Minutes of Special General MeetingKentish Town Neighbourhood Forum (KTNF)

See Annex A for full list of those who signed the attendance sheets. The meeting room was full.

Apologies

See Annex B for a list of those who sent apologies

1. Welcome

Caroline Hill, Chair of KTNF, opened the meeting and welcomed all those groups and individuals attending the meeting. Thanks were given to Kentish Town Community Centre for providing the venue for the meeting in their newly renovated premises in Busby Place.

2. Vote to include North Kentish Town Association in the KTNF

The Chair explained the request made by the area represented by the North Kentish Town Association to be included within the boundaries of the KTNF. Following an open public meeting of local residents within the area covered by the North Kentish Town Association on 29 February 2012 which voted unanimously in favour of joining in with KTNF, a formal request was received on 14 March 2012 to join KTNF.

The KTNF Committee were recommending to the meeting that this request be supported.

A formal vote was held involving all current members of KTNF present.

In favour: 26 votes

Against: 0 votes

Abstentions: 0 votes

It was therefore unanimously agreed that the North Kentish Town Association is included within the KTNF and the area covered by the KTNF included within the boundaries of the KTNF.

The Chair updated everyone about our Forum application. On April 12 we delivered our official application to Camden for Designation of Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum and for Designation of the Kentish Town Neighbourhood Area. The Area we applied was available to view at the meeting in 2 maps and included in anticipation the North Kentish Town Area. The procedure now is that Camden will consider our application, along with any other Neighbourhood Forums that have applied in Camden. After that the applications will be publicly available online over a 6 week period. Everyone will have a chance to comment on them. Camden will take these comments into consideration and ultimately will be the final arbiter on the boundaries.

3. Co-option to the KTNF Committee

Following the inclusion of the North Kentish Town Association in the KTNF, and due to the existence of a vacancy on the KTNF Committee, it was proposed to co-opt a new Committee member from the North Kentish Town Association. Mary Cane had volunteered to stand for the Committee.

Proposer: Mark Wakefield

Seconder: Paul Seviour.

The meeting voted overwhelmingly in favour of the co-option of Mary Cane to the KTNF Committee with no votes against and one (1) abstention.

Mary Cane was duly co-opted to the KTNF Committee.

4. Vote to approve the amended Constitution

The draft amended Constitution had been circulated to members prior to the meeting.

A number of small amendments to the Constitution had been proposed including:

A quorum of 7 rather than 9 for KTNF Committee meetings (3.4)

An option to ask a Committee member to resign if they fail without an apology and good reason to attend 2 consecutive Committee meetings (3.9)

A revised definition of registered member of the KTNF (3.1)

An option for minor amendments to the Constitution to be affected through notification to and consultation with all registered members rather than by calling a Special General Meeting (6.1)

Clarity over the election of the Officers of the Committee (3.5)

A vote was taken to approve the amended Constitution. It was passed overwhelmingly with no (0) votes against and one (1) abstention.

A question was raised about the provisions of 3.12 which required Representative Local Organisations to be able to demonstrate that they are representative and have a mandate for the views of their members. The Committee are required to monitor this and advised that while it was an important issue it would be applied with a light touch to avoid creating any unnecessary burdens for the organisations.

5. Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer provided an update on the position regarding the funding of the KTNF

In November 2011 the Chair had asked Camden to support our bid to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for up to £20,000 funding for our Neighbourhood Forum. The Treasurer was pleased to announce that the KTNF had been successful in its bid and under the fifth wave of funding had received £20,000 in funding which would be held by Camden and from which we would able to draw down. This placed us as a ‘front runner’. The funding is primarily to enable us to draw up a Neighbourhood Plan with the possibility that the funding would have to pay for any local referendum that might be required.

6. Walkabouts

The Chair provided a brief update on the highly successful series of walkabouts that had been held over the weekend of 21/22 April. Around 80 people had participated.

A lot of positive feedback had been received already and many at the meeting endorsed the success and thanked the Chair and others involved in organising and leading the walks. One

member described the walkabouts as “incredibly enlightening” which was generally endorsed by the meeting.

A walkabout would need to be arranged to cover the area of the North Kentish Town Association. A volunteer from the area would be needed.

The possibility of running the walks on a regular basis was raised as was the idea of videoing the walks and placing the video on the new website. This would be considered subject to resources and other members of the KTNF taking on the role of organiser.

7. Website

The Treasurer provided an update on the plans for the KTNF website. Work was currently underway with a website designer on the creation of ktnf.org. It was hoped this would be up and running within 2 weeks.

8. Map update

The Chair updated the meeting on the production of a detailed GIS map. A copy of a large-scale (1:250) map of the area was available on the floor for everyone to look at the end of the meeting. The Chair thanked Alice Brown for her help with obtaining the map.

9. Neighbourhood Planning

The Chair introduced Biljana Savic, Urban Programme Manager for the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community and Angela Koch, Professional Network Member for the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community and an Advisor to the KTNF.

Biljana and Angela made a presentation on the work of the Prince’s Foundation in relation to Neighbourhood Planning. The Prince’s Foundation is one of four (4) national organisations funded by DCLG to assist Neighbourhood Forums in drawing up their Neighbourhood Plans and engaging with communities. They are only working with front runners and their current funding allows them to work with Neighbourhood Forums until the end of July 2012.

Biljana provided examples of Neighbourhood Forums and Community Organisations they had worked with to date, including a case study on Bristol Old Market. She explained that their principal role was to facilitate the process of drawing up a Neighbourhood Plan and to provide a range of specialist advice including urban planners, transport planners, environmental advisers and business experts.

Angela explained the varied methods of engagement that had been used in other areas including Croydon and Haringey to involve hard-to-reach groups.

The proposed offer of help from the Prince’s Foundation to the KTNF would take the possible form of:

An initial open public meeting to seek views and ideas for what people wished to see to improve Kentish Town and to include in a Neighbourhood Plan. It would also include breaking up into smaller groups to begin prioritising ideas. This would need the participation of a large number of local people, and we would be looking for at least 100 participants.

A second day would take the form of a workshop involving key stakeholders; Council officers, Councillors, business and landowner representatives and a group of KTNF members. This would look at all the feedback from the first day and any other feedback gathered through community engagement.

The third day would involve the Prince’s Trust facilitators collating all the material and then presenting it in the evening to a second large open public meeting.

This 3 day process would take place at an agreed date in July.

This proposal was put to the meeting to consider.

A vote was taken.

In favour: 32

Against 1

Abstentions 5

The proposal to take up the assistance of the Prince’s Trust was therefore carried overwhelmingly.

There was no Any Other Business.

28th Apr 2012  |  Category: Uncategorized

Most of our area is a Conservation Area.  

During the period that was introduced Camden created a Conservation Area Statement which is a splendid document which give a history of the area and then goes through each street giving an architects and planners perspective on the buildings.  It is well written and illustrated. 

It has an extra section on our three listed buildings: The Baths, The French School as it now is – previously the Board School and later Kingsway College.  And The Gates on Prince of Wales Road – originally the Asylum for Aged Governesses. Later Camden School for Girls, St Richard of Chichester and a training centre.

Click here and it should open the Camden site where ther is a link to the statement:

http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/environment/planning-and-built-environment/two/planning-policy/supplementary-planning-documents/conservation-area-appraisal-and-management-strategies/inkerman.en  

If not – Google Inkerman Area Conservation Area and dig a bit.

Well worth it.

David

21st Apr 2012  |  Category: Uncategorized

[UPDATE  on 28.4.12 - this was a great succcess - see the minutes of the Forum Meeting.  16 walks - over 70 people - everyone found it fascinating to learn more about the area.]

As a part of launching the Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum, we have organised walks round the whole area to explore the buildings, their history and current use, and to look for places where the area could be improved.

John Nicholson and David, together with two other local residents, Alice Brown and Chris Phillips, have done a pre-walk and we have found that just by really looking carefully in every nook and cranny, we have learnt a lot about places we thought we knew well.   And raised lots of interesting questions about the history and use of buildings – especially the commercial and industrial ones which we plan to explore later.   It was great fun!

The whole of Kentish Town has been divided into four areas and guided walks are happening – Saturday 21st 10 -12 and 2.00 – 4.00    And Sunday 22nd at the same times.

For the Inkerman Area – we meet at the main entrance to the Baths.

To go on the other walks for other areas – contact us for details or Caroline Hill on chdesign (at sign) btinternet.com

19th Apr 2012  |  Category: Uncategorized

Minutes of IARA meeting 5 March 2012

Present: Charles Collett , Norma Wynter, Peter Haden, Anne Fitzgerald, David and Debby Hyams  (Alma Street), Diana Harewood, Don Hibbs, Adam Leys, Jeff Baynes, Jean Hart, Nicholas Hadaway, Laura Andreae, Dee Searle, Mike Sumner (Willes Road), Jon Bowman, Anne Hearn, Elizabeth Kwantreng, Glory Kwantreng (Ryland Road), Mary Hill, Paul Seviour, John Nicholson, Liz Hill, Robert Livock (Raglan Street), Richard Organ, (Grafton Road), Sylvia Lynch, Frank Lynch

In attendance: Sgt. Peter Ryan

Apologies: Cllrs Jenny Headlam-Wells, Meric Apak, Georgia Gould

1.  Issues for local councillors

Councillors unable to attend because of clash with council meeting, but had prepared a report (please see attached) covering key issues:  Camden’s Budget, Community Investment Programme, Greenwood Place, redevelopment of Holmes Road Hostel (drop in exhibition at the hostel Monday 19 March 3 – 8 pm), Early years, Good Neighbours, planning.  Details of councillor surgeries included in the report.  They are also offering a coffee morning if residents would like to have time to raise issues directly with them – this idea was welcomed.

Issues discussed to raise with councillors included The Magnet Site where another student hostel is to be built, following the developer’s successful planning appeal.  Holmes Road residents have asked for support in getting community involvement in the construction management plan, including asking the council to ensure they retain direct building control and do not allow this to be outsourced.  Residents also want input to a site traffic management plan to protect small streets.  This was agreed and we will ask councillors to pursue it.

Adam had raised problems with rubbish and recycling collections.  Recycling collectors have been seen to chuck all sorted recycling into the same container and Camden’s Environmental Manager for the area, Mark Hunt, wants to hear from residents if this is happening.  He also wants to hear about rubbish being dragged to central points more than 30 minutes in advance of collection, and any problems this causes.  Please contact him with details – time, place and what happened.  Street.environment@camden.gov.uk, 020 7974 8865, 07775 500 457

2.  Recap on year

• Pizza Express David reported on the very successful campaign involving residents from all around the area and culminating in the Planning Inspector’s refusal of planning permission.  Also pointed out that demolition in itself doesn’t require permission and the site remains at risk of new plans being submitted.  However, it had been very effective in getting local groups working together, contributing time and money to save the building.
• Lakeland Paul reported on the problems residents in Raglan Street and Alpha Court had experienced with the Lakeland Works Depot.  They ran a very active joint campaign, establishing that the depot did not have permission to use the land, and succeeded in getting it moved.
• Street Party 2011 Debby reported on another excellent Street Fair, the fifth orchestrated by Diana.  It had generated a small profit, and over £2,000 was donated to IARA from stalls, including the IARA bar, the raffle and tombola.  It was agreed that up to the amount donated could be used for the 2012 Fair.  Full accounts are now available, and will be included with IARA’s accounts for the next meeting.
• Planning and licensing (KTRA) David and Adam explained that several IARA members also attend meetings of Kentish Town Road Action, a group set up and chaired by Caroline Hill to protect and improve Kentish Town Road (which otherwise has no single group concerned with the road as a whole).  They have been highly vigilant and effective in stopping the grant of late licences and changes of planning use where these would have been to the detriment of the high street.  The meeting confirmed that IARA supports opposition to the grant of late licences, and supports the protection of a high percentage of retail in the high street.

IARA’s policy (previously agreed) on residential planning applications within the area is to alert neighbours to applications whenever possible, but not to take a direct view as this would involve getting involved in potential disputes between IARA members.  This policy was endorsed by the meeting.

3.  Other planning issues

• James Wigg Pharmacy: this is a confused story in which an application had been put in to open a 100 hour a week pharmacy.  It seemed initially to be actually within the James Wigg practice. People thought is threatened the sustainability of the three existing chemists in the High Street.  Paul informed the meeting that it was not in fact by or in the practice and it was a speculative application by persons unknown.  It was agreed that longer opening hours would be welcomed by many people and the existing chemists should be asked to consider this – possibly on a rota basis.

• Town Houses in Willes Rd by the baths.  This site has been empty since the baths’ renovation. Sadly Sarah Harvey’s initiative in seeking to form a group to buy and build has not progressed and they have been sold on – presumably with the planning permission for the bizarre copper canopies over the front doors.  Nicholas and Laura who live beside it agreed to make further enquiries.

4.  Localism – Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum

David told the meeting about the creation of the neighbourhood Forum and paid tribute to Caroline Hill who has run Kentish Town Road Action for many years with support from various members of IARA and who saw the opportunity and need for a Kentish Town Forum under the new Localism Bill. The purpose of this has been reported on the website. There is a pro-developer and anti-Local Authority agenda in the Bill but also the opportunity to create a real sense of identity in Kentish Town.

After two public meetings, the Neighbourhood Forum has been launched and a steering committee formed.  Caroline is the chair, David is vice chair, John is Secretary and Paul is treasurer. Full detail are on the IARA website, pending creation of a Neighbourhood Forum website.

The hot news is that Caroline has applied for a grant and we have been promised £20,000.

David explained that the normal or official first and main task is the creation of a Neighbourhood Plan.  We will work with Camden on this as they have done a lot of work in similar terms and we can build on that.

But there are other, broader purposes that we can pursue as a Neighbourhood Forum.  Creation of a really strong sense of Kentish Town, including such things as a weekend festival with events, concerts, exhibitions etc.  Involvement of all the local tenants and residents groups and the schools, galleries, shops, restaurants and other businesses, churches, charities, police, health service and others.

Kentish Town has a very strong artistic and creative life with theatres, venues, galleries, photography studios, film makers etc who provide local business energy and can contribute to the community.

There is a strong music tradition with music in pubs and cafes, in the Forum which also has problems – though it is up for sale. Thanks to the Neighbourhood Forum meetings we are becoming more aware of other Kentish Town groups such as BARA, the Bartholomew Area Residents Association on the other side of the High Street who have lively meetings, and have a music scene with a string quartet. We have had discussions about a possible Kentish Town Choir, Orchestra… brass band?!.

Debby mentioned that the battle for the Pizza Express had brought together some of these groups and at the recent Sunday lunch party there, people had suggested a regular Kentish Town lunch the first Sunday of the month.

David asked the meeting what people thought about notices – both for IARA and Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum.  Either on trees / lampposts or specially made notice boards.  The meeting was against using trees lampposts, but would welcome a community notice board – possibly on the Raglan Day Centre railings?

5.  Police report

Peter Ryan reported on local issues.  There have been big cuts in police staffing – 100 fewer officers than last year.  The Crime Prevention Officer post has been cut, but Safer Neighbourhood Team officers visit all victims of burglary and advise.  Generally, burglars have gained access where it is easy to do so, so window and door locks, glued down windowboxes and general vigilance are all effective deterrents.

A lot of crime committed by people living in or near the Inkerman Area is aimed at affluent areas outside London, as well as some local burglaries.  Some offenders well known to the police have been arrested and detained and there have been no further reports of burglaries (this area generally has a very low crime rate, although across the whole patch burglaries are up 13%).

6.  Street Fair 2012

Paul is taking the lead organising this year’s fair, on Sunday 27 May, which will have a more local, mellow feel.  Sadly, there has been a very low response to the mailing circulated asking for involvement.  We may have to review the idea of a shared lunch if there is not more interest.   The planning group is meeting regularly (next meeting Monday 19 March 7 pm at the Abbey for anyone wanting to attend).

7.  French School (CFBL)

Don, Jean and Adam have formed an IARA sub-group and are meeting with three CFBL Parent Trustees to establish a “Community Group” to promote relations between

the CFBL and the Inkerman Area Residents.  They would welcome input from a Cathcart Street resident.  They suggest that any problems with the school should in the first instance be raised through them, and have circulated all households in the immediate vicinity with contact details.  Meeting agreed that the students are generally well behaved – rather more so than some of the parents.

8.  Website

www.inkermanresidents.org.uk has been updated and is being used much more, with over 100 visitors some days.

9.  Meetings and officers

Agreed that the next meeting (date tba) would include a formal election of officers (currently Debby chair, David secretary, Richard treasurer).  Nominations with seconders will be invited in advance of the meeting and a vote taken. Accounts will be available.

Meanwhile, the meeting agreed to continue the current suspension of the formal constitution, which requires monthly meetings, on the basis that these are largely now covered by subgroups and increased email consultation and action.

10.  Visit to school’s prizewinning new building

After the meeting several of us were shown round the new building on the corner of Prince of Wales and Cathcart St.  This is a library and music room with doors that can open onto the playground and form a performance space. This building won the RIBA award last year:

http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAAwards/Winners2011

/London/StPatricksSchoolLibraryandMusicRoom/StPatricksSchoolLibraryandMusicRoominterior.aspx

Many thanks to Jo who showed us round and who locked up after us and sorted out the heating staying on late.   Jo mentioned that the Head is keen to work with the community and agreed to put him in touch with us.

11th Mar 2012  |  Category: Uncategorized