Minutes 6th June 2006

Minutes of Meeting on 6th June 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
Kevin Carleton-Reeves - transport consultant
Yemi Dada - Palace Estates
Geoffrey Gibbs - Gibsons
John Greatrex - Great Exhibitions Ltd.
Mary King - The Tanning Shop
Karen Morgan - Crystal Palace Foundation
Sue Nagle - Triangle Traders
Sharon Parry-Baldwin - Town Centre Manager

2. Apologies
John Ellner - Joanna's
Lorenzo Nargi - Lorenzo Restaurant
Peter Runacres - Thornton Springer

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the 2 May meeting were formally adopted.

4. Matters Arising

none

5. Attendees for Future Meetings

Mervyn Hing said there were concerns among members that the purpose of the Chamber of promoting business interests was being diluted through an imbalance of attendees at its meetings. He therefore proposed that attendance at future meetings should be restricted to traders and other business interests. Attendance of others would be by invitation only.

It was pointed out in discussion that there were ample opportunities for local groups to participate in other forums. Refocusing the meetings on the Chamber's primary role would encourage attendance by traders and other business interests, and increase the Chamber's effectiveness. The motion was agreed.

6. Triangle Traders

Mervyn raised the idea of a merger between Triangle Traders and the Chamber. There was common ground between the two groups, but an issue was the membership fee. Triangle Traders did not charge a fee to its members, whereas the Chamber charged an annual fee of £25. He did, however, believe that through careful budgeting it would be possible to reduce the Chamber's fee to £20.

Sue Nagle said that Triangle Traders had been established a few years previously because of some particular issues which had arisen within the Chamber at that time. However, it had not been intended for Triangle Traders to exist in the longer term and in principle the time was now right for the organisations to be merged.

Geoffrey noted that a merger would strengthen the influence of business interests by providing a critical mass. It was agreed that, on behalf of the Chamber, Mervyn would take forward discussions with Sue on the proposal.

7. Contact with new Croydon Councillors

Mervyn had made contact with the new local councillors, who said that they would be happy to be invited to a meeting of the Chamber in an informal capacity. Sharon Parry-Baldwin said that she had met the new councillors for the Croydon Upper Norwood ward. George Filbey will concentrate on the Triangle and business matters; Robert Askey will concentrate on the residential area.

Further details of the councillors can be seen at:
http://www.croydon.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy/electedreps/councillors/136806/?view=CouncilWard&action=ward&wardpath=/aboutyourarea/uppernorwood/

8. Any Other Business

Honorary Treasurer

Mervyn said that Peter Runacres has indicated that he was now looking to retire from being Honorary Treasurer. Geoffrey Gibbs said that he would be happy to take over the role.

Parking

Mervyn noted that although the parking restrictions in the Triangle had been changed, there were still some major issues about the 30 minute restrictions on commercial vehicles, and the severe problems that customers were having with unloading.

Victorian Weekend

This would take place on 1-2 July.

Rebranding

Geoffrey suggested that the Chamber was rebranded with a simple slogan such as "putting local business first".

Sainsbury's

Sharon understood that Sainsbury's were currently planning to open on Thursday 10 August. She said that matters were moving forward behind the scenes, and that Sainsbury's were not planning to take on the Blockbusters site.

Church Road scaffolding

Sharon said that issues relating to the scaffolding above the Crystal Pantry Café were still being investigated.

The meeting ended at 8.30 p.m.

Date of next meeting: Tuesday 4th July at 6.45 for 7 p.m., Lorenzo's Restaurant