MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HOLLAND PARK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION HELD AT 7 p.m. ON MONDAY JUNE 8TH 2015 AT THE ECOLOGY CENTRE HOLLAND PARK

The chairman welcomed “neighbours as well as residents” and introduced the Committee. She said we all appreciated the contribution from Councillors as well as the Police.

POLICE REPORT

P.C Keith Hughes (who has been on Holland Ward for 9 years) and P.C. Clifford Alexander spoke about the situation in Holland Park. Two officers now man this area where there used to be 6. There have been no burglaries or motor vehicle thefts in the last 6 months although there have been several thefts from motor vehicles in Abbotsbury Road due to owners leaving valuables in cars overnight.

Leaflets were presented to the meeting regarding credit card scams, whereby householders are telephoned, fraud reported and their cards are collected from their homes and misused.

Some additional scams mentioned:

• Plain-clothes fraudsters prevail on vulnerable householders to hand over valuables “for safe keeping”;
• Someone withdrawing money from a cash machine is shown a £5 note on the ground and told they dropped it. As they pick it up, the thief who distracted the innocent party takes card and money from the machine;
• In coffee shops thieves ask for directions whilst covering your telephone with a map, taking the phone as you try to assist.

(The booklet “The Little Book of Big Scams” which was available at the meeting, is also available from the Metropolitan Police, or online, at http://www.met.police.uk/docs/little_book_scam.pdf.)

There have also been reports of groups of stones or strange graffiti being left outside people’s homes. This is apparently code to show thieves whether a home is alarmed, vulnerable or contains valuables. The police ask that these markers are not removed by the public but photographed and sent to them for analysis.

Neighbourhood Watch has been replaced by OWL (leaflets provided). In only 4/5 months 230 households have subscribed to this email service which offers alerts on issues in the area. (Details on how to register at www.owl.co.uk/met.)

The problem of begging in the locality was raised. The police said that controlling this was a long process involving a yellow card, red card, arrest and ASBO. Many of the Romanian beggars were well organised and returned home, only to re-enter the country at the correct time to permit them a further 6 months’ residency. Councillor Feilding-Mellen reported on a campaign to publicise this problem but stated that the Romanian Embassy had not been helpful. Councillor Joanna Gardener is in charge of this project.

COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

Councillor Feilding-Mellen discussed basements. The criteria were changed in January permitting only one storey and 50% of the garden being developed. Consents prior to that date still apply. The policy was being challenged but the Council was confident of winning. A new code of conduct is being drawn up to deal with noise, disturbance and parking, which will impose “rest” periods to assist adjoining householders. The works will have to be implemented within 3 years of permission being granted and there will be no basements permitted under listed buildings.

Also noted:

• The Orangery in Holland Park will have no change to its licence;
• The Dukes Lodge developers are appealing the refusal of their application; they are offering a £12 million contribution to affordable housing in the area, which the Councillor felt was a good sum;
• The Odeon is re-applying with an amended scheme reducing the building by 1 storey, and changing the entrance; and is offering an £8 million contribution to affordable housing.

Councillor Feilding-Mellen discussed at length the meaning of social housing: A 2-bed council flat costs an average of £124 per week, and 25% of the Borough’s housing stock is socially rented. However, the gap is widening, as the cheapest flat (market-related) rental in the prime parts of the Borough now requires an annual household income of circa £85,000. Intermediate rents are normally 30% of incomes between £40,000 and £50,000. From the Council’s survey it has emerged that the cost of housing has been the number one issue for the last 3 years. 70% of the Borough has protected housing stock.

New policies / ambitions are:

1) New and better council homes to be built and rentals will be the same for existing, and future, tenants, who move into them;
2) Social deprivation to be tackled;
3) Urban design to be implemented with more care.

Trellick Tower area & Warwick Road Rubbish Depot (planned 200 new homes) and Treverton Tower, Ladbroke Grove (planned 300 new homes), together with the special needs school, are all earmarked for development. The highest demand is for 2-bed units as opposed to larger houses. The aim is to keep more people in the area.

HOLLAND PARK STATION TICKET HALL

The ticket office is now closed for a month: The entrance area is promised to be re-developed, and staff are now to circulate more widely in the ticket hall itself.

GARDEN WASTE

Judy De Haas reported that the Council had ceased to collect garden waste since April 1st, without consultation or offering alternative services. This decision had been rescinded until the end of June with consultations taking place. The waste tips offered in lieu of this service were considered geographically too distant. The proposals were either (a) charging for rubbish collection or (b) collection with other rubbish, without separate treatment.

FILMING REVENUE

This has ceased due to objections from a resident, but the Chairman felt we needed more of this revenue and asked members to promote the idea.

CHARITY DONATIONS

It was proposed (and approved) to donate £350 to the charity “Summer Sparks” which seeks to improve, at holiday time, the lives of disenfranchised young people. Members were asked to contribute if they wished, and at the end of the meeting £20.01 had been collected.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Leaflets about this scheme were made available. Mentors/befrienders are being sought for young people from the ages of 0-16 years living in families within the community. A commitment of 2 hours per week for 6 months is required, after training. (More information available at www.familyfriends.uk.com.)

COMMITTEE

The Committee was re-elected. The Chairman, who had served for 2 years and was given a hearty round of applause, stood down. John Cowdry was elected unopposed as the new Chair.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

• Responding to a question from the floor, it was noted that the Youth Hostel in Holland Park had been taken over by a Youth Hostel company. It was being refurbished to offer some improvements and more places.
• The new traffic lights at the end of the western section of Holland Park were not felt to be a total success. It was suggested that they needed to be re-phased. It was also suggested that the bus stop at the end of the parallel street (at the Eastern corner of Holland Park) be removed as it was a danger to traffic exiting the street, blocking the view of motorists.
• Abbotsbury Lodge. The appeal on the property seeking planning permission is due on October 8th.
• NEXT AGM: Set for Monday 13th June 2016, same time, same place.

There being no further business, the meeting concluded at 8.10 p.m