June 14th 2010 - meeting minutes

Loaves and Fishes sculpture by John Skelton, Brighthelm Church and Community Centre

Photo by Peter Crowhurst

NLCA's objectives and meetings

By Lynne Arnold, NLCA Secretary

Welcome to all, particularly new members.  21 attended.  Apologies were received from Helen Cornish, Jackie Fuller, Francis Clark-Lowes, Glynis Simpson and Gabrielle Villermet.

Minutes of last meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were approved, with a correction.  Planet Bollywood is looking to operate from a different location on York Place.  The objection in fact related to their proposal for a café which would be open until 4am.

Environment

Licensing

Corner of Bond and North Streets - Weatherspoons are applying for a late licence on this property, which we have objected to.  No residents have approached us to represent them.  Roy Skam and Sandy Crowhurst may attend the hearing.

9 Jubilee Street - Although the licence application is not objectionable, there is concern that the licence could be extended in the future.  A request was made to write asking for conditions to be applied to the licence, to stop “slippage”.

Planning

The meeting agreed that no comments would be made regarding applications on 100 North Road, 115-116 Church Street, 11 Trafalgar Street/25 Pelham Square and 1/1A Pelham Street.

9 Jubilee Street - a request was made that we write to the applicants, explaining our reasons for the objection detailed above.

Local Action Team priorities

1.  Antisocial behaviour: Polite notices, asking people to be respectful to residents, have been placed around North Laine.  PCSO John Sharman has requested some more, as the coverage is limited.  

There are still issues regarding deliveries to Bill’s before 8am.  This may have been a recommendation rather than a condition – residents should check the Council website for details on this.

2.  20mph speed limit: There will be a “North Laine team day of action” in June.  This will focus on the 20mph limit, now that the signage has been improved, and traffic on Sydney Street.

3.  Cycles: There was a request to focus on cyclists’ behaviour during the “day of action”.  However, it is unclear how cyclists should move through the North Laine, so this would be difficult to enforce.

Future of the NLCA

The NLCA was formed to save the North Laine from demolition.  This means that conservation is at the heart of the NLCA and the Constitution backs this up. However, the emphasis on planning (and licensing) puts people off getting involved.  The support that the NLCA is able to give residents on planning issues is important, although the NLCA represents only one objection.

The Runner is seen as a very important part of the North Laine community.  Wonderfully, following the articles in the Runner, we had four volunteers come forward to help with the advertising.  This is fantastic – thanks to them.

Concern was expressed that Jackie Fuller, as editor, is having to bear the burden of producing the Runner singlehandedly.  It was felt that it may be worthwhile to create an editorial team.

There was concern that “group think” within the meetings may mean that our aim for democracy does not happen in practice.  It was queried whether the meetings should only discuss interesting applications and decide principles, with remaining issues being delegated to a sub-group.

It was also questioned whether there should be meetings at all, or whether it would be better to have smaller street associations, or even just focus on staging social events.  The meeting agreed to change meeting times, to enable more and maybe younger people to attend.

It was felt that the community did not “own” the website: it is read but not contributed to.  It was noted that it has not been pushed as a community vehicle so far, although it has good potential.

Finance

The NLCA is not financially sustainable at present.  Options to make money for the Association need to be considered – perhaps through membership, or a 200 club?

Reports

Runner

The deadline for the next issue is 8th July.

Brighton Society

The Society’s AGM takes place on 28th June 2010, at Brighthelm Church and Community Centre.  The speaker is Malcolm Dawes.

Police

All types of crime in the area have increased.  It was requested that residents be streetwise: report suspicious behaviour but don’t get involved. There will be a police “street surgery” on 7th July from 11am – 2 pm at the Jubilee Library.

A request was made that the Licensing Officer attend either our September or October meetings.

Traders

There are concerns about the effect on trade of the high cost of parking.

Living Streets

A meeting is being arranged with PCSO John Sharman and Cllr Ian Daley.

Website group

No report.

Social events

Theatre Group

The Theatre Group are going to see “Romeo and Juliet” on 24th June.  Those who want to be on the mailing list should contact Peter Crowhurst.

Any other business

History leaflet: Geoff Mead will give a presentation and a short guided tour of the area, based on the leaflet, on Tuesday 20th July, starting at Brighthelm Church and Community Centre at 6pm.

It was agreed to invite Caroline Lucas MP to our September meeting.

The Clifton, Montpelier and Powis garden party will be held on 10th July 2010 at 3.45pm.