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ABOUT THE
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RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
ABOUT RIDDLESDOWN
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RRA AGM Minutes
AGM Minutes -
AGM 2024
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
RIDDLESDOWN RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (RRA)
Held on: 17 April 2024 at 7 pm
At: St. Edmund's Hall
Apologies were received from: Sanderstead Ward Councillors Lynne Hale, Yvette Hopley and Helen Redfern; and Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown Councillors Endri Llabuti and Alasdair Stewart. Also from Helen Chase, Jenny & Roger Boff.
The meeting was opened by Brian Longman, RRA Chairman.
Minutes of the previous AGM
The chairman presented the minutes from the last AGM 2023 (proposed by Phil Thomas and seconded by John Placek), which were accepted by the meeting:
Action items:
No new items.
Treasurers Report overview
The Treasurer John Placek presented the accounts for 2023: Link to accounts
Expenditure – £2,309.30
Income -
Bank account balances
Woodland Account (Ring Fenced for Green Belt) £24,722.00
Current account £20,406.65
The accounts have been audited by Angela Green
Actions Completed
- Chase the pharmacy for £55 for last year’s recorder ads (John Placek/Neil Tarrant) -
COMPLETED - Linda Bevin to be removed as signatory on the bank account -
COMPLETED - John Placek to be added as bank account signatory -
COMPLETED
New Actions
None recorded
Brian proposed that the report be accepted, seconded by Janice Kedwards
Chairman’s Report
Brian gave thanks to the committee, which had been very active during the year, especially John Placek, who as well as continuing as Treasurer is also the Data Protection Officer. Brian noted that many members are still paying cash, although some are paying by Standing Order/Direct Debit.
Last year there was only one issue of the Recorder magazine, which will continue to be the case this year and future years. It was noted that this year the Association had broken even, but had benefited from the increased subscription rate of £5, up from £3 previously.
Brian noted that we were lucky to have our Road Stewards, who do a good job. The Association still has a high proportion of the 1,400 households as members (the figure has been as high as 90% in the past) but this has reduced considerably since the pandemic.
Thanks were given also to Neil Tarrant, who produces the Recorder and organises the Children’s Christmas Party.
John Rapp and Keith Powell were thanked for their work on train and bus issues, trying to improve services for everyone.
And finally Phil Thomas, now the Vice Chairman and Planning & Environmental Officer, who has a wealth of knowledge on these matters. He is also responsible for the E-
There seem to be more issues since Croydon Council issued a number of Section 114 notices. For example a car that had been abandoned outside the Lower Barn Rd shops took about 2 months to be removed, due to the Council’s inefficiency. It was only after the RRA’s persistence that it was removed by the Police and not the Council.
Brian advised that two people had joined the Committee after the last AGM, which was welcome, but the Committee still needed new members.
Transport and parking: it was noted that the current proposal for a new Purley Leisure centre would severely reduce the current number of parking spaces, and inconvenience not only potential users of the pool, but also user of the town centre along with the staff and patients at the nearby Purley Hospital. See Vice Chairman’s report below for more details.
Flooding also continues to be an issue, and seems to be getting worse, despite the recent flood alleviation works in Lower Barn Rd and on Mitchley Ave. It seems the new design of culvert easily gets blocked with leaves.
Brian advised that following the changes to the Ward boundaries, Riddlesdown was now represented by five councillors (the Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown Ward (2 Cllrs) and the Sanderstead Ward (3 Cllrs)).
Brian concluded by observing that the RRA sometimes joins forces with other Residents’ Associations, especially those in the south of the borough on issues such as the Purley Pool and planning. We are part of a group of about 17 RAs called CARA (Croydon Alliance of Residents Associations).
Vice Chairman’s Report
Planning rep, Phil Thomas began with a description of the proposals for the Purley Pool Leisure Centre site: "demolition of the existing buildings and new 5 to 12 storey buildings to provide a leisure centre, commercial unit, an Integrated Retirement Community comprising a mix of Specialist Older Persons Housing and Care Accommodation for older people, car parking (78), landscaping, and associated works."
Public car parking would be reduced from 424 spaces to only 45 plus 5 disabled -
The seven RAs believe the Council should also take into account the development at 26-
The availability of Council public car parking within the Purley District Centre will be severely reduced from 547 spaces to 173 spaces if this Pool application is approved by the Council. It is the RAs belief that the Council cannot rely on other private car parks to provide the shortfall in public parking within the PDC.
The Purley Mosque site in Whytecliffe Rd South is currently being constructed. This new building has no parking and the RAs are aware from the current usage at the former Coulsdon & Purley Town Hall building, which is being used as a temporary mosque, that especially on Friday mornings, parking is very hard to find around this location.
Construction of both developments will take about 3 to 4 years. Where are visitors to Purley DC meant to park during the construction period?
We've all seen what has happened to the trade in Croydon town centre and the RAs are fearful Purley town centre will follow the same way, should long term public parking be severely reduced.
Have the Council done any surveys as to the demand for these type of flats for the elderly, especially in high rise blocks?
Mobile Phone Masts: we are aware that the four main mobile phone companies have their masts and equipment located on the roof of the multi storey car park and that these will need to be removed from when demolition takes place. Where are the replacement mobile masts to be located within the town centre as a temporary measure, and then after completion of the new complex? Surely this is something that needs to be taken into account at the design and planning stage, as any masts located on the roof of the tallest block (or other blocks) could have an impact the aesthetics of the scheme?
Cycle Parking: the RAs note a total of 39 long stay cycle parking spaces and 41 short-
The public consultation closes on Thursday 25 April. The seven RAs do have a meeting with the Executive Mayor Jason Perry & Chris Philp MP, 23 April to discuss the matter further.
End of Vice Chair’s report
Woodland Fund
Brian Longman then gave a ‘potted’ history of the Woodland Fund, and stated that the Green Belt was still a priority for the Association.
Brian emphasised the importance of social connections, and as an example the Children’s Christmas Party, which had been going for over forty years. The Fun Day which was also much missed – but it needed lots of work to be a success, and needed more volunteers to work. The Association had wanted to run a Film Club for the elderly, but no funding was available from the Council, so was not viable.
Brian reported that the hall at St. Edmund’s might be refurbished in the near future although this was not certain. In the past, the hall had hosted the RRA local Dramatic Society, the “Riddlesdown Players”, and Brian had available some mementoes of this. It was noted that the Collegiate had a new Principal, who was keen on integrating the Community.
Elections
Phil Thomas thanked Brian for his 25+ years on the Committee and then proposed that he be re-
Brian nominated John Placek as Treasurer – seconded by Phil Thomas -
Brian nominated Phil Thomas for the post of Vice Chairman, seconded by Keith Powell -
The rest of the committee were voted in en bloc – proposed by Brian Longman, seconded by Neil Tarrant -
Full Committee of elected members
Brian Longman -
Phil Thomas -
John Placek -
Berni Munt -
John Rapp -
Keith Powell -
Neil Tarrant -
Janice Kedwards
Jan Powell
Ann Shepherd
Joyce Boakye-
Questions from the floor
None.
Any Other Business
Brian advised that there was to be a littler pick on Saturday 20 April 2024 at 2pm.
Meeting closed at 8pm.
Minutes taken by Berni Munt