Minutes of Committee Meeting Held Saturday, 2nd June, 2007

The meeting took place at 23 Waterloo Street, at 11:00 am.

Committee Members in Attendance

• William Cowell, Chairperson
• Richard Gamper, Deputy Chairperson
• Susan King, Treasurer
• Jim Livesey, Wemaster
• Gerald Featherstone, Secretary
• Eleanor Gamper
• Jane Austin
• Mark Harris
• Hassan Khabbazeh
• Kerri Burns
• Richard Oxford

Apologies received from:

• Peggy Thomas
• Reggie Vincent
• Geraldine Diggins

Guests present were

• Michael Brown (EBRA member)
• Councillor Sven Rufus

The minutes of the last meeting (Sunday 18th February 2007) were read and agreed. Any matters subsequently arising from the minutes are covered in the main items below.

Sven Rufus introduced himself and explained that he was responsible for Norfolk Square/ Regency Ward, but due to the close proximity with the area represented by EBRA still had a keen interest in the East Brunswick area.

Peggy Thomas was unable to attend the meeting, but did submit a summary of the Community Gardens project. The main points were:

• Louise Rennison (who funded the building of the garden) has asked Bill and Peggy if they would be prepared to salvage the Waterloo Street Community Garden.
• Any new plants required should be paid for by the Old Market, since neglect by the Old Market had caused the Garden to deteriorate.
• Bill and Peggy have spent over £300 on suitable plants for the gardens which they have funded. The money has since been repaid to them by The Old Market Trust.
• A group has been set up to maintain the gardens, further volunteers will be welcomed and should make contact with Peggy via EBRA.
• If any members would like to contribute to seasonal plantings please send your contribution to Peggy via EBRA.
• The Old Market will be fitting an outside tap for watering. This will be sited in a locked box, keys held by Garden volunteers.
• The blocked drain has now been cleared, and the waterlogged flower bed drained and planted out.
• Stephen Neiman has promised to ask The Old Market Trust for funds to install two benches in the gardens.

Jim Livesey presented on the EBRA web pages. The second year hosting charges of £30 have just been paid, and Jim should claim these charges from EBRA.

The number of hits to the web page have fallen recently, and ways of promoting the website need to be derived, and published. Once suggestion is to include information about EBRA and its website on the notice board in Norfolk Square.

The committee thanked Jim for all of his excellent work on the website.

Jane Austin has met with Paul Elgood to discuss Council plans for the Western road area in relation to number of premises licensed for sale of alcohol and fast food. Paul has supplied Jane with two documents

  - Brighton and Hove local plan

  - Brighton and Hove Urban Characterisation study.

Of these documents the Urban Characterisation study was deemed to be the most useful, however the pages relating to the Brunswick and Regency areas are missing. Paul and Jane are attempting to find out if such pages exist and if they do, where they are.

Paul suggested a meeting with the Deputy Director of Planning, which he will facilitate. Jane will determine how many people can attend, and then suggest a meeting for early July.

Richard Oxford and Michael Brown discussed the problem with graffiti in the area and mentioned that when they see it they will paint it out. They offered to be our Graffiti Hit Squad within the EBRA area.. They were thanked for this and their offer accepted.

Bill Cowell reported on the £1000 awarded to EBRA/Norfolk Square as a result of work carried out by Reggie Vincent and the members of his group. They were at one time known as the Friends of Norfolk Sq but have now joined forces with EBRA.

Suggestions are welcome as to how this money should be spent within Norfolk Square..

Kerri Burns reported the re-appearance of street drinkers in Norfolk Square, and the number of youths that are now drinking in the area. It was suggested that some off-licences in the area seem to be unscrupulous when serving both under age, and street drinkers.

Bill Cowell reported that the Policing policy for the area has changed, and there is no longer a team dedicated to street drinking issues. It is believed that problems have increased since the loss of this team.

EBRA are keen to learn what the new Policing policy for the area will be. Bill Cowell and Reggie Vincent attended a meeting last week about safety in the community and this issue was raised. The Police are in communication with us and when we have answers they will be circulated to all via e mail.

The subject of recruiting more local people to EBRA was raised, and how to encourage new members. Bill will produce an initial list of EBRA's objectives for improving the area and mail these to Jane for inclusion on a poster and a flyer she is designing. This is to be circulated to the whole of the EBRA area.

Susan King has passed the traffic petition to Paul Elgood at his surgery. Paul will be presenting the petition to council on 12th July. Susan mentioned that Paul and David Watkins were both supportive of the petition.

It is believed that the suggested 20mph speed limit for Waterloo Street is 'in progress' and Susan will attempt to clarify this.

Susan also discussed the EBRA bank account. Current balance is £280, (Plus the £1000 not yet banked)

Voluntary contributions from members are now due. The Business Links to our Web Site should be billed for the coming 12 months.

It was agreed that a date will be set for annual membership this is to be 1st April each year.. Receipts will now be issued for all contributions, this is necessary for accounting purposes

Since EBRA is now a more mature organisation, a more suitable bank account is required for funds, with the provision for statements, and cheques to be issued. Susan will look into the facilities offered by the Co-operative Bank and our present bank the Nationwide..

Finally the status of the various items EBRA are tracking with the Council were raised. It was felt that perhaps some of the items have become blurred. The Committee felt that to better aid their relationship with the local council and its representatives that it would be worth re-stating the main points of concern for EBRA, and current action status. This would then provide a concise list for tracking against. Jane and Sue will work together to prepare a summary list for approval by the Committee. This will then be sent to Cllrs. Ellgood and Watkins.

The meeting closed at 13:15.
No date has been fixed for our next Committee Meeting.

Minutes take by Gerald Featherstone, Secretary EBRA