Minutes from the AGM 2024
Agenda Item 1 - Welcome & Introductions
At 7:07pm on Monday 22nd April the meeting began with a formal welcome from Brij Kalia, the Chair of the Friends of Norbury Park (FoNP).
The Chair opened the floor for introductions by attendees.
Agenda Item 2 - Apologies
Apologies were received from Sean & Anne Creighton and Mrs Patel of Heatherset Gardens.
Agenda Item 3 - Approval of minutes from AGM 24 April 2023
The minutes of the meeting from the previous AGM were agreed unanimously.
Proposer – Keith Roberts
Seconder – Chris Mahalski
Agenda Item 4 - Matters Arising
There were no matters arising
Agenda Item 5 - Changes to the Constitution
The Chair advised that changes to the constitution may take place later in the year, but for today no changes would take place as any changes need to be in writing and regardless no changes had been put forward. It was agreed that the committee would agree any changes to the cost of membership.
Agenda Item 6 - Chairs Report 2023/24
The following progress and activities were reported to the meeting by the Chair:
The FoNP has launched a new website, email address and database (Mail Chimp) which can be used to protect members information. A vote of thanks was noted for the kind work and support from Acting Treasurer Lisa Patient’s nephew, Clark, who has done a fantastic job with the website and bringing together the graphic design for the Friends of Norbury Park Action Plan.
Committee Member Claudia Duane has written a set of rules for the FoNP Facebook page. The admins are monitoring the Facebook account to ensure postings that do not comply with our rules are deleted. It was also noted that our constitution highlights our aims and this is on the Facebook page.
To further good relationships with Croydon Council meetings have been held with Executive Mayor Perry, Xabier Mendez, Parks Development Manager, Richard Edwards, Tree and Woodland officer and Owen Giddings, Parks Maintenance Manager from Croydon Council.
The Council has agreed that a new path is to be built. This will run parallel to the existing path from the Norbury Hill entrance to the station entrance of the park.
FoNP has requested that small dog bins are replaced with larger bins and Gabions for rubbish are provided for the summer.
Lisa Patient advised that if we were able to find a skilled person who could help with cutting/trimming the paths we might be able to borrow the equipment from the council as we are insured to do it. Lisa also highlighted that there are notable concerns about losing carbon storage when the path is widened. Therefore it has been agreed that we will try and raise funds to provide 36 new trees to create a new canopy and possibly help with the drainage issues.
Action: committee and members to consider what trees would we like to use for this project
The grass is to be cut every 5-7 wks. The Chair highlighted issues with litter picking bags not being collected (currently it’s taking between 8-10 days to remove the rubbish). It is hoped that the gabions will help to stop the rubbish re-spreading across the park once collected by volunteers.
FoNP to contact the playground development officer and request that when play equipment is broken they’ll replace it with new equipment.
The issues with water logging and drainage remain and there is not a solution to this issue.
Action: Alisa to enquire at the council on solutions to water logging and drainage
Lisa highlighted that Owen Giddings says plans by the Environment Agency to open Norbury Brook are still active therefore we need to try and obtain a joined-up plan for the parks development.
Action: The committee to enquire and keep members updated on what is happening with plans for the brook.
The cutting back of grass, shrubs etc. only take place in the autumn months but the council have agreed to cut back the BMX area as well now.
The Chair updated on the walk around with the Mayor, which culminated in an Action Plan with seven goals. Lisa went through the goals. Lisa highlighted the opportunities for bringing more wildlife into the park; and the chair spoke about the wildflower garden.
The issues with Harefield Road and people destroying the path by driving into the park were discussed. A question was raised from the floor about the possibility of tracing the owners of the private road; it was noted that previous attempts had failed as the owner lived overseas and did not make contact but it was accepted that this was something that might require future attention.
Lisa Patient advised that the council has been asked to remember not to cut the wildflower area which is the large field behind the outdoor gym. She spoke of the improved communication between the friends group and the council, which had been one of the set goals.
It was highlighted that the tree circuit on the website is now being used by visitors to the park. Chris Mahalski has identified some more species which will be added to the circuit.
There was a discussion about the new planned driving access into the park. Committee member Keith Roberts highlighted that the issue with using the Norbury Hill path is that people will drive across the cricket pitch, which it took many years of lobbying to acquire.
Action: Jenni to ask council to provide assurance as to how the cricket pitch, which is a valuable asset to the community and well used, will be protected from damage when events take place.
Committee Member Jenni Rodgers spoke about the work of the litter pickers. There are 35 people on the WhatsApp that go out in teams and independently; usually on a Saturday morning but during summer this takes place early on Thursday evenings. Jenni updated members on the work with the local people around the prevention of crime and promotion of safety through weapon sweeps of the park, which have resulted in the discovery of knives that have been removed safely from the park.
The Chair highlighted the Mayor of London’s video about volunteering that stars Jenni speaking about litter picking.
Action: Lisa to share this video on the FoNP website to encourage more people to come forward to help with litter picking sessions and other projects in the park.
A local resident Paul Harman shared how he had used the Croydon Trees for Streets programme to plant a beautiful cherry tree in the park in memory of his Guide Dog Star who was well known in the community. It is located next to the bench near the Heatherset Road exit.
FoNP hosted 3 events throughout the year. Namely, a summer picnic, a winter event and an Easter egg hunt at the beginning of spring. A lovely story was shared with members of a child who came with their parent to the Easter egg hunt and said it’s the best thing his ever done in his life!
The Chair informed the meeting that we are being charged £42 for every application they make to hold an event in the park.
Action: Jenni to write to request that this is waved on the basis that the events are being held to try to make money to reinvest it into improving the park.
It was noted that the organisation London Go Parks, which is part of the national agenda around parks, have also raised this practice by local authorities as an issue, which requires attention and redress.
The Chair spoke in relation to the calendar of upcoming external event applications that have been made to the Council. There was an event originally scheduled for June, which has been cancelled. The event was scheduled to attract 20,000 people and a petition was raised which highlighted that there was no suitable infrastructure including entrances for such an event and that any vehicle over 5 tonnes was too heavy. It also highlighted that past events had resulted in damage to the cricket pitch, that council staff were never on site to assist, issues around uncontrolled parking, poor signage, and noise levels which always exceed 65 decibels and sometimes go to well over 120 decibels. It was also highlighted that Veolia only clean within the perimeter of the fencing for the event. There are many people who cannot afford the ticket price who come and setup outside of the event where they can still hear the music and they leave their rubbish behind which the FoNP then has to clear. It was noted that pegs and large metal clamps were left in the ground from the last event and many were thrown into the nature trail.
An application for a two-day event scheduled to take place in August 2024 still remains. A petition will be sent in for Wednesday 24th April 2024. It is noted that for any event with under 5000 people you don’t have to stipulate how many people will attend but it is important to remember that the number of attendees is made up of the actual ticket sales plus all the people outside of the event that are unable to get in.
The Chair impressed upon members that the intention is not to stop events from taking part in the park but that it is more about ensuring that the council are keeping on top of the events in the park.
FoNP would like to set up an Instagram page which will be linked to Facebook.
Action: The Chair to write to the former person in charge of the social media account, Barbara Cawley to request that the admin is transferred over so that this can be achieved.
The Chair informed the meeting that one of the projects people would like in the park is a sensory garden, but it will be important to ensure that we will have people to volunteer to maintain it prior to any project going forward.
It was highlighted that we have a Grade II listed trough in the park, which requires some maintenance, as it doesn’t work properly. Lisa Patient volunteered to lead a project to restore it.
Jenni highlighted the work of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme and local Scouts group that may be able to support with volunteers to help with some of the projects to improve the park moving forward.
Angela Norman echoed the Chairs comments that the ideas to undertake various projects in the park are good but it’s important to ensure that they can be maintained long term once created.
It was highlighted that the flowerpots outside of the entrance to Norbury Park aren’t being maintained. Lisa Patient questioned if Mr Khan who has produced some beautiful planter’s along Heatherset Gardens might wish to help the FoNP to maintain them given the lovely job he does with the planters in Heatherset Road.
Action: An approach to be made to ask Mr Khan if he would mind helping to maintain the flower pots at the entrance to the park.
The pavilion in the park which is used by the boxing club was supposed to allow public access. It was asked whether it would be possible to get one of the huts back to allow us to hold meetings. The Chair said this was unlikely as the boxing club are using all the space.
Jenni highlighted that what we really need is an extension to the pavilion so that we can store litter-picking equipment etc. as currently this is all being kept in people’s lofts and shed’s.
Agenda Item 7 - Treasurers Report & approval of 2023 accounts
Lisa Patient in her capacity as Acting Treasurer informed the meeting that £663 had been raised in 2023 from subscriptions and donations.
£1027 had been spent which included £479 on the website but this package covers 5 years so in terms of value for money the outlay works out long term. The amount spent also included the cost of our Zurich insurance (it was noted that Croydon has offered to cover the cost of our insurance for next year but the insurance won’t include the use of power tools which we are currently insured to use so we will need to review this before accepting the offer to consider if this will be helpful to the park in the long run given some of the projects that will need to be completed).
Lisa informed the meeting that there is a balance of £2800 in the bank.
Chris Mahalski proposed that we accept the audited accounts. Cllr Appu Srinivasan seconded. This was accepted unanimously.
The aim moving forward is to make as many events as possible free so that we can encourage more people to come to the park.
Agenda Item 8 - Membership Fees
The Chair stated that the Committee will set subscription fees, but that people can pay what they can afford.
It was advised that moving forward the email of the minutes would provide the account details for residents who wish to become members of the FoNP to pay on-line or set up standing orders. The option also remains to pay in cash or via card at our annual AGM or throughout the year at some of the events held in the park.
Agenda item 9 - Election of Officers & Committee Members
Prior to commencement of the new elections the Chair gave a vote of thanks to everyone who had helped throughout the year to support the work of the committee and the FoNP.
* Chair - Brij Kalia (re-elected unopposed)
Proposed – Appu Srinivasan
Seconded - Lisa Patient
* Vice Chair & Liaison & Communications Officer - Jenni Rodgers
Proposed - Claudia Ruane
Seconded – James Corrigall
* Secretary - Norma Skinner (new secretary)
Proposed – Jenni Rodgers
Seconded – Alisa Fleming
* Treasurer - Lisa Patient
Proposed - Claudia Ruane
Seconded – James Corrigall
Committee members (non post holding committee members- 3 minimum & 4 maximum)
* Claudia Ruane
Proposed – Lisa Patient
Seconded – James Corrigall
* Mac McCarthy
Proposed - Jenni Rodgers
Seconded - David Del’Nero
* Keith
Proposed – James Corrigall
Seconded - Cllr Appu Srinivasan
* Cllr Alisa Fleming
Proposed - Claudia Ruane
Seconded – James Corrigall
Co-Opted Members x2
* Yusuf Osman (non-voting member)
* Cllr Appu Srinivasan (non-voting member)
Agenda Item 10 - Appointment of Auditor
Paul Marchant was Appointed Auditor (TBC)
Agenda Item 11 - Future plans and activities
An enquiry was made into the opportunities to seek redress for the breach of the lease by the boxing club that has resulted in no access to the pavilion as originally agreed. Jenni informed the meeting that conversations have now moved towards building an annex and suggested that we may be able to apply for funding.
Jenni has created a task list of activities to take place in the park and asked people to put themselves forward for the areas that they’re most interested in supporting.
Keith Roberts suggested that this list be emailed to members who are not present at the meeting tonight alongside a request to find out what members are interested in and what special skills people.
A brief discussion about where we can keep our tools took place. It was advised that Croydon has shipping containers that you can have if you can collect them.
Action: Jenni to enquire where the shipping containers are and if this is possible.
Agenda Item 12 - Any Other Business
It was highlighted that the rubbish bins by the station entrance to park get overfilled really quickly.
Action: Alisa to write to park to ask these to be cleared more frequently
Lisa Patient asked the meeting to remind others not to leave food waste in the park as it can be dangerous for animals.
The meeting closed at 8:32pm
