Notes From The SENA Meeting of 11 July 2011

Introductions

Cynthia Barnes and Kevin Noble were welcomed to this second meeting of SENA.

Other Earlsdon Neighbours Associations – their issues and organisation

Cynthia outlined the development of Rochester Road Association, initially founded in 1990 in response to the proposed development of the light railway.

• RARA has a constitution and all residents are members unless they opt to withdraw.
• The association’s regular activities are an annual general meeting (with wine and cheese and invited speakers) and three annual fundraising activities – carol singing, open gardens and a garage and garden sale.
• Communication is via two newsletters a year and the annual general meeting at St. Barbara’s Church hall. AGM guest speakers have included, for example, the city architect, city council representatives, the police.
• Recent issues raised by RARA have related, for example, to planning, licencing, parking, traffic calming and neglectful landlords.
• RARA also seeks to work with other local groups such as Friends of War Memorial Park and ECAD on Earlsdon-wide issues.

Cynthia drew our attention to some of the risks of a well-established group – sustaining momentum, recruiting new members and, in RARA’s case, a small number of people doing most of the work.

Kevin outlined some of the key features of North Earlsdon Residents Association which was formed eighteen months ago.

• Residents become members by "declaring an interest" and joining the mailing list. There is no fee to join.
• Communication is via e mails two or three times a month, via street representatives and sometimes also via knocking on doors, depending on the issue.
• NENA meetings are held every two months at the Criterion Theatre with guest speakers. There are also regular meetings of the street representatives and committee meetings (chair, vice-chair, events co-ordinator, secretary, Treasurer, fund raising officer)
• Kevin emphasised the importance of a diverse range of activities and initially, residents were canvassed about what they wanted to be involved in. Many of the street representatives are active on particular issues – not everything is organised by the committee. In June, NENA held a picnic in the park and a (second) very successful street sale.
• Longer term developments have included tree planting (and developing an inventory of trees with the city council) and the redevelopment of Spencer Park. The biggest ongoing issue at present is the impact of Friargate. Like RARA, NENA seeks to work collaboratively with other groups on Earlsdon-wide issues.

Kevin offered to help SENA in its initial setting up process – an offer gratefully accepted.

SENA – setting the agenda

Following these two very helpful presentations there was a general discussion on what the implications might be for SENA. We don’t have a definable centre or social area – a village green or a park - nor do we have a unifying issue. However, we have had a good response to the first mailshot (better than the initial response from NENA residents for example) and an encouraging number of residents seeking active involvement.

From the responses to the first mailshot and the first meeting it was clear that there were positive things that residents wanted:

• A voice
• A listening ear (delegates to go to meetings such as of the neighbourhood forum, the police, NENA and report back to residents
• A social network
• Opportunities to be more inclusive; welcoming new neighbours in their neighbourhood; involving students
• Working collaboratively with other Earlsdon associations

We agreed we need an executive/management group and street representatives (preferably two) for every street. Initial volunteers for street representatives are

Styvechale Ave

Moya and Deryck Horton, Sally Vernon

Warwick Avenue

Mary and Nigel Lee

Berkeley Road South

Simon Shaw

Osborne Road

Ray Wilson

Beechwood Avenue

Judith Hyman

Other streets do not as yet have a rep.

Communication

Early communication structures have been put in place. Simon has constructed a Facebook page, and Matthew has set up a SENA website.

Next Steps

It was agreed that we now needed a second maildrop to ask residents to:

1. Opt in to membership
2. Evaluate the issues already suggested following the first mailing and the first two meetings
3. Contribute to a skills bank

A working group of Deryck, Simon, Ray, Matthew and Sally, Mike and Helen agreed to meet on Monday 18th July to shape the newsletter.