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AGM 2010: A Good Year
'Kingston? Oh what a lovely place to live!'
This, our chairman Jennifer Butterworth told us, was the immediate reaction of a new aquaintance on learning where she lives. 'I wish there were more people in Kingston who said this!' commented Jennifer. Her anecdote set the tone for an upbeat and cheerful AGM, which the chairman had to manage single-handed as our President, the Mayor of Kingston, who usually graces these proceedings, was indisposed. Steps taken by the Kingston Society during the year to make Kingston an even lovlier place to live were the substance of the chairman's generally optimistic annual report. No fewer than four new recruits to the committee had already found their metier' in taking on particular responsibilities. A new recruitment leaflet produced by George Rome Innes would, it was hoped spread the word and increase membership. George has also produced new Kingston society information panels for displayin local railway stations. A new leaflet for Coombe Conduit has been prepared. A major development during the year had been a co-operative venture with the Kingston Horticultural society to add to our beinnial Townscape Awards a series of further awards for the 'Greenscape'.
One of the Society's major annual activities, managed by the chairman herself, is its organisation of Heritage Open Days. HODs is now administered by English Heritage, since its former sponsors, the Civic Trust has sadly collapsed. This years cycle of preparation has already begun.
Concluding, the chairman drew attention to the consultation recently launched by Kingston Council on a new core strategy designed to put 'a sense of place' at the heart of future development. This chimes in very well with the Society's ethos, said Jennifer. 'What bothers us are the financial constraints within which local authorities have to work, and the fact that the Royal borough no longer has a dedicated conservation team. nevertheless, when the tide is in our favour let us make the most of it'.
After the unanimous election of officers and committee for 2010 the chairman threw the meeting open to the more than sixty members present to make their voices heard. One subject that attracted particular attentionwas the practice of 'Garden Grabbing'. there was regret at the continuing lack of affordable and social housing, and consequent shortage of accommodation for indispensable local workers.
Several members urged the Society to make it clearer that its remit covers the whole borough and not only the town centre. bob Belton suggested that a strapline below our Newsletter title could underline this all-embracing role and perhaps attract more members from outlying parts of the borough.
Carol Bilney got warm support from the floor when she commended Marguerite perkin's excellent work on the Newsletter, establishing a 'seamless join' after stepping in so ably after the loss of Tony Leitch. In the absence of our present mayor , it was left to a former Mayor of Kingston and Kingston Society stalwart, Doug Reynolds to propose a vote of thanks to the chairman and committee for all their hard work during the year.
With the formal business of the evening concluded, members continued the discussions as they mingled at our customary New Year celebration, over drinks arranged by Brian Godding and a scruptious table of goodies prepared by Stephanie Leitch and her team.
KINGSTON SOCIETY JOINS CIVIC VOICE
The Kingston Society has decided to join Civic Voice, the new national body replacing the Civic Trust, which closed last year.
Membership will offer various benefits for KS, such as affordable civic society insurance, free current account banking services, and a partnership with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations granting free access to its services, which include a free legal information service. Individual members of civic societies which join Civic Voice will be eligible for a free day access pass to the National Trust, which they can give to a friend or relative. Find out more at: www.civicvoice.org.uk
Jennifer Butterworth
Chairman