AGM Report
WEYBRIDGE SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday 13th April 2011
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
When I sat down at my desk yesterday to think about what I might say to you tonight, I very quickly realised that I had a vast amount of material to draw on but, on the other hand, should remain aware that I must not "steal the thunder" of the various Panel Chairman who will be speaking later!
What is clear, however, is that the Society might be relatively small in terms of its overall membership but it is extremely active and, as a consequence, "pulls a punch" way, way above its weight!
ln the circumstances, I propose to simply highlight some of the more important issues which the Society has had to address during the course of the year and pay tribute to the Committee, Panel or other members who have taken the lead on any matter on the Society's behalf.
I will start, then, by expressing a huge "thank you" to Raymond Spary and Geoff Banks for the unbelievable amount of time and effort they have jointly put into the Elmbridge Core Strategy Post Submission Consultation which culminated in their appearance before a two day Public lnquiry held at the Civic Centre in Esher at the end of March. [It may interest members to know that, surprisingly, we were the only civic society from the Borough represented and who gave evidence to the lnquiry]. We now eagerly await the lnspector's report and, hopefully, she will take on board the points made by Raymond and Geoff, particularly the well argued reduction in the new housing allocation for Weybridge for the period lo 2026. Unfortunately, it would appear that our consultative role is not complete, in that 5 members of the Society were recently invited by Elmbridge Council to participate in a Design and Character workshop - and there are more to comel!
With reference to the Public Meeting held immediately prior to last year's AGM, the Planning Panel should also be congratulated on the most successful outcome of the Section 106 Agreement for the planning application on the Wallop School playing field in Churchfields Avenue. As a result, we can now all look forward to the substantial landscaped wild flower meadow with fruit and other trees.
Turning now to our Transport Panel. They must be wholeheartedly congratulated on organising the extremely well attended Transport Vision meeting at the end of July. [lt is not often that you get the Secretary of State for Transport and the Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Transport - plus lots of other important Members and Officers - present in the same room]. The Panel's submission on Surrey County Council's proposal to impose on street car parking charges was of first class quality. After many years of campaigning, the Panel must also be pleased about the opening last Autumn of the new public footpath to Brooklands.
The Marketing Panel has also had a most active year. ln Joe Hall's absence, I have agreed to speak to this item later in the agenda so I will say more about their work then.
Congratulations also to Maggie Alderman on her sterling efforts as the Society's lead on the campaign to prevent the closure of Weybridge Hall. The Society has been invited to participate in a future review meeting taking place at the Civic Centre tomorrow afternoon. [Trevor Tarring has kindly agreed to attend in Maggie's absence and my unavailability]. Elmbridge Council's Chief Executive, Leader, Cabinet Portfolio Holder and Senior Officers, together with the Chair of the
Friends of Weybridge Hall, who have made a formal offer about a possible community management arrangement, will be present. So, "watch this space"! Meanwhile, as many of you will have hopefully read in the Surrey Herald, Elmbridge Council refused permission to two of our members to "fix" the Jubilee clock free of charge. lnstead, they have chosen to spend a serious amount of money by outsourcing the work to a Third Party.
A "well done" also for Annette Davies who organised such a varied programme of talks during the course of the year - I think it was four in all - and also for organising the extremely well attended and, therefore, successful, Summer Party. Whilst on this subject, may I ask if members are happy for us to continue to support Sam Beare Hospice with the proceeds of the raffle or would you prefer that we support another charity?
Congratulations also to Brian Roberts for organising the highly successful -and most enjoyable - Thames-side Festival last September which, as you will have read, resulted in a donation of more than £4,000 to Sam Beare.
Other matters which engaged your Committee during the year were the proposed closure of Elmbridge Museum - Stephen Beaumont recently attended a Museum Focus Group meeting and we await developments - and the use of Society funds. Your Committee have considered several proposals. Elmbridge Council advised that it would cost approximately £2,500 to plant daffodils along Heath Road which the Committee thought was ridiculous! The Marketing Panel advise that it would cost about £3,600 to update our website and we need circa £?? to commission a plinth and install the sculpture on the banks of the Thames. We cannot afford the lot and, therefore, the Committee would welcome some guidance from the membership as to where our priorities should lie. Perhaps this could be discussed in the open session later?
The seeking of charitable status for the Society is still on the agenda and, with the arrival of a new Treasurer, hopefully we will be in a position to make a commitment this year.
Before I close, I must pay tribute to our two retiring Committee members, Vice Chairman, Derek Lindfield and Treasurer, Andrew Davis. Derek is currently spending a great deal of time away from Weybridge and, indeed, may well move home completely. This will be a sad loss to the Society, especially as I was hoping that Derek might take over from me as Chairman in due course!! However, Derek tells us that he is determined to complete the installation of the sculpture so, hopefully, he will be around for a time.
Unbelievably, Andrew has been the Society's Treasurer for 14 years and we must all accordingly thank him most warmly for his sterling service. Andrew is standing as a candidate in the upcoming Weybridge North election and we wish him the very best of luck. With Members' approval, the committee propose that Andrew be offered Life membership of the society.
B. A. JUDD
