Trustees meeting 30/11/21
30th November 2021 at 6pm
The Meeting Room, Pangbourne Ave., London W10 6BT
Present: Stephen Waley-Cohen (chair); Carmel McLoughlin (secretary); Smita Dave (treasurer); Ben Novak, Jack Perschke, Faye Thomas, Miriam Shea, Sarah Johnson, Emma Ranson – all trustees present
1. Minutes of the last Meeting 7th September approved and noted that the rental income from the pony centre is ongoing issue to be pursued with the WSCT, alongside ensuring that the benefits of all WSCT assets came to the Trust and not to the Borough.
Other matters all covered on the Agenda for this evening.
2. Feedback on activities on 7th Nov for COP26 Climate Carnival. Very successful day with many attendees who hadn’t used the Scrubs before. Bird walk in particular was very well attended and Barbara Crowther will be asked to lead another walk possibly in the Spring. Tilly Collins talk and walk also much appreciated. All trustees who participated thanked with special thanks to Stephen and Emma for their input on preparation and organising activities on the day.
3. Next WSCT meeting 15th Dec – agenda not yet available. Items to be raised by Stephen and Miriam on behalf of the FoWWS include Safety of Scrubs users generally, and particularly:
• Through routes reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB) and increase safety
• control of dog walkers
• LET is not working
• More general police presence for safety and security
• Encourage the mounted police section to exercise their horses on Scrubs
4. HS2 Update – CPO - We understand agreement reached with Thames Water so no need for a Notice to Treat but agreement yet to be reached with other statutory undertakers. Meeting with HS2 on Works/reinstatement is scheduled for Monday 6th Dec. Stephen and Faye will attend for the trustees. Discussion around inadequate access in the South East Corner and the need to cut back the brambles to be raised.
5. Stefan has emailed Stephen with a list and locations of some 26 trees to be removed for safety and sustainability. Emma is concerned that the hedgelaying which should take place before bird nesting will not happen as the contract is not yet in place. The new maintenance contract will begin in Spring 2022 and is a separate contract for the Scrubs, so should reduce the costs considerably. The Specification is more output based and specific to the Scrubs.
6. It was agreed that the New Chat Forum was working well. There are approx. 50 members on it. Ben was asked to change the name from FOTS to FOWWS.
7. The trustees agreed that Sarah’s draft Winter Newsletter (to be circulated to the Friends in next day or so) is great and agreed there should be a next issue in early Spring. Stephen also sends regular reports/updates to Friends on specific issues via Googlegroup. He will inform Friends about the proposed tree removal (Item 5) and the date for the collection of butterfly data on the Scrubs taking place shortly.
8. Trustees discussed and agreed the need to make the nomination of new trustees ahead of the AGM more effective to manage by having a closing date for receipt of nominations in advance of the Notice of the AGM being circulated, and limiting the number of trustees to ensure it does not become unwieldy. It was agreed that nine trustees is probably most appropriate. Carmel will work with David Jeffreys and Stephen on the requirements for an EGM and the documentation required to change the constitution.
9. Sarah suggested the FoWWS should mark the contribution of the Wise brothers to the Scrubs, particularly in Martin Bell’s wood. Miriam will talk to Amanda Kinsman as to what would be most appropriate.
10. Discussion around encouraging more members to join the FoWWS by actively setting up trestle tables in the Car Parks at Linford Christie and Scrubs Lane in the Spring – perhaps a week in advance of the Bird Watching Walk (Item 2).
11. Other events proposed are a Boxing Day Walk/Meet Up on the Scrubs for any Friends interested at 11am.
12. Also a Dog Show event will be researched by those Trustees interested, and further discussed at the next meeting. Possibly to be in aid of the Mayhew Centre.
13. Next meeting: as required.