MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HOLLAND PARK RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION HELD AT 6.45 p.m. ON FRIDAY JUNE 17TH 2019 AT THE ECOLOGY CENTRE HOLLAND PARK

1. Welcome, introduction and apologies

1.1. The Chairman (John Cowdry, JC) welcomed Councillors Areti & O’Connor (explaining that Councillor Thalassites was to be late) and all other attendees, also apologising for the change of date from the 10th June.

1.2. He presented apologies from David & Chrissie Reid, Sabine Blumel, Betina Kunzl-Tacchi, Emma Kamen, Natalie Cutler, William & Caroline Ingram, Marina Camrose.

2. Policing - Safer Neighbourhood Team

2.1. Due to number of robberies taking place in schools, the police had this morning advised that they were going to be unable to attend the AGM.

2.2. JC confirmed that he had asked the Met Police to let the HPRA have crime stats for the last year, which would then be included in the minutes.

3. Councillors’ Forum

3.1. JC invited Councillors Aarien Areti (AA), Charles O’Connor (CC) and Johnny Thalassites (JT), who’s to arrive later, to discuss their first year in office. Items they have dealt with include, for example, dog fouling and idling motorcars (they have put up signs).

3.2. AA has to leave early because he is a member of a Scrutinising Committee. Have responded 100% to public concerns, dealt with issues like traffic and policing. Initiative to restrict speed to 20 miles per hour.

3.3. A member of the HPRA has complained about noise created by Waitrose (Tesco?) lorry deliveries early in the morning. AA will meet with Tesco. Opening hours can be reviewed. Member JK advised that they used to deliver to the back in the past, but there were complaints, so deliveries were moved to front, but supposed to be only after 7am.

3.4. AA reported that the Adventure playground has received a lot of compliments.

3.5. Member CJ didn’t feel that notice boards did much to dissuade dog fouling, and felt that people would only clear up after their dogs if confronted for not doing so. He said that the area in front of Duke’s Lodge is a concern. Suggested a dog warden on temporary basis. AA advised that the council can penalise (via a penalty charge notice) an offender if it has clear evidence. JC suggested an informal neighbourhood watch: whilst we have good laws, there is insufficient enforcement; if police get enough complaints about a particular issue, they will take that matter more seriously. JC suggested that complaints (with evidence) should be sent to councilors, as well as to the police.

3.6. Member HW raised the issue about noise at HP station, drilling takes place early in the morning. AA replied that this is TfL issue, the council has no jurisdiction. We can bring it up when we meet with them.

3.7. A member raised an issue about a motorbike that comes to a HP construction site every morning, revving the engine. Advice given was to keep complaining, take a photograph for evidence.

3.8. Member TG: During Notting Hill Carnival, people triple-park, obstructing the road and preventing residents from being to access their cars, even in the event of emergency. JT responded: fair point, there are those pressures around carnival. He will speak to councillors Gerald Hargreaves et al to see if enforcement is possible.

3.9.Member MOD: A lot of people put rubbish out the night before the collection. AA: an officer sent out to engage with residents.

3.10. Member AG added that rubbish collectors do their job well, very polite, and asked the councillors to convey our thanks to the cleaning team/s.

CC
3.11. Has had a busy year. He’s vice chairman of Planning Committee. JT is chair of transport.

3.12. He’s had a meeting with council housing (eg Grenfell), and other residents’, associations regarding short lets.

3.13. He arranged and hosted a 3-course lunch, free to +70s, in March. Holland ward has a small budget to increase community cohesion and combat loneliness. Another lunch is coming up in St Barnabas (?) church in Dec.

3.14. Saved some bus routes (TfL dropped plans to cut bus routes).

3.15. Councillor surgeries held on the 1st Tuesday of the month.

3.16. Built relationships with Friends of Holland Park, and the police.

3.17. Temporary CCTV in Russell Road put in place to monitor anti-social behavior; also at a playground, in conjunction with the Peabody Trust.

3.18. Scrutiny meetings are now in place, to try to make Council more effective. Now there are 6 scrutiny committees, but this will change.

3.19. Invited members to subscribe to a council e-newsletter, comes out every 4-6 weeks.

JT
3.20. There will be conference on governance, how to make scrutiny more effective and responsive and less town-hall centric. Please send feedback to organisers, as to what you would like to be scrutinised.

3.21. Member RC asked: a party wall has fallen down, both sides responsible 50/50. Quotes have come in, neighbor hasn’t responded. JT replied: Council can’t do much, it’s a private issue, unless there is breach of planning matter, e.g. listed building.

3.22. Member CJ: Tube noise, the track between HP and Shepherds Bush in bad condition. JT replied: we haven’t received other complaints, but please write to us raising the issue.

3.23. Member FH (FH) asked if HP could be closed during the NH Carnival. JT: will discuss with councillors. FH also asked if HP could be made back into a gated community……

3.24. Member AG raised an issue about demonstrations on Saturdays in front of Cameroonian embassy. JT replied: a right to demonstrate difficult to overturn, but noise complaints and anti-social behavior can be dealt with. Member LSP (LSP) pointed out that policing the weekly demonstrations requires lot of manpower, but that fights sometimes broke out (so policing was necessary).

3.25. Member PR raised the issue that the Cameroonian embassy building is ‘falling apart’, and asked if anything could be done. JT replied: embassies have immunity, but continued complaints might help. LSP expressed the view that the money sent from Cameroon for upkeep was not spent on the house as it should be. Member DDH advised that the demonstrations are about an English v French language row.

4. Approval of Minutes of 2018 AGM

Approved by show of hands.

5 Approval of Minutes of 2017 AGM

5.1. Treasurer committee member Katy Michael (KM) reported: membership fee £10 pounds for life-time subs (x 7 for the year ending December 2018).

5.2. Excellent revenue from filming & photoshoots, number of contributions was on the increase, this year the HPRA received x6 smallish donations, even though they are small, totalling £1,650.

5.3. Largest contribution, £5,000, came from Knightbuild, developers of Duke’s Lodge.

5.4. HPRA has made two donations, one to Lancaster Road foodbank (Trussel Trust), and one to the RBKC for a party for seniors celebrating 100 years of Women’s Vote.

5.5. Member DDH: accounts look healthy, congratulations to the committee and asked if the £5,000 should / would be spent of local charitable causes. JC invited suggestions from members as to how money should be spent, for consideration by the committee.He pointed out that in the past there had been quite a lot of film revenue, but since one member had objected, this had reduced.

6 Running-cost benchmarking

6.1. JC advised that the committee receives a number emails from businesses trying to use the HPRA as a ready marketing channel but that, in order to avoid spamming, the committee had decided not to convey ANY of these approaches to members.

6.2. However, member MOD was considering starting a business to share info useful with residents, reducing cost and improving service, done through vetting suppliers, seeking economies of scale and so on. Given that MOD is a member of the HPRA and therefore resident on our streets, the HPRA thought it would be potentially useful to hear what MOD had to say. JC introduced MOD to the meeting.

6.3. MOD reported:

6.3.1. Has managed to reduce costs in their building by 50%.

6.3.2. Background: law & finance degree, JP Morgan investment banking & equity research, now on sabbatical.

6.3.3. His proposal: to provide strategic advice for (for e.g lease extensions). He’s in the process of building a database for best contractors, and welcomes recommendations for contractors, gardeners, electricians, cleaners etc.

6.3.4. This info would not be going online

6.3.5. He would also like to approach other associations.

6.3.6. The charge would be a success-based (percentage saving) fee.

6.3.7. Anyone interested to contact MOD directly.

7 Issues Affecting Residents

(a) Duke’s Lodge: JC reminded the meeting that two representatives from Candy Bros and two people from Knightbuild attended last year’s AGM. He expressed the view that Knightbuild seem to have done an exemplary job, they are several weeks ahead of schedule. They will move off-site and hand over to Concept Bespoke who will be doing the internals. Project will go on for another year.

(b) Other property developments on our streets

a. #66 HP, Azerbaijan still trying to get planning permission

b. # 78 HP, covered in scaffolding, very little happens, has been going on for 15 years

c. # 54 HP, empty, belongs to Algeria, sold to Italian family. They couldn’t get a planning permission to put in an elevator, so walked out. Currently not on the market

d. # 2 HP, wrapped up, has been having major discussions with borough (now resolved) and issues with contractors. Now progressing well

e. #31 HP, ongoing renovation, seems it’s never finished

f. HP Mews has roadworks

g. Member CJ: reported that 25 HPM has scaffolding, want a bigger swimming pool.

h. #67 HP, almost finished

i. # 73 HP (previously the doctors’ surgery), MOD reported not much happening.

(c) 20 mph pilot project

JC reported that this is about to start, public comments invited. Only on South side of HP. 11 roads chosen throughout the borough. Committee view: will only support decision that treats both sides of HP equally. JT reported that the RBKC is planning to start the pilot in the summer, project duration 18 months.

(d) TfL proposal for Holland Park Avenue and environs (cycle super-highway)

a. JC reported that the consultation was now closed, but TfL might accept still contributions. Committee has made a lengthy submission, stating its concerns, that could not support the scheme unless traffic issues are addressed first.

(Proposed measures for our streets include

i. traffic calming,
ii. raised pedestrian crossings,
iii. vehicle activated signs (= radar which blinks if speed limit is exceeded,
these have been found to be effective). Camera to enable fining speeding
motorists.
iv. Zero tolerance to law-breaking.)

b. Additional issues were around loss of trees and access to shops.

c. Noted that the majority of road users are never going to cycle.

d. JT reported that RBKC council is not supporting the scheme.

e. In the future TfL would be urged to consult stakeholders before starting the planning, rather than during the last six weeks.

f. HPRA started a process many years ago to modify the crossings with HP Avenue and HP, e.g. bus stop, traffic calming, traffic lights. Idea is to limit traffic and reduce speed).

g. JT reported:

i. he’s spent weeks meeting local people and businesses;
ii. Council wants to be neutral, it’ll guided by public feedback;
iii. Council wants to encourage cleaner forms of transport
iv. There were huge amounts of correspondence opposing the plan. Member MOD asked how many responses to consultation had been received; JT replied: “Save the trees” petition received 6,400 signatures,and there were hundreds of emails going to every councillor.
v. Media made inquiries.
vi. Council does not want segregated cycle lanes in HP. Full document
available on RBKC website. It’s highly unlikely that TfL will pursue this
although in theory they have power to take over roads, but this provision
has never been used.

h. Member PR noted: huge lorries going East-West route on HP south and HP north

(e) RBKC proposal for North-South cycle route

a. JC reported that the HPRA objected to this, on the basis that mixing cyclists with pedestrians would present a safety risk.

b. JT: this route is actually part of network of ‘quietways’ which council is supporting. Where a cycle super highway would be disruptive, RBKC would prefer something that would encourage people to visit shops etc. There was some support for the scheme, and council want to hear from those with opposing views in order to improve the proposal.

c. Committee member Judy de Haas (JdH) advised that she would be objecting to
new quietways, as they are dangerous to pedestrians crossings a road.

d. JC suggested that sensible routes could be further to West, e.g. Addison Road, as an alternative, and that the RBKC should involve residents at an earlier stage, before planning starts.

e. JT: Would like to find alternative east-west cycle route. Suggestions welcome. Local knowledge appreciated.

f. JC pointed out that the Holland Walk cycle path is a problem when cyclists come down the hill and ignore the dismount sign.

g. Suggested that Earl’s Court is an example of successful shared space (objections from others, saying it doesn’t work).

h. Cyclists don’t self-regulate, it’s all about enforcement.

i. Member LSP noted that electric scooters are dangerous on pavements.

(f) Membership update

11 new members to date (last year 7), now 101 in total. Committee to discuss how to incentivise more people to join. The more members we have, the louder our voice (the more credibility we have as a representative organisation).

(g) Filming update

a. This year started quietly, only one filming in the Mews, which generated £500. Council tells applicants they need HPRA approval, committee asks filmmakers to respect residents’ privacy. HPRA can’t charge, as such, it only can ask for a donation.

b. There is some filming without permission

c. Member AA asked: Do we have a problem with “Instagram influencers” (Hillgate Village seemingly has a problem)? JC replied: people allowed to film with handheld camera and a small ‘crew’. Member JK added, that one can of course stop people filming on private property, e.g. steps.

d. Professional photographers need permission to film in the park. The policy is quite strict, but infringements are difficult to police.

8. Election of Residents’ Association Committee

Current committee re-elected (John Cowdry, Katy Michael, Judy de Haas), with rights to ‘temporary co-opt people’. (e.g. MOD singlehandedly delivered a leaflet to every house in connection with opposing the cycle superhighway)

9. Approval of date of next AGM – Monday, 8th June 2020

10. Any other business

3rd runway at LHR, consultation will start tomorrow, if anyone wants to object.

MEETING CLOSED WITH WARM GREETINGS AND THANKS TO ALL.