Minutes of the EBRA Annual General

Saturday, 3rd April 2010

 

Held at The Iron Duke, Waterloo Street at 11.30 am.

 

A Warm welcome was extended to our special Guests Juliette Hunting of LARA and Cllr Paul Elgood (Lib Dem Candidate for the General Election) and Cllr David Watkins. Also present were Mike Weatherley (Conservative Candidate) and Ian Davey (Green Party Candidate) both are members of EBRA.

 

1. Proposed by Bill Cowell that the following be elected as our Committee for the coming year.

Rhondell Constantine            - Upper & Lower Market Streets, Kerrison Mews

 

Geraldine Diggins                  - Treasurer & Western St/Embassy Court

Keith Bacall                            - Deputy to Geraldine             

 

Eleanor Gamper                    - Brunswick Street East/Donkey Mews

 

Richard Gamper                    - Co Chair

Bill Cowell                              - Co Chair

 

Mark Harris                            - Cross & Little Western Streets

 

Hassan Khabbazeh               - Waterloo Street, Ivy Mews/Place, Chapel Mews

 

Joan Marks                            - Secretary & Rep. for Golden Lane

 

Richard Oxford                      - Farman Street

Martin Smith                          - Deputy to Richard     

 

Reggie Vincent                      - Norfolk Square

Vicki Norman                         - Deputy to Reggie

 

Jim Livesey                           - Web Master & Editor

 

Peggy Thomas                      - Community Garden Volunteers.

 

George Parolalista                - Promotions & Membership

 

Apologies for non - attendance were received from  Committee Members - Reggie Vincent and Peggy Thomas. Jim Livesey lives in Madrid and had no need to attend. He is in constant contact with Bill Cowell.

 

Many other members of EBRA were present too many to name them all here. But our thanks to them for attending from the Committee.

 

A vote was taken. All the Committee members were voted into their positions on the Committee – no votes against

 

Bill mentioned to the meeting that in respect of Data Protection, all members email addresses are secure and that all emails to EBRA members use the BCC (blind) function. That way your address is not given to other members. The exceptions are that members of the Committee have to reveal their e-mail address so they can be contacted if needed by other members of EBRA.

 

2. Richard Oxford who was item 5 on the Agenda has been moved forward to Item No. 2, as he has to leave for work as soon as he has finished speaking.

Richard briefed us on the progress being made with the Gating Order for Farman Street. He told us that the proposal will is that a 1.6 metre metal gate will be installed at the Western Road end of Farman Street at the point where is meets Western Road. This will be open 24/7 outwards from Farman Street but it will be locked from Western Road into Farman Street during the night hours. Times yet to be set. Access will be available by PIN Code to the residents of Farman Street. If any member would like to view the full details please contact Bill Cowell who will send them a PDF (17 Pages) on the submission made to the Council by Simon Banister (who works for the Council). Thanks to Simon for the excellent job he has done on this for us. We all hope that it is now approved very soon.

 

3. Juliette Hunting of the Lansdowne Area Residents Association addressed the meeting to tell us about ‘Brunswick Town In Bloom’ All members are asked to do their best to make the street they live on look its best by planting out window boxes and doorstep flower pots. There are many cash prizes but the overall prize is the one we are aiming for. That is for the most attractive area. I.e. Brunswick Town.   We will be doing our bit via volunteers to make Norfolk Sq look its best along with the Community Garden in Waterloo Street. The Judges will be looking not only at the plants and flowers but to see if graffiti and litter etc is being cleared. Extra points can be won by making sure you plant things that need little watering. Judging day is the 12th July.

As David Watkins put it “We Are Only a Flower Pot Away From Winning”

Juliette mentioned that it was the St. Ann’s Well Garden’s Centenary Festival on the 22nd May.

So please contact Juliette if you want any further information. Her e-mail address

Is: -  ju.lara@btinternet.com

 

4. Bill mentioned that we have EBRA members living in Cambridge, Brunswick and York Roads. At present our area does not include these road so the members living there do not have a vote.

Bill proposed that the EBRA area be extended to include these roads. Vote taken and all agreed Yes.

 

Nigel Furness has volunteered to be the Rep for Cambridge Road (not on Internet) Brunswick and York Roads will be taken care of by Hassan until we get a volunteer to take on the job.

 

5. Hassan proposed a vote of thanks to Peggy and Bill for the hard work they have put into looking after the Community Garden during the past 5 years. They are now both giving up this task and EBRA is looking for volunteers to take the job on. Hassan presented Bill (Peggy was absent) with a £50 voucher collected from residents and the Committee for them to have a meal at La Fourchette and £45 to buy a treat. He also presented them with a jar of Olives made from our first crop from the Community Olive trees. Helen his wife pickled them for us.

 

6. Richard Gamper told us of his meeting with Louise Rennison a few months back. This was to discuss the future funding of the Garden. The Old Market have long since stopped paying any contribution towards its running. Many reasons for this that we all know about.

Ms Rennison said she would come up with a plan – but has not yet got back to Richard. So we now have a Community Garden with no money and no Gardeners. Richard has said he will make contact with Ms Rennison to discuss what is planned. It must be remembered that the Garden is built on Council land. Any claim that The Old Market makes to it must be rejected, as it is likely to be a selling point when the Old Market is finally sold.

 

7. Rhondell Constantine is very keen to have a fundraiser for Norfolk Sq. Last year she organised a fundraiser for the Community Garden, which raised nearly £600. Her effort this year will be for Norfolk Sq. George Parolalista has offered to help her organise this event. The preferred date would be a Sunday in August from 10 am to 6 pm. Reggie Vincent will be contacted on his return to Brighton and asked to give them a hand.

 

8. Rhondell proposed a vote of thanks to Jim Livesey who does our web pages even though he has left the area and now lives in Madrid he continues. Thanks Jim you are a gem. Rhondell suggested that more members should view it, as it would keep them up to date with local events.

Rhondell also proposed a vote of thanks to Peter Lindars of The Iron Duke for allowing us once again to use the Pub for our meeting. Thanks Peter.

 

AOB

Junk Mail and Bumf through your letter boxes – Hassan can get stickers to place on your letter box to try and stop this menace. Please contact Bill if you would like one of these stickers. Bill told those present that he has stopped all the junk mail he used to receive by returning it to the sender marked “Deceased”

 

Easter Egg hunt and Easter Bonnet Parade Sunday 4th April in Norfolk Sq and Western Street starts at 12.00

 

Mad Hatters Ball Tickets £10 – April 25th (more details needed for this to be listed.) Please contact Bill and give him the details so that it can be sent to all on the EBRA e-mail list.

 

 

The Meeting closed at 12.30 pm.

 

Bill Cowell

Co Chair