Agenda and minutes

That the Chair be allowed to hold the meeting remotely.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Chair be authorised to hold the DMC meeting as a remote meeting.

Appendix A lists those Tenants’ and Residents’ 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 Associations 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 Team 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 ‘A’ and ‘B’ lists be noted

Apologies for absence were received from Costa Costa (Brookfields Estate TRA) and John Webb (Kennistoun, Willingham, Rosemary & Margaret TA).

The Chair announced the sad news of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, a one minute silence was observed in her memory.

There were none.

There were no items of urgent business.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Kentish Town District Management Committee held on 14th June 2022.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting.

Matters Arising

A DMC Member sought an update on the work that had been undertaken to improve accessibility to the repairs service for those who were deaf. The Head of Repairs and Operations provided an overview of the work that was planned in this area and advised that work was ongoing.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th March 2022 be approved as a correct record.

The DMC is asked to note the progress of the action points arising from the previous meeting.

Consideration was given to the actions arising from the previous meeting.

The Action Points Update was noted.

Report of the Director of Housing Management and the Director of

Property Services.

The DMC is asked to discuss and comment on the sections of the consolidated report that are of particular interest to members during the meeting.

The September consolidated Housing Services report was compiled following feedback from DMC members at recent meetings and arising from specific requests from DMC chairs during their April agenda setting with the Cabinet Member. It includes Housing Management & Property Services performance and other requested reports.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Housing and the Director of Property Services.

Finance Strategy HRA Update

The Landlord Services Manager introduced the report.

The Cabinet Member for Better Homes advised the meeting that a recent Government consultation had sought feedback from social housing providers and tenants on a proposed rent cap in 2023/24 of 3% 5% or 7%. The proposal, if implemented, would override the rent standard which permits a raise of CPI plus 1%. Currently inflation was at 10%. The Housing Revenue Account was valued at £200 million, so inflation at 10% meant there would be a £20 million shortfall.

The meeting was informed that in order to minimise raising service charges, efficiency savings would have to be realised, major works would need to be reduced and services cuts would be required. However, this would create problems in the future, as without regular maintenance programmes, repairs would become more expensive.

Further advice would be sought from officers and more detail would be provided to the DMC at the next meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Better Homes assured DMC Members that the Council would give residents as much help as possible, within the limits of its powers.

The following information was provided in response to questions:

·      Service charges, including community heating, would remain the same for the rest of the financial year, as these charges had already been set.

·      Information had been circulated to residents, which included advice on the financial support that was available to residents.

·      Previously, targeted support advice was given to residents, however due to the emerging cost of living crisis concerned residents had been asked to contact the council, as such a new phone line had been set up.

·      There was a team of advisers who had specialist knowledge in the financial support that was available to residents.

·      This financial support did not always come from the Council’s budget, as alternative support options were available to residents.

Voids Improvement Programme Update

The information provided in the report was noted.

Housing Repairs and Contact Centre Update

Danny Waite, Head of Repairs and Operations, gave the meeting an overview of the report, highlighting that work had continued on improving online services. Telephone was still the predominant way residents reported repairs, however alternative methods were becoming more popular and soon WhatsApp would be available.

The meeting was informed that the number of repairs had continued to increase, compared to previous years, possibly due to more residents spending more time at home because of increased home and hybrid working arrangements.

Responding to a question, the Head of Repairs and Operations stated if resource challenges continued to be an issue, work would be undertaken to make sure that repairs were carried out as efficiently and effectively as possible. For example, a leak team had been set up to specifically target repairs that involved leaks, as, if these kinds of repairs were not addressed swiftly they often led to more serious problems.

Capital Works Programme Update

Information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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/dmcbids.

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

Tara Cookson, Neighbourhood Manager took the meeting through the bids received, highlighting that the bid from Castle Road TRA would not be considered, as they were not in attendance to support the bid, having attended Gospel Oak DMC instead.

The Chair noted that there had been some delays in TRAs receiving payments and sought reassurance that this had been resolved. The Neighbourhood Manager confirmed that payments would be sent in a timely manner going forward.

The DMC was reminded that all bid requests for the current financial year needed to be received before the next meeting.

RESOLVED –

THAT the following bids requests be approved:

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Landlord Services.

Tara Cookson, Neighbourhood Manager, introduced the report and gave an overview of local updates.

The meeting was informed that the St Pancras Way TRA had successfully secured £140,000 in funding towards the community hub, and the GERDA secure plates had been installed at the Peckwater Estate. Work had continued on the refuse storage area at Leighton Crescent, and discussions with the nearby Church were underway as the structure was close to the Church entrance, so a solution was to be sought so that the bin store did not impact churchgoers.

The report was noted.

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

The Chair introduced the paper and requested an updated on the progress of the Council’s annual complaint report and when the DMC might have sight of it. The Landlord Services Manager agreed to seek an update on the progress of the report.

ACTION: Landlord Services Manager

The paper was noted.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Better Homes

To receive an update on housing issues in the Borough.

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

Councillor Apak, Cabinet Member for Better Homes, gave an overview of his report, providing a brief explanation of key areas that he had been focused on within the report. The Cabinet Member for Better Homes invited DMC Members to give suggestions for areas the report could cover.

The meeting considered empty properties and the allocations process. Responding to a question, the Cabinet Member for Better Homes advised that it was likely not permissible for vacant properties to be advertised as being in the catchment area for popular schools. However, officers would seek further information on this approach.

ACTION: Head of Housing Transformation/ Landlord Services Manager

 A DMC Member expressed concern about a broken pedestrian gate at Kenbrook House as this had meant that the estate was not secure and antisocial behaviour had been taking place. The Neighbourhood Manager advised that the Major Repairs Team were aware of the issue and that she would ensure that this was progressed.

          ACTION: Neighbourhood Manager

The report was noted.

There was none.