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Society Events
May Bank Holiday breakfast
Monday, 26 May 2008 10:00
A Visit to Belmont Park Throwley Faversham
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2008 09:45
Newsletter 172 - March 2002
In this issue:
- Annual General Meeting
- Committee Report on the Year
- Golden Jubilee Party
- The Society web site...
- Regeneration
- Rubbish
- Other issues
- Annual Accounts
- Treasurer's Report
- Elections
- Church tour
Annual General Meeting
The Society's 23rd Annual General Meeting will be held at 7:30 pm on Tuesday 26 March 2002 in the Chartwell Room at the Hilton Metropole Hotel.
Agenda
- Minutes of the Previous AGM
- Committee Report for the Year
- Treasurer's Report & Annual Accounts*
- Subscription Rates for 2003
- Election of Officers and Committee
After the formal agenda there will be a chance for members to raise any issues they wish to discuss.
The meeting will end with an update on the Save Our Seafront campaign to prevent the development of buildings either side of the West Pier.
*The committee is considering using part of the Regency Square Improvement Fund to help meet the expected additional costs of the Save Our Seafront campaign and wishes to consult members on this proposal at the AGM.
Refreshments will be served.
Committee Report on the Year
The West Pier: it was last August that we first heard of plans for large buildings either side of the pier, blocking out views of the sea and the pier itself The committee met with the developers to find out more. We were so horrified by what we learnt that we immediately organised a meeting for members. Other local societies were also invited.
Almost everyone at the meeting agreed that the plans were unacceptable. There was also concern that they would set a precedent for developments elsewhere on the seafront, such as at the Palace Pier. A "Save our Seafront" group was formed and has campaigned vigorously since then to make sure that everyone knows about the plans.
Leaflets have been distributed, and a petition circulated. Meetings have been held with representatives of the Council, English Heritage and architects who have other schemes to propose. Last month there was a large seafront demonstration.
This is surely the most important planning issue our Society has ever had to deal with. The story is far from over. The campaign has much work still to do.
Golden Jubilee Party
The Society is organising a party in Regency Square to celebrate the Queen's jubilee. It will be from 2pm to 6pm on Monday 3 June (a public holiday).
The party will be free for everyone. There will be games, entertainments, refreshments and a bar. Our guests will include l'Orchestre d'Harmonie de Dieppe which will be travelling to Brighton specially for the occasion. Other entertainments will include Morris dancing and a magician.
Traditional games like skittles and roll-a-coin will add to the fun, and help to cover expenses. Those who enjoy that favourite English pastime of ridiculing people in high office will be able to soak the Society's chairman by throwing wet sponges!
A party organising committee has been hard at work for the past few months. As the date of the party approaches more help will be needed. If you can help please let us know (tel: 321794).
The Society web site...
...continues to go from strength to strength with more content being added on a regular basis. The site now has over 100 different pages. It is a source of information on our area and also an easy way to keep up with West Pier news: information is added as soon as it becomes available.
The average number of pages viewed has recently exceeded 5,000 a month. The most popular pages are those for the West Pier, our resident peregrine falcons, news and the "Out and About" sections.
Regeneration
After a long wait we are finally seeing the results of re-generation plans for our squares. We have liaised with the Council over the details.
Rubbish
It doesn't go away! The new deal signed by the Council with the unions last summer has restored reliable weekly collections. However, it has not solved the underlying problem of rubbish dumped in the street at the wrong time of the week.
The committee had a useful meeting with David Panter, the new Chief Executive of Brighton and Hove. He emphasised his committment to solving the rubbish problem and told us that refuse collection will soon be subject to a major review.
Other issues
We have been pressing for action about the terrible condition of number 128 Kings Road. The Council has issued enforcement orders and the property now has a new owner, so improvements should be on the way.
We have been trying to get the Council to repair street lights in Regency Square. In December they were at last all working, but since then more problems have ocurred.
Social Activities: two Regency Restaurant breakfasts, a boat trip and a guided tour of the Theatre Royal have all provided opportunities for members to meet and relax together.
...and finally thanks to the many people who have worked hard for our area and our society. We can't name them all but two people deserve a special mention. One is road sweeper John Lawrence who has been made an honorary member of the Society for his hard work to keep the area tidy. The other is committee member Clive Buxton who has been the energetic leader of the Save our Seafront campaign.
Annual Accounts
| 2001/02 Income and Expenditure Summary | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | £ | Expenditure | £ |
| Subscriptions | 439 | Printing etc. | 343 |
| General Donations | 451 | Insurance | 210 |
| SOS Donations | 605 | SOS expenses | 1,225 |
| Website sponsorship | 390 | Website expenses | 366 |
| Functions receipts | 70 | Functions expenses | 77 |
| Interest | 20 | ||
| Deficit on the year | 246 | ||
2,221 | 2,221 | ||
| Balance Sheet | |||
| General funds | 1,450 | Cash in hand & bank | 2,747 |
| Website funds | 24 | ||
| Total funds | 1,474 | ||
| Advance subs | 143 | ||
| Advance donations | 190 | ||
| SOS Costs Owing | 940 | ||
2,747 | 2,747 | ||
Treasurer's Report
The accounts show a deficit for the year. This results from the costs incurred for the save Our Seafront campaign. Further expenditure will be needed for the campaign and the committee wants to consult the members about the possibility of transferring up to £3,000 from the Regency Square Improvement Fund.
The Regency Square Improvement Fund is held separately from the Society's other funds. It had a balance on 28 February 2002 of £9,871. The only change from last year was the addition of £87 interest.
Elections
Andrew Walker has been the Society's secretary for several years and is now standing down. However, he has offered to take on the role of Treasurer, which has been covered in an acting capacity by Roger Hinton last year. Nominations are invited for the job of secretary and other officers and committee members.
Those standing for re-election are:
Chairman: Roger Hinton, Regency Square
Treasurer: Andrew Walker, Chartwell Court
Committee members:
Ros Boulden, Abbotts
Clive Buxton, Dean Street
Diana Dunn, Clarence Gardens
Tony Lowery, Metropole Court
Sue Paskins, Marlborough Street
Traude Tappin, Abbotts
We need more committee members including a secretary. Please contact Roger Hinton if you would like to know more about what is involved (Tel: 321794) If you would like to nominate someone as an officer or committee member (including yourself) you can do so at the AGM or by contacting Andrew Walker (Tel: 700340).
Church tour
Don't forget to book your place for the Guided Tour of St Nicholas Church
Time: 11:00 - 12:30 Date: Saturday 13 April. Cost: £3 including coffee & biscuits
If you want to come please send £3 with your name and telephone number to: Ros Boulden, 8 Abbotts, 129 Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2FA