Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SOUTHWARK CYCLISTS

ON 12 OCTOBER 2011

18.30 at Better Bankside Community Space, Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0YS

Attendees: Amy Aeron-Thomas (Road Danger Reduction Campaigns Leader); Caspar Below (Webmaster Associate); Alice Beneyto (Newsletter Co-Editor; 200 Club Liaison; Website Content Coordinator); Lesley Black; Andy Cawdell; John Franks; Hugh Bolton (Treasurer); Colin Brain; Alastair Hanton (Council Liaison); Colin Hartridge-Price (Secretary); Gary Jones; Jeremy Leach (Southwark Living Streets); Bruce Lynn (Healthy Rides); Eleanor Margolies (Newsletter Associate Editor; Webmaster Associate); Ruth Martin (Publicity Officer); Ten; Ann Warren; Ray Welsh; Werner Wiethege (Webmaster); Cheryl Williams; Peter Wood (Planning Response Group; 200 Club Liaison).

Apologies received from: Alex Crawford (Co-ordinator; Newsletter Co-Editor; Webmaster Associate); Ian McPherson (Sustrans Liaison); Rebecca Olds-Bartlett (Rides Co-ordinator); Sue Richards.

1.    Minutes of the meeting on 14 September and matters arising

The minutes of the meeting were approved.

The following are matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting:

·      South Bermondsey Bridge Scheme (Connect2) – there is to be a public consultation on 20 October.

·      A nearby “Portrait Bench” will depict our much missed previous co-ordinator, Barry Mason, alongside two other highly respected local characters (probably historical) that will be chosen from a shortlist.  This is a big honour, and has the agreement of Barry's partner, Cheryl, and his children.

·      Osteopathy Discount – advice is awaited from Ray on whether this has been finalised.  Action Ray Welsh

·      Special Olympic Routes – Cllr Hargrove has been reminded that Southwark Cyclists would like information on the primary and secondary routes in Southwark, and that we also wish to understand what happens where a cycle lane runs alongside a route or crosses it.  The necessary consultations on the route closures have been delayed.

·       Southwark’s Transport Plan – as reported at the last meeting, it has been suggested to Cllr Hargrove that a new steering group be set up to focus on the goals that Southwark Cyclists, Southwark Living Streets and Southwark Council can all work towards together.  In particular, there were more ambitious targets to reach for than those set out in the Transport Plan.  Action Alastair Hanton

·      Southwark’s new Streetscape Design Manual – the Manual will be going to the Southwark Cabinet on 18 October and can be downloaded here: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/2668/streetscape_design_manualT

• Heygate Estate Regeneration – the next stage is a second exhibition at the Community Hub (182-184 Walworth Road) in October and a final exhibition in January 2012.  The planning application will be submitted in the spring of 2012.  We have asked to be invited to key meetings in order to give our feedback at every stage.  Anyone who would like to be involved should please contact Alex (alex@...).

·      London Bridge Station Redevelopment – there will be a presentation and consultation at the Council Offices, 160 Tooley Street on 13 October.  Ann, Bill and Colin are taking an interest in this redevelopment.  Action Bill Owen/Colin H-P/Ann Warren

·      200 Club – It has been agreed to work jointly to develop a two-page employer's cycling manual.  Southwark Cyclists will also assist with organising a sustainable transport day in January or February 2012.  Anyone interested in being involved should please contact Alex (alex@...).

·      LCC – Once the LCC's proposals are available for its Go Dutch campaign, they will be discussed at the next Southwark Cyclists meeting.  This is about a campaign in the run up to the mayoral elections in May 2012, to have a clearly identified space for cyclists on certain main roads.  The main roads to be targeted are to be identified by LCC Groups.  The campaign is scheduled to be rolled out at the LCC AGM on 16 November.

·      Herne Hill Velodrome – The next stage is to rebuild the stadium.  Southwark Council is providing further funding of £400,000.  British Cycling has a 15 year lease on the track, but the rest of the velodrome is on a three-year lease from the Dulwich Estate.  Some low-level sports development, such as a gym, is being proposed.

·      Expansion of the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre – Ann explained that we had been approached for comment at a very early stage.  The latest update of the plans indicated the Southwark Cyclists team had been listened to.  In the longer term, there will be direct access between Southwark Park and Surrey Quays.  Ray mentioned that the surrounding roads cannot cope with the expansion.  The site is owned 50/50 by Tesco and British Land.  It was hoped the consultant would attend a future meeting of Southwark Cyclists.

·      Gas Main Replacement on Tooley Street – John Franks has met with Tom Bogdanowicz of the LCC.  There is still no answer to the question of whether this work should be deferred until after the Olympics.  A cycle contraflow for the first and second phases has been agreed, and will also probably apply for the third phase.  John agreed to investigate whether there will be restrictions to the traffic flow before the Shard is finished.  Action John Franks

2.   Rides and events

·   Consideration needs to be given to how to increase our pitifully small (but dedicated) number of ride leaders.  More rides are also required.  Bruce would also appreciate more help on his rides (see below).

·   Information on rides can be found on the website (www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk ) and on the Southwark Cyclists Facebook.

·   Easy circular ride on the second Saturday of each month during the winter.  About two hours, starting at 10am and finishing at the Decathlon cafe at the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.  Ride leader Bruce Lynn

·      Other themed rides in the pipeline: sonic ride; Southwark murals.

3.   Cycle Superhighways

·      CRIMs (Cycle Route Investigation Meetings) are to take place for Cycle Superhighway 6 on 19 and 20 October.  Alastair and Jeremy will attend.  Action Alastair Hanton/Jeremy Leach

4.   Website development project

·    As announced at the last meeting, the new Southwark Cyclists website (http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/) has now been launched in Beta format, prior to final release.  Please take a look and provide feedback to Caspar Below (caspar@...) .

·    Caspar has been addressing some errors and work is continuing.  The site will be open for registration soon.

·      Alice Beneyto is the Website Content Coordinator and will coordinate/moderate the content which will go up on the site. 

5.   Road Danger Reduction Update

·         Amy reported that, to date, 13 cyclists had been killed on the roads in 2011.  A further four cyclists had died, but the police had said these fatalities were due to heart attacks.

·         There is a TfL seminar on 19 October on reducing cyclist road deaths.  The TfL is soon due to release a research document on the criminal justice system procedures following a death.

·         On 18 October a Judicial Review is to commence regarding a cyclists fatality where a lorry was involved.  This is possibly the first instance of a Judicial Review of inquest proceedings.  There were felt to be serious issues in that the coroner had refused the family’s request for a postponement of the inquest.  The inquest itself was said to have been rushed, and no recommendation was made on improvements to road and driver safety.  The driver failed an eyesight test and his eyesight had not been tested for 13 weeks.

·         There has been good contact with the local roads policing head, but he has been busy on other issues following the London riots.

·         The LCC is very active in campaigning to reduce cycle deaths.

·         Trixy mirrors are being rolled out at traffic light junctions on Cycle Superhighways.  About 19 junctions have them at present.

6.   Planning

·      As previously reported, the new website will at some point be developed to make it easier for all members to respond to planning applications.

·      The Planning Focus Group for commenting on the cycle parking aspects of new planning applications in Southwark is James Barber, assisted by Peter Wood.  Action James Barber/Peter Wood

7.   Newsletter

·   Please e-mail Alice Beneyto (alice.beneyto@...) with material for the newsletter, or suggestions for content.  The new-look Newsletter was commented on very favourably. 

8.   Interaction with the Press

·      Ruth is producing a document to provide guidance for Southwark Cyclists Committee members on interaction with the Press.  She will canvass opinions at the November meeting.  Action Ruth Martin

9.   Finances

·   The question of whether or not VAT has to be paid on the Dunwich Dynamo ticket sales is yet to be resolved.  Discussions are taking place between an LCC finance person and the LCC auditors.  Action Hugh Bolton

·      During the year to 31 March 2011, unallocated funds had increased from £1700 to £3700.  However, if VAT is payable on Dunwich Dynamo receipts, the amount held in unallocated funds could reduce to £2000.

10.  London Festival of Architecture

·      The Festival runs from 23 June to 8 July 2012 and the theme is "The Playful City".

·      Most of the rides will be led by an architect or planner etc who will comment on points of interest along the route.  Ride leaders and marshals will be required.

11.  Cllr Abdul Mohamed

·      Cllr Mohamed (Southwark’s “Champion for Cycling”) is hoping to attend our next meeting on 9 November.

12.  Funding for Opening up Cycle Routes

·      Cllr Hargrove has some funding for this.  Peter will investigate.  Action Peter Wood

13.  Use of a Projector

·      A comment was made that, when discussing documents, it might be helpful to use a projector.

14.  Management Committee Elections

Under the Southwark Cyclists Constitution, all members of the Management Committee are required to stand down at the Annual Meeting.  The following were duly nominated and seconded, and (by a show of hands) elected unanimously to the Management Committee for the coming year:

Coordinator – Alex Crawford re-elected

Secretary – Colin Hartridge-Price re-elected

Treasurer – Hugh Bolton re-elected

Council Liaison – Alastair Hanton re-elected

Planning Response Group – James Barber (leader), Peter Wood re-elected

Road Danger Reduction Campaigns Leader – Amy Aeron-Thomas re-elected

Ad Hoc Campaigns Group – Jeremy Leach (leader), John Franks, Peter Wood re-elected

Newsletter Editors – Alex Crawford, Alice Beneyto re-elected

Newsletter Associate Editors – Caspar Below, Eleanor Margolies

Publicity Officer – Ruth Martin re-elected

Rides Coordinator – Rebecca Olds-Bartlett re-elected

Healthy Rides – Bruce Lynn re-elected

Webmaster – Werner Wiethege re-elected

Webmaster Associates – Caspar Bellow (leader), Alex Crawford, Eleanor Margolies re-elected

Website Content Coordinator – Alice Beneyto elected

200 Club Liaison – Alice Beneyto, Ruth Martin, Peter Wood (leader to be agreed) elected

Community Council Liaison:

Bankside – no representative

Bermondsey – Colin Hartridge-Price, Bill Owen

Camberwell – Eleanor Margolies

Dulwich – Alastair Hanton

Nunhead/South Peckham – Andy Cawdell

North Peckham – no representative

Rotherhithe – Ann Warren

15.  Constitution, Protection Policy, and Quality Management Policy

·         The meeting agreed that the current separate documents for the Southwark Cyclists’ Constitution, Protection Policy for Children and Vulnerable Adults, and Quality Management Policy, remained appropriate.  It was noted that these documents are reviewed annually.

·         It was understood the LCC Trustees are pressing for another go at standardising the constitutions of Local Groups.  When this had been attempted before, the LCC had used the constitution of Southwark Cyclists as the basis for the standard proposed.  However, there were certain elements of the proposed constitution with which we did not agree.

·      Next Meeting of Southwark Cyclists

Wednesday, 9 November at 6.30pm (but see the entry in bold below). 

Meetings are always on the second Wednesday of every month, usually at 6.30pm. 

Usual venue: Better Bankside Community Space on the corner of Great Guildford Street and Zoar Street, very close to Tate Modern.  Bicycles may be brought inside.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SOUTHWARK CYCLISTS

ON 9 MARCH 2011

18.30 at Better Bankside Community Space, Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0YS

Attendees: Barry Mason (Co-ordinator); Alastair Hanton (Action Plan Group); Alex Crawford (Newsletter Editor; Web Working Group, Action Plan Group); Ray Welsh; Ann Warren; Peter Wood (Action Plan Group, Web Working Group); Werner Wiethege (Webmaster; Web Working Group); Alice Beneyto; Coro Carvajal.

Apologies received from: Amy Aeron-Thomas (Road Danger Reduction Campaigns Leader), Casper Below (Web Working Group; Colin Hartridge-Price (Secretary); Dick Vincent (Web Working Group); Cheryl Williams; Jeremy Leach.

1.    Minutes of the meeting on 9 February and matters arising

•   The minutes of the meeting were approved.

2.    Southwark Cyclists Action Plan and Vision Document

·       Not enough interest has been shown in Action Plan so far [http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/content/southwark-cyclists-action-plan-2011-2014]. Each action requires a volunteer. Some useful feedback received form the e-group.

·       It was agreed there are steps which should be taken to involve more people thus making it an effective Plan:

-  It was decided that the Action Plan Group should select one action from the Plan per month and ask members for help with that. This month’s action is for members to attend their Community Council meetings (details on Southwark’s website) and/or other local meetings so they can represent SC/cyclists and report back to the Group at large. Some members are already doing this, including Alastair Hanton, Bill Owen, Jeremy Leach, Barry Mason, Colin H-P. Action: Alex Crawford to inform Group.

-  Alastair suggested producing a guide/template for people to use when they attend Community Council Meetings (including meeting procedure/raising questions etc.). This was thought to be an excellent idea. Action: Alastair Hanton.

•   Alex to arrange informal meeting with Ashok Sinha/LCC to discuss all SC’s recent activities and see how we can work together going forward. Action: Alex Crawford (Barry/Pete).

3.    Southwark Transport Plan and 5 March Meeting with Cllr Hargrove

•   A meeting with Cllr Barrie Hargrove (Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment & Recycling) and Barbara Selbytook place on 5 March. Barry, Alastair, Amy and Alex attended. It was felt to be very encouraging and positive - the first of many. Notes on the website [http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/content/fri-5-march-meeting-barrie-Hargrove]. Follow up to be done. Next meeting in June. Action: Action Plan Group.

•   It has been decided that SC will do a cycle parking audit ride(s) and sent the information gathered to Barrie Hargrove. Action: Pete Wood/Alex Crawford.

•   The Action Plan Group is continuing their discussions about responding to Southwark’s Transport Plan. Suggestions/feedback welcome.

4.    Website development project

·         The Web Working Group (Werner Wiethege/Alex Crawford/Dick Vincent/Peter Wood/Casper Below) set up in December has made tremendous progress on the new website as part of Southwark Cyclists’ new digital strategy.

·         The new server has been set up, wireframes are being completed, the new designs are being cut and implemented, then testing/QA will begin. Alex is editing the content from the current website that is to be transferred across. Go live date TBC.

·         2011 Dunwich Dynamo FAQs need to go up beginning of April - request from Barry that the website launches with these simultaneously. Action: Web Working Group to give feedback.

·         The new website will converge social media and scan Flickr for anything that is tagged Southwark Cyclists, and will pull across the associated photographs.

5.    For brief mention

- Campaigns:

•   Alastair reported that TfL has set up a cycle safety strategy group, focussing on the dangers of HGVs/lorries. Subgroups made up of representatives from the Freight Transport Association, the Police, TfL, LCC, CTC, Roadpeace, Living Streets and more, have been formed within this group to work on these issues (Alastair and Amy are involved too). They will be looking at how lorries are operated, driver training, side guards, sensors etc. They hope to find ways to make progress with operation organisers, such as issuing them with their new Good Practise Guide when their contracts are procured. The idea was to pilot this in Redbridge but perhaps it can be taken to Southwark Council too after Barrie Hargrove showed an interest in this idea at the 5 March meeting.

•   Good news: The family and friends of Eilidh Cairns, who was killed in Notting Hill by a lorry two years ago, have succeeded in theircurrent EU campaign which calls for the introduction of new measures to reduce to zero the number of cyclist fatalities caused by large goods vehicles. In order to be effective this declaration needed to be signed by half of the 736 MEPs and the news from Strasbourg tonight is that they have been successful in getting the required signatures.

- Approval of expenditure:

·       None since previous meeting.

Grant applications and results:

·       Nothing outstanding.

- Planning:

·       The previously reported Grange Road, Spa Road and Southwark Park Road redevelopment scheme is now in progress and Alastair Hanton (on behalf of Southwark Cyclists and Southwark Living Streets) is following up with developers to ensure the roads are more suitable for cyclists.

·       SC, the Dulwich Society, Isaac Marks and co. heard yesterday that they had secured £280,000 for improvements to the Paxton Junction/Gypsy Hill which is currently an intimidating gyratory.

·       Barry to email Laura McCrae at Southwark.

·       Barry to start responding to Planning Applications again, when he can. NOTE: At some point the new website will be developed to make it easier for all members to do this.

- Newsletter:

·         Alex is continuing to produce a monthly/bimonthly e-newsletter and is integrating it with the website.

·         Let her know if you are not receiving newsletters and would like to: alex@southwarkcyclists.co.uk

·         A request for more material was made.

- Rides:

·         More ride leaders and rides are required.

·         Southwark Healthy Rides are continuing and Afterworkers will be started again soon by Barry. Ray Welsh suggested that if Barry could suggest some routes, these rides could happen with or  without Barry, on occasion.

·         Ray Welsh offered to help Rebecca Old-Bartlett with Murals ride in May.

·         Information on rides can be found on the website (www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk) and on the Southwark Cyclists Facebook. Action: Werner to give Rebecca website log in credentials.

·         The decision was made to include social rides from neighbouring boroughs on the website.

- Finances:

·       It was decided that the coach/van ticket cost for late bookers on the Dunwich Dynamo Ride 2011 will be increased by £1. For ‘early birds’ it will stay the same. [FAQs up on website April.]

·       Herne Hill Velodrome campaign has just opened a bank account so can receive SC donation.

·       is progressing with a new meeting on 22 March to update supporters and get feedback from local residents etc.

- Cycle maintenance Classes at OYB:

·         Alice Beneyto, who is new to our meetings, told us about her experiences at the maintenance classes this month. She described them as “excellent, confidence boosting, straight forward and no nonsense”. The set of classes includes training on wheels, brakes, gears and full servicing. Participants have the opportunity to put theory to practise and service their own bikes in doing so. See SC website for details on how to book: http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/content/bike-maintenance-classes

6.     Any Other Business:

•   The Herne Hill Velodrome Trust has been set up and has received charitable status. It is now appointing trustees. More exciting news at the Velodrome campaign’s next public meeting on 22 March at the Great Hall Dulwich College. The purpose of this meeting is to report to supporters on what has happened since the last public meeting in October as well as to hear feedback for the planning/development process.

•   Ann Warren described her recent visit to the Ecobuild expo at the Excel Centre where she learned about a new American technology called suspended pavements which involves using a modular building block for containing unlimited amounts of healthy soil beneath paving while supporting traffic loads, accommodating surrounding utilities and allowing enormous tree growth. More info. on request.

•   Alex made an appeal for volunteers for the Tweed Run which is on 9 April from 10AM - she needs marshals and non-cycling helpers: volunteers@tweedrun.com

7.    Next Meeting of Southwark Cyclists

Wednesday, 13 April at 6.30pm.  Meetings are always on the second Wednesday of every month.  Usual venue: Better Bankside Community Space on the corner of Great Guildford Street and Zoar Street, very close to Tate Modern.  Bicycles may be brought inside.

The meeting closed at 20.24.