Meeting on 13th February – Local Business

NOTE: These minutes are subject to confirmation at the next meeting. Please report any errors, omissions, or points requiring clarification using the e-mail facility opposite.

Approximately 40 people were present. In the Chair: Mr Roger Taylor.

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Shirley Homewood, Miss Joyce Perry, Mrs Pat Palmer, and Mr Cliff Watkins.

1) MINUTES of the meeting on 3-Oct were confirmed subject to correction to the end of item 12/119 to "Fashion House had closed part of its shop". There were no matters arising not covered by the agenda.

2) CHAIR'S REPORT for 2011/12 (deferred from the AGM)
Mr Roger Taylor explained that there were two organisations serving Penge (including Anerley): Penge Forum provided a platform for public discussion, and Penge Partners was the action group organising activities. Ideas could be presented to either of them. Penge Forum meetings had covered a number of topics of public concern during the past year, which had sometimes resulted in lengthy meetings. The question of changing schools to academies had been taken to an extra meeting, but satisfactory answers to questions to the Harris Federation had still not been obtained. Cllr Katherine Bance suggested that a petition to save the Town Hall should be started, but others thought letter-writing might be more effective.

3) TREASURER'S REPORT
a) 39 subscriptions totalling £292 had been received to date.
b) £143 had been raised in two collections at Sainsbury's for Christmas Lights and £100 given to the Traders' Association towards the switch-on event, leaving the lights fund at approximately £1132.
c) The £19 annual subscription to the London Forum had been paid, plus £50 for hire of the hall for the present meeting.
d) The general fund stood at approximately £890.

4) ELECTIONS (part deferred from the AGM)
Mr Roger Taylor was re-elected to the Chair. Mrs Shirley Homewood and Mr Chris O'Shaughnessy as Executive members.

5) COUNCIL MATTERS (1) from Cllr Peter Fookes
a) The Citizens' Advice Bureau Centre in Snowdown Close would close in the current week, to be replaced by outreach services at several locations.
b) Council Tax was expected to rise by about 2%.
c) Funding for Melvin Hall had been cut.
d) There was a planning application to demolish the Oakfield Road Clinic and replace it by a medical centre.

6) COUNCIL MATTERS (2) from Cllr Katherine Bance
a) Until recent developments, she had feared that the police had given up hope of solving the Samuel Guidera murder.
b) There would be a public meeting of the Safer Neighbourhood Team on 4th March.

7) COUNCIL MATTERS (3) from Cllr John Getgood
a) The Christmas Lights switch-on event had gone well.
b) Penge High Street was holding its own despite the recession.
c) All the primary schools in Penge & Cator ward except Alexandra were expected to become academies by Christmas.
d) Some services at Lewisham Hospital, used by many Penge residents, were to be downgraded.

8) HERITAGE MATTERS
a) A decision on Penge Partners' Heritage Lottery Fund bid was expected on 28th March.
b) The Council was still working on replacement of the damaged WW1 plaques on the War Memorial. An estimate of around £3000 had been received to add a pair of plaques with names for WW2 and later conflicts. Penge Partners would manage the project, including fund-raising.

9) REPORTS FROM ORGANISATIONS
a) Penge East Community Centre was running a drop-in centre.
b) Friends of Cator Park and Alexandra Recreation Ground had presented a cheque for £300 to the "Living Well" project. Reports were given on past and future activities.
c) The Over 60s Network had received a £2000 grant from Affinity Sutton and would be holding an event on the coming Saturday.
d) The Penge Festival Fκte would be held on Royston Field at the start of the Festival instead of its end.
e) The Living Well project at Holy Trinity Church, Lennard Road, was providing support for the homeless.

There being no Other Business, the meeting closed at 9:50pm.