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Newsletter 230 - March 2008

In this issue:

• Annual General Meeting
• The Committee's Annual Report
• Elections
• Annual Accounts
• Treasurer's Report

Annual General Meeting

The Society's 29th AGM will be held at 7:30 pm on Wednesday 2nd April 2008 in the Osborne Room at the Hilton Metropole Hotel.

The evening will start with an opportunity to meet Andy Seggie, one of the managers of the Waitrose store in Western Road. This will be followed by refreshments and then the formal business of the AGM, as set out in the agenda.

Agenda

1. Minutes of the Previous AGM
2. Committee Report for the Year
3. Treasurer's Report & Annual Accounts
4. Subscription Rates for 2009
5. Election of Officers and Committee

After the formal meeting there will be a chance to discuss any issues that members want to raise.

The Committee's Annual Report

The Big Bin Debate

Perhaps the biggest issue dealt with by the Society this year has been the proposal for communal bins in our squares and streets. Together with other local societies we successfully campaigned for a public consultation before any decision about these bins.

We distributed 1,000 leaflets to households throughout our area, setting out objections to the bins and encouraging people to respond to the Council's questionnaire. The results of the consultation have not yet been published and no decision is likely until June.

News on the streets

Everyone needs space, but some people want more than their fair share. We successfully campaigned for Coffee Republic to remove tables and chairs from the narrow pavement in Clarence Square.

We have been less successful with trade refuse bins belonging to the Esca Bar in Preston Street. Cityclean agreed back hi December 2006 to take enforcement action, but the bins are still there.

Following a bottle fight outside the Regency Tavern, we successfully argued for the pub's glass re-cycling bin, which is stored on the pavement, to be locked.

Meanwhile cycles still race through the twitten outside the Tavern. One of the listed bollards at the western end was removed during the excavations for new water pipes. At first we were worried it would be lost. A rapid call to the Council's conservation team ensured it was found and put back. However the gap is now wider and even motorbikes are using the twitten. We have asked the Council to move the bollard back to its original position, but there has been no action yet.

Cycles chained to railings also block the pavements so we have been liaising with local Councillor Sven Rufus and the Council's cycling officer to provide cycle racks at suitable places around the area.

Of course it is useful to know what street you are in, so we were pleased that the Council followed up our requests for several new and replacement name signs.

Talking to the Council

Early in the year we had a useful meeting with Hermione Roy, one of our newly elected councillors. She took up a number of issues for us. Unfortunately she had to resign for health reasons. Her place has been taken by Jason Kitcat. He and his colleague Sven Rufus have continued to pursue issues raised by the Society.

We also had a useful meeting with Council officer, Henry Christie, who pursued our concerns about street lighting and the glass re-cycling bin.

Talking to the Police

At our AGM last year we had a chance to meet three of ourlocal police officers. Since then the committee has kept in regular contact with the Regency Team at Brighton Police Station. We have been pleased to welcome PC James Marter and PCSO Crystal Thick at several of our regular meetings.

They have kept us informed about local developments. Their latest information shows an 8% growth in burglaries in our area in the past three months but reductions in violent and vehicle crime.

Social Activities

We had two communal breakfasts during the year, one on New Year's Day and one at Easter. Both were well-attended and enjoyable occasions.

In June we joined forces with the Brighton and Hove Pétanque club to organise a "taster" session for our members on the terrain next to the West Pier. As a result several society members have joined the club.

We were pleased to welcome to Brighton our most far-flung members, Sharron and Clive Seymour from Oklahoma. You can read Clive's memories of his Queensbury Mews schooldays on our web site.

In January local historian, Jackie Marsh-Hobbes led about twelve members and friends on a fascinating tour of the Old Ship Hotel.

Going digital

In May we started offering members the option of receiving their newsletter as an email attachment (in MSWord format). About 20 members have taken up the offer, thus saving the Society money and time in delivering paper copies.

If you want to switch to an email version (or have both) please contact us. Many people prefer to read things on paper and we are committed to continuing the paper version for those who want it.

Benches in the Park

We were disappointed to lose the Society bench from Regency Square. We originally placed it in the Square in 1981 to celebrate the royal wedding. We are hoping to buy a new bench, using money from the Regency Square Improvement Fund. We will consult members on this during the AGM.

Hostels and Hotels

As promised last year, we have been keeping a careful eye on hotels in and around Regency Square, in order to get early warning of any which look as if they may be operating as hostels. The aim is to prevent a repeat of the recent situation when three houses were granted change of use simply because they had been trading as hostels for ten years without any formal objection. We want any further changes of use to be subject to proper consultation.

www.regencybrighton.com

Our web site has gone from strength to strength. It has achieved international acclaim for its coverage of the peregrine falcons, which nest at the top of Sussex Heights. The video camera was re-installed recently, ready for this year's egg laying.

And finally thanks...

...to everyone who has worked for the Society during the year, especially those committee members who are now standing down, John Gavin (former secretary), Warden Swinfen, Traude Tappin (fundraiser for the Regency Square Improvement Fund), and Andrew Walker (former secretary and treasurer).

Elections

The following members are standing for re-election:

Chairman: Roger Hinton (Regency Square)
Secretary: Rhidian Hughes (Regency Square)

Committee members:

Ron Bakere (Sussex Heights)
Margaret Brisley (Sussex Heights)
Ros Boulden (Kings Road)
Diana Dunn (Clarence Gardens)
Tom Mackillop (Russell Square)
Brian Smith (Regency Square)
Lucho Zuidema (Regency Square)

Any member of the Society can be nominated as an officer or committee member. If you would like to nominate someone, please contact us.

Annual Accounts

2007/08 Income and Expenditure summary
Income	£	Expenditure	£
Subscriptions	477	Printing etc.	219
Donations	440	Insurance	250
Interest	59	Functions expenses	6
		Website expenses	317
		Other expenses	41
		Surplus for the year	143
	976		976
Balance Sheet
Funds at 28/2/07	2,305	Cash & bank	2,730
Add surplus	143
Funds at 29/2/08	2,448
Advance subs	115
Advance donations	167
	2,730		2,730

Treasurer's Report

Our surplus this year is somewhat lower than last. This reflects the fact that we have not sought any sponsorship money for the web site during the year. Printing expenses have also increased. However, we have still achieved a reasonable level of surplus, leaving the Society in a strong financial position.

The Regency Square Improvement Fund has not been used during the year and now stands at £4,801.

Andrew Walker

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