Streatham Vale Property Occupiers Association
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
11th March 2026 at 7.30pm
List of Attendees supplied on request.
Apologies: Miss H Armstrong, Mr G. Cox, Mrs M. Prickett, Mr&Mrs F. Norton.
Minutes of the 2025 AGM: read and agreed.
Election of Executive Committee and Association Officers: It was noted that Mike Morfey was stepping down from the Executive Committee, because he has moved out of Streatham Vale. The position of Secretary remains vacant. A request for volunteers for the Executive Committee was made. Mrs Juliet Mitchell was willing to remain as Chair. Miss Hazel Armstrong was willing to remain as Vice-Chair. Mrs Nicola Harris was willing to continue as Treasurer. Mrs Eileen Barnes, Mr Paul Harris, Mr Tony Mitchell, Mrs Amanda Thomson, Miss Angela Shott and Mr Geoffrey Cox were willing to remain as members of the Executive Committee. All were re-elected.
Committee Reports: All published and on the SVPOA website from 3rd February.
Chair’s Report: No points raised.
Treasurer’s Report: No Points raised.
Environmental Report: In addition to the report Mrs Barnes confirmed that Article 4 had finally been put in place which was a relief. She has been doing street walks to compile a list of obvious HMOs in order to compare the addresses with the register of lawful HMOs. Some homeowners are still battling to get compensation from the property owners who failed to get a proper party wall agreement in place before converting houses into HMOs.
The Ruach Church development of the old NatWest Sports Ground, although falling under Merton Council, does affect the Vale Estate. Mrs Barnes is contacting Merton Council with various concerns about the plans as currently proposed. The number of dwellings to be built has increased by 50% depite the fact that Thames Water have stated that the drains and sewerage water system cannot cope with the increase the original plans would have caused. If the sewers overflow this is a health and safety issue, particularly for residents in Woodmansterne Road. The proposed attenuation ponds to take run off overflow into Thames Water pipes which are already at capacity. The size and depth of the ponds in such close proximity to Woodmansterne School poses a danger to the pupils. Our ward councillors who were in attendance were asked to support the association in our representations to Merton Council.
Mr Morfey spoke to encourage attendance at Ward Panel Meetings. The three priorities agreed at the most recent meeting were, Ebikes, violence against women and girls and burglaries and car crime.
Councillors Armstrong and Adilypour acknowledged that there have been reports of problems with Ebikes. Lambeth now have a contractual agreement with the Ebike companies that any cycles or scooters abandoned outside designated parking bays must be promptly removed.
The land by the Graveney is still being used as a dump. It cannot be completely fenced off as it leads to an access road for the houses. It was agreed that some type of barrier to prevent large objects and cars being dumped would be explored.
Friends of Streatham Vale Park: A kissing gate has been installed at the Merton side entrance which has considerably reduced the amount of rubbish being dumped in the park.
SYCT have a new board of trustees and provision in the park and Conyers Road has been resumed. The employees are still unsure about what the future holds as they have not been informed.
Allotment Report: It was raised that the Trading Hut was not open from the first Sunday in March, despite the report saying that as was customary this would happen. Plotholders were wanting compost to begin seed sowing. Tony Mitchell managed to meet some of the customers and allow sales..
Membership and Road Stewards Report. No report. The need for Road Stewards to deliver occasional material and to give new residents information about the SVPOA was discussed.
Media Report: After many years as editor of Topics, Simon Hooberman was relinquishing his post due to over capacity. Thanks were given for his work. He will continue to take an active interest in the SVPOA. Members were invited to submit articles and events for Topics. The next issue will provide the new details of how this can be done. Miss Shott suggested that a QR code for SVPOA news should be investigated. It could be displayed round the Vale to promote latest news.
AOB: The amendment to the SVPOA rules to permit out of area associate members as published in Topics was considered. The geographical area for membership has not changed since Woodgate Drive was built. Associate members would pay a membership fee but not have priority over vale residents for allotments. The amendment was passed.
A gift presentation upon his retirement was made to Mike Morfey. He was also made an Honorary member of the SVPOA. He said he will continue to help in any way he can, providing introductions to his contacts for Community Road Watch sessions and Freshview Days.
The councillors were invited to speak. Cllr Adilypour reported that new playground swings would be installed in Streatham Vale Park in the near future. Barretts, the new developers for the Woodgate Drive development had been contacted to provide signage with their contact details if there were any problems. There would be a free community skip day once a month from next month to alleviate the unsightly fly tipping in the Vale. After much encouragement, the Co-Op on the Vale have provided regular door decurity which has markedly reduced shoplifting and theft.
Cllr Cole reported that following complaints about the state of the zebra crossings in the Vale, she had been in touch with the relevant council team and was hopeful that the markings would be repainted shortly.
Cllr Armstrong said there would be increased checks on illegal Ebikes. There has been a trial of using facial recognition cameras at Streatham Station which was very successful. He is going to ask that Streatham Common Station be put on the rota for this equipment. Residents commented on the proliferation of fair dodgers at Streatham Common Station. This was not such a problem in early mornings as station staff were always in evidence at the barriers.
Antisocial behaviour at 1, Granton Road was reported. The councillors will check if it is a registered HMO.
Meeting closed at 8.28pm