Friends of Hillside Gardens & Palace Road Nature Gardens Meeting in the Park
27 November 2023
Present: Nigel Duckers – Minutes, Tony Emerson, Rosena Skeete, William Palau – Treasurer, Andreas Kappes – Comms, Stephanie Charalambous – Co-Chair, Evan Lerwill – Co-Chair, Julia Biel – Allotments, Robert Doyle, Dino Skeet, Amy Roe
Apologies: Tom Stanbury, Melodie
| 1 | Welcome and Apologies |
| 2 | Minutes of the Previous Meeting The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed to be a true and accurate record. |
| 3 | Chair’s Report See report from Evan. The depot is being surveyed by LC with a view to determining its use as a community asset. The meadow gate: Mered suggested we pay for it from FOHG funds (the gap in the hedging is currently held together by wire and dangerous). The meeting felt we should push back on that. Action: Evan will raise at the Partnership Board, also try and determine if any funds are left from previous upgrade budgets. The meeting asked why we don’t have a 5-year plan, as – for example – is the case at Clapham Common and Vauxhall Park. Action: Evan to raise. Also we want to continue to push for the park to be placed in an unalienable trust. Action: Evan to raise. There was some discussion of how to encourage more volunteering in the park and what form that should take. It was agreed to have a monthly tidy-up, the first being 6/7th January. Action: Evan to plan. Mural: Stef reported that there will be an online survey in the New Year to see what is the favourite design. Action: Andreas to put details on website etc when we have them. Halloween: the Halloween Even was generally agreed to be not too demanding to organise but was well attended and enjoyable for all. |
| 4 | Allotments Julia reported: there have been several new joiners and the group have met for a recent tidy-up. We agreed to look into Mered’s suggestion that the FOHG constitution be amended to include the allotments |
| 5 | Insurance Action: Will to check whether our public liability covers the allotment. Evan will email Mered. |
| 6 | Tennis Dino has been nominated for a Commitment Award. He is also going to be the Captain for the Lambeth Youth Games – and was pleased that Hillside tennis will be fielding a team. Several children who took part in the summer programme are continuing to play, Dino is now a qualified referee. More competitions are planned. |
| 7 | Locking Park Lambeth are not going to lock the park at night for 3 months on a trial basis. Some concern was expressed about safety, particularly because there is no lighting down the central path. Action: Steph will monitor and raise at the Partnership meeting. |
| 8 | Accounts Will reported a balance of £4998; £1268 allocated to the allotments. It was agreed to buy some Uni hockey sticks for a Christmas game being organise by Tom. Action: Will and Tom. There is £47 left in the June Hyde fund. Action: Nigel agreed to consult with donors on how to spend this now that her memorial plaque is in place. |
| 9 | Comms We own the domain. Action: Andreas to build new website by next meeting (22nd January). |
| 10 | Meeting Dates (2024) 7.30 Mondays: 22nd January22nd April15th JulyOthers TBA at next meeting |
Friends of Hillside Gardens And Palace Road Nature Garden 