Two recent meetings of the Chatsworth Road Market Committee have given the market the impetus it needs to start this year. During these meetings, and using the feedback received from the leaflets last year, we’ve made some crucial decisions about what the first phase of Chatsworth Market will look like.

As the Market is being managed purely by volunteers, it will start, for the first three months, as a monthly market. The Association is committed to making the market weekly, but have decided to start with a monthly market to test the water and keep us sane!

After much debate, the Association has decided to go for a Sunday market. Sunday is a busy day for locals, with people stocking up on provisions for the coming week. It also prevents the Market from competing with surrounding markets such as Broadway and Ridley Road. The Market will run during the day, most likely from 11am till 3pm.

The Market will be on pavements and parking bays around Chatsworth Road and Glenarm Road junction, to begin with, and will have around 10 to 15 stalls. The Association is keen to have something for everyone – with a mixture of organic meat and fish, flowers, second-hand stalls, arts and crafts, and a DIY stall. We are keen to start with a core of professional traders – and when we are properly organised – take on new traders as well.

We can’t give an exact date for the first market yet, as there are still a few practicalities to put in place – but please watch this space! We really need volunteers and help with fundraising so let us know through the website if you can help.

Tuesday October 13th saw 56 traders & residents turn up to a public meeting at Chats Palace – and it’s a credit to local community spirit that over half of them volunteered.

The meeting managed to discuss, agree & ratify a new constitution for running the Association – no mean feat! – and then held an election for the new Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee is the body that will manage the Association in accordance with the objectives and procedures set out in the constitution (shortly to be posted up here.) It’s our pleasure to announce that the following 10 people were duly elected:

Chair: Gregg Shokoya (trader)
Vice-Chair: Sacha Crowe (resident)
Secretary: Catherine Ford (resident)
Treasurer: Remy Zentar (trader)
Patricia Bennett (resident)
Martin Slavin (resident)
Roger Lansdowne (resident)
Bola Yusuff (trader)
Dan Harriott (trader)
Gareth Fitzwater (resident)

A new market sub-committee was also formed by a further group of 23 volunteers. This working group will aim to take the market campaign forwards innovatively and energetically, reporting to the Executive.

If you want to help or feel you have something to offer the market campaign please get in touch. We’re keen to involve as wide a group of people as possible – no direct experience needed, just a passion for Chatsworth Road as your brilliant local independent high street.

Watch this space for news of upcoming fundraising and ‘market taster’ events!

Calling all market supporters! If you want a new Chatsworth Road market to become reality join us on October 13th and consider volunteering to form a new Market Committee or to help run the Association.

Get involved and make it happen...

We need enthusiastic people to stick their hands up and form a new Market Committee dedicated to pushing the market proposals forward.

Could you help? Do you have skills, energy, passion, ideas or experience that you could contribute?

It doesn’t matter if you’ve not been involved in anything like this before. If you care about our brilliant independent local high street, and the amazingly diverse community that revolves around it, then you’ve got something to offer. And you could make a real impact on the direction this campaign takes.

If you want an update on where the market campaign is right now, including the results of our May 2009 community survey, and the Council’s position on the idea, please check out our ‘Market Report’ (see menu option, under ‘About Us’).

Could you help run the Association?
Just as important is the need to fill the posts in the Association. We’re asking for people to consider putting themselves up for election to the following four Executive Committee posts:

- Chair
- Vice-Chair
- Secretary
- Treasurer

These four roles are vital for running the Association. If we’re going to successfully develop as a community organisation that aims to improve the high street for the benefit of everyone locally, we need to better manage our basic operation. The specific responsibilities allocated to each of these four voluntary posts are outlined at the end of this post.

A further six people are needed to make up the remainder of the Executive Committee, which is charged with running the Association in accordance with the constitution. The Executive Committee will consist of a mix of both traders and non-trading residents, and anyone who lives or trades locally can put themselves forward.

To view a copy of the recently agreed draft constitution go to the recent article ‘Constitution Agreed’ – feel free to post comments there with any suggested ammendments.

Why do we need a Traders & Residents Association?

A well organised & representative Association is going to provide the necessary foundation for successfully launching, and sustaining, a new market. Think of it as base camp for the market venture. But a well organised Association could also allow us to:

• - Campaign to re-open the post office as a community enterprise
• - Work to prevent further shop units being lost to residential use
• - Campaign for shop landlords to invest in buildings suffering from neglect
• - Work with the Council & local police to make the high street a safer, more enjoyable public space
• - Promote the development of a wider range of shopping & eating opportunities
• - Preserve the high street’s unique character, heritage and independence
• - Provide a voice for the local community in liaising with the Council on plans for the high street or surrounding area

Could we even aim to make Chatsworth Road the capital’s first ‘Sustainable High Street’, with its own carbon cutting programme and environmental charter?

Or perhaps work with a local college to engage young people in developing new business ideas in empty shop units or on subsidised market stalls?

Or why not transform long term shop voids into cultural workshops and places of artistic expression?

Get involved
If we get organised, the whole community can have the independent local high street it wants and needs, now and in decades to come. But to get organised, we need volunteers.

We know you’re busy, but please consider getting involved.

If you can’t make the October 13th meeting you’re still free to nominate yourself for a role, in advance, by email – please include any supporting statement that you wish to be read out to the general meeting on your behalf. Similarly, if you have any queries about what any of the roles would involve please just contact us on:

info@chatsworthroade5.co.uk

Outline of the four Executive Officer posts
(taken from the constitution)

Chair:

• - Shall be the chief presiding officer and chairperson for the Executive Committee, Committee and General meetings with a casting vote in any tie of votes only
• - Shall lead the CRTRA in all communication and business with external organisations and individuals, including monitoring the CRTRA email account
• - Shall lead the evaluation of any grievance, be they grievance by an individual trader or all traders
• - Shall attend all meetings with Hackney Council
• - Shall provide leadership and motivation
• - Shall enforce the Constitution

Vice-Chair:

• - Shall be the Chair’s alternate in his/her absence
• - Shall be responsible for organising, meetings, conferences etc.
• - Shall be responsible for contact with the press and the electronic media.
• - Shall prepare leaflets, pamphlets and other publicity material, including updating and monitoring the CRTRA website
• - Shall organise the distribution to traders of all CRTRA written communications
• - Shall attend all meetings with Hackney Council

Secretary:

• - Shall be responsible for maintaining all meeting records and minutes
• - Shall be responsible for the conduct of correspondence
• - Shall be responsible for communications with all external organisations and individuals
• - Shall attend all meetings with Hackney Council

Treasurer:

• - Shall be responsible for maintaining all budgetary records
• - Shall be responsible for maintaining the Bank Account
• - Shall be responsible for the publication of annual CRTRA statement of accounts

These notes outline the discussion involved in reaching a constitution document for the Traders & Residents Association – see previous article ‘Constitution agreed’ for the constitution document itself.

Introductions
It was explained that the purpose of the meeting was to agree the outline of a constitution for the Chatsworth Road Traders and Residents Association (“CRTRA”) with a view to having it ratified at the next meeting.

The Constitution
It was explained that the draft was based on the Ridley Road Traders Association Constitution. The most noticeable difference is that the CRTRA is both a Traders and Residents Association – a format that’s unique in the Borough.

Objectives
It was felt that it was important that CRTRA was about more than just setting up a market, and that the general desire to improve the local street environment, safety and to make a stronger community should be reflected in the objectives.

The setting up of a Community Interest Company (“CIC”)
This is the vehicle used for managing Broadway Market, mostly independently of the Council. However, it was explained that Hackney Council have clarified that this model will not be viable for a new ‘on-street’ Chatsworth Road market.

Setting up a CIC would therefore only be useful in a situation where the CRTRA started a market on private land, off the public highway.

Reference was made to the July meeting with Hackney Council regarding the market (see website home page, ‘Market Report’, for a full summary). It was emphasised that the Council will directly manage any new market held on the public highway.

However, the Council has also agreed that ongoing community input to a new market would be possible and desirable – exactly how is not clear and would need to be agreed in future negotiations.

Membership
There was discussion around the need for provision in the constitution to ensure a balance between residents and traders. It was agreed that it would not be necessary to do this given that there is provision for General Meetings at which issues can be discussed and resolved.

However, it was also agreed that the Executive Committee, managing the Association, would require at least 2 non-trading local residents as members as well as at least 2 traders as members.

It was agreed that membership would be free and voluntary, and that simple verbal or written applications to join could be made to the Exexcutive Committee.

There was also a discussion about demarcating the ‘local area’ to clarify the membership of residents. It was agreed that there would not be such a demarcation, nor too precise a definition of ‘the local area’.

The Constitution can be amended in the future if it appears that membership of people from outside the local area is becoming a problem. It was also felt that demarcation of a membership ‘zone’ could be unnecessarily divisive.

Management
The provisions regarding the management of the CRTRA were agreed with the following amendments:
• Persons wishing to be elected to the Executive Committee are to be proposed or to propose themselves, seconded, and elected by simple majority.
• In the event of a competition there is to be a secret ballot.
• The Executive Committee is to be made up of the 4 officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary & Treasurer), and 6 members of whom 2 are to be non-trading residents and 2 to be traders.
• The Chair is to be the presiding officer with a casting vote where there is a tie.

Meetings
There are to be 2 General Meetings a year, held with 2 weeks notice, and with the minutes to be provided within 2 weeks. It was also agreed that the Executive Committee should meet at least monthly although there were reservations about this being rather onerous.

There was a discussion about quorum – it was agreed that for any major decision, including removal from office, constitutional changes, agreement of annual budget, removal of members or refusal of membership, the Executive Committee would be quorate with 2 thirds of the members of the Committee being present.

The Market Report & Council position
It was explained that the Council do seem more positive regarding the proposal of a market but have emphasised the need for the market to be subsidy-free and to pay for itself. (More details in ‘Market Report’ on home page.)

Various aspects of waste disposal seem to be one of the highest anticpated costs. The Council has promised that they will put together some detailed costings and respond in October.

Concerns were once again raised about parking, traffic and waste. Mention was made of a Chatsworth Road 20mph limit consultation which is about to take place.

Another concern was raised about the cost of electricity for the stalls. There is also the issue of the CRTRA having some control over the kind of stalls in the market. These are all matters to be negotiated with the Council.

The next meeting
Tuesday, 13th October at 7.30pm, Chats Palace. At this meeting the Constitution will be ratified and an Executive Committee elected. Volunteers will also be sought for a sub-group to work specifically on the Market campaign.

NB: please see the previous post to view the full constitution document

On 14th September, 20 local people took up the invitation to discuss and agree a constitution for the Chatsworth Road Traders & Residents Association.

It was a really positive and productive session, including discussions on how to define membership and how to ensure that the organisation was both open and accountable.

The resulting document will provide a much needed framework for running the Association. And it will therefore also provide a vital foundation for pushing the market campaign forwards in a manner that is inclusive and dynamic.

The plan now is to call a general meeting of the Association on Tuesday, 13th October, 7.30pm (venue to be confirmed) – and the first point of business at that next meeting will be to ratify this document as the agreed constitution, with any necessary ammendments.

We will then ask ten people to volunteer themselves for the Executive Committee, as outlined in the constitution. And we will also ask for volunteers to set up a sub-group specifically to work on developing the market campaign.

Below is the constitution document that was agreed at the meeting, with a few minor additions. (Please see the very end of this blog for a list of those post-meeting ammendments.)

When considering any ammendments you wish to suggest, please double check that the below document does not already allow for the situation or requirement in mind. Please feel free to post comments below, or via email.

Finally, if you believe yourself to be on our mailing list (through having previously attended a meeting, or completing the May 2009 survey, or being a shop trader), and did not receive the invitation for this latest meeting, please email us and ensure we have your correct contact details. A summary of the minutes for the September 14th meeting will be posted up here in a few days time.

Constitution of Chatsworth Road Traders and Residents Association

As drafted and agreed at a public meeting called for 14th September, 2009.


1. Name of the Association:
The name of this Association shall be “Chatsworth Road Traders and Residents Association” hereinafter referred to as “CRTRA”.


2. Location:
The place of business for the meeting of the CRTRA will be decided by the Executive Committee.


3. Membership:

• Members can be shop traders on Chatsworth Road and Brooksby’s Walk
• Members can be Licensed Traders of Chatsworth Road Market
• Members can be Named Trading Assistants of Chatsworth Road Market
• Licensed Traders can hold Full or Casual Chatsworth Road Street Trading Licences
• Members can be stallholders
• Members can be residents of the local area
• Membership is voluntary

3.1 New members may join by applying either verbally or in writing to the CRTRA Chair, Vice Chair or Secretary.

3.2 The decision on acceptance of individual membership application is the responsibility of the Executive Committee. Refusal to accept an application for membership must be given to the applicant by the Chair or the Vice Chair, including a reason for refusal.

3.3 The Secretary shall be responsible for the maintenance of an up to date list of members.

3.4 The list of members shall be made available for inspection to members provided three weeks notice is given to the Secretary.

3.5 Lists of members are the sole ownership of the CRTRA. Any outside organisation or individual that is not a member of the CRTRA must request a list of members to the Secretary in writing. The request must include the reasons for requesting the list. It is the Executive Committee’s decision on whether the request is accepted or refused. No decision on refusal needs to be given.

3.6. Members may be excluded from the CRTRA. It is only the Executive Committee that has authority to exclude a member and must be authorised by the CRTRA Chair. Exclusion and reasons for exclusion to be given in writing to the excluded member by a member of the Executive Committee.


4. Objectives:
4.1 To watch, promote, safeguard and further the interests, rights and privileges of its members.

4.2 To preserve and improve the built environment, streetscape and community, local to the high street.

4.3 To be the central point of contact (stallholders only) on all communication and consultation between the CRTRA and Hackney Council and any other external organisation or individual on matters concerning change of:
• Trading Rules and Regulation
• Market Operation
• Market Charges
• Any other Market Business

4.4 To provide for the members any or all of the following benefits:
• To evaluate, support and assist individuals members on any problem or grievance that they may have which directly impacts on their ability to trade.
• To communicate with members on any changes or proposed changes that may affect trading
• Relief in victimization or disputes and such other aid in connection with their employment

4.5 To support and take all actions necessary to further the creation of a market, and to further the creation of a market by setting up a CIC (Community Interest Company) if considered appropriate to furthering this aim.


5. Management
5.1 The CRTRA will be managed by a CRTRA Executive Committee.

5.2 The CRTRA Executive Committee will comprise of the following officers:

• Chair
• Vice Chair
• Secretary
• Treasurer

The CRTRA Executive Committee will comprise of all officers plus an additional six non-executive members, at least two of which are to be non-trading residents, and at least two of which are to be traders. All Executive Committee members must be current members of the CRTRA.

5.3 Executive Committee Roles:

CHAIR:
- Shall be the chief presiding officer and chairperson for the Executive Committee, Committee and General meetings with a casting vote in any tie of votes only
- Shall lead the CRTRA in all communication and business with external organisations and individuals, including monitoring the CRTRA email account
- Shall lead the evaluation of any grievance, be they grievance by an individual trader or all traders
- Shall attend all meetings with Hackney Council
- Shall provide leadership and motivation
- Shall enforce the Constitution

VICE CHAIR:
- Shall be the Chair’s alternate in his/her absence
- Shall be responsible for organising, meetings, conferences etc.
- Shall be responsible for contact with the press and the electronic media
- Shall prepare leaflets, pamphlets and other publicity material, including updating and monitoring the CRTRA website
- Shall organise the distribution to traders of all CRTRA written communications
- Shall attend all meetings with Hackney Council

SECRETARY:
- Shall be responsible for maintaining all meeting records and minutes
- Shall be responsible for the conduct of correspondence
- Shall be responsible for communications with all external organisations and individuals
- Shall attend all meetings with Hackney Council

TREASURER:
- Shall be responsible for maintaining all budgetary records
- Shall be responsible for maintaining the Bank Account
- Shall be responsible for the publication of annual CRTRA statement of accounts

5.4 Removal from Office
No Executive Committee member shall be removed from office except on a resolution passed by at least two thirds of the full Executive Committee (requiring 7 out of ten to be present) at a Committee Meeting.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to suspend any such person based on that vote and bring her/his case for further action or ratification to a General Meeting.

5.5 Resignation from Office
An Executive Committee Member who wishes to resign from office will give no less than four weeks notice to the CRTRA Chair. The Chair or Vice Chair will then be responsible for nominating a replacement. The nomination will be presented to the Committee for agreement and ratified at the next general meeting.

5.6 Elections
At the Annual General Meeting all members will be given the opportunity to ratify the members of the Executive Committee.

Where members wish to remove a current member of the Executive Committee from office this must be raised at the AGM giving 21 days notice beforehand. The motion needs to be authorised by two thirds of members present.

No member may be nominated to the Executive Committee unless they have completed a minimum of six months as an association member (suspended until following the completion of the launch AGM.).

5.7 From time to time sub groups or working parties can be formed to carry out a specified task, or tasks, on behalf of the Association, with membership coming from the association’s membership. The CRTRA Chair and Secretary will be ex-officio on any such group. Any such group will be required to produce regular reports of its activities to the Executive Committee and general membership until such time as it has completed its remit.

5.8 From time to time co-option of up to 2 non-voting people with full speaking rights can be made to the Executive Committee on a vote of two thirds of the full Executive Committee membership and must be ratified by the next general meeting.


6. Meetings
6.1 General Meetings will be scheduled twice per year, timed from the launch month of the AGM. All members will be invited. Minutes will be produced and be available to members within two weeks of the scheduled meeting.

6.2 The Executive Committee will meet at least monthly. Minutes will be produced and be available to all members within two weeks of the scheduled meeting. Association members can attend as observers with at least one week’s prior notice to the Chair or Secretary.

6.3 Members can propose themselves at General Meetings or the AGM for the Executive Committee and be elected by a simple majority. In the event of any competition, the vote will be held by secret ballot in the meeting.

6.4 A Quorum of two thirds of the full Executive Committee of ten (7 out of ten) are required for any major decisions including removal from office, constitutional amendments, agreement and variations to the annual budget, removal or refusal of membership.

6.5 Extraordinary meetings of the association called to discuss any issue require a handsigned petition by 20 members to be given to the Chair at least 21 days before the date of any such meeting.

6.6 The standard rules of debate apply to any meeting of the association with special care being paid to allowing everyone the opportunity to speak.


7. Finance
7.1 Membership of the CRTRA is voluntary and free. Donations are encouraged.

7.2 In terms of signing cheques, the protocol is any two signatories from that of the four officers of the Executive Committee.


8. Legal Assistance
8.1 Where a member has a grievance or issue that is directly related to his/her ability to trade in Chatsworth Rd Market, the issue will be raised by the member either verbally or in writing to an Executive Committee member. The Chair will then lead an evaluation of the issue. Where the Chair or Executive Committee identify, following the evaluation, that the issue is relevant to the member’s ability to trade and requires legal advice, the member will be given the opportunity to consult with a CRTRA nominated solicitor.

Where the evaluation identifies that the issue is either:
• not relevant to trading
• or does not require legal assistance

The member will be given the results of the evaluation by an Executive Committee member either verbally or in writing, in not more than one month from the time the grievance or issue is raised.


9. Constitution Amendment
This Constitution shall become effective upon approval by the first General Meeting following which officer elections and other association business will take place.

Hereinafter, this Constitution may be amended at a meeting of the general membership by a two-thirds majority vote of those members present. Proposed amendments must be submitted with a seconder in writing at least twenty-one days before the meeting.


10. Dissolution
The CRTRA may be dissolved and the funds after meeting all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the CRTRA, disposed of as decided by a resolution passed by two thirds of the members present and eligible to vote at a special general meeting convened for that purpose.


Additions made to this document after the September 14th meeting:
- Point 3, Membership: we’ve added specific reference to shops on both Chatsworth Road and Brooskby’s Walk here

- Point 5.3, Executive Committee Roles: we’ve added in specific reference to which officer takes responsibility for managing the email account and the website

- Point 5.7, Sub-Groups: we’ve added in a new clause that allows for sub-groups to be set up, in order that such a group can easily be set up to work on developing the market.

- Point 5.8, Additional Executive Committee Members: we’ve added in a new clause allowing for people to occassionally speak as non-voting members on the Executive Committee.

To better organise the Traders & Residents Association, we’re getting together to agree a written constitution. This document will outline procedures for running the Association and should make things more transparent and effective. Anyone’s welcome to come and contribute.

The meeting will also be setting a time & date for the next meeting – at which we’ll be asking for volunteers to step forward and get involved in running the Association, and in forming a new Market Committee to take the market campaign forward.

Details of that subsequent meeting, probably set to take place in early October, will be circulated very shortly after Sept. 14th.

If you’re keen to get involved in the market campaign you may want to read the report on the recent survey (click on ‘market report’). If you’re not on the mailing list and want to start receiving updates please email us:

info@chatsworthroade5.co.uk

During May and early June 2009 we conducted a survey across the area surrounding Chatsworth Road, asking people for their views on a new, weekly high street market.

The response we got was huge and largely positive. This report offers both a snapshot summary of the survey, and also a detailed analysis of the findings – some of which throw up complex questions.

The report also makes some recommendations for taking the campaign forwards and contains a section on Hackney Council’s position on a new Chatsworth market. The hundreds of comments received via this website and in the survey responses are captured in the report’s appendices.

We hope you find the document accessible and useful. It’s intended to distil the community’s debate on a new market, rather than offering a definitive vision for a new market. Upcoming meetings in September and October will offer a chance for the community to continue shaping that vision. And to that end we’ll be looking for enthuastic new volunteers to step forward and form a new Market Committee.

So if you’re keen to get involved, this report is a good place to start. Keep a look out for notices on the upcoming meetings and if you want to be added to the mailing list, or if you have any problems opening the report document please just let us know:

info@chatsworthroade5.co.uk

It gave us great pleasure last night to welcome 45 residents and traders to Chats Palace. The meeting focussed on the survey findings, brainstorming solutions, and the next steps forward.

Prize draw winner announced: Paddy Taylor & Cllr Rathbone

Huge thanks to to all those who came and contributed their time and ideas, and to the venue staff. And congratulations to local resident, Paddy Taylor of Meeson Street, who was presented with £50 by Cllr Rathbone as the winner of the survey prize draw.

Survey findings
The findings of our recent survey confirmed a huge level of interest in a new market. We’ll be making a full report available via the website in the near future. For now, here’s an overview of what the community said:

- 96% of the 863 people who completed the survey said they felt a new market would be positive for the area.


- 90% wanted a weekend market, rather than a weekday market, with support evenly split between Saturday and Sunday.


- People indicated a desire for a wide variety of stall types. The most popular categories were fruit & veg; plants & flowers; bread & cakes; organic food; 2nd hand & vintage clothing; meat, poultry & fish; ready-to-eat takeaway food; books; handicrafts; furniture; bric-a-brac. (That list is in descending order of popularity from 84% of people wanting fruit & veg to 47% wanting bric-a-bric.)


- Much emphasis was placed on wanting the selection of stalls to be inclusive; to be aimed at serving the local area; to offer both quality & affordable prices; to allow people to do a weekly shop; and to reflect the diversity of the community.


- 78% of people said they’d use a new market every week, and a further 17% said they’d use it once a month – further confirmation of widespread interest in a new market, albeit from a question that asks people to imagine their future behaviour.


- Over 90% of people said they already visit London markets, though we have limited data on how often.


- 72% of people who already go to markets said they spent, on average, £5-£25 per visit. A further 19% said they spent, on average, £25-£50, per visit.


- We asked people their priorities when visiting a market. Most emphasis was placed on: ‘Enjoying the experience’, ‘Feeling part of a community event’ and ‘Finding products not normally available in shops’. A significant but smaller number of people emphasised: ‘Getting a bargain’ and ‘High quality goods’.


- 65% of people said they had no concerns about a new market.


- 35% of people said they did have concerns.


- The concerns broke down into the following categories:
i) parking & traffic – congestion rising
ii) people being excluded from the market via high prices
iii) stalls competing with existing shopkeepers
iv) litter, noise & disruption
v) stalls being ‘tatty’, and a lack of quality control
vi) stalls only replicating what’s already available in shops
vii) market being aimed at customers from outside area
viii) character of the high street being eroded


- The level of emphasis different people placed on their concerns varied considerably.


- Many people also outlined positive suggestions on how a market could: i) enhance community cohesion; ii) offer opportunities to local entrepreneurs; iii) enable ‘green’ & ’sustainable living’ initiatives; iv) help bring back shoppers to the high street; v) widen shopping opportunities.

And that was another theme at last night’s meeting: SOLUTIONS.

Groups formed to work on potential strategies for resolving key questions such as, ‘How to ensure that stalls complement shops?’ and ‘How to ensure the market is inclusive?’ The fact that we now know 96% of people fundamentally think a new market is a positive idea makes it worth investing time and energy into developing good solutions.

Solution focussed: the groups in action

We’ll make sure that those ideas, plus all the survey comments – whether offered as suggestions or concerns – are available in the published report (all non-attributed and anonymised, of course). We will also detail how we did the survey in that report. (For those who want to know about methodology right now, skip to the end of this post.)

Next steps forward
The final section of the meeting identified steps forward from the successful completion of the survey:

1. Open talks with Hackney Council
On the basis of the very strong community interest expressed in the survey we’ll be seeking to meet with Council officers. Our consultation report will be submitted to the Markets Dept in the coming weeks.

2. Better organise the Chatsworth Traders & Residents Association
This will provide a strong foundation on which to build a market campaign and to address other issues, such as re-opening the post office and fighting long term shop closures. One of the ideas to emerge last night was to organise one-off ‘tester events’ at which the vision for the new market could be tried out and developed, based on feedback. That kind of project takes a lot of work. But with enough people pitching in, it’s all possible.

We’re currently a small coalition of volunteers. We’ve developed a large mailing list and we’ve got the community interested in a market.

But to effectively and fairly take the idea to the next stage we need to get organised and involve a wider group of people. We need to ensure that when someone offers help we’re capable of properly taking them up on that offer. We need to agree a constitution, to ensure that there is a transparent decision-making process, to develop a fundraising capacity, and to form a new Market Committee with new people offering skills, ideas & time.

To that end, following a vote last night, we’re going to invite the whole community down to another meeting in September at which people will have the chance to get involved in whatever aspects interest them.

In the meantime keep posting your comments up and have a great summer. If you want to be added to the mailing list just send us a request on: info@chatsworthroade5.co.uk

Methodology overview:
- Website and online version of survey went live, April
- Survey launched at public meeting, April 30th – 120 people attended
- At that meeting 30 volunteers took away batches of leaflets with street-specific delivery instructions
- 10,500 leaflets delivered door-to-door, during May, in estates and terraces throughout local area
- 1,500 leaflets also taken from shop counters on Chatsworth Rd, Homerton High St, Gilpin Square, Glyn Rd & Lower Clapton Rd
- 27 survey collection points set up at shops, library, pubs & schools, displaying posters, allowing people to drop-off completed survey leaflets
- 50 more posters displayed on residential streets advertising survey & informing people of their nearest survey collection point
- All posters provided phone number for queries or as alternative means of expressing views on market
- Survey ran until early June – 863 responses received in total
- Ratio of responses received online : on paper = 60 : 40 (approx)
- Survey also publicised via articles in local press
- Wide range of shops & outlets used as survey collection points
- Wide range of other shops made leaflets available on counters
- Various local organisations approached and offered opportunities to engage their service users with the market debate and survey (e.g. an older people’s housing scheme, a church congregation, Tenants & Residents Associations)
- Meeting held with Bannister House estate residents to discuss issues around market and to encourage particpation in survey
- Two day project carried out at Mandeville Primary school involving Year Six students in the survey and the history of their local high street
- Limitations of survey: i) leaflet only made available in English; ii) some streets & estates probably did not receive door-to-door leaflets – a very few volunteers failed to confirm they had completed delivering their batches.

A massive THANK YOU!
- To all the shopkeepers who gave up counter space to display the survey leaflets
- To all the shopkeepers, publicans, librarians and school staff who gave up window space to display posters and who collected completed surveys over the 4 weeks
- To all the volunteers who gave up many hours of their time to deliver the survey leaflets over a huge area, many of them actively speaking to residents and encouraging them to participate
- To the former Market Festival organisation for donating funds towards covering the costs of conducting the survey and hosting this website
- To everyone who took the time to submit a survey response

Couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks.

We’re inviting everyone down to Chats Palace, 42-44 Brooksby’s Walk, on Tuesday, 14th July, at 8pm. This is a chance to hear and discuss the findings of the recent survey on the idea of a new street market.

Afterwards the venue’s bar will be open until 11pm – hopefully a great chance for the community to get together and kick off the summer!

We’re delighted that the survey response rate was so strong, with around 850 submissions received during May and early June.

To everyone who took the time to complete the survey and give their views, thanks very much indeed. Special thanks to the volunteers who delivered 10,000 leaflets door-to-door, and also to the shops, schools and library which acted as survey collection points.

After July 14th we’ll be making the survey findings available here too. And, as always, we’ll post up a summary of the meeting too.

We hope to see you at Chats Palace – where you may like to know that families can also check out a great interactive theatre event over the weekend before our meeting:

TPO Company’s BUTTERFLIES
11th & 12th July, 11am & 2pm both days
Kids get to compose lullabies, chase caterpillars on all fours and immerse themselves in a theatrical experience for the eyes, ears, knees and toes. And there’s more summertime fun for kids aged 3+ right through both days. Go to www.chatspalace.com for details!

The June 12th meeting included updates on: i) increased business rates; ii) conversion of shop units to residential use; and iii) the street market survey.

We’re not making the assumption that people who have expressed an interest in the street market idea necessarily want to receive minutes of meetings that cover other business alongside the market.

If you would like to be sent the full minutes of this Association meeting, and other Association meetings in the future, please just email a request to:

info@chatsworthroade5.co.uk

Summary of Meeting: Chatsworth Road Traders & Residents Association

Date: 12/06/09
Venue: Wayside Centre, 24 Chatsworth Rd
Attending: 6 traders & residents.

1. Increased business rates
Letter from Minister for Local Government was read out, in response to Association’s previously submitted concerns at the business rate increase. Followed by discussion of planned 2010 re-evaluation of properties for business rates – it was emphasised that traders would need to measure their properties correctly.

2. Conversion of shop units to residential use
Letter from Hackney Council was read out, as a response to concerns previously submitted by the Association on conversions of shop units into flats without planning permission. There was a discussion about the necessity to persuade existing landlords to let empty commercial units. It was agreed that the street needs shops to complement the existing businesses.

3. Update on market survey
It was confirmed that around 840 survey responses have been received – the survey has been officially closed so that the data can be processed. It was agreed this was a definite success in engaging the community with the debate. The findings will be presented back to the community at a meeting on July 14th, at Chats Palace.

Letter offering strong support read out, re. the market idea, from Bannister House Tenants and Residents Association. Other local TRAs are being approached to provide written statements summarising their members’ views on a new market for Chatsworth Rd.