Community

3. Annual general meeting

Annual General Meeting

Every year, usually in June, the HRA Chairman will call a meeting to which all Association members are invited. Residents will receive this notice, the agenda and the previous year's minutes beforehand.

The meeting provides a good opportunity to air any issues of common concern or interest.

The Chairman is elected by a majority vote of committee members and holds the position for two years. Anyone interested in serving on the committee should approach the Chairman.

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5. Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch is a nationwide voluntary crime prevention initiative. The Hithe's scheme focuses on crime prevention aspects.

Objectives

• To prevent crime by improving security, increasing vigilance, creating and maintaining a caring community and reducing opportunities for crime by increasing crime prevention awareness.
• To assist the police in detecting crime by promoting effective communication and prompt reporting of suspicious and criminal activity.
• To reduce undue fear of crime by providing accurate information about risks.
• To promote a sense of security and community spirit, particularly among the more vulnerable members of the community.
• To improve police/community liaison by providing effective communication channels, and by members informing the police of incidents when they occur.

What to expect as a member

Members can expect to receive some newsletters each year, giving topical advice on such issues as bogus callers and telephone scams. Additionally, a more specific/local threat — such as a number of outbuildings being broken into — might generate a "newsflash" to alert members, by email where possible.

Members can also call on the scheme to report unusual activities or concerns, especially in those circumstances where they don't want to "bother" the police. Significant issues, of course, need to be raised promptly and directly with the police.

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WhatsApp group

WhatsApp group

There is a WhatsApp group available for residents to exchange and share information. It is run on a voluntary basis and the contact details are contained in the residents only section.

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6. Community

Our community

We are a relatively small community and have at least one thing in common — we chose to live in The Hithe! To an extent, the degree to which we are able to continue preserving the unique ambience of The Hithe depends on our mutual respect for each other and desire to be able to communicate freely.

With this in mind, the current committee feels that it is beneficial to encourage as much community interaction as is appropriate.