metFebruary07

Notes of HFCYCLISTS AGM / February meeting
Tuesday 6 February 2007 , 7.15pm for 7.30pm in the Info Centre

PRESENT: John Griffiths, Louanne Tranchell, Julie Askins, Andy Ellard, Paul Alexander, Bill Ogden, Gwen Cook, Alan Rowden, Chris Tranchell, Mihaly Biggs, Oliver Donahue.

APOLOGIES: Roger de Freitas, Mo Morgan, Angela Brown, Susie Gretz, Stephen Burke, Jonathan Gurney, Brian Assiter, Jane Knight, Mark Fossick

AGM BUSINESS
Chair's comments
Our relations with the council have improved greatly over the last year. Perhaps because the CRISP at SBG is mainly behind us and the present CRISPs are working well. the West London Green Festival went well. And the time of your Life event went well. We are perhaps weak in getting support for rides and reaching out to get new people involved.

Discussion: On whether we have had any effective plan to achieve anything over the past year. Most discussion deferred to agenda item on future vision.

Treasurers comments and Accounts
The LCC part of the activity of our funds are roughly that we get a grant of about £200 from the LCC and spend about that amount on refreshments. A much larger input and expense comes from the activities of the Greenfest.

The present balance is £1732.39 and this agrees exactly with the accounts. Of this £50.80 is owed to John, and £553.99 set aside as festival funds.

Discussion: Possible ways of spending our funds were discussed. Bill's suggestion that it should be used to pay for LCC membership fees not approved. It could be used towards promotion of the group or the LCC, or special projects. Membership of the LCC with all its advantages was greatly encouraged.

Elections of Officers and other members of Management Committee [those nominating and seconding in square brackets]

Chair / co-ordinator: John Griffiths [Bill, Julie]
Treasurer: Andy Ellard [Bill, Louanne]
Secretary: Mark Fossick [ John, Bill]

The above are automatically members of the Management Committee. The rules require between 2 and 7 other members for the MC. Accordingly the following were elected.

Roger de Freitas [John, Andy]
Bill Ogden [Paul, Louanne]
Paul Alexander [Bill, Andy]
Susie Gretz [John, Julie]
Julie Askins [John, Louanne]

NORMAL HFCYCLYSTS MONTHLY BUSINESS

UPDATE ON RECENT CRISPs

John and Gwen told of their recent involvement in Cycle Route Inspection Stakeholder Plans in the borough. This was for 4 routes. Scrubbs Lane - Shepherds Bush rd, Putney bridge - New Kings rd, Wandsworth Bridge rd, Townmead rd. Others in the group had sent in helpful emails that were forwarded to the consultants.

Money originating from TfL is given by London Cycle Network Plus [LCN+] to lbhf to be spent on a set of plans and recommendations. the consultants Opus were employed, and stakeholders such as us, lbhf, LCN+, adjacent boroughs, sustrans were involved.

It will end up as a set of recommendations that the council may chose from to carry out improvements. Some of the recommendations are for further traffic modelling or study. The people in the group are aware of the competition and balance between competing groups for roadspace. Money for the improvements will largely come from further LCN+ funds.

THE GREENFEST - WEST LONDON.

Permission to use Furnival Gardens on Sunday 17 June 2007 has been obtained from lbhf. We are waiting for confirmation of adequate funding. LBHF are being very co-operative in this, but there are delays in hearing about Green Grants that originate from Chelsea FC. The next planning meeting is set for 15 February. Contact John if you wish to be involved.

OUR VISION FOR THE COMING YEAR

John suggested that more effort was put into promoting ourselves and LCC through local bike shops, libraries etc. [Louanne pointed out that our website still listed Richmond bikes, Bonthrones - john to update/ has updated]. Julie suggested putting leaflets on bikes, or giving to cyclists.

Paul suggested we should campaign to improve the gutter area, making sure that it was even and clean. Gwen suggested that one should ride assertively, not necessarily in the gutter.

Bill and Paul suggested having wider discussions on the email group. There are about 300 members on the hfcyclists group, and about 30 on the hfcyclistsannounce group. There are about 250 paid up members of the LCC in lbhf. One problem is that when there is a storm of emails on a subject several people leave the group. This also happens when emails become heated or abusive. Many people are on the list to receive info about rides and events etc. For people wishing to be more involved in email discussion groups about cycling there are other lists such as lcc-issues, and http://lists.topica.com/lists/urbancyclist-uk/

Gwen highlighted the input that women members had made at the Time of your Life event in encouraging new people to cycle, for which we are al grateful.

John hoped we would have greater participation in rides, events and campaigns by more of our members. This subject to be continued.

Bills suggested we join up with a large bike shop for discounts to our group members. It was pointed out that membership of the LCC gives such discounts and are detailed in the monthly magazine, along with free 3rd party insurance. Annual membership costs £32, concessions £14. This money goes towards running the LCC and all its campaigns. Membership details at http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=47.

BITS

Mihaly asked about Bike Maintenance. Gwen recommended the classes given at Macbeth Adult Ed Centre. Also Pedal Power are believed to have maintenance sessions [see our website]

Paul hoped for a group entry to the London to Brighton ride. This falls on the 17 June, the same date as the Greenfest, but all welcome to go on that ride.

Alan praised the physical quality of the boroughs new walking and cycling maps, but questioned how the information on it related to updates from the CRISPs. For the most part the CRISPs do not change route alignment, but an exception is the possible inclusion of Townmead rd to the Network. Although the map may be updated on the Council's website, John thought it unlikely to have a new print run until the present stock is used up.

Bill raised his possible input on cycling issues as our representative on the Borough Partnership, where he has been assigned housing and transport issues. It is hoped that there will be closer co-operation between John and Bill on this.

SOME UPCOMING DATES EVENTS

21 February Cleaner and Greener Scrutiny Panel, there has been some rescheduling so that this meeting will have an item on Cycling Issues. Parking will be dealt with at the following meeting on 2 April.

3rd March Capital Woman - group rides to Westminster. Gwen will be leading a ride leaving from Shepherds Bush Green [gather at disused toilet block near Wood lane junction] at 8.30am. details and registration for event at
http://www.london.gov.uk/capitalwoman/

16 - 24th June Bike Week

17 June our event the Greenfest - West London

7th July Mass ride from all over London to exclusive view of Tour de France
Alan raised the importance of the Tour de France coming to London. The LCC will be organising rides to a viewing / party area in Hyde Park. Gwen, Oliver, Alan, Mihaly, John eager to participate.

8th July Tour de France Westminster to Canterbury

23rd September London Freewheel Mass ride on central London roads open only to cyclists, group rides from every borough.

EXPENSES: John had expenses for refreshments tonight of £18.34 and was issued a cheque for £50.80 covering the additional expenses of the December and January meetings.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING 6 March at 7.15pm for 7.30pm at the Info Centre.

John Griffiths [chair / co-ordinator]
020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748
truefeelings@btinternet.com
OUR WEBSITE www.hfcyclists.org.uk