Minutes 4th July 2000

Minutes of Meeting on 4 July 2000:
CRYSTAL PALACE & NORWOOD
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT THE PHOENIX COMMUNITY CENTRE
ON TUESDAY 4th JULY 2000

PRESENT
Chairman - Doug Barnes (Tamnag Thai)
Hon. Secretary -Alan Thompson (ST&T Publishing Ltd)
Press Officer - Chris Dobb (Upper Norwood Joint Library)
Conrad Fox - Neil Cole
Crystal Palace Partnership - David Kerr
Amphlett Lissimore - Frank Lissimore
Quotes - James Slattery-Kavanagh
Lilburne Press - Nicholas Reed
Overseas Trade Links - Ramish Morajaria
Streek's - Caroline Streek
GUESTS
Kevin Carleton-Reeves
APOLOGIES
Pat Ryan
Kathy Kenny

2. APOLOGIES
See above.

3. Minutes of Meeting on 6 June 2000
Proposed: James Slattery-Kavanagh
Seconded: Nicholas Reed
The minutes of the Meetings were presented and approved.

4. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Doug welcomed Mary and Liz Kennedy(The Tanning Shop) and Jon Dean (Forbes Dean Associates) who have both recently joined the Chamber.
Bromley Council have stated that the development is due to start in September/October of this year. Further news would be available at the next meeting. London & Regional Properties may have been bought by Centre Parcs.
The Chairman recently attended a meeting with the police at which it was announced that Gypsy Hill Police Station was to close in the near future. A replacement station based at West Norwood was planned, but it would only be opened for two days a week. Three break-ins were reported in the Triangle. CCTV in the Triangle was due to be installed between August and December 2000. No date had been confirmed for the start of the one-way system, although consultations were still on-going.
The Anerley Business Forum has now been dissolved. Former Members have been invited to attend the September meeting.
It was hoped that a new Members' Directory would be available in early 2001.
Work had already started on the Crystal Palace railway station refurbishments. Further details regarding the planned extension of TramLink would be discussed at the next meeting. A speaker on this subject had already been provisionally booked.

5. JOHN DEAN - FORBES DEAN ASSOCIATES
John explained how important the location of a business was. If it can't be changed it's situation could perhaps be developed further.
Grouping your business next to a restaurant or jewellery shop was a good example of where a business might thrive. The south-east had good road and rail connections and a high density of population. Patterns of business are influenced by for example being near public transport (station, but stop etc.).
Access for the disabled will be a statutory right by 2004, so alterations to a building to take this into account should be borne in mind in any future development.
It's a good idea to go to the local authority to look at the planning register. Talk to the Highways Officer, and look out for new (unlisted) buildings. Do some background analysis yourself and research the property in detail. Funding is crucial. If a lease is taken out, who will fill it after you vacate the premises? Many banks have properties on their books. Further questions were taken from the floor.

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Wendy Allen (Phoenix Shoes) drew members' attention to the recent application for a drinks licence for the new development.
David Kerr (Town Centre Manager) issued the new maps for the area. He also indicated that 3-13 Church Road hand now been filled - pending a parking problem.
James Slattery-Kavanagh (Quotes) said that the Virtual Norwood website had been updated and now contained aerial shots of the area.
The meeting ended with informal discussion amongst the Members.

FUTURE MEETINGS
3 October
7 November
5 December - Christmas Party
Alan Thompson
Hon. Secretary

Signed .................... Date ....................
Doug Barnes
Chairman