Meetings

Friends of Talacre Town Green - 2025 AGM 

Athlone Community Hall 

20 March 2025 @ 6pm-7pm 

Agenda in black, Minutes added in red, actions added in purple - will be posted online with names removed. Please do not share otherwise, for data protection. 

At least 20 in attendance, including 4 acting committee members.

1. Meeting chair made introductions and thanks to all in attendance including:

   1. Two Camden green spaces officers

   2. Two local ward councillors

   3. Existing and newly signed up Friends members and other attendees

2. Talk about the history of Talacre and its value as a community open space and area for wildlife.

   1. Existing member gave brief history of some of the community work that led to Talacre’s creation as an open space:

      1. Demolition of old housing and works building 60-70s

      2. Official opening in 1975

      3. Mayor Jerry WIlliam, Talacre Action Group, InterAction, Log cabins, Cedric Price InterChange Studios, building, skate/BMX bowl, go-carting, Play center…

      4. See history section of Friends website for info and videos

      5. Park boundaries we now know established 1988

      6. The Friends Town Green achievement 2007-2009

   2. Other members contributed including:

      1. Utility tunnelling works money (late 90s) substantially helped with creation of the Sports Centre and major parks improvements including railings etc - this all substantially changed the park.

      2. Camden and Sports England money led to creation of the Sports Centre complete 2003

3. Look at examples of what the Friends have achieved over the years and ways people can be involved in the park as volunteers or committee members.

   1. Town Green Status - keep an eye on any encroachments, retail, events

   2. Friends bench in Children's playground

   3. Creation of the meadow area for encouraging wildlife - ongoing volunteer maintenance

   4. Designation as a local SINC and work with Camden Nature Corridor  

   5. Watering new trees, planting shrubs and bulbs - ongoing volunteer help

   6. Challenging Camden on proposed commercial activities in the park, developments

   7. Reporting repairs, vandalism etc

4. Hear from representatives at Camden council about how the park is looked after, and future plans and events (subject to council representatives being able to attend).

   1. New playground contractor secured, Ground Control, work set to start April 2025 3-4 months estimated completion

   2. Assistance with other projects may be available e.g. bench renovations, Camden officer and Friends to meet up at future date TBC

5. Explain the Friends current set up of sharing committee positions, and vote in committee members.

   1. All present asked if they would like to put their names forward for committee positions - 5-12 needed as shared positions for all essential committee roles (Chair, Dep Chir, Secretary, Dep Secretary, Treasurer. 

   2. 7 members put their names forward (including one proxy vote by long term committee member)

   3. Shared role committee not fully approved of by Camden officers or Councillors present - need a lead/chair

   4. Committee of 7 members elected by vast majority of all present

      1. 2 co-chairs confirmed by vote

      2. 2 bank account signatories acting as treasurer confirm by vote

      3. Secretarial and other duties to be shared.

   5. Camden officers/Councillors seemed satisfied that committee/Friends is adequate 

   6. Camden officers partnership agreement highlighted by Camden Officer

      1. Commitment on both sides, site visits, AGM plus 4 Friends committee metigs per year, minimum 2 meetings on site between Friends and Camden Officers.

   7. Camden officers to provide proper communications lines information/details that they would like Friends to use

      1. Request Friends use single email address and proper lines of communication; not emails coming from multiple addresses/people

   8. Committee meeting to be set up ASAP 

6. Pick up on items from previous meetings.

   1. Bank account mandate changed - co signatories set up underway with existing Friends Barcalys account

   2. Website now up again - would appreciate input/help/editors! 

   3. Members database and email now set up - as above. Continue to put up posters re new members etc.

   4. Bench needs some concrete repairs and painting - one of the Friends meeting (21 March 2025 on site) local builder who helped build the bench. Any volunteers to help when the work is due?

   5. Camden seem to have cracked down on people using the park for retail/commercial activities (e.g. advertising posters, football coaching on the grass, food sales).

   6. Children's playground progress? Cafe? See above item 4.

   7. ASB, drug taking/dealing, loud music systems - Camden continuing to respond to this. Park users must report, and Friends too via proper lines of communication.

7. Hear from anyone who has ideas for improvements to the park.

   1. Items below to be followed up at next committee meeting:

      1. Windrush festival mentioned - very popular but not with everyone. Comments from a couple of members: 

         1. Noise complaint - far too loud

         2. Free event great for the community and park

         3. Benefit to local businesses

         4. Is it commercialisation of the park?

         5. Damage to nature areas - nesting seems to have decreased, bottom of park becoming ‘dust bowl’

         6. Camden officers made point that an open community meeting on the 2025 Windrush Homecoming event was held in the hall on 11 March 2025

      2. One member stated that excessive pruning of hedges also causing problems for nesting birds. Robins, blackbirds observed less. No nests observed this year, whereas birds used to nest in hedges, particularly at northern end/Quiet Garden area.

      3. Quiet Garden area benches; are these coming back? Division between a couple of members as to whether these benches were causing more or less ASB.

      4. Section 106 case still underway for traffic marshalling at Princes Park development 52 Prince Of Wales Road, London NW5 3LL. Overage money was never paid for this development either. Current Friends member has been pursuing this for years, see their website at: https://sites.google.com/site/talacrefacts/miscellaneous/tale-of-talacre

Meeting ended at 710pm

Friends of Talacre Town Green

Committee meeting 11th December 2024 - 6pm

Four committee members in attendance.

Minutes added in red - will be posted online with names removed. Please do not share otherwise, for data protection. 

Agenda + minutes:

1. Continuance of the Friends to promote preservation and improvement of the park and for official communication with Camden on such matters.

Keeping the friends alive and functioning agreed main commitment. Camden’s requirements noted: AGM, quarterly or more friends meetings, attend Chairs of Friends meetings, at least friends 8-10 members representing community as far as possible, and as per Camden’s partnership agreement, constitution etc. 

2. Who wishes to remain or become a member of the Friends? This would be either as a contributing member or to help with carrying out essential committee duties.

Agreed by all in attendance. 

No other previous members turned up. 

3. The possibility of sharing the duties of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer for an interim period or long term - perhaps similar to The Friends of Fortune Green for whom sharing duties seems to work.

Agreed by all in attendance.

4. Share the essential committee positions temporarily until an AGM and vote is held - would anyone else like to assist during this interim period?

Agreed by all in attendance, three of whom will share these duties for now. 

5. Updating the Friends website and maintaining communications - there is currently a basic site under construction online at www.talacrefriends.org.uk and group email address talacrefriends.org.uk@gmail.com

Noted - cc friends email address for all communication on committee matters. Use this email address for communication outside friends group on official matters - sign in details to be shared on committee. Cc in with other friends’ communications. Minutes to be published to website.

6. Attracting new people who may wish to join the Friends - seeking as wide as possible representation from the local community and the valuable skills we need. 

Qcca, Local TRAs, CNJ, personal FB, posters in park notice boards and shops etc PDF of ‘new friends’ poster agreed and will be distributed. 

7. Arrangements for inviting potential new members and Camden parks officers to AGM. 

As above, plus via Camden Green Spaces Partnership officers. Once 10-20 new people signed up, set date for public AGM, likely late winter or spring 2025. 

8. Set date and agenda for an AGM. Very loose draft for AGM agenda:

   • Welcome new members and attendees.

   • Discuss the history of Talacre and its value as a community open space and area for wildlife.

   • Look at examples of what the Friends have achieved over the years and Town Green Status.

   • Discuss the aims of the Friends, constitution, committee essentials and duties. 

   • Sharing committee positions and duties, website upkeep and communications.

   • Vote in committee positions.

   • Set date and agenda for next meeting, including picking up on past minutes, and ongoing issues and subcommittees (e.g. playground, horticulture etc).

9. AOB

   • Banking

   • Signage

Forms filled out for banking signatories - cheques must be countersigned by two members. Report back on banking application progress.

Money offered as donation for park bench paint - follow up when bank account active.

Follow up with all in next few weeks re new members and potential AGM date. 

Thanks to host for venue and providing refreshments. 

Poster copy below:

Meeting ended 11 December 7pm

Friends of Talacre Town Green 

Meeting 23 August 2023 @ 6.30 pm

Present: Acting Chair (AC), Acting Secretary (AS), Five other committee members (O1-O5)

Introduction and Apologies.

AC thanked everyone for their support. AS took minutes.

Closing of Bank Account and Painting of Wall

There is £104 in the account. O1 cannot find the exact colour match O2 said could take a flake

to get it matched. Our website had recipe for pigment. Does someone know someone who can

put website back up

O2 stated it might be better to wait until April to paint due to weather conditions. However others

felt to do asap so that the bench looks good and won’t be considered to be taken when

Children’s playground. Is done.

We should look into internet banking Community Account.

Sports Coach problem/ The Football last weekend

All agreed that the Coach should not be running a business and making personal profit. Park is

Not for hire. Need clarity. AC to email Camden Events again.

Emergency road closure for the football was a good idea Could be a strategy going forward as

getting any kind of big vehicle into the park would be disastrous.

Children’s Playground Strategy

Agreed that Dalby St and Sports Centre were not part of the Children’s Playground scenario

Dalby St is a service road and cannot be pedestrianised anyway. We also have concerns that the

Cafe being built might encroach on the Green.

Agreed that FOI request needs to be filed to Camden about how much money is being spent on

Children’s Playground from the Haverstock Levelling Up Fund. We agree that too much time and

money has already been spent. They need to act. Letter can be sent to CNJ. Not being honest

and open. Councillor for Leisure should also be contacted AC to send O3 a copy

of the relevant Council offier’s email.

Anti Social Behaviour e.g bikes, amplified music, park closing

Bikes were becoming more of a problem inc Lime Bikes and Motorbikes. Signage and markings

on the pathways need to be repainted. Maybe Camden could do an awareness day. Drug taking is

becoming worse. O2 reported Drug paraphernalia being found early morning. O1 to contact NW.We need a proper Park Warden like previous who is able to tend to the park and deal with

antisocial behaviour. Protecting the park and the people. Wardens tend to stick in the hut and

listen to music. Also reports of the hut being full of rubbish and hoses being difficult to get at.

Recruitment Drive - AGM

Friends email address. O1 said there is a list somewhere. We need to have a database of

members. AC suggested a recruitment day in the park asking for specific skills. We might find a

new treasurer who has experience of setting up a Charity. O4 stated it was hard work.

Dog Free Areas.

At present these are the Playground. MUGA pitch and Picnic Area. Signage needs to be improved

especially on the MUGA door. Possibility of a small fence around Picnic Area to indicate the

boundary.

AGM

Suggested end of October. To be fixed.

Meeting ended