Friends Of Sutton Green

AGM MINUTES

Thursday 3rd February 2022 7pm, via ZOOM

 

  • Apologies from: Jenny Duff.
  • Voting members present: Peter Struik, Georgia Prothero, Peter Scouse, Neil Dickson, Krystyna King, Alison Dines, Paul King (arrived later)
  • There were no previous AGM minutes to be approved.

 

  • The new Constitution was approved. The FoSG Constitution is available on the FoSG website.
  • Committee appointed:

Chair: Peter Struik

Treasurer: Georgia Prothero

Secretary: Alison Dines

Ex officio Membership: Peter Scouse

Member: Neil Dickson

Member: Krystyna King

Member: Paul King

Member: Jenny Duff

  • It was agreed that the Treasurer can spend up to £100 without approval from the other officers of the committee
  • It was agreed that the two other officers of the committee who can provide approval for expenditure above that amount are Peter Struik and Peter Scouse.
  • It was agreed that our Community Rep for the Sutton Local Committee is Peter Struik and the substitute is Peter Scouse.

Report from the Chair: Peter thanked the committee for their work and commitment. Activities that have been undertaken:

  • The FoSG group has been reactivated, the policies and constitution updated.
  • Events were planned: an Easter egg hunt and a Green Fayre (Fayre occurred in 2019, not in 2020 or 2021, due to the pandemic.)
  • We have a new FoSG noticeboard.
  • A photographic competition took place, with about 20 photos submitted.
  • Litter picking & tidying (path edging) have been carried out, also with community involvement.
  • Locks have been fitted and gates locked at night, ensuring safety of the children’s playground.
  • The border in Victoria Gardens by the bus stop has been tidied and planted with shrubs from the Parks Dept.
  • In Victoria Gardens overgrown foliage has been cut back, which has increased visibility into the area
  • Bulb planting has been carried out, on the Green, in Victoria Gardens, in Stayton Road on the green opposite the church and on the green opposite All Saints Benhilton, with community involvement Bulbs provided by the Parks Dept.
  • A FoSG Facebook page has been set up.
  • A FoSG website has been set up.
  • FoSG has worked with other groups, ie Friends groups in Rosehill Parks, Collingwood rec and Vicarage Road.
  • FoSG has shared equipment with other groups etc, eg a printer has been bought for community use and our gazebos lent to Westbourne Primary School and Vicarage Road.
  • Thanks are due for their support to the Café on The Green, to the council & to iD verde.
  • Future activities include: getting lighting across the green to improve safety; Green Fayre and borough-wide Queen's platinum jubilee celebrations. Volunteers are wanted to help with our events.

Treasurer’s report:

  • At the end of 2019 FoSG had £823.49 in its community bank account with Metro Bank.
  • During 2020 there was only one transaction, which was to purchase Hi Viz Jackets for £92.70.
  • On 22 March 2021 FoSG took receipt of a 2020/2021 Neighbourhood Grant of £480.This was used to purchase an A3 Printer (£205.80), printer ink and paper (£112.90) and a gazebo (£129.99).
  • On 24 May 2022 FoSG took receipt of a 2021/2022 Neighbourhood Grant of £560.This was used to purchase an advertising banner (£150) and was intended to also purchase other items for the 2021 Summer Fayre. However, the 2021 Summer Fayre was cancelled due to Covid-19 and FoSG was required to repay the grant in full.
  • This has left us with a balance of £602.10.

 

AOB:

  • Councillor Ruth Dombey suggested we liaise with other groups for events, eg The St Helier Festival on 25.6.22, on the green opposite the hospital.

 

Sarah Fowler, Contracts Officer Parks, LB Sutton: Sarah talked to us about the work of the Parks Department. This includes:

  • Parks Quality Management checks;
  • Monthly meetings with iD verde;
  • Annual site safety inspections;
  • Health & Safety inspections;
  • They work with Friends groups, on resources and funding applications;
  • They carry out park walkabouts;
  • Management of parks buildings,
  • Funding opportunities; budget management and limitations; NB they have been successful with funding applications.
  • Repairs & replacements of equipment;
  • They deal with the trees team
  • Damaged pathways
  • Work & play apparatus inspections
  • Deal with rat outbreaks
  • Respond to complaints;
  • Manage grass verges
  • Work with Safer Neighbourhood, parks police, on drugs, fires, overgrowth, behaviour, littering problems
  • Manage planting schemes along highways
  • Flooding matters
  • New play equipment design

 In response to a question about how anti-social behaviour on Sutton Green compares with other parks, Sarah said it is not the worst. The Green is visible from the road and therefore problems are more likely to be seen.

 

Peter Struik thanked Sarah for attending our AGM and for her talk.