The Dulwich Society

Notice of a Dulwich Society Special General Meeting

A Special General Meeting of the Dulwich Society will be held at 8pm on 28th June 2021 via Zoom. The meeting has been called by the Executive Committee to discuss resolutions submitted to the Executive Committee of the Society.

1. Introduction - the Chairman
2. Resolutions: The following resolutions have been proposed for consideration at the meeting. A vote will be taken after each resolution using the Zoom polling facility. The votes will be verified by the scrutineers after the meeting using Zoom facilities to ensure the votes comply with Society Rule 3, “Membership will normally be for a household i.e. all adults living at the same address. In the event of a vote being needed at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting only one vote is permitted per household.” The results will be placed on the Society’s website www.dulwichsociety.com as soon as possible.

The Rules of the Society are available at: https://www.dulwichsociety.com/about-the-dulwich-society

Your Executive Committee’s views on each resolution are set out further below.

Motion 1: Proposed by Marianne Kavanagh and a group of Dulwich Society members
That the process for appointment of members of the Society’s sub-committees and all minutes of their meetings must be published on the Society’s website, including declarations of interest.

[Note: minutes, including declarations of interest, are already published for the Executive Committee]

Motion 2: Proposed by Marianne Kavanagh and a group of Dulwich Society members
The Society must undertake a formal, independent and impartial survey of its Membership about the remit the Membership wishes the Society to adopt with regard to the Society’s long term policy position on Travel and Environment. The findings of this consultation with Members to be published in full on the Society’s website and available on request to all members.

[For clarity, the current remit of the Travel and Environment Sub-Committee is to foster safe and healthy streets in Dulwich by:

Advocating clean air.
Supporting improvements in public transport.
Considering the requirements of those with protected characteristics* and vulnerable road users.
Developing safe active travel networks and reducing vehicle traffic.
Supporting low traffic neighbourhoods. **

*The Equality Act lists the characteristics that it protects as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

**Note: “supporting low traffic neighbourhoods” does NOT refer to or mean supporting the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods imposed by Southwark Council without prior consultation.]

3. Close of Meeting

The Zoom meeting will be open from 7.30pm to enable the Zoom host to verify attendees as they logon.

https://zoom.us/j/94617810285

Meeting ID: 946 1781 0285
Passcode: 925544

Please ensure your full name (eg Joan Smith) is shown on your Zoom video screen.

Details of the Zoom link are set out above and will also be sent to members in the June eNewsletter (published at the end of May), and will also be available on the web site. If you do not receive the eNewsletter please send your email address to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Never used Zoom before? First-time Zoom users will find the following video useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh50kVaIdAY

The Executive Committee’s Views on the Proposed Motions

First Motion: The Executive Committee has no objection to the first motion.

The Society looks for new members of sub-committees in several ways. Firstly, in new members’ welcome letters we invite them to contact members of the Executive Committee if they wish to play an active part in the Society. Secondly, we place advertisements for new sub-committee members, when necessary, in the Society’s eNewsletter and Journal and, if that fails to attract applicants, the Society relies on personal contacts or recommendations. The Society’s chair and secretary review the names with the relevant sub-committee chair and the potential member is asked to attend the next sub-committee meeting as a guest. After this meeting a decision will be made whether to invite the person to join the sub-committee. This decision will be based on the need for a balance of views within the sub-committee as well as an assessment of whether a new member would contribute constructively to its work. This is in line with rule 8 of the Society constitution.

New and existing sub-committee members will be asked to notify sub-committee chairs of any interests (including membership of organisations) with respect to which there is a real risk of a conflict with the sub-committee's work. The sub-committee chairs will maintain a register of such interests.

Sub-committee members, whenever they consider they have a conflict with an item being discussed at the sub-committee, will draw this to the attention of sub-committee chair and it will be noted in the minutes.

Second Motion: The Executive Committee is NOT in favour of the second motion.

The Aims and Objectives of the Society are quite clear, they are to foster and safeguard the amenities of Dulwich, both in the interests of its residents and the wider local community of which it is a part, and to increase awareness of the varied character that makes the area so special. The Society is managed by the Executive Committee comprising the Society chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer, membership secretary and the chairs of the specialist sub-committees. They are all elected at the yearly Annual General Meeting. There is no requirement in the Society’s constitution for the Executive Committee to canvass the members’ opinions, nor would it be appropriate given the Society’s objective of serving the wider local community.

In this particular case, a survey of members’ views on the Society’s long term policy position on Travel and the Environment would be fraught with difficulty as any view the Society would hold on this subject would change over time to reflect circumstances at any one time.

The survey proposed by the second motion is NOT a survey about the current emergency temporary traffic measures. The Council is currently running a detailed public consultation on these measures where everyone in the area, not just Society members, is able to comment. This will be far more representative than any survey that the Society could carry out. There is also the question of resources and funding - the Society is a volunteer organisation, and also a registered charity, and running a survey would not be a good use of the Society’s resources when there is no obvious benefit to be gained.

2021 Annual General Meeting Reports

Dulwich Society Reports for Annual General Meeting - Tuesday 14 September
Executive Committee Reports for the Year 2020

Please note that the AGM has now been put back until September in the expectation that we will then be able to meet in person and, hopefully, hold an event to mark the retirement of our President, Dr Colin Niven, after ten years’ service.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:

Executive Committee: The Executive Committee met 6 times in 2020, online. The Executive awards funds to suitable local projects in line with the Society’s remit and objectives. There were fewer requests this past year as projects were put on hold or cancelled. Grants were made as follows:

Repairs to benches and white posts in Dulwich Village
Design of new sports mural at the Burbage Road rail bridge
Donations to two Food Banks in Southwark and West Norwood.
Donation to Sydenham Hill Woods.

If you have any ideas for projects that are in line with the Society’s objectives, please see https://www.dulwichsociety.com/local-projects for further information.

Dulwich Estate Residents’ Advisory Committee: The Society Chairman and Chair of Planning and Architecture together with representatives from Dulwich residents’ associations drawn from across the Dulwich Estate sat on the Estate Scheme of Management (SOM) Advisory Committee which met three times last year, online, to discuss matters relating to the SOM. The Society collated a list of issues ahead of the meetings for discussion arising from our members’ and residents’ concerns, and issues that the Society has identified across the Estate. In addition, the Chairman and Secretary met the Estate CEO and Director of Property on a regular basis at the Estate’s public surgeries to discuss members’ concerns on matters outside the SOM. Please notify This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have a matter that you would like the Society to raise with the Estate.

After a series of discussions between the Chairs of the Dulwich Estate Trustees and the Society, the Advisory Committee has been refreshed and will now comprise representatives in rotation to enable a wider group of representatives to attend the Committee. From the first meeting in March 2021, there will be two representatives from RAs in the north and south of the Estate, and two representatives from the Society’s Executive Committee.

Public engagement and consultations: The Society has continued to be active in the promotion of public engagement. Consultations on planning, traffic, public realm, event and premises licensing have continued during the Covid-19 emergency and the Society has reminded and encouraged residents to respond to all Council surveys and consultations affecting the Dulwich area.

Working with community groups: The Society continues to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders across Dulwich including residents’ associations, the Dulwich Estate, Dulwich Picture Gallery, amenity societies such as the Herne Hill Society, sporting venues, local councillors, MP and council officers and the police Safer Neighbourhood Panels. During 2020 this has been predominantly online.

Ian McInnes, Chairman

Parcel Collection and Delivery Points

There are a number of alternative locations to have parcels delivered and collected to reduce the number of small vans driving around in the area.

SE19:

Amazon Hub Locker - Shell Gypsy Hill, 112 -122 Gypsy Hill, SE19 1PL
Amazon Hub Counter – FreshGo, 81 Gipsy Hill, SE19 1QL

SE21:

Amazon Hub Counter / Collect Plus - Rosendale News, 109a Rosendale Road, SE21 8EZ
Local Collect - Post Office, 47 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BN
Local Collect - Post Office, 35 Seeley Drive, SE21 8QR

SE22:

Amazon Hub Locker - Co-operative, 58-62 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HJ
Amazon Hub Counter / Collect Plus - Lordship Food News & Wine, 141 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HX
Local Collect - Post Office, 74 - 76 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HH
Amazon Hub Locker - BP East Dulwich Road, 13 - 19 East Dulwich Road, SE22 9BD
Amazon Hub Counter / Collect Plus - Mark and Son, 23 Grove Vale, SE22 8EQ
Collect Plus - V 7 Local 40 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HJ

SE24:

SE24 Local Collect at Herne Hill Post Office, 31-39 Norwood Road, SE24 9AA
SE24 Local Collect at ‘On The Hill’ Post Office, 75 Herne Hill SE24 9NE
Budgens (Hermes) 127-129 Half Moon Lane, SE24 9JY

Delays in Dulwich Traffic changes Consultation

The Council has now delayed the proposed consultation yet again. Residents were originally told it would be February and it is now to be May. 18,500 of the explanatory leaflets headed ’Dulwich Newsletter March 2021’ have now been issued to householders. To take part in the consultation you should register your details at: https://tinyurl.com/29k573us

The Council has also confirmed that Blue Badge holders who live within the LTN control zone may apply for exemption from penalty charges - see this website for more information: https://tinyurl.com/meptsa7e
Blue badge holders will be able to apply for the exemption on the following website https://forms.southwark.gov.uk/ShowForm.asp?fm_fid=2080
This exemption does not apply to Blue Badge holders who live outside the control area, nor to other vulnerable residents whose carers have been impacted by the LTN’s.

5G phone masts in Dulwich

There have been three recent applications for new 5G masts on the SCST Sport ground, on Dulwich Wood Park at Lymer Avenue and on Dovercourt Road. The one on the SCST ground replaces an existing mast and is subject to lease discussions with SCST. The one on Dulwich Wood Park was turned down by Southwark after a large number of complaints from residents – and is currently being appealed. The one in Dovercourt Road had even more objections and has now also been turned down by the Council – though the Dulwich Estate has suggested an alternative location on its land. There is also a pre-application consultation for a similar mast on the corner of East Dulwich Grove and Townley Road, directly outside Alleyn’s School.

Sydenham Hill High Rise development concerns

A large group of local residents are concerned that, unless there are substantial revisions to the current plans approved by Lewisham Council for the City of London development on Sydenham Hill, it will set an unfortunate precedent for further high-rise blocks in the area. The objectors have been told by their lawyers that Lewisham Council have acted illegally in approving the scheme The Judicial Review application will be on 27 April and a further £22,000 needs to be raised by then. To contribute to the fund, go to https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/friendsofmaishouse

Walks Around Dulwich

If you are looking for something a little extra for your exercise walk and are bored with the same old routes, try this challenging roam around Dulwich’s green spaces and vantage points abounding in great views over London and Kent. Stops for the occasional breather coincide with the opportunity to read the numerous information panels located around the route. As the walk is circular it can be joined at any point, although the suggested start is Dulwich’s new Village Orchard located at the junction of Gallery Road and Dulwich Village. Take-away refreshments and toilet facilities are located at Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich Park and Horniman Gardens. PDF Download (also available in The Journal, Spring 2021).

On the Street where you Live - Society online talks in conjunction with Bell House:

Following the successful talks on Court Lane (January), Woodward Road (February) and Dulwich Radicals (March). A total of nearly £2000 has been raised for local charities. The next two events, bookable at https://www.bellhouse.co.uk/events are:

Tuesday 6 April 8.00pm. The Heiress & the Hussar: A talk by Gavin Bowyer on the Georgian and Victorian history of the Friern Estate in East Dulwich.

Tuesday 4 May. Life in Dulwich in WW2, Part 1, 1939 – 1942: A talk by local historian Brian Green covering the lead up to the outbreak of war - fascism, evacuation, civil defence, rationing, the Blitz and bomb damage, Dulwich Picture Gallery’s dilemma, everyday life.