11.3 JT thinks closing the road does not lie within the “art of the possible”;
3.11.4 Put up signs banning lorries;
3.11.5 Create a Low Traffic Neighbourhood – very controversial as LTNs displace traffic. Implementation would require traffic counts and other evidence;
3.11.6 Bollards (perhaps retractable to allow lorry delivery access); JT commented that they have been used recently only in school streets, there is a lack of proportionality and a concern about setting a precedent;
3.11.7 Planters an option? Potentially rather ugly;
3.11.8 Building up junctions – might be only partly effective.
3.12 JC suggested that quick feedback should be given by members once the traffic calming measures had been installed. Feedback should be sent by email to traffic@rbkc.gov.uk, and to all of our councillors. (JT asked members to allow a bit of time to establish the efficacy (or otherwise) of the measures.)
3.13 JC closed the discussion by assuring members that if the measures were found NOT to be effective, the HPRA would again on its members’ behalf be taking up the cudgels to find alternative and potentially better solutions.
4. Approval of Minutes of 2022 AGM
4.1 Approved, having been handed out at this meeting.
4.2 At the suggestion of a member, it was proposed by JC, and resolved by the meeting, that the process going forward for approval of AGM minutes would be that draft Minutes would be reviewed by Committee as soon as possible after the meeting, and then posted on website within one month of an AGM; if no comments were received within a further month, they will be accepted as approved.
5 5. Presentation of 2019, 2020 and 2021 Accounts
5.1 JC presented the accounts in his capacity as acting Treasurer. The account summaries were handed to all attendees.
5.2 Various income and expenditure items were highlighted in his presentation. Two modest donations have been made so far in 2022, and the finances remain healthy.
6 6. Issues affecting residents
6.1 Traffic calming measures: see above.
6.2 Membership update:
6.2.1 Death of two long-standing members: Anne Guest in April 2022 at the age of 103; and Lois St Pierre, who died Thursday last week, with members being invited to attend her funeral at 3pm on 8th July at St George’s, Campden Hill.
6.2.2 9 new members in 2019; 17 new members in 2020; 16 new member since 2021; 2 new members thus far in 2022. Membership is ±118 households out of a catchment of ±450.
6.2.3 JC asked for assistance and suggestions relating to the carrying out of another membership drive:
6.2.3.1 80 Holland Park (ex. Duke’s Lodge) to be leafleted. There are currently no members from this new development, and JT said that there were very few residents in the building who were on the electoral roll.
6.2.3.2 JC issued a “whole house challenge”, whereby all existing members should try to bring on board as members all of the other residents in their houses.
6.2.3.3 It was suggested that landlords, indeed all owners, could be motivated to join if they knew that the was an association working to try preserve the value of their investment by maintaining the street, etc. In this regard, JC to circulate the ‘objects’ of the HPRA, taken from the constitution.
6.2.3.4 Other initiatives could include canvassing estate agents (sales and lettings).
6.2.3.5 The app., Nextdoor, was not recommended as a vehicle for this purpose.
6.3 Filming update:
6.3.1 2019: four shoots yielded donation income of £500;
6.3.2 202: no shoots, no income;
6.3.3 2021: no shoots, no income;
6.3.4 2022: 3 shoots to date, £200 income to be collected.
6.4 TfL and tube noise:
6.4.1 The HPRA is trying to engage with TfL about the excessive tube noise that is affecting residents as far away from the Central Line as number 4HP.
6.4.2 After years of TfL not responding with positive steps to members’ complaints, it is hoped that something positive may come from this round of engagement (in which the GLC is also being copied).
6.5 Noisy leaf blowers:
6.5.1 Also pavement washing with jet-washers.
6.5.2 Seems unreasonable that these activities should be allowed to continue blighting other residents’ lives after hours and over weekends.
6.5.3 Offenders seem to tend to be in unoccupied, unconverted houses.
6.5.4 Suggested that members, when encountering the issue, should ask workers to kindly restrict activities to 9 to 5 on weekdays.
7. Election of Residents’ Association Committee
7.1 JC reported that Ciannait Tait had retired as a member of the committee, and thanked her, in absentia, for her years of service to the HPRA and community.
7.2 The remaining committee members resigned and were all re-elected:
7.2.1 John Cowdry – re-elected as Chairman (proposed by Jaana Tarma seconded by Sean Jelley);
7.2.2 Judy de Haas – re-elected (proposed and seconded as above);
7.2.3 Katy Michael – re-elected (proposed by Sean Jelley and seconded by Jaana Tarma).
7.3 A vote of thanks to the Committee was moved from the floor. The Constitution allows people to be co-opted on an ad hoc basis for specific tasks
8. Approval of date of next AGM
Monday 19th June 2023 approved
9. Any other business
9.1 Litter bins on Holland Park: too few (only two). Council says more not needed as there are lots in the park. Causes of increased litter in Holland Park could be less frequent street cleaning, visitors littering, and/or residents putting out more rubbish. Streetline email address for reporting litter is streetline@rbkc.gov.uk. JC to revisit this issue with the RBKC, the HPRA having some years ago tried to get more bins put onto our streets.
9.2 Litter bins in the park: foxes and squirrels rummaging leads to rubbish getting onto Holland Park. Member Jennie Kettlewell (Chair of the Friends of Holland Park) said that this is on the park “to do” list, but not at the top yet: the bins need to be re-designed to prevent the scavenging.
9.3 Slipping on pavements: Two members reported problems. JT said the Council replaces the pavers frequently as part of a pro-active maintenance programme, and any contract variation to reduce frequency to reduce slipperiness could be difficult to push through. The Council favours York (or Portland) stone over (less slippery) concrete for aesthetic reasons. He will investigate.
9.4 Notting Hill Carnival: 27th to 29th August 2022. The Mews was closed last time the Carnival was held ‘live’, and there were extra police for Holland Park. HPRA to investigate and report.
9.5 Electric car chargers: through a discussion the view was formed that there are enough.
9.6 Members’ drinks party: date and location are set: Monday 3rd October 2022, with Liz and Peter Huhne kindly hosting again. Details will be emailed to members
ACTION POINT CHECKLIST
| Reference | Item | Responsibility |
| Section 2.5 | Cycling offences: report to Police | Members |
| Section 2.6 | Motorcycle / moped offences: report to Police | Members |
| Section 2.8 | Notting Hill Police station: support Council bid | Committee |
| Section 3.12 | Traffic: feedback on road bump effectiveness | Committee & Members |
| Section 6.2.3.1 | Membership: leaflet 80 Holland Park (Duke’s Lodge) | Committee |
| Section 6.2.3.2 | Membership: “whole house challenge” | Members |
| Section 6.2.3.3 (& 6.2.3.4) | Membership: reasons to join | Committee to circulate |
| Section 6.4 | TfL & tube noise | Committee |
| Section 6.5 | Leaf blowers & pavement washing: speak to workers | Members |
| Section 9.1 | Review of provision of litter bins on Holland Park | Committee |
| Section 9.4 | Notting Hill Carnival security measures | Committee |