Minutes of the meeting on 11 January 2022

SAPHRA

The residents’ association for Sopwell Lane, Albert Street, Pageant Road, Hart Road, The Ryder Seed Mews Estate, Saracens Head Yard, Pearce’s Walk and Keyfield Terrace

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Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 11 January 2022 at 8pm
at the Hare and Hounds pub, Sopwell Lane

 

1.    Present:   Officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary

Cllr Jacqui Taylor

In addition :     1 resident of Albert Street

                        1 resident of Saracens Head Yard

                        2 residents of Sopwell Lane

                        1 resident of Hart Road

 

2.    Apologies for absence:    Cllr Simon Grover

                                                Cllr Will Tucker

                                                Cllr Chris White

                                                6 residents

 

3.    Minutes of previous meeting: The minutes of the annual general meeting held on Monday 16 September 2019 had been circulated by email and a copy was made available at this meeting. The minutes were approved.

 

4.    Matters arising: None

 

5.    Finances: Anthony Hyde presented a detailed account of the finances for the period from 1st September 2019 to 31st December 2021. In summary, we began this financial period with a balance of £341.28, received £100 and spent £65.00 which left us with a balance of £376.28. The meeting unanimously approved the accounts.

The meeting unanimously agreed that:

  • The existing bank account should be closed.
  • An account should be opened with Metro Bank in the name of SAPHRA.
  • The key officials for managing the account will be the Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the Association.
  • The signatories on the account will be Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the Association
  • All payments from the account should be authorised by two, out of the three, signatories.

 

6.    Election of officers: The current officers were all willing to continue for the coming year. The meeting agreed, unanimously, that the officers going forward would be as follows:

 

  • Chair                           Roger Morton
  • Vice Chair                   Angela King
  • Treasurer                    Anthony Hyde
  • Secretary                     Cathy Jones
  • Webmaster                  Richard Barran (Working from his home in France)

 

7.    Representation on the City Neighbourhoods Committee of St Albans District Council:

       The meeting agreed that the Chair would continue to represent the Association at Meetings of the City Neighbourhoods Committee, with the Vice Chair as alternate if the Chair was unavailable.

 

8.    There being no further business the AGM was declared closed.

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Notes of ordinary SAPHRA Meeting held on Tuesday 11 January 2022 after the AGM
at the Hare and Hounds pub, Sopwell Lane

 

1.    Present:   Officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary

Cllr Jacqui Taylor

In addition :     1 resident of Albert Street

                        1 resident of Saracens Head Yard

                        2 residents of Sopwell Lane

                        1 resident of Hart Road

 

2.    Apologies for absence:    Cllr Simon Grover

                                                Cllr Will Tucker

                                                Cllr Chris White

                                                6 residents

 

3.    Subjects discussed at the meeting were:

 

  • Bikes/E-scooters on pavements:

There have been several near misses with pedestrians and cyclists on Holywell Hill. Cllr Jacqui Taylor advised the meeting to report any incidences to the police as it is illegal to ride E-scooters in St Albans. Unless part of a public trial (there isn’t one in St Albans) they may only be ridden on private land.

 

  • Alleyway passing Beehive Pub:
    There are reports of undesirable behaviour in the alleyway outside the Beehive Pub. Residents are encouraged to report any incidences to the police and, if possible, keep a journal over several weeks to help police build up a reliable case.

 

  • Pinch-point Sopwell Lane:
    Cllr Jacqui Taylor is still awaiting council officers to develop the parking proposals for Zones M and N. She reassured the meeting that the plans are still in progress.

 

  • The Oasis:
    Plans are going ahead to redevelop the Oasis site. Our working party will reconvene and will set up dialogue with Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust to obtain advise on sustainable planting. The working party will also be researching the history of the area with a view to the erection of a Notice Board explaining the history of the site and it’s link to the War of the Roses. If you have any ideas or suggestions please submit them to SAPHRA.

 

  • Refuse Collection:
    Scheduled refuse collections have been disrupted over the Bank holidays due to staff shortages and sickness. There have been fewer truck drivers and an increased volume of household waste over the festive season. Cllr Jacqui Taylor assured the meeting that the refuse will be collected and to continue to leave it outside. Cllr Jacqui Taylor also explained that street sweeping has been temporarily cut back as crews have been re-assigned to refuse collection.

 

4.   Date of next meeting:
      The next SAPHRA meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 March. Venue to be advised.