Minutes 22nd September 2009

Crystal Palace & Norwood Chamber of Commerce
MINUTES OF MEETING 22nd September 2009: Patrick's Bar, Westow Hill

Those Present:
Ray Hall* (New Crystal Palace, Chair)
Andrew Parfitt* (Honorary Secretary)
Matt Atkinson (Full Spectrum Integration)
Matt Ball (Electron Repro Ltd)
Paul Bartholomew (Vien, Orispace, London Express Cargo)
Hannah Bougen* (Full Spectrum Integration)
Alistair Cameron (Joseph Paxton Society)
Kevin Carleton-Reeves (transport consultant)
Sarah Dacre* (Amphlett Lissimore)
Peter George (GO Contaminated Land Solutions)
Katrina Gillard (LocalSkillSwap)
John Greatrex* (Great Exhibitons Ltd)
Jerry Green (Haynes Lane Market)
Abbi Greene (Enterprise House – Mind in Croydon)
Stephen Jopson (Synergy)
Frank Lissimore* (Amphlett Lissimore)
Kevin Monk (MangoSwiss)
Stan Morris* (Shinebright)
Sue Nagle* (Bambinos)
Steve O’Connell (GLA member for Croydon & Sutton)
Patrick (Patrick’s Bar)
Peter Phillips (Enterprise House – Mind in Croydon)
Ahmet Rashit (Alistairs Café Restaurant)
Jonathan Rowlandson (Jonathan Rowlandson Design)
Andrew Rumsey (guest, Christ Church, Gipsy Hill)
Amber Rusk (District Centre Manager)
Simon Sharp (Simon Sharp Designs)
Roger Sorrell (proxy Rosa’s, Palace News, Numidie, Tamnag Thai)
Andy Stem (Bambino’s)

* Management Committee

Apologies:
Jane Avis (Cllr, LB Croydon)
Vivienne Bartholomew (Vien)
Luke Clancy (Cllr, LB Croydon)
George Filbey* (Instrument and Gauge Engineering and Cllr, LB Croydon)
Gavin Rookledge (Rook’s Books)
Silke Rudolph* (The Massage Practice)
Pat Ryan (Cllr, LB Croydon)

1. Introduction

Ray Hall welcomed all to Patrick’s Bar and thanked Stan Morris for providing the excellent catering. He emphasised the importance of networking and getting Crystal Palace on to the South London and wider stage.

In the coming year, Ray hopes that Sir Bob Scott, the chair of South London Business and the driving force behind the Manchester Commonwealth Games, will be able to give a presentation to the Chamber. Sue Nagle said that she had accompanied Ray to meetings with organisations such as South London Business, the London Development Agency (LDA) and the Greater London Authority (GLA). She and Frank Lissimore thanked Ray for all the work his is putting in on the Chamber’s behalf, and his effectiveness in raising our profile.

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the 14th July meeting had been received by all members and were approved as a fair record.

3. Five Minutes of Fame

Patrick (Patrick’s Bar)
Patrick grew up in Ireland and after university in Dublin came to London where he qualified as a chartered accountant. But Patrick decided that rather than a career in accountancy, he would go into business. After several years importing cars from Japan, he ran an east end night club, which was “interesting but hairy”. Nine years ago, Patrick suffered a personal tragedy which led him to reconsider his situation. By chance, he saw an empty building in Beckenham which he bought and converted to a successful late night bar. Then two years ago, he bought the former HSBC building at No.76 Westow Hill and gave it a total refurbishment, including the removal of a massive safe to create the downstairs bar.

The last two years have been really difficult. The area has so much potential, but receives no support from local councils. The loss of a bingo hall is “ridiculous and a disgrace”. We are plagued by traffic wardens, but lack any police presence on busy evenings. But Patrick is determined to make the bar a success, for he finds that there are “a lovely bunch of people in Crystal Palace.”

Katrina Gillard (LocalSkillSwap)
http://www.localskillswap.com/index.php?pageID=home
Katrina has lived in the local area for 15 years, and has established the Crystal Palace and Dulwich group of LocalSkillSwap. This is a community-based website which allows people to pair up directly to exchange skills, tools and expertise. It is free for people to join, and also provides an opportunity for self promotion. To take part, there are three simple steps:
1. Register to become a member;
2. Browse the site;
3. Post to swap skills.

Kevin Carleton-Reeves (transport consultant)
Kevin said that the coming of the London Overground next summer puts Crystal Palace on the tube map as a destination. So he has bought and registered the CPtraders.com web address and is in discussions with Transport for London (TfL) about the possibility of having in-train advertisements to promote the local area and its businesses. Tim Sharville of MangoSwiss is providing helpful advice and support.

Ray thanked the three speakers and applauded their efforts.

4. Resolutions

Cinema
Frank Lissimore noted how there has been huge support in the community for the Picture Palace Campaign, which since July has been trying to bring a cinema back to Crystal Palace. In this context, he asked the Chamber to vote on a resolution to retain the existing leisure use of the former Gala bingo hall at No.25 Church Road and to oppose a change of use to a church. The resolution, which was seconded by Hannah Bougen and Stan Morris, was passed by a majority of 20 to 1, with 1 abstention.

Business Rates
Ray said that the Local Government Association (LGA) has successfully persuaded central government to allow local authorities to use funds raised through business rates to respond to local economic needs. http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=2335647 He said that with the Chamber’s approval he would engage with local authorities to press for more recycling of business rates to serve local business interests. The resolution was passed.

5. Main Speaker: Steve O’Connell (GLA Member for Croydon & Sutton), “My Vision for Crystal Palace, Croydon and South London”

Ray introduced Steve, who as well as being the GLA Member for Croydon & Sutton, is a ward councillor for Kenley, the Croydon Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development and sits on the Metropolitan Police Authority.

Steve said that he was born in a cottage in Paxton Place, next to what is now “The Mansion”, and has always closely followed Crystal Palace issues. He has written today to object to the change of use at No.25 Church Road and is excited by Ray’s plans for a New Crystal Palace. He is keen that businesses get all the support they need for economic development from the GLA and London Boroughs.

His broader vision is to regenerate the district centres of South London. Money is tight, but with the right approach, funding can be secured from organisations such as the LDA and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Particularly helpful in this context is a “something for something” approach, for instance accepting new housing in return for an investment in infrastructure.

Steve answered a number of questions:
· He recognises that the Triangle would benefit from more parking, but has yet to hear a convincing argument as to where this could be provided;
· He understands Croydon have the key responsibility for traffic issues in the Triangle, including the one-way system;
· He will use all his influence with Croydon to support a local cinema and oppose the loss of a community facility at No.25 Church Road;
· He invites members to contact him if they have issues regarding lack of police presence;
· He does not support the proposed supplementary business rate for Crossrail.

In conclusion, Steve encouraged local businesses to keep up the pressure on issues such as parking, policing, regeneration, the cinema and the park. He appreciates that being at the periphery of five boroughs can pose problems of coherence, but would be happy to help facilitate closer working, including Ray’s suggestion of inviting leaders from the respective boroughs to a round table.

Ray thanked Steve for his presentation and for taking the time to answer members’ questions. He looked forward to continuing to work closely with Steve and Croydon colleagues in order to make Crystal Palace a destination.

6. Any Other Business

Stan Morris said that he wished to record his apologies for referring to some businesses as “dead wood” during his Five Minutes of Fame at the 14th July meeting. He had misunderstood the meaning of the phrase and did not intend to cast any aspersions.

Peter Phillips said that Mind in Croydon are refurbishing the Enterprise Shop at 18 Westow Street for a relaunch on 22nd October. The project aims to promote the re-engagement of people with good mental health, and also to support business activity.

7. A Musical Surprise

Ray introduced Andrew Rumsey, the Vicar of Christ Church, Gipsy Hill, and the leader of the local band, The Effras. Andrew said how the Effra River, which still flows underground from Crystal Palace through West Norwood to Brixton and the Oval, has been a rich source of local stories and legends. He performed three songs:
· Down in the Effra
· Crystal Palace Fire
· Penge in Blue

Ray thanked Andrew for an uplifting and entertaining end to the evening.

8. Date of Next Meetings

Tuesday 29th September, Annual General Meeting, Patrick’s Bar, 6.30 for 6.45 pm, including an informal presentation by Annabel Sidney from the Picture Palace Campaign.

Tuesday 20th October, Patrick’s Bar, 6.30 for 6.45 pm. John Collins ( one of the world's most respected leisure destination specialists and part of the New Crystal Palace team) will be talking about the potential of Crystal Palace as a global recognised leisure destination.