M I N U T E S of 2025 AGM

                                                                                 Monday 16th June 2025



  1. Welcome and Introduction by the Chair:
  • The Chair thanked all who have supported SPJARA throughout the year.  He said it is the best Residents’ Association in Cheltenham!
  • He appealed for more members to pitch in and help – not necessarily be on the committee but support and attend events
  • The Chair remembered stalwart committee member John Paterson who as ‘Trees Officer’ held an important role on the committee and in the area.
  • He also remembered the past Chair, Clair Chilvers whose shocking and unexpected death was a great loss to the SPJARA, P&J’s and, indeed, Cheltenham. 

 
  1. Minutes of last year’s AGM:
  • The Minutes of last year were agreed and accepted by all attending as true
 
  1. Chair’s report and discussion:
  • SPJARA committee:   A busy year, meeting 5 times to discuss, organise and follow-up on issues raised
  • The SPJARA area:  The Chair confirmed the area, including the addition of Great Norwood Street.  A new map has been created by committee member Diana Winsor. 
  • Membership:  The Chair thanked Roy Arnold, Membership Secretary for leading the membership drive and all the admin required.  Membership has grown from 21/22 – 148; 22-23 – 179; 23/24 – 209; 24025 – 229.  But, he added, it would be nice to have more members and across different groups eg younger, tenants etc and he expressed that SPJARA is open to ideas as to how to attract them.  
  • Communication with members: The Chair talked about the Association’s Newsletter, delivered 3 times a year to 800 households; Norwood Triangle’s Noticeboard;  the website;  whatsapp.  He also mentioned that SPJARA is keen for someone tech-savvy to volunteer to help manage these SM channels.  
  • Social Events:  This included last year’s fantastic “Everything’s coming up Rosé” Garden Party, supporting P&J’s Strudel & Schwing (2024) and Rock The Aisles (2025) events; Christmas Lights’ Up at Norwood Triangle; Another visit to the EFW waste incinerating centre; the Wildlife Event at Marie Owen’s house, and the  Skittles Evening at Somerset Arms
  • Supporting/Leading improvements: Bath Road utility boxes – decorated 25 boxes and refreshed when required. The planters in Norwood Triangle, outside and opposite Co-Op maintained & refreshed with seasonal flowers and plants; Re-planting in Norwood Triangle, tidying up and weeding following the planting of the pittosporum last year.  
  • Tree Planting: over 20 years SPJARA has planted and watered 60 trees
  • Street Cleaning:  The SPJARA roads are among the few in Cheltenham to get a thorough annual street cleaning, thanks to the SPJARA efforts, led by Roy Arnold, to clear parked cars.  The Chair thanked Roy Arnold for building a good relationship tih UBICO and co-ordinating the process  
  • Planning and Applications: Assisting residents and giving advice.  The Chair particularly thanked Adrian Phillips for his wealth of knowledge in co-ordinating and communicating with CBC on any issues raised. 
  • Lobbying for local interests e.g. residents’ parking and buying from/supporting local shops
  • Support and Partnerships locally:  SPJARA works closely with Pip & Jims, The Suffolk Traders and shops on Bath Road
  • Supporting Local events: From The Ground Up’s partnership with Future Fit Homes in Pip & Jim’s; South Cheltenham History Exhibition as part of Heritage Open Days in Great Norwood St Methodist Chapel
  • Upcoming events:  August – SPJARA’s 20th Birthday Party, Sunday 31st August hosted by Nickie and John Clarke in their garden on Painswick Road
  • Over to You: The Chair explained that the committee did some brainstorming about future of SPJARA - are we doing what you, the local residents, want? SPJARA had three suggestions for those attending to consider and give feedback. 1) produce a short welcome booklet for new residents about the area and SPJARA. This could be distributed to households, and also held by estate agents and offered to new arrivals in the area  2) have a monthly SPJARA drinks hour in the Jolly Brew, where a committee member or two would make him/herself available to meet members and give them advice and information as required. 3) develop a better social media offering – for which we will need new more ‘teccy’ hands.  The Chair asked “What do you think?”
  • Your committee and members – and how we communicate with you Social events for members Improvements to Bath Road, Norwood Triangle etc. Tree planting and care of trees Annual street cleaning Monitoring planning and tree proposals Partnerships and lobbying for local interest 
 
  1. Treasurer’s report:
  • The accounts had been verified by an independent source.  See attached Financial breakdown of income/expenditure
  • It is estimated that SPJARA needs about £1,000 to cover costs like insurance and the newsletter. A further £626.00 is in a restricted fund reserved for repainting Bath Road boxes This leaves a healthy surplus which, it was suggested, should be put to use in the community.  The members were asked to offer ideas as to how these funds could be spent. 
  • Income Highlights:  Improved membership £770 (2024: £743);  Rosé party profit £248;  Schwing profit £221;  Skittles profit. £208;  Grants awarded £1,074
  • Expenditure Highlights: Norwood Triangle £1,074 + £303 = £1,377
 
  1. Election of Officers:
  • Vanessa Angelo-Thomson proposed Maurice Gran as Chair, seconded by Sara Dillon
  • Maurice Gran proposed Vanessa Angelo-Thomson as Secretary
  • All existing committee members were re-elected by those attending
  • New committee member; Tim Harman was elected by those attending 
 
  1. Questions & Answers:
  • From the Chair to attendees – “What is the most popular event?”; “Who is interested in a meet-up at the JollyBrew?” ; Support re Planning concerning Retrofit; 
  • An attendee said that the EV charging in Bath Road car park was very expensive.  Could local residents’ get a preferred overnight rate.  The Chair mentioned that P&J’s is looking at setting up overnight charging. 
 
  1. The Chair ended the AGM and introduced the guest speakers
  • James Mogridge Flood Risk & Drainage Engineer Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) And, Lizzie, Hall, Community Project Manager Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT)On their talk - Building community resilience to flooding Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)