minutes050307

MEETING OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE

FRIENDS OF CANONS PARK

Minutes of meeting held at Arnold House Pavilion

on Wednesday 29 October 2008 (8-9.45pm)

Present

Robin Morden (Chair) Elizabeth Bowen, Gerald Diamond, Sharon Graham, Daphne Johnson, Ian New, Matthew Rooum, Jack Smith

1 Apologies

Barbara Morden (Treasurer), Sydney Eden, Dave Harris, Rick Martin, Judy Lustigman

2 Minutes of the previous meeting – DJ and IN had not been able to read them.

3 Matters Arising – Mike Tuner to speak to the Police about parking in Whitchurch Lane on Fun Day.

4 Finance Report

The Chair raised the anomaly with the bank signatories which came to light during the preparations for Fun day. When the account was opened, some signatories had unintentionally been classed as A and others as B. All cheques required an A and a B signature, an arrangement which caused avoidable problems in signing cheques. The committee agreed that a new bank signatories mandate be submitted instructing Natwest for all future cheques to accept any 2 of the following 4. signatories - Robin Morden, Sharon Graham, Ian New and Mike Turner. . Treasurer

No important changes to the financial position since the last meeting.

£90 had been spent on buying tables and chairs; most of them to be stored in a container with the frequently used items in the Bothy. It was agreed to look out for a trolley for transporting them, as they are very heavy.

5 Musical Evening Saturday 7 March at 7.30pm at Arnold House Pavilion

Daphne Johnson referred to the report (already circulated) of a meeting with two concert organisers from the Purcell School attended by Sharon and herself.

It had been agreed to pay the school £200 to help defray their costs and contribute towards their scholarship scheme.

The Purcell School programme to be published in November / December will contain a general notice, as the performers do not choose their pieces until January / February. Chamber music groups only, so no need for an accompanist. Info to be posted on Friends website.

SG had already sent a picture with some info and reference to the Friends of Canons Park website.

No need for a regular committee.

Leaflets to be available in the New Year.

EB agreed to produce tickets by end November and to handle ticket sales; address and phone number and perhaps email address to be published but no name. EB

Ticket price to be £10 (£8 for Friends). No discounts for parents; the school is part boarding.

Refreshments on the evening – nibbles and drinks.

We need to find out at what time the peformers would like to rehearse on the day and whether they would need food and drink.

Rick Martin requires 2 men to assist him in setting up the tiered seating. IN will be doing the lighting and will find another man to help with the seating.

6 Parks Department Issues

Flagpole – The pole has been erected by a contractor working from a plan. Derek Roy had not been advised that it was to be put up.

5 aside pitch – A pitch seems to have been created nearer the path to the bridge, although it was supposed to be opposite the Bothy. MR to take this matter up with Dave Corby. MR

Autumn bulb planting – The school boys cannot help as they have no free days available. Robin reported that Derek Roy was willing to do 1,000 per day. Robin to contact Dave Corby who had so far not responded. RM

HA-ha – The ha-ha, which is mentioned on the notice boards, is again overgrown with brambles and saplings. Clearing and mowing is in the Management Plan. Dave Corby thinks that a contractor is due on site. The wall is to be rebuilt; the dead ivy removed. RM & IN

Trees – There is a dead tree on the other side of the Bothy. Some of the oaks planted to recreate the carriage way may be dead. To be raised with the Management Committee. IN

Temple – SG reported that there had been firework debris in the temple which had been cleared by contacting Derek. The charcoal had been used to draw on the walls. Nothing has been done about the missing lead.

7 Volunteer Day

Signs had been put up with dates in November and December [Sunday 14 December to be corrected]. Requests for volunteers had been sent out. 6 volunteers so far for Sunday 9 November.

Mark Patterson of Groundwork can continue to assist us for a year or two. He is putting in an application for finance to buy tools. There is a fund suitable for groups such as ours. The only proviso is to have matching funding from elsewhere. The money from Harrow Council could be the matching funding. Deadline is end October – MR to check. MR

8 RSPB Feed the Birds Day – Sunday 26 October – No FoCP members were recruited.

9 Joint Management Committee Report

Management Plan – Dave Corby is re-writing the plan; draft to be discussed in November. IN prepared to agree as long as no significant changes are proposed.

Part time assistant has been appointed.

Children’s Playground – There had been no progress on the building of the playground, although Dave Corby had been drafting a waiver in August. The waiver had been granted to employ the firm chosen in February. DC was expecting to get an order within a couple of days. Work to start in mid October and to take 4 weeks. Fence to be built by a different contractor.

Storage containers – The containers housing the polling furniture to go in the Bothy Yard.

Maintenance and Graffiti – The railings at the Howberry Road entrance have not been painted. The bolt on the Howberry Gate does not shut. Railings in Marsh Lane need attention; use Green Flag money.

Graffiti on the notice boards have been cleaned off; graffiti in the temple have been painted over with the wrong paint.

Park Planting Scheme – Ian New now has a copy.

Mike Turner had mentioned the empty beds and they have been replanted. Harrow Borough is doing a borough-wide tree survey.

DC thinks that the grass cutting is improving and it is; new mower provided.

The Spinney boundary it to be strimmed in October-November. The main hedge has been clipped. Query about the dead saplings. Roses to be pinned to the wall in the Walled Garden .

Paths – SG had asked Ian Wilson about the paths and he said that they had been done. They still look a mess with some gravel and some tarmac. The gravel is to be swept up in the Spring. Remedial work has been attempted – complete resurfacing from the Bothy to the Donnefield Gate; surface overlaid and re-dressed from Donnefield Gate to Whitchurch Gate.

Attendance - Maureen Cope has never attended; lives in Kenton Lane, some distance from the park.

Next meeting of the Joint Management Committee – 26 November 2008.

10 Website – Nothing to report.

11 Jogging Circuit and Picnic Tables in the orchard – These projects to appear on the agenda until there is action.

12 Art on the Underground – This project is the subject of a 30 minute programme to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 9pm on Monday 10 November 2008; it mentions one of the crosswords which covered the park and the ‘Friends’. The crossword idea conceived for Stanmore Station is now on show for anyone to view.

13 Park History – SG recommended a book - Patronage and Collecting of James Bridges - by Susan Jenkins, published by Ashgate Press. It was suggested we invite her to talk to us next autumn.