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EAST BEACH RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

 NORFOLK BOWLS CLUBHOUSE

NORFOLK GARDENS PARK

SOUTH TERRACE, LITTLEHAMPTON

SATURDAY 28th March 2026 AT 7 PM

AGENDA

1.  Apologies for absence

2.  Minutes of last General Meeting

3.  Matters arising not already on the Agenda

4.  Chairman’s Report 

5.  Treasurers Report

6.  Neighbourhood Watch Report

7.   Election of Committee Members

8.  Update on current issues, plus Members to put forward local issues for consideration

9.   Any Other Business

If you have not already joined EBRA for 2026 please complete the slip below, detach it and put through the door of 5 NORFOLK MEWS, NORFOLK PLACE, including the £2 subs. per household. Funds raised this year will be used mainly to provide plants for Honeysuckle Walk and other areas in Norfolk Gardens Park and maintaining the Greens in Norfolk Place.

                                                                           Thank You

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Please find herewith my £2 subscription for membership of EBRA for 2026

Name…………………………………………

Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………  Tel. ………………………………………………

Email……………………………………………….

East Beach Residents Association

Chairmans Report on 2025

As usual we planned a full year’s programme of events, but not everything worked out.  As always, my thanks to the committee and other willing volunteers without whom it wouldn’t happen.

Our AGM in April was well attended and was followed by an interesting talk on the Littlehampton Miniature Railway.  Seeing pictures of some of the trains run in the past brought back memories of when my children were young.

In June we planned a Quiz Night, with a meal, at the Vardar Restaurant, now Hantone. Unfortunately, this failed to sell enough tickets to make it viable for the restaurant, so we had to cancel it at the last minute.  All tickets sold were refunded.  This is the second time we have had difficulty selling tickets for a quiz night.  Is it that the cost of meals is making it too expensive? A question to be raised at the AGM.

In late May we planted Honeysuckle Walk with begonias.  The begonias had proved very successful in 2025, so it seemed sensible to replant.  However, despite having a watering rota, to whom my thanks for their diligent efforts, the very dry summer meant they struggled to look their best. 

Later in June we held our Pimms and Nibbles. This year we were back in the garden of Surrey Cottage, in Norfolk Place.  My thanks to Mark and Libby for allowing us back in their spacious relandscaped garden.  It was well attended with some fifty residents passing through during the afternoon.  An always popular event.

In July we held our Fair in the Square in Norfolk Place.   This is our main fund-raiser of the year.  The weather was kind to us but attendance was again down on previous years, but it still proved to be a worthwhile event.  Any unsold Bric-a-Brac was donated to the local St. Barnabas Hospice charity.

In August we held the lunch-time BBQ in South Passage.  You bring your own food and we provide the barbecues for you to cook it on. Some 30 residents enjoyed a pleasant time eating, drinking and whiling away the afternoon.  We tided up around a few stalwarts who remained at around 5pm and left them to clear up and put away the last couple of tables.

In October we had planned to hold a Skittles night in conjunction with the Norfolk Bowls Club. Sadly, once again we were unable to sell sufficient tickets, both to Bowls Club and EBRA members, to make it viable to put it on. 

In November we held our Coffee Morning which went well, as always.  It is always a great opportunity for local residents to meet up and chat. In 2023 & 24 one of the raffle Prizes was a cushion with a beautiful, quilted top, made by Linda.  This year Linda made another cushion, which again proved a great draw and was the first prize chosen, this time by my wife! I promise it was not fixed. My thanks to Linda and Phil, who host the event, and to all who helped.

In December we held our Carols in the Square. It was a chilly but dry evening and some fifty residents braved the cold to enjoy the singing, the hot mulled wine and the mince pies.  This year we dispensed with the keyboard and we’re lead in our singing  by new local resident Wilma, a retired minister. I have to say her strong leadership really raised the level of singing and made for a wonderful evening.  My thanks to Will and Simon who gave an amusing reading, with multiple costume changes.  Last, but by no means least, my thanks to Linda and the committee for the hot mulled wine and mince pies, and helpin setting up.

In closing I must thank Alan for organising the grass cutting rota and to all the volunteers who cut the grass; and the four volunteers that keep Honeysuckle Walk watered during the summer months.  

Fox and Seagull Proof Sacks

One success of the previous year is that we at last obtained a supply of Fox and Seagull Proof Sacks.

These are for flats that don’t have any bin storage facility. The sacks have a tag so can be tied to the railings on collection day, and then folded up and reused for future collections. We distributed them along South Terrace, as a pilot programme with ADC.  They have proved successful.  If you would like one of the sacks, please contact us.

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EAST BEACH RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF THE 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

NORFOLK BOWLS CLUBHOUSE

NORFOLK GARDENS PARK

SOUTH TERRACE, LITTLEHAMPTON.

SATURDAY 5th APRIL 2025 AT 7.00 pm

The Chairman, David Warne, began by welcoming everyone to the meeting, and thanked the Norfolk Bowls Club for the use of the venue and bar. He also welcomed Dirk Shephard who was joining the meeting to give a talk on the Littlehampton Miniature Railway.

  1. Apologies for Absence

    Rhian & Kerry Peachy, John Ley, Chris Durrant, Chris and Joyce Bird, Shuna le Moine, Cllr Bob Woodman, Cllr David Tilbrook, Cllr Billy Blanchard-Cooper.

  • Minutes of last AGM 
    Approved
  • Matters Arising not already on the Agenda

None

  4.  Chairman’s Report

I am pleased to say we held a full year’s programme of events. As always, my thanks to the committee and other willing volunteers without whom it would not have happened.

Our AGM in April was well attended and was followed by an interesting talk on the RNLI.

In June we held a Quiz Night, with a meal, at the Vardar Restaurant. This annual event was well supported. We sold most of the seats. Our thanks go to staff at the Vardar for good food and service, and to Mike our Quiz Master for an excellent quiz.

Later in June we held our Pimms and Nibbles. This time it was in the garden of Ketsby Cottage, in Western Rd.  My thanks to Shuna for opening her lovely garden for us.  It was much admired.  Again, well attended with some fifty residents passing through during the course of the afternoon.

Also, in June we planted Honeysuckle Walk with begonias, and some low growing geraniums in the bed nearest South Terrace.  The begonias proved very successful, and we will repeat this in 2025. 

In July we held our Fair in the Square in Norfolk Place.  Happily, this year the weather was kind to us.  This is our main fund-raiser of the year.  Attendance was down a bit on previous years, but it still proved to be a worthwhile event.  Any unsold Bric-a-Brac was donated to the local St. Barnabas Hospice charity. 

In August the weather was not kind to us and the lunch-time BBQ in South Passage was rained off.

We had planned to hold a second Quiz Night at the Vardar in October.  However, we did not sell sufficient tickets and so the event had to be cancelled.  There has to be a sufficient number to make it viable for the Vardar to open.

In November we held our Coffee Morning which went well, as always.  In 2023 one of the raffle Prizes was a cushion with a beautiful, quilted top, made by Linda. I don’t think we have ever sold so many raffle tickets.  This year Linda made another cushion, which proved a similar draw and was the first prize chosen, much to the ire of many in the room.  My thanks to Linda and Phil, who host the event, and to all who helped.

In December we held our Carols in the Square. It was a chilly but dry evening and some fifty residents braved the cold to enjoy the singing, the hot mulled wine and the mince pies.  Our thanks again to Anne who played the keyboard. (As in the previous year, we did provide a hot water bottle for her lap, to help keep her fingers warm).  My thanks to Will and Simon who gave an amusing reading, with multiple costume changes.  Last, but by no means least, my thanks to Linda and the committee for the hot mulled wine and mince pies, and help in setting up.

In closing I must again thank Edward for organising the grass cutting rota and to all the volunteers who cut the grass; and the four volunteers that keep Honeysuckle Walk watered during the summer months.  Edward has now stepped down from organising the rota and Alan Simmonds has agreed to take on the role, for which my thanks.

One success of the previous year is that we at last obtained a supply of Fox- and Seagull-proof Sacks.

These are for flats that don’t have any bin storage facility. The sacks have a tag so can be tied to the railings on collection day, and then folded up and reused for future collections. We distributed them along South Terrace, as a pilot programme with ADC.  They have proved successful.  If you would like one of the sacks, please contact us.

5.Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer, Linda Collins, reported on the accounts, providing a detailed breakdown of Income and Expenses. A summary of income and funds was provided. 

  •  Neighbourhood Watch Report

Phil McErlain, Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator, reported that for the first time in years he had a crime to report. Stolen bicycles had been found hidden in the area. The Police were informed but took no action. One of the bikes had a National Bicycle Register Badge. Phil contacted the Register and the owner contacted Phil who was able to return the bike. The other bike had to go for scrap as no owner could be found.

There had also been problems with one of the houses in Western Rd which had been let to Social Services to house young people in need of respite from home. Two of the occupants had caused considerable damage both in the house and to cars parked in the road. It was pointed out to Social Services that far more supervision was required.  Currently there are no problems.
     

7.  Election of Committee Members

The existing committee were all willing to stand again and it was agreed the election of Committee Members should be carried out ‘en bloc’:
Chairman:  David Warne
Treasurer:  Linda Collins
Other Committee Members:  Barbara Hughes, Cathy Palmer, Freda Ley, Hugh Montgomery, Simon Trimmer and Shuna le Moine

Proposed:  Richard Jenkins        Seconded:  Carin Simmonds            Carried

8.  Update on Current Issues and Issues Raised by Members

 8.1. Larry Haas informed the meeting that the Rampion 2 Windfarm has been approved by the Sec. of State.  Larry briefly outlined the consequences in terms of future work. He said that consideration was now being given to raising an appeal.  Anyone interested in supporting such action should contact Protect Coastal Sussex, the main body running the campaign.

8.2.  Rod Brown sought volunteers from anyone interested in documenting the architecture and history of Littlehampton’s buildings.  A first survey of the East Beach Conservation Area has been completed and will be published shortly.  Work would now proceed to other parts of the town.  Contact Rod or a committee member if interested.

8.3. It had been suggested that a sign be put up indicating that the local area was originally known as Beach Town. After discussion it was suggested that this might be in the form of a story board setting out the history.  Committee to consider further.

8.4. Concern had been expressed over the safety of pedestrians, particularly women on their own, in the town centre in the evenings.   There was no suggestion from the meeting that any action by EBRA was necessary. 

8.5. It was suggested a Bench Seat be put on one of the greens in Norfolk Place.  A number of members felt there was still a drinking culture in the area. A member said there was often a group of men sitting on the benches by the Tennis courts drinking in the evening and he regularly cleared empty bottles and cans on his morning walk in this area.  While a nice idea the consensus was that it might create a problem.

9. AOB

There being no other business the meeting closed at 7.40pm for refreshments and was followed by an illustrated talk on The Littlehampton Miniature Railway presented by Dirk Shephard.


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