FOR THE 2023 AGM to be held 21 November 2023 - please send feedback before this date

Friends of Finsbury Park: Registered Office- Manor House Lodge, Seven Sisters Road, London. N4 2DE; Company No: 04343874; Charity No: 1104450.

The Friends of Finsbury Park - Minutes of the 2022 Annual General Meeting, (followed by Community Meeting), held on 25 January 2023, 7pm to 9pm at Holy Trinity Church, Stapleton Hall Road, N4

Present:

Tom Graham, Lawrence Singha, Gina Haskell, Diane Burridge, Jono Kenyon, Bethany Anderson, James Noble, Katie Dawson, Clive Carter, Paul, Annie Hall, Nigel Hall, Peter Lorrimer, Steve Brooks, Carol Brookfield, Dorothy Newton, Sue Evans, Bob Hare, Toby, Katy Potts,

Councillor George Dunstall and Councillor Alex Worrell

1.  Apologies:  Louis Wass, Eldridge Culverwell, Kevin Duffy, Gordon Hutchinson, Barbara Bourn, Carrie Ancor, Justine Hinchcliffe, Hugh White, Sarah Potter, Martin Ball and Douglas Palin

2.  Minutes of the 2021 AGM, held 10 November 2021 (previously circulated):  These were noted as listed on the Friends of Finsbury Park website, where comments were requested within 30 days to the FOFP mailbox. No comments were received, and so these were agreed. https://www.thefriendsoffinsburypark.org.uk/governance

3.  Matters arising from the 2021 AGM minutes:  There were none.

4.  Co-Chairs’ Report:

4.1 Clive Carter set out the Chairs’ report. He noted that 2022 was our first full-year of activity since the pandemic and the year saw the number of Supporters increase again. Month by month highlights were:

January: This was the quietest month of all, with little park-related activity.

February: But on 19th February, volunteers planted 293 saplings along the New River and near the end of the month, we organised another hedge-planting near Edible Landscapes.

March: A further volunteer hedge-planting session on the 26th of March, saw about 200 young trees planted around the Richard Hope Play Space.

April: On the 21 April we organised Stroud Green’s only Local Election Hustings next door, at the St Aidan’s school, capably chaired by our own chair, Tom Graham. The candidates received questions about a certain local park and certain Council involvement.

The very next day, 22 April—on Earth Day of all days—we learned to our shock that Parks department officers had ordered the ripping out of the entire 200 recently-planted hedge trees in March.

Parks officers claimed that this action had nothing to do with the scheduled Major events in the summer, but two months later, the Wireless steel wall was erected hard-up against the fence of the Play Space.

The public’s disgust at this action was reflected in our tweet on the matter; this was re-tweeted and viewed more than 58,000 times.

Just one example of the environmental challenge to our Park: the Council insists that any Event generators “must be diesel fuel only”, and many tonnes of fuel were burnt by about 50 such generators.

May: Mid-May saw the launch of the Ecology page on our website, work by TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) on a “dead hedge”. And the re-wilding work continued.

We continued to question Haringey Council’s long-term use of glyphosate; and we made repeated pleas to improve public safety in our Park.

June: One of the founder members of the Friends, passed away in June. Monseigneur Bruce Kent was a leading figure in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and remained an active member of the Friends of Finsbury Park.

Bruce lived locally and was a consistent opponent of Haringey’s Major Events policy. We hope the Council will mark this nationally- known figure, with some physical memorial in our Park (post- script: at a ceremony on 4 March 2023, a walnut tree in his memory was planted on the north side of the Park).

From mid-June, the big build-up to yet another Wireless began. After two fallow years in which the park healed and recovered, the Council brought Wireless back again. We were assured that the 2022 event couldn’t be stopped due to the budgetary cycle with the implication that it might be the last one.

July: Thus for several weeks our Park was dominated for weeks by the build-up, the huge commercial event itself, and then the dismantling of all the apparatus. A review of our Twitter account during July will show how closely the Friends monitored this event, and reported throughout, for safety and evidential purposes. A huge contribution by Tom!

Our Trustee Lawrence Singha organised the Petition against the Major Event and we circulated the results to the local press. Due to the dangerous situation that threatened a crushing, the national press covered the story with photos; also BBC London TV and on BBC Radio 4.

August: Now we’re half-way through the year and another relatively quiet month for the Friends, but lots of use of the Park by the public. Lawrence’s petition reaches 2,000 signatures and it would eventually garner 2,400 signatures, with 177 strong comments against Wireless.

September: Our fellow Trustee Louise Wass became even more active in the Autumn and began conservation work and planting more trees. She sends her apologies but you will hear her pre-recorded voice shortly.

October: As above!

November: On 1 November we hosted a Public Meeting at the Muslim Welfare House about the council’s huge events, and over 70 people attended. A senior police officer spoke about their Operation Taipan aimed at crime reduction in our park. And our patron Jeremy Corbyn MP spoke at the end, and suggested we hold a further meeting. Watch this space!

December: Finally, on 15 December — our Trustees Gina Haskell and Lawrence Singha gave a presentation to the Council’s Environmental Scrutiny Panel about events in our Park during the summer.

Given the Council’s apparent determination to continue with these too-big events, annually, the Panel were surprisingly interested and engaged. The Panel promised to provide answers to the questions that were put to them:  e.g. the lack of transparency about the funds received from Live Nation, and the £870,000 spent on staffing costs.

Supporters: We ended 2022 with more than 400 supporters and today they stand at 446. Our newsletters are forwarded to many more than these people, and our Twitter Followers number more than 3,600.

This year, we look forward to growing numbers of supports and having an even more effective group to safeguard our No.1, Charitable object: To promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Finsbury Park, London

4.2 Tom Graham noted that:

-       The Park has never been busier

-       We enjoyed the opening of the new Richard Hope Play Space facilities

-       Operational engagement with Haringey Council was generally good, with special support from the park staff on rewilding

-       The Council has essentially disengaged from the position taken by Cllr Mike Hakata in 2021/22 that the financial position for the Park would be ‘reviewed’

-       Lobbying on safety has resulted in improvements in terms of security, but there are still concerns around how people feel, and drug dealing / crime.

Tom stated that the Friends of Finsbury Park Committee will continue to engage with Haringey Council across a number of issues, and provide ‘supportive challenge’ to improve the Park. As well, the Committee will work to:

1.     Grow the supporter base and communicate better with these people

2.     Examine the constitution to see whether we need to make any changes

3.     Improve the Park with community ideas; e.g. facilities, signage, Love Finsbury Park

4.     Support the Skate Park being developed, after having raised nearly £50,000 through Crowd Funding towards costs

5.     Continue to promote safety in the Park: e.g. lighting, CCTV

6.     Continue to promote the ecology and re-wilding of the Park

7.     Stop major events / mitigate their impacts (e.g. not in the north side of the Park)

8.     Encourage the effective funding of the Park, and re-invigorate the fabric: e.g. 1 o’clock club, community use of abandoned buildings

9.     Highlight to the community more the issues relating to the Park

10.  Respond to, and influence, the boundary review / ‘parks without borders policy’ and borders / bike lanes proposals

4.3 Discussion points raised on the Co-Chairs’ reports:

Paul asked a question around the removal of trees from the Richard Hope Play Space area, and the communications around this. Clive C described the shock at their removal, and how park staff were ordered to remove them. A broader debate ensued about the nature of engagement with the park staff and the Council.

Bob H noted the ‘double edged sword’ around lighting, and the false sense of safety that this may give to some. He asked for a policy on lighting. Bob H also asked a question on ownership of the Park, and whether it might move to a single purpose trust. Tom G replied to describe the lighting position (concerned for environment but support efforts to improve safety), and that there appeared limited support to change the ownership structure. Diane B noted that there are quite a number of people who are in the Park early in the winter mornings ‘enjoying being in the dark’- jogging, cycling etc.

Jono K asked a question around whether there was a master plan from the Council around the conservation action plan. Beth noted that Louise W was engaged with Haringey Council on the environmental plan and helping them draft this.

James N asked a question on funding (£830k for ~20 FTE staff); Clive C explained the context. A debate ensued about the nature of events and the pros and cons.

Katie D provided a perspective on the tennis courts and the damage inflicted by Wireless; these have still not been repaired properly. Martin B asked a question on the celebration of Bruce Kent and that we should have a substantial memorial.

5. Nature update

As she could not be present, Louise Wass provided a video/power-point presentation, with voice over, on the ecology work being done, and planned for, by the FOFP.

The group gave her a warm clap and thanks.  This presentation will be uploaded onto the website.

Bethany A noted the limited use of Glyphosate for Japanese Knot Weed. Martin B asked a question on water points and lack of provision; and about the practicality of growing food. Bethany A replied that any plans are at a very early stage. Katie D noted a lack of basic recycling facilities within Finsbury Park.

5. Treasurer’s Report

As Douglas Palin, the Treasurer, could not attend, Tom Graham provided an update on the 2021/22 Accounts, circulated separately – as referred to in the newsletter sent out notifying people of the AGM. These have been approved by an Independent Examiner, Peter Talbot, MA CITP; and have been sent to Companies House and the Charity Commission. There were no queries on this.

6.  Election of Trustees/Directors/Management Committee

Douglas Palin has decided to resign from the Committee. Tom G, on behalf of the Committee, expressed huge thanks to Douglas for all his hard work over the years, and his support as Treasurer.

The remaining eleven members of the Committee have indicated that they wish to stand again; officers are elected by the Committee at a later management committee meeting.  Further nominations were called for from those present. No-one wished to stand, and consequently the following people are agreed as Committee Members/Directors/Trustees of the Friends of Finsbury Park for the year.

The committee comprises:

Name

Bethany Anderson

Diane Burridge

Clive Carter

Eldridge Culverwell

Katie Dawson

Tom Graham

Gina Haskell

Jono Kenyon

Louise Wass

Lawrence Singha

Kevin Duffy

This concluded the AGM section of the meeting. Community Meeting session.

6.  Update on Finsbury Park - from Cllr George Dunstall

Cllr George Dunstall:

·       Noted the importance of the Park as a vital community space, and how he uses this regularly. A huge variety of local residents, including many without gardens, make use of it.

·       Noted his excitement at Louise W’s update on ‘green’ activities – including plans for the Park to be pesticide- free over the next 12 months.

·       Mentioned the use of foam stream technology to address weeding in the Park.

·       Described the efforts on bat surveys, which will inform the lighting programme, and be part of the planning for an ecological baseline in the Park.

·       Complimented efforts to fund raise by the Friends of Finsbury Park, specifically for the skate park area.

Regarding the future of major events in the Park:

Cllr Alex Worrel stated that there were no immediate plans to change how the Park was funded, and the group was encouraged to push for some concessions from the major events - minimising their impact, for example.  

Tom G noted Haringey Council’s attitudes regarding the financial impact of the mega-events; and Bob H noted the large income from these. Cllr George Dunstall gave an update on financial discussions and a desire to run a consultation on this.

Peter L stated that, whilst events might have been historically there, the last few years have been awful. How will management get better to avoid this situation?  Cllr George Dunstall replied that work was going on to mitigate risk, and that there was a need to review management. The room expressed concern generally around how these were run.  Jono K asked whether there was a serious incident review around the over- crowding. It doesn’t feel like this has been taken seriously. He asked for an update and council liability in relation to safety concerns for the last 10 years.

Bethany A asked that councillors push on the management of the Park, e.g. lighting. Why is it that the public are chasing what appear to be obvious issues? She asserted that she felt that events held back the improvement of the park, e.g. the south side.

Diane B asked why it has been seven months since Wireless and the repairs have still not taken place. She asked if the Council had consulted children on what they thought of major events. Katy P noted that children stopped using the Park given the dark. She also asked about the state of the boundary review. Tom G replied that the Friends of Finsbury Park will press for an update on the consultation process for this review.

In conclusion, Tom Graham thanked people for attending this AGM, and asked Councillors for their support on better engagement in the future.

7.  AOB There were none and so the meeting finished.

Friends of Finsbury Park: Registered Office- Manor House Lodge, Seven Sisters Road, London. N4 2DE; Company No: 04343874; Charity No: 1104450.