AGM Minutes 25 November 2004

Living Streets Aotearoa

Living Streets Aotearoa Annual General Meeting

Minutes of Meeting Thursday 25 November 2004, 5:15pm.

Wellington Town Hall, Council Chamber

Present: Celia Wade-Brown, Deborah Moir, Brent Efford, Robert Davies, Susan Warren, Hugh Barr, Mike Mellor, Andy Smith, Steve Abley, Matt Grant, Wendy Everingham, Ralph Chapman, Kerry Wood, Andrew MacBeth

Apologies: Chris Teo-Sherell, Neil Newman, Jane Loughnan

President's Report

Celia thanked Susan and rest of Living Streets Aotearoa for last year's work
John Masters audited financial reports with Jane Loughnan. Mike Mellor moved they be accepted, Celia Wade-Brown seconded. Unanimously voted for.

Positions for upcoming year nationally

Local branches to decide their own positions.
Mike Mellor nominated Celia Wade-Brown for President, Ralph Chapman seconded. All in favour - passed.
Susan Warren nominated Deborah Moir for Secretary, Hugh Barr seconded. All in favour - passed.
Celia Wade-Brown nominated Jane Loughnan as Treasurer, Mike Mellor seconded. All in favour - passed.
Nominees for Committee included Mike Mellor, Andy Smith, Ralph Chapman, Hugh Barr, Neil Newman, Kerry Wood, Roger Boulter. Celia Wade-Brown seconded. All in favour - passed.

General Business

Draft strategic plan of ideas/thoughts of what LSA should be doing over next three years. Susan Warren suggested this be applied to branches and as a national organisation, particularly for the next year. Celia Wade-Brown asked how do we fit in with other organisations such as Ministry of Health (MoH), Health Sponsorship Council (HSC), SPARC etc.
Andrew Macbeth said MWH has joined LSA as organisation. Also member of CAN (Cycling Advocates' Network) - Andrew is executive. He suggested there is a good opportunity to join both CAN and LSA together in issues - some discrepancies but both would agree 95% of the time. CAN is active in national issues but also local issues. CAN has produced 50 ways to please cyclists, aimed at local people for lobbying. Andrew and Roger Boulter in key positions to liaise - Roger is a committee member. Beneficial to have both cycling and walking represented.
Roger noted that Transfund set up CAN and a Walking advisory group in 2001. He suggested there needs to be an inroad to both the Ministry of Transport and Land Transport to reach both levels.
Andrew suggested recreation and utilitarian would not be so distinguished in future in terms of funding.
Celia Wade-Brown suggested at Cycling Advisory group (CAG) meetings there should be recreational, urban and suburban people.
Hugh Barr is the secretary of Outdoor Recreation NZ. Government set up outdoor access groups 1.5 years ago to improve access to countryside. Does LSA want to take an interest in this? Issues of access to private land and waterways etc just as much an issue in urban as they are in National parks etc.
Roger Boulter raised that Bike NZ is the governing body of CAN, Mountain Bike NZ etc - common interests between this and recreational walking issues.
Hugh suggested that the more support we can get the better.
Steve Abley suggested that it would be better to arrange ourselves with other organisations interested in Parks issues.
Celia Wade-Brown suggested that maybe we are just supportive of these organisations. Open spaces for example are all linked in. This could be a secondary aim, not a primary one. Hugh Barr said it would be good to have support from urban areas such as LSA & RAMS?
Celia Wade-Brown asked about things such as 5 Lunchtime Walks and Lyttelton projects - do we want to invite these people?
Roger Boulter said some urban routes become rural routes.
LSA to keep up links with these organisations.
Andy Smith proposed to Walk Auckland that they join up with LSA but was rejected. Looking for support though.
Noted that being an individual member is not subordinate e.g. Andy Smith on Walk Auckland contact on LSA newsletter. Andrew Macbeth said CAN made up of different branches with different names. However Celia Wade-Brown mentioned that LSA is distinguished by LS Wellington, LS Christchurch etc.
Walk Auckland strong on advocacy.

Steve Abley suggested media liaison - Steve is happy to pass things on behalf of LSA but requires someone to coordinate. Celia suggested Steve could write press releases and she is happy to have President says..... Hugh Barr said he is happy to help as he has media contacts. Fax numbers of all media to be passed onto Steve.
Issue raised of finding out what is happening with Transport industry. Celia wishes to see Director.

Andrew Macbeth raised Walk21 conference. Are they serious about involving LSA? Andrew suggested that if they are Celia Wade-Brown should be part of organising committee. Andrew asked about LSA Conference 2006 - Celia suggested we could have speakers at Walk21 Conference and then at LSA Conference. Wendy Everingham said she knows John Grant (organiser Walk21 Conference) to she will be liaison with this.

GWRC auditing 50 rail stations in area - Celia talked with consultants. Celia said LSA is happy to do some community street audits but not for free - in UK this was what gave LS credibility and made a difference. LSA looking at running community street audit workshops - LSA has contacts with local people who add value. Could also hold training to give value. Steve suggested LSA look at replicating something already working. Roger Boulter said that if LSA is working with community groups, they should get some of the reward. LSA should feel it is a justified value and can charge for the audits. Steve Abley said LSA has connections with communities that other TLA's and consultants do not - LSA has extra 20% that others do not have to give 100%.

Committee noted that they are extremely grateful to Celia Wade-Brown and Susan Warren for organising conference and also to Robert for website. Mike moved vote of thanks to Celia Wade-Brown for organisation. Seconded by Deborah Moir.

Meeting closed at 6.25pm