Action by

1.

Welcome and introductions

Bryony Pollock - Chair

2.

Apologies from Caroline (Councillor), Stuart (Councillor), Tom, Joel, Suzanne, Local Police

3.

Election of Chair and Committee

Agreed that position of Chair will be shared amongst the Committee members.

Agreed that position of Secretary will be shared amongst the Committee members.

Agreed that Tom Searle will continue as Treasurer.

Agreed that current members of the Committee (Fiona, Karen, Tom, Kevin, Bryony and Gary) will continue, Margaret will also join.  New members are welcome to join the Committee.

4.

Matters Arising

4.1 Local Plan (update from Tony via Kevin)

- Removal of the clause that states ‘No building is to be taller than Brittania Point’ had been suggested by the London Planning department.  This would improve Merton’s chances of meeting their housing targets.  

- 877 people signed the petition started by our Councillor, Stuart Neaverson, against the Planning Inspector’s proposed change.  Thank you to Tony who pieced together a robust argument against the development on behalf of the Residents’ Association.

- An update has been requested from Merton Council regarding the planning application at Brittania Point, but no response has been received to date.  

4.2 Items for TfL. The representative was unable to attend the meeting due to proximity of elections for the London Mayor; a representative will now attend on 21st September.  Items to be raised:

- Traffic lights at the Tandem Centre junction

- Merton Bus garage – buzzing from charging of electric vehicles

- Cycle lane consultation and the effect on traffic flow

- Residents to notify Committee of other issues/concerns before the September meeting.

4.3 Pickle Ditch.  

- The land is owned by the National Trust.  Residents asked if both banks are owned by them.  Laxmi to share the land registry map with the Committee.  There are plans for Kingdom to patrol the area to deter littering, but this isn’t currently in place.

Committee to follow up

Residents

Bryony to check when cycle lane consultation would be

Laxmi to share the map of land ownership.

5.

Updates from Councillors

• Today ‘Park Play’ was launched in Cannons.
• Borough of Sport Fund is now available.  Interested parties can bid for up to £5000; total fund available is £100,000.
• Criterion/Brittania Point – Glass has now been replaced on one flat; glass on Floor 10 to be replaced soon.
• An arrest has been made following a resident using a warehouse to produce weapons
• Community Health Day – Togetherness Centre on 22nd April from 12-4pm

6.

Multiuse Sports Area in the Recreation Ground

• The Lawn Tennis Association, who funded the tennis court upgrades across the borough, required numbers using the courts. A booking system had been introduced to enable this.
• It had previously been agreed that the Multiuse Sports area would not be locked or included in the Council wide booking system for the tennis courts. Locking the courts and introducing a booking system removed the ability of residents (mainly young people) to use the courts to play football etc on an ad hoc basis.
• Despite this the area had unexpectedly been included in the council booking system.
• Laxmi reported that the Council are willing to work with the Residents Association to keep the courts open.  However, they did not communicate with the residents managing the courts or local Councillors about the introduction of the booking system and it was causing considerable problems.
• Suggestion – time slots for tennis only; time slots made available only when residents who are managing the courts are available to put the nets up, unless the Council are willing to allocate a member of staff to put the nets up and take them down whenever a request has been made.
• Laxmi would request that the area be removed from the booking system be removed until this has been resolved.

CWRA to contact Andrew Kaufmann (Head of Parks)

Laxmi

7.

Treasurer’s report

• Report shared.  Query how much is allocated for Parks and Green Spaces.
• Should the funds be invested in an account where interest is gained?  Currently not, but the Residents Association funds are in a Business account and this may not be possible.
• We do not need to charge membership of the association.  Current funds will allow us to respond where there is a need to spend money quickly.

8.

Annual report/summary produced and shared by Kevin

Matters arising.

• There is currently no borough plan in relation to health despite the growing population.  There are inadequate facilities.  The Integrated Care Board (formerly the CCG) are in deficit and can no longer increase funding.  Ross Garrod, from Merton Council, and Siobhain McDonagh (MP) have been writing to the ICB to appeal for additional facilities but have had very little response.
• Indecision over The Guardian Centre has had a huge impact on Merton Vision staff and activities.
• CWRA to write to the Chief Executive, Sarah Blow, and Mark Creelman, Place Executive, NHS South West London Integrated Care Board for an update.

Committee Bryony

9.

Parks and Green Space Sub-group

Summary provided by Margaret

• 10 sites around CW
• Bee garden has been planted and will need watering
• Plants for sustainability have been planted in various locations
• There is good contact between ID Verde and Councillors to maintain the Green Flag in the Rec.
• Litter-picking 1st Tuesday of every month for 1 hour in Wandle Park.  
• Family day run by the Polka Theatre was successful – a Willow hide has been erected following this event.
• Successful River Group clean up to remove invasive species from our waterways.
• Reminder to contact the Environment Agency if you have any concerns about our rivers.
• Please join the CW Parks and Open Space WhatsApp group to keep in touch; or see their Twitter, Facebook or Instagram pages.

IDVerde and volunteers

10.

Home Energy Efficiency Loan scheme

Merton Council are promoting a scheme for homeowners to borrow funds to make their homes more energy efficient.  Leaflet distributed.  Contact Lendology.cic  Tel: 01823 461099; www.lendology.org.uk/apply-now

11.

Who to invite in the future

• Tree warden
• Trading Standards re Scams
• National Trust re Pickle Ditch
• Residents to contact Committee with further suggestions

Residents

12.

Any other business

• Resident raised an issue where large cars are protruding onto the pavement where there is a drop-kerb making it difficult for people with buggies and wheelchairs to pass.  This is an offense but tickets are not being issued.  Are enforcement officers aware?  
• Any questions or areas of concern for the Cabinet member of Finance, who will be attending our next meeting? Kevin and Gary would meet to think about format and advertising the meeting.
• Concerns that motor bikes are using cycle paths.  To be raised with the local police.
• The CWRA newsletter had twice advertised obtaining no junk mail stickers from Community Safe but they did not respond to requests.
• Resident thanked our Councillors for pursuing concerns over faults with roads and pavements – not fully resolved, but is in progress.

Laxmi to follow up.

Kevin and Gary

13.

Future meetings

Saturday 15th June – Councillor Billie Christie, Cabinet member for Finance and Corporate Affairs

Saturday 21st September – James Pickard, Transport for London

Saturday 9th November – to be advised

All at the Community Centre, 11am