AGM 2003

The 30th Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday 22nd May 2003, at Shirley House, St Andrews Psalter Lane Church. The meeting was attended by 32 members, with Joan Flett in the chair. What follows is a brief and unofficial report of the proceedings:-

Before the formal meeting began, the Chairman gave a brief account of how NENG began thirty years ago and she praised the work of all those who had contributed to its success.

Reports and Accounts

Luncheon Club
Joan Flett reported that there were still vacancies for housebound members. She thanked all those — cooks and drivers — who volunteered their services to make the Club possible. One member especially praised Irene Clegg for her valuable contribution as a cook for the Club over many years.

Planning Subcommittee
Peter Frost referred to the many and various planning applications that had been considered over the past year by his subcommittee. Now that Nether Edge was a Conservation Area there were additional constraints on planning, not always recognized by would-be developers. The plans for developing Chelsea Park — chiefly improvements to the children's play area — would resume shortly. These would be paid for from the £136,000 'planning gain' from the hospital development; a further £22,000 'planning gain' monies from the Grammar School site in Union Road was likely to be shared additionally between Endcliffe Park, Brincliffe Edge Wood and the Porter Croft area, although NENG's General Committee were pressing for most of this to go to Brincliffe Edge Wood. Questions were raised about the development at the Nether Edge hospital site, especially regarding the likely increases in local car movements at peak times.

Election of Officers & Ordinary Committee Members

Chairman	Joan Flett
Vice-Chairman	Karen Taylor
Secretary	Richard Ward
Treasurer and Membership Secretary	Alan Hartland

Two Ordinary Members of the General Committee were reappointed:-

• Chris Venables
• Liz Friend

• Michael Barkham
• Michael Miller

The following two members were co-opted to the General Committee:-

• Kate Day
• Susan Page

These changes are replicated under Past Officers on our website. During final business the following issue was raised:-

Other Matters

1. Traffic in Nether Edge
   Several members complained about the traffic congestion in Nether Edge during the rush hour. They reported high speeds, traffic encroaching on the pavements and some incidence of 'road rage'. PC Bungay reminded us that the problems of congestion were city-wide and moves to limit traffic in one area impinged on adjoining areas. He warned that plans to extend Supertram along Abbeydale Road in the next two years would lead to an increase in 'rat-running' through our area. The Chairman suggested setting up a working party to consider the impact of transport. She was assured of the cooperation of the Less Traffic Group in this.
2. Other business
   
   1. St Peter's church: In response to a query, we learned that this church was to be demolished because it was unsafe.
   2. No. 8/9 bus service: The General Committee was asked to write to the Passenger Transport Executive to increase the frequency of this service.
   3. Website: John West asked on-line members to let him have comments and any suggestions for improvement to this website.
   4. Community policeman: PC Phil Bungay introduced himself and assured us of his willingness to help on all security matters. His telephone number: 296 3187. His area terminated along Brincliffe Edge Road but he was happy to include the roads west of this boundary. Strictly speaking this latter area was the responsibility of PC Richard Manning, whilst Sharrow was covered by PC John Speed.

The meeting closed at 9.20 pm.