AGM

29^th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

held at United Church, High Street

 Tuesday 22^nd February, 2011

Welcome & apologies for absence

-     the Chairman, Jim Pearcey, welcomed c.60 members of the Association and others (inc. PC Richard Parke & PCSO Paul Arrow) to the meeting. Apologies for absence were received from Alan Alderson, Danielle Allday, Beryl Gasson, Hillary Lane & Beverly Pearcey.                                                          

 Minutes of 28^th AGM (23^rd February, 2010)

-          with no comments forthcoming, the minutes were noted as a true record of the meeting and approval was proposed by Margaret Hutchin & seconded by Margaret Pike.

Chairman’s report (Jim Pearcey)

-          the Chairman opened by noting that time seems to have stood still for many of last year’s expected storm of issues affecting Egham.

-          on the various developments in Egham, the planned Waitrose supermarket & Travelodge hotel on the Precinct carpark site has been delayed over concerns from the Precinct retailers over their loss of rear access (an issue raised by ERA 2 years ago) but is believed to finally be seeing construction start this summer. While supportive of the scheme in principle, the ERA has some other concerns including the siting of the bus stops in the narrow Church Road (with no lay-by provision) & the positioning of the exit from the underground carpark (onto a double bend). There will also be pressure on the pedestrianised part of the High Street, especially during the 18 months+ construction period. On the Airtrack scheme he noted that the Public Inquiry has been deferred indefinitely, SCC have argued that a tunnel at Pooley Green is not economically viable & that they have put off their consideration of an £11.4mm “mitigation” package from BAA until late March at the earliest. As there appears to be no government funding for the project, even BAA have stated that it will be several months before they can decide to progress the project. On the ongoing gravel saga he deferred to Moreton Moore who will comment later on current status.

-          the imminent closure of Egham Police Station is a concern &, whilst appreciating that the counter is little used, the station does provide a permanent presence (rather than police having to come from Addlestone). Plans for a new “local base” in Egham are awaited with interest.

-          on social events, these started with the coach trip to Bury St Edmunds in April, with good weather & plenty to do & see including the East Anglian Morris Dance Festival. Many thanks to Adrian Skelt for organising these trips & we look forward to this year’s trip to Ely on 16^th April. Next was Magna Carta Day on 12^th June, which gets bigger & better every year, thanks to Val Clayton, Lynda New, John Ashmore & the Chamber of Commerce reps on the MCD Committee. The Best Kept Garden competition, with judging in July & prize-giving at the Egham Royal Show, was supported last year by Dunkirk Nursery & thanks go to Sian Williams for all her work in organising the event over the years. She will be assisted this year by Gemma Cockerill. At the Egham Royal Show over August Bank Holiday the ERA stand was again a great success thanks, in no small part, to our very loyal band of cake bakers. The Barn Dance on the Saturday evening was a sell out & many thanks go to tour sponsors, Procter & Gamble and Barclays Bank. The Community Fair in September, held in the Pastoral Centre, had more charity stalls than usual & was busy (thanks to the organisational efforts of Christine Jacobs & Margaret Hutchin). The Quiz Night in November, organised by Val Clayton, was a popular success due to the range of general knowledge questions. The carol singing in December, on 2 very cold evenings, still managed to raise £350 for the Runnymede Dolphins, who enable people with restricted mobility to swim.

-          on Runnymede Borough Council issues, a continued thank you to our 3 Independent Councillors (Moreton Moore, John Ashmore & Alan Alderson) for all the time & effort they put in on our behalf.

-          with regard to the Committee, thanks go to all those who attended meetings throughout the year & gave up their time for the Association. Particular thanks go to Adrian Skelt, for his sterling efforts as Secretary & Newsletter Editor, Kim Callaghan, for keeping the accounts under control, & Genna Clark, our Membership Secretary, who is handing over the role to Janet Scrace but staying on the Committee. Thanks also go to Danielle Allday, assisted by Geraldine Rodrigues of late, for keeping up with planning issues in the Town. Unfortunately Danielle had a serious injury last year whilst on honeymoon & we wish her a speedy recovery. Other members to thank include Chris Fisher, for keeping abreast of transport issues, Brian Gabb, for watching over licensing matters, and Margaret Hutchin for providing cheese & wine at our public meetings. We have also increased our liaison efforts with RHUL & a representative from their Student’s Union, Rupert Dickenson, now attends our regular Committee meetings to feedback concerns etc. Finally, a special thanks to our Area Reps & all who help distribute our quarterly Newsletters.

-          in conclusion, he said that, with our Councillors & the audience’s help, we will try to keep Egham a great place to live - keep the flag flying for the ERA!

-          a vote of thanks for the Chairman was proposed by Adrian Skelt & endorsed by the floor.

Treasurer’s report (Kim Callaghan)

-          audited accounts as @ 31/12/10 were circulated at the meeting and Kim Callaghan summarised the key points, which showed that subscription income & social & fundraising event receipts had more than kept pace with increased expenses. As ever, the ERS & Barn Dance were the best fundraising events (although the latter saw a decline due to the loss of one of the sponsors).

-          overall, there had been a net profit of c.£525 this year, giving a fund balance at the year-end of c.£6,700, with 90%+ held in building society accounts earning interest (now at a very low rate!). Within this balance, Kim raised the issue of the £225 currently stuck in a defunct “anti-M25” fund & sought views on its alternative use. After some debate it was agreed that the proposal by Norman Pike, to keep the money as a “fighting fund” for other transport related issues, be adopted.

-          Kim also raised a concern expressed by the Committee that we were not completely covering our expenditure by basic subscriptions & that there may be a need to raise the subscription rate from the current £5/£2.50 level to £6/£3 for 2012? Rather than formally requesting approval of such a rise now, Kim proposed that the Committee be delegated to make this decision in 4Q11 once this year’s subscription level is clearer? This approach was proposed by March Frith & seconded by Brigitta Sampson & unanimously endorsed by the floor.

-          the 2010 accounts were adopted, following proposing by Margaret Pike & seconding by Margaret Hutchin. A vote of thanks for our auditor, Anne Baker, was also endorsed by the floor.

Election of Officers & Committee (Adrian Skelt)

-          the Secretary ran through the officer & committee member nominations that had been received and was happy to report that, with the exception of Genna Clark, all the officers wanted to stand again, as did most of the Committee with the exception of David Wilson, who will be replaced by new member, Kate Squires. Genna’s role as Membership Secretary is being taken over by Janet Scrace & Adrian wanted to add to Jim Pearcey’s comments by thanking Genna for the excellent job she had done over the last 2 years, both on membership issues & the Egham First scheme.

-          as a result the following personnel were re-elected unanimously by attendees:

Councillors reports

-          the 3 Egham Independent councillors on RBC gave their annual reports :

 a)      Alan Alderson was absent but reported on the main RBC Committees on which he serves. The Corporate Management Committee looks after RBC finances &, while the Council is well off for capital reserves (£25mm), its general revenue fund is not in a good state. Transfers are not allowed between the funds & Councillors have set a minimum funding of £1.5mm in the general fund in case of a flooding disaster. Despite warnings from the Independents, the controlling Conservatives on RBC have failed to address the deteriorating general fund over he last 5 years. Despite savings of £3.5mm over the last 2 years, this fund is now forecast to go negative in 2012 & plans are now being drawn up to address this shortfall. For some years RBC has been carrying out non-statutory duties that should be SCC financed &, as a result there may be some rationalisation of Day Centre & RBC after-school activity provision. However, RBC cannot increase rates & has decided to freeze this year’s Council Tax.

The Economic Development Committee looks after RBC’s property assets & the Leisure Trust being set up to run the Egham & Addlestone Sports Centres will help RBC save c.£300k p.a. 13 potential development sites have been identified, including Egham Precinct, where the retailers have now agreed terms with the developers & construction due to start this summer, & Station Road North, where RBC continue to receive development offers which are likely to be pursued after the Precinct redevelopment. Finally Alan wanted to apologise for the recent increase in car parking charges, which he voted against, but were carried by the Tory majority.

b)       Moreton Moore remains on 3 major RBC Committees: Leisure & Environment, where, inter alia, refuse collection now a combination of weekly & fortnightly, Overview & Scrutiny Select, which has made progress in achieving net revenue reductions in RBC, & the Crime & Disorder Committee, which reviewed the restructuring of Surrey Police & plans to put 200 more police “on the beat” across Surrey. He has also served on the Environmental Task Group (looking at Thames Flood Strategy proposals), the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee (now focusing on air quality & aircraft noise), the Egham Consultative Group (which has looked at the Precinct redevelopment, Airtrack & recently the trip hazards in the High Street), the Egham Museum Trust, the RHUL Community Liaison Group, Runnymede Access Liaison Group (for disabled access to public buildings) & Runnymede Dolphins (chairman & where fears of loss of PCT funding have now been partly assuaged). As Chairman of R.A.G.E he recognises that gravel extraction could be the biggest disaster to hit Egham since the1947 floods. The Planning Inquiry into SCC’s overall Minerals Plan took place in 4Q10 & strongly argued cases were put forward on flooding, access & traffic, noise, dust & other grounds. The Inspector is due to report in May. The specific application by Hansons for Milton Park Farm development rumbles on & its review continues to be delayed by SCC - now due to be heard by SCC on 30^th March (but probably later?). Interestingly, P&G have advised that they will leave Egham if the application is approved. He was now beginning to look forward to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 & the Magna Carta Octocentenary in 2015.

c)      John Ashmore focused on his efforts on the RBC Planning & Housing Committees. On the former the Precinct redevelopment is the most pressing scheme & he encouraged that construction may finally get underway this summer & a much-needed enhancement of the High Street follow on completion at end 2012. On the latter he wanted to see RBC back in the social housing market & supporting local youth as they try to get onto the housing ladder. He also repeated the other Councillors comments that a reduction in RBC funding could put pressure on services to the old & needy.

  -    in a Q&A session with the Councillors most of the discussion was over the new RBC recycling scheme, e.g. concerns that students in Nightingale Shott were not participating, bags for the food caddys were too expensive etc, & continuing drainage problems outside Burger King, dog waste issues in the Avenue & whether there were any plans for tennis courts & a swimming pool in Egham. The Councillors agreed to take up these concerns with the relevant RBC & SCC people.

Adoption of Candidate for 5^th May RBC Election

-     John Ashmore advised that, after 20 years as a Councillor & with insights gained from his planning & housing experience, he was pleased to stand again in May. He believed that Egham was worth fighting for & that Independent Councillors are needed to “challenge the thinking” of the overwhelming Conservative majority on RBC (36 Conservatives & 6 Independents).

-     a motion for ERA to support John’s candidature was proposed by March Frith, seconded by Brian Gabb & unanimously endorsed from the floor. Alan Alderson will be John’s Election Agent, & it was noted that residents’ votes were more important than ever this year, as the Conservatives are likely to focus their efforts on the only non-Conservative wards remaining in the Borough.

Any Other Business

i)    Olympic Route - presentations on planned Olympic Route, down Egham Hill & Runnymede Roundabout for rowing competitors during July 2012, to be held on 24 & 26^th Feb

ii)   SCC Divisions review - the Boundary Commission are seeking views on “divisions” for future SCC elections & Adrian Skelt advised that the ERA has already made a submission suggesting that Egham be re-combined in a new division, separate from Thorpe or Englefield Green.

iii) ERA Communications - attendees welcomed both the Newsletter & the recent instigation of e-mail alerts & there was a suggestion that social media should be investigated e.g. Facebook etc?

Jim Pearcey noted that ERA tea towels & notelets were available for sale (@ £3 & £2) & concluded the meeting at 9.45pm with an invitation to join the Committee in cheese & wine (kindly provided by Margaret Hutchin).

GUEST SPEAKER

“Egham’s Past”

Richard Williams, Egham-by-Runnymede Historical Society

In a slide presentation, Mr Williams reviewed some of the history of Egham from Staines Bridge to Egham Hill & covered the following : 

Egham - name believed to derive from the medieval “Eggam”, a conjunction of the name of a local chieftain, Egga, & his hamlet. 

Lagonda Works - photographed in 1939 & now replaced by Sainsburys on the Causeway - the latter having been originally built to keep Thames floodwater at bay

Egham Causeway Level Crossing - located at New Road & closed from the 1960s except for election days but finally closed in 1970 

Coach & Horses Pub - was very popular before demolition in 1970s when M25 built. A water pump from the grounds of the pub has now been restored & re-located in Walnut Tree Gardens.

Unity Motors - located in the Avenue & demolished in the late 60s. 

Runnymede Lodge - large house in the Avenue that now re-built as Runnymede Court.

Denham House - demolished in 1936 & now rebuilt as the Police Station. 

Killicks - well-known tobacconist & coach bookings shop on the corner of Denham Road

Katherine Wheel Pub - demolished in 1996 

St Johns Church Lych Gate - brought back to Egham in 1938 & restored in the 80s

Precinct - construction of shops in 1968 

Clarke Bros - butchers shop closed in 1998 but clock retained on Café Piccolo

UDC Office - opening in 1951 (now replaced by Fairhaven Court development) 

Savoy Picture House - closed in 1956

Woolworths - shop in Egham since 1954 until closure in 2008 

Gem Cinema - opened in 1910 & became Kar Sales in the 30s

Red Lion Pub - which rebuilt in 1930s 

The audience thanked Mr Williams for an interesting pictorial romp through Egham’s past.