Minutes 4th September 2001

Minutes of Meeting on 4 September 2001:
CRYSTAL PALACE & NORWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
HELD AT THE PHOENIX COMMUNITY CENTRE

1. PRESENT
Chairman - Doug Barnes - Tamnag Thai
Honorary Treasurer - Peter Runacres - Thornton Springer
Membership Secretary & Webmaster - James Slattery-Kavanagh - Quotes
Secretary - Lucy Smith,Orthoclase
Press Officer - Caroline Streek - Streek's Publicity And Communication
Lalit Bandlish - Dental Surgeon
Anthony Brown - Wellbeing Clinic
Kevin Carleton-Reeves - Transport Consultant
Geoffrey Harding - Bennett Welch
Gavin Sargent - Hanover Park Group Plc

2. APOLOGIES
Honorary Secretary - Alan Thompson - ST&T Publishing Ltd
Pat Ryan
David Kerr - Crystal Palace Town Centre Manager

3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting were proposed by Doug and seconded by Peter.

4. WELCOME
The chairman welcomed Anthony, a new member to the Chamber, who runs a private clinic in Church Road. This offers a service for companies in South London. There are four GPs including an acupuncture and allergy specialist and they run a company doctor scheme.

5. NEIGHBOURHOOD PARTNERSHIPS
This is sponsored by Croydon council and is a few months old. It has been very poorly marketed. The meeting discusses everything in the area for business and residents. Have been seen to take specific action and been successful. The next meeting is Wednesday, 12th September, 2001 at Norbury Manor Primary School.

6. CRYSTAL PALACE TOWN CENTRE MANAGER
David Kerr's job is under threat as Bromley have withdrawn their funding. He is trying to get funding from other areas. DB is writing a report to show how a town centre manager does good things for the area especially David's work with vacant properties in the area. DB will argue his case.

7. TRANSPORT
Local newspaper article shows extension of the East London line and there is an official map from London Transport showing Crystal Palace. The press say that ministers are likely to give permission for the southern extension next month. Work is supposed to be started in September but is being delayed because of alterations that increase spending. Therefore, the project is likely to be completed by 2006.

8. CCTV
Supposed to link up with the radion system. There is no signage or promotion of CCTV in the area. JSK brought up the subject of vagrancy and why it was still apparent in the area with DK's promise of a zero tolerance campaign. JSK also said that the camera's were badly sited; the one in Church Road outside Safeway's being obscured by trees. DB said other areas were jealous of Crystal Palace and he promised to raise the issues at the Neighbourhood Partnership meeting as outgoing chairman. Senior police officers will be present at this meeting. He did note, however, that the system had only just gone live.

9. BUSINESS WATCH WEB SITE
The site is functional and JSK is waiting to establish a framework to exchange information. DB spoke to Inspector Williams and certain information cannot be published on the site. Graffiti tags are allowed. It was noted that scratching glass is a problem in Sydenham. Croydon have a vehicle which can target graffiti and anti-social behaviour. When DK goes five individual councils will have to be contacted in order to remove graffiti. JSK wants the site to start out in small steps with guides on crime and inviting comments, but cautioned that it must be heavily moderated.

10. RADIOSCHEME
Local businesses can report into control room and the video cameras will move in or people will respond to this. Works in Penge and has resulted in prosecutions.

11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Membership details update has gone very well and this time next week the membership directory will be online.
Chamber Christmas parties are great events - can we get it organised? Does anyone have any ideas for a venue? Tamnag Thai and Numidie are too busy to host the party this year. DB to talk to Lorenzo about the possibility of having it there.
Golden Jubilee - Local councils in Croydon are looking at Streetparties and JSK suggested we have a street party in Crystal Palace.
DB asked if there were any topics that people were interested in hearing about. CS suggested the implications of the Euro. Will we be able to sell foreign currency? Other topics raised were fire safety, local history, property developers and services to expect from banks. Another idea was for members to present 10 minute talks on their business and this was to be kept to one per meeting. DB will try and talk to Lloyds about coming in.
JSK congratulated LS on her recent wedding.

10. FUTURE MEETINGS
2 October, 2001

Minutes taken by Lucy Smith

Signed .................... Date ....................
Doug Barnes (Chairman)