Abbey Precincts Residents Association
Minutes of 23rd APRA Committee Meeting, 8 June 2018, 8.00pm, 13 College Street
1. Present: Peter Trevelyan (Chair), Robert Pankhurst, Andrew Yaras, Norman James, Kate Buckley, Justin Douglas. Apologies: Sally Hickman, Geoff Dyson.
2. Minutes of the last committee meeting were approved.
3. Points arising:
[3] Kate was still in touch with Jane Parker, SAC Waste Management and waiting for her revised draft of a letter to all Conservation residents {NB received next day}.
[9] Norman had submitted draft text for a Waxhouse Gate plaque but was still waiting for Sandy Walkington to obtain SAHAAS input; it would be worth contacting the Civic Society to find out more about an approach to the owner and the cost would be beyond APRA alone.
[10] There would be an open meeting on 21 June to demonstrate progress on the Cathedral Welcome Centre.
[11] SADC’s record on planning enforcement was likely to be discussed at the CRA meeting on Tuesday 12 June. Robert would brief Geoff on what we know.
[12] Edgar Hill had just obtained agreement from the other Verulam Ward councillors to use part of their personal budget to fund repair of the railings in Romeland following our estimate.
[17] Committee was not currently keen on the possibility of an APRA Facebook page but would be happy to discuss potential need and means of operation with those more experienced. Justin would also devise a survey of members on the best means of communication and the results could be put to the November AGM. It was agreed that Kate’s idea of welcome pack and window stickers indicating member houses was a great one; she would undertake to design these in collaboration with Geoff. Robert would investigate printing opportunities; he also undertook to begin posting official APRA correspondence on the website.
[5, 6, 7, 8] no further details.
4. Party 1 June. Norman was congratulated on the success of the garden party, about which Robert had received many complimentary messages. It was well within budget. The Bishop of Richborough continued to enthuse about holding it and we hope this has now become an established annual event. We are also grateful to the Civic Society for the loan of their gazebo, and expressed an interest in acquiring it should it be replaced.
5. Membership. Justin reported very healthy growth to about 130 members, which the committee recognised as being largely a result of his telephone recent campaign.
6. Newsletter. The draft had been through a number of iterations and was now finalised with the choice of the most appropriate photo taken at the garden party. Robert estimated a need for at least 550 copies and would consult on how the recent Civic Society newsletter had been printed, including cost. He had also drawn up a list of available delivery volunteers that covered much of the core APRA area.
The meeting closed at 10.05 pm