Minutes 3rd October 2006

Minutes of Meeting on 3rd October 2006

CRYSTAL PALACE & NORWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
HELD AT 1ST FLOOR, LORENZO'S RESTAURANT, WESTOW HILL

1. Present

Honorary Chairman - Mervyn Hing - Silk Route Dry Cleaners
Honorary Secretary - Andrew Parfitt - resident
Sharon Baldwin - Town Centre Manager, Croydon
Kevin Carleton-Reeves - transport consultant
Geoffrey Gibbs - Gibsons
John Greatrex - Great Exhibitions Ltd.
Nigel Harris - The Railway Consultancy
Sue Nagle - Bambino
Peter Runacres - Thornton Springer
Tim Taylor - Glitter & Twisted

2. Apologies

Cllr. Sue Bennett (South Norwood, Croydon)
Cllr. Andrew Gibson (Gipsy Hill, Lambeth)
Mary Kennedy - The Tanning Shop
Frank Lissimore - Amphlett Lissimore

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the 5th September meeting were formally adopted.

4. Matters Arising

Water supply

Nigel Harris said that following his complaint concerning the interruption to supply, he had received a rebate from Thames Water.

5. Business Survey

Mervyn Hing said that he had made an informal survey of the Triangle. There were shop fronts for about 170 commercial premises (including offices); with multiple occupancy of some buildings, there were probably about 200 businesses in total.
He noted that there were 89 retailers, 10 take-aways, 15 cafés, 10 pubs, 22 restaurants, 8 newsagents, 3 bookmakers, 16 estate agents, 5 accountants, 3 charity shops and 28 empty premises. This information will be forwarded to some of the Councillors to illustrate the unbalanced nature of trade in the Triangle and the high rate of vacancies.

Sue Nagle commented that the growth in land values in recent years had led it to becoming increasingly difficult for light industrial and commercial businesses to survive in the Triangle.

6. Safer Neighbourhood Team

Sharon Baldwin said that there was a meeting of the Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday 11 October at the Gipsy Hill Police Station. She encouraged representatives of the Chamber of Commerce to attend.

Sue pointed out that the SNT needed to establish itself in order to be effective and credible. Ideally, it should be located in premises on the Triangle.

Sharon observed that the SNT was still very much in its early days. But the team is intended to provide community policing, not a rapid response role - which is the responsibility of a different unit.

7. Tramlink

Mervyn said that he understood that the current plans were for the Tramlink to be extended to Crystal Palace by 2013. He had been contacted by The Croydon Advertiser and in response to their questions said that traders would welcome the extension, provided that trams did not terminate at Crystal Palace station but ran up to the top of Anerley Hill.

Kevin Carleton-Reeves said it would be worth TfL considering the possibility of intermediate stops near Maberley Road/Sylvan Road and Crystal Palace Lake. He drew attention to the TfL site with further details of the proposals:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/trams/initiatives/tep/index.shtml

Sue noted that the tram would encourage local independent businesses. Sharon agreed, commenting that Tramlink had had a positive effect on inward investment.

8. Next Year's Officers

Mervyn said that after February he would be obliged to stand down as Chairman because of work pressures. He invited volunteers to take his place. Sharon observed that this would be a great opportunity for somebody to take on, given the exciting times of change for the local area.

Geoffrey Gibbs suggested that it would also be helpful to have a vice-chair. There was general agreement to this suggestion and to the desirability of having limited-term posts, for instance of two to three years.

It was agreed that Geoffrey Gibbs would take over the role of Peter Runacres as Honorary Treasurer.

Mervyn also invited volunteers for the post of Membership Secretary, as Mary Kennedy was also planning to stand down.

9. Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI)

Sharon reminded the Chamber of their ability to bid for some of the LEGI funding awarded to Croydon. She had already put in a bid for LEGI funding for improving the attractiveness of the Triangle to potential customers.

It was agreed that a discussion of the scope and potential of LEGI would be helpful at the November meeting of the Chamber. Sharon said that she hoped that Croydon would be able to fund the costs of hiring a larger room for the meeting. Mervyn agreed to make enquiries about suitable venues.

10. LDA Application for Crystal Palace Park Licensing

Sharon noted that a licence was required for the Farmers' Market. Rather than apply for individual licences for particular events and activities, the LDA had applied for an overall licence to cover any eventuality, including in exceptional cases a closing time of 3 a.m.

Sue said that she understood that classical and rock concerts might be held on Saturday and Sunday evenings for eight weeks in the summer months. However, details of how this might affect access by the public to the concert bowl were still unclear.

11. Social Event at Amphlett Lissimore

Mervyn said that Frank Lissimore is inviting all local traders to a finger buffet at Amphlett Lissimore from 6.30 to 7.00 p.m. onwards on Wednesday 25th October. For catering purposes, he would like a good estimate in advance of the number of attendees. Those intending to attend are asked to inform Mervyn or Sue by Friday 20th October if possible please.

12. Any Other Business

Town Centre Manager

Sharon announced that she was leaving the position of Town Centre Manager for a new post in Croydon in relation to the LEGI. She would remain in contact over issues connected to the Park and Tramlink.

Croydon were in the process of recruiting a successor. He or she would have premises in Church Road and have the benefit of a support team.

Those present joined Mervyn and Sue in expressing regret at Sharon's departure and thanking her for all her efforts to support business in the local area.

Christmas Raffle

Those present were content for the names of the Chamber of Commerce and Triangle Traders to appear on the Christmas draw tickets.

The meeting ended at 8.20 p.m.

Date of next meeting: Tuesday 7th November at 6.45 for 7 p.m., Lorenzo's Restaurant