Agenda and minutes

Appendix A lists those Tenant and Resident Associations (TRAs), which have satisfactorily completed the registration process at the date of despatch of this agenda. It gives details of the representatives of those TRAs to be co-opted onto the DMC, in accordance with the constitution, together with the names of the substitutes.

Appendix B lists those TRAs whose registrations have lapsed. If a TRA wishes to register it must hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM), open to all members, once a year (with an independent observer in attendance). The minutes must be sent to the Tenant Participation Service together with a membership list and a completed registered form.

The DMC considered the list of registered tenant and resident associations (TRAs) provided by the Tenant Participation Service listed at Appendix A to the agenda.

The DMC noted that Monir Hussain was now the DMC representative from Churchway TRA, and the CASP representative was David Perris.

RESOLVED –

THAT the ‘A’ list and the information provide above be noted.

Apologies for absence were received from Rienzi Trento (Ossulton TRA), Brian Gardiner (Churchway TRA), and James Butler (Coopers Lane Estate TRA).

Death of Queen Elizabeth II

The meeting stood for a minutes silence in respect of the death of Queen Elizabeth ll.

Dave Lincoln

The Chair advised the meeting of the sad passing of Dave Lincoln who had been Ampthill Square TRA Treasurer for the last 20 years.

Additional documents

The meeting was advised that the following additional documents had been circulated for information:

·       Information from the Director of Finance on DMC Budget

·       Revised Camden Town DMC Budget report

·       Information on Estates Management

·       A Safer Neighbourhood Board Report from Mrs Helia Evans

·       Information in relation to Universal Credit

This information related to items elsewhere in the agenda.

There were none.

There were none.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th June 2022.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th June be approved as a correct record.

Consideration was given to the Action Tracker update.

The meeting noted the information that had been circulated in relation to Estates Management.

The meeting asked that officers sought to include the views of tenants and residents in relation to the lifts performance update information and that they were kept informed of what was going on.

ACTION BY: Danny Waite, Head of Repairs and Operations

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Directors of Housing and the Director of Property Management

This report brings together an update on Housing and Property service areas of performance since the June DMC round. In addition to the performance updates, that now includes complaints there is also information on the Council’s Small Site Programme, information about Parking Enforcement and an update on the proposed Housing Residents Performance Panel that DMCs are invited to comment on.

Consideration was given to the report from the Directors of Housing and Property Management.

Finance Strategy HRA Update

Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member Better Homes and officers advised that the paper was a summary that outlined the Council’s position in preparation for budget setting for 2023/24. It described what was happening globally and nationally – a cost of living crisis, inflationary building costs (running at approx. 25%), and rising utility costs created significant challenges for the Council and tenants alike and this was central it’s thinking in relation to the budget setting this year.

After the report was written, a Government consultation had been launched which was seeking feedback from social housing providers and tenants to gather views on a rent cap in 23/24 (& possibly also in 24/25) at 3% 5% or 7%. The proposal, if implemented, would override the rent standard which permitted a raise of CPI plus 1% as described in the report. The Council was not yet able to confirm what the rent, service charge or heating charges increase levels would be proposed for 23/24, the rent cap consultation created significant uncertainty around income options, and it was important to wait for cost forecasts during autumn, especially for utilities as this was a volatile market. The rent cap could leave the Council with a budget shortfall of approximately £20M, something that it would not be able to meet with efficiencies alone. This would mean that the Council would have to consider options regarding slowing down the works programme, or service cuts. Neither option came without massive implications for tenants and residents and the Council did not want to go down this route, but unless the Government was going to provide local authorities with resources to fund the gap then the Council would be left with no other option, as it would still be legally required to balance this budget.

The Council would be willing to listen to tenants proposals regarding how it would be able to meet this budget gap.

The Council, along with other local authorities were lobbying the Government on these matters, but as yet the Government had not provided a response. The outcome of this consideration from the Council would be shared at December DMC meetings.

The Council recognised that this would be a challenging winter and understood the level of concern within the community regarding future rent levels and possible service reductions would have for tenants. Information had been and would continue to be made available regarding the support that was available to tenants and residents (as set out in Appendix 1) during this difficult time.

Voids Improvement Programme Update

Officers advised the meeting that there were a number of reasons why some properties took longer than others to be brought back into use. These included the condition of the home itself once the keys had been returned, to the availability of repairs staff to turn the property around. The current system was actively monitored by officers to see where the issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Report of the Head of Tenancy Services.

In line with the DMC funding guidelines, TRAs will be asked to provide an update to the meeting regarding the progress of agreed bids, including an update on the associated spend. TRAs are invited to circulate any relevant information in advance through the clerk.

TRAs are encouraged to submit bids as soon as possible, so they can be properly assessed and prepared by officers, ready for submission to the DMC. TRAs are reminded that verbal bids cannot be accepted at DMC meetings as, in line with the guidelines, officers need to be able to assess bids before passing them to the DMC.

For more information on DMC bids, please see our webpages: www.camden.gov.uk/district-management-committees.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Tenancy Services.

The DMC noted the additional information that had been circulated by the Director of Finance regarding the DMC budget making process, along with the revised DMC budget report.

The DMC noted that the response from the Director of Finance had not met their expectations and they wished to see them addressed. The Chair of the DMC agreed to seek to set up a meeting with DMC representatives and the Director of Finance to settle these matters.

                                                              ACTION BY: Fran Heron

The DMC also asked that officers provide a response to the actions identified at the special DMC meeting held on 8^th March 2022.

ACTION BY: Head of Tenancy Services and Director of Finance         

The DMC asked that a special meeting be arranged to allow for the consideration of TRA bids and this take place at the end of October or early November. TRA representatives were advised to contact their neighbourhood officers to work with them to put forward any proposals in time for this meeting.

ACTION BY: DMC representatives/Landlord Services/Sarah Moore

The DMC asked that future budget reports contain an update in relation to the Bridgeway Court TRA scheme.

ACTION BY: Neighbourhood Manager

The DMC noted that there were no new bids to be considered at this meeting.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted

To consider any local issues.

Safer Neighbourhood Board report

Consideration was given to the Safer Neighbourhood Board report.

The DMC asked that they be provided with a new organisational chart regarding the Police and Council staff involved in tackling Community Safety, along with some information on the projects identified in the report.

ACTION BY: Carole Stewart, Director of Community Services

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted

To consider the paper from the DMC Chairs which provides an update regarding their proposals for the Housing Ombudsman handling Code 2022.

Consideration was given to the report of the DMC Chairs.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted

To receive an update from the Cabinet Member for Better Homes on housing issues in the Borough.

Consideration was given to the report from the Cabinet Member for Better Homes.

Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member Better Homes, agreed to provide a response to the issues that Mrs Helia Evans wanted to have addressed once she had put the request in an email for him to consider.

ACTION BY: Mrs Helia Evans/Cabinet Member Better Homes

Councillor Apak, advised the meeting that the proposal to ensure that neighbourhood housing officers carried out a home visit to every tenant was another important way that the Council was seeking to engage with its housing tenants. This would be a huge undertaking and would be a valuable way of seeking to address tenants concerns on a variety of issues.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

There were none.