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 and those TRAs whose registration had lapsed, which were listed at Appendix B.

RESOLVED –

THAT the list of tenant and residents’ associations as set out at Appendix A and their representatives be noted.

Apologies were received from Fran Heron (Chair), Jacqueline Haggett (Ampthill Square TRA), Sonia Uddin (Camden Studios), Mrs Helia Evans (Ossulston TRA), and Amy Lame (Coopers Lane Estate TRA).

Fran Heron

John Wood (in the Chair), advised the meeting that Fran was currently unwell and would not be able to attend the meeting. The meeting hoped that Fran recovered soon and asked that their best wishes to be passed onto her.

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Report of the Director of Finance

This report summarises the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account and the draft recommendations on rent and service charges to be made to the Cabinet in January 2023.

The report also seeks the views of the DMCs on the draft recommendations

The DMCs will retire to the following rooms to discuss the budget proposals separately:

Gospel Oak            - Council Chamber

Hampstead             - Committee Room 1

Camden Town        - Committee Room 2

Kentish Town          - Committee Room 3

Holborn                   - Committee Room 5

At 8.00pm the DMCs will be recalled to report the outcomes from their respective meetings if they wish.

Passing of Lidia Venegas

The meeting held a minutes silence regarding the passing of Lidia Venegas a homeless person who had sadly died in Kentish Town.

Emma Cardoso, Team Leader (HRA and Capital Projects) took the meeting through the report and supplementary information as part of a briefing for all DMC representatives, after which Camden Town DMC then considered the rent and service charge consultation questions as set out in Appendix D at its own separate meeting.

The meeting received a written statement from Fran Heron (appendix A) and endorsed the sentiments expressed in the document.

The DMC then considered the proposed rent, service charge and heating pool increases as set out below.

Rent Increase

Following a vote, it was determined that the proposed increase should not be supported.

Increase Tenant Service Charge - Caretaking:

Following a vote, it was determined that the proposed increase should be supported.

Increase Tenant Service Charge - CCTV:

Following a vote, it was determined that the proposed increase should be supported.

Increase Tenant Service Charge - Communal Lighting:

Following a vote, it was determined that the proposed rent increase should not be supported.

Increase Tenant Service Charge - Communal M&E Maintenance:

Following a vote, it was determined that the proposed increase should not be supported.

Increase Tenant Service Charge - Grounds Maintenance:

Following a vote, it was determined that the proposed increase should be supported.

Increase Tenant Service Charge - Responsive Housing Patrol:

Following a vote, it was determined that the proposed increase should not be supported.

Increase Garage rents

Following a vote, it was determined that the proposed increase should not be supported.

Comments on heating pool proposals

Following a vote, it was determined that none of the heating pool options should be supported.

Comments on specific MTFS savings proposals

Any other feedback/views

The DMC felt that though the Council was facing budgetary pressures, it had not provided accurate data to justify its budgetary proposals (something that the DMC had asked for on a number of occasions); lacked audited accounts; had not sought enough savings from eliminating waste and inefficiencies, and this should have happened before seeking any increases (e.g. scaffolding up for too long, lack of controllable heating, the installation of heat meters, lighting on all the time, voids performance, lack of LED lighting): many tenants and residents had not received a pay increase and could not afford the proposed rent, service charges and heating pool increases, along with other inflationary increases, which would only lead to more tenants and residents being pushed into arrears; previous rent increases had not led to service improvements (e.g. Responsive Security Patrol); lack of clarity regarding the proposals relating to leaseholders; garages not being fit for purpose; the options that would be proposed should the heating pool go back into surplus; and to consider reviewing contractor performance and costs to see what savings could be achieved.

The Chair then reported this information to the other DMC representatives.

RESOLVED –

THAT approval be given to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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