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The AGM was called to order by the Chairman, Susan Spiller; the President, The Reverend Prebendary Dr Brian Leathard, was unable to attend the meeting owing to ill health.

SSDRA members and the Committee earlier had the opportunity to personally welcome our guest speaker, Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea and Fulham.

Two of our local councillors, Cllr Sir Merrick Cockell and Cllr Paul Warwick, also attended the meeting.

Minutes of 2009 AGM: The Chairman asked for the minutes of the 2009 AGM to be agreed. The motion was proposed, seconded and approved.

To confirm the Accounts for 2009/2010 and receive the Treasurer’s Report: Daisy Alexander, Treasurer, presented the Treasurer’s Report and Accounts for the fiscal year ending 30 June 2010 and thanked Heather Gumbrell for auditing them. The accounts were approved. Heather Gumbrell will be auditing the accounts for the fiscal year 2010/2011. Daisy Alexander drew attention to the expenditure in this fiscal year of £1000 which is the outlay for the new drinking fountain in St Luke’s Gardens that is being donated by the SSDRA. The expenditure is part funded by a £500 Gold Standard Award to the SSDRA matched by a donation from the SSDRA’s own cash reserves.

To reappoint the Management Committee of the SSDRA for the forthcoming year: The Management Committee members were proposed for re-election, seconded and re-elected. The members are as follows; Susan Spiller, Daisy Alexander, Richard Alexander, Kim Taylor-Smith, Katherine Lumsden, Richard Bond and Steven Maidwell.

To receive the Chairman’s report: Susan Spiller, Chairman, delivered her annual report to the meeting. Her main points were from “Planning Matters” outlined in the annual newsletter distributed to members in September 2010. The Chairman requested that residents of the neighbourhood remain watchful in terms of development issues. The drinking fountain in St Luke’s Gardens will be installed by RBK&C. The Chairman reminded members of the 2011 Census next March.

The Metropolitan Police (Sgt. Hobbis and PC Reilly representing the Stanley Ward Safer Neighbourhoods team):Sergeant Hobbis provided an update on crime figures in Stanley Ward and compared the periods January-October 2009 and January-October 2010. Overall, the figures are fairly level; some categories of recorded crime show small increases and some others show small decreases. PC Reilly provided an update on anti-social behaviour around St Luke’s Gardens. The 5-a-side football pitches have been a great success and the Metropolitan Police and the Parks Police now have an arrangement to supervise the park jointly. The next challenge will be for the Police to engage with the dispersed street population and disaffected youth.

Guest Speaker, the Right Honourable Greg Hands MP Chelsea and Fulham: Greg Hands expressed an interest in local issues where there is a national angle. He highlighted the following;

  • the abolition of the congestion charge in the Western Zone by Christmas Eve
  • the proliferation of basement excavations to avoid stamp duty
  • undesirable local building developments
  • the London Fire Brigade industrial dispute
  • the cancellation of the additional runway at Heathrow and his wish to limit night jet movements
  • the impact of the Spending Review and how it will affect local people
  • the high, local usage of the Tube and the need to upgrade the signaling system to increase capacity

Greg Hands also directed members to his website and the facility to contact him by email. He also indicated his intention to set up a local Chelsea surgery.

Q & A: Questions were directed and answered by our MP, Rt Hon Greg Hands and our local councillor, Sir Merrick Cockell. The questions focused on development issues around the South Kensington/ Exhibition Road area and basement excavations and associated environmental problems that are outside the control of the local Planning process. Councillor Sir Merrick Cockell said that the development in the South Kensington/Exhibition Rd area was an enormous investment and very complicated but that members should see, within 1 year, a civilised place that is pedestrian and traffic friendly. Greg Hands responded on the issue of the basement excavations by saying that it was the largest issue of all those that he had mentioned earlier in the evening. He advised that he would consult with the Council leaders of both Hammersmith and RBK&C.

The AGM was formally brought to a close by the Chairman. The Chairman thanked our MP and Councillors for attending the meeting.

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