Agenda and minutes

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 ‘A’ and ‘B’ lists were noted.

Apologies for absence were received from Derek Jarman (Chair) (Kennistoun & Willingham TRA) and Steve Barton (Holly Lodge Residents Association).

There were none.

There were no declarations.

There were no such notifications.

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 2024.

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 5

Holborn                   - Committee Room 4

At 8.15pm the DMCs will be recalled to report the outcomes from their respective meetings if they wish.

Consideration was then given to the report of the Director of Finance and the DMC went through the proposals outlined for consideration as set out in the template from the Director of Finance.

Overall, the DMC were of the view they had not been provided accurate data or enough detail to justify the budgetary proposals, which was something that the DMC had asked for on a number of occasions. It was hoped that in future more accurate and detailed reports could be provided.

Rent – Increase by CPI + 1% (7.7%)

Consideration was given to the proposed rent increase.

Members of the DMC were not in favour of the rent increase, which they stated was too steep. DMC Members commented that a rent increase alongside an increase in service charges would mean that most people would be paying more.

On being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED –

i)               THAT the Kentish Town District Management Committee do not recommend the 7% rent increase.

Tenant Service Charge: Caretaking – Increase by 5% (56p)

The meeting agreed that some caretakers provided a good service and residents appreciated the work that they did, however there had been some issues where caretakers had not carried out the duties, they were responsible for. As such, some DMC Members reported that residents and leaseholders who had received large bills did not feel that they were getting value for money and were therefore not supportive of the increase.

It was clarified that the proposed increase would cover a pay increase for caretakers.

In response to a question about leaseholder service charges, it was clarified that these charges were worked out differently from tenant charges and were initially based on estimates. However, an annual reconciliation was undertaken to ensure leaseholders paid the correct amount.

DMC Members agreed that it would be useful for further information be provided on tenants and leaseholder charges and requested that this be sent to the DMC. 

ACTION: Director of Finance

Following a vote, it was

RESOLVED –

THAT the Kentish Town District Management Committee do not recommend that the caretaking service charge be increased by 56p.

Tenant Service Charge: CCTV – Increase by 4.7% (5p)

In response to a question the Cabinet Member for Better Homes clarified that the proposed CCTV service charge increases covered both the standard inflation increase and the capital costs of CCTV upgrades, which was split over 7 years.

Responding to a follow up question, it was explained that the Head of Security had undertaken an assessment of the CCTV on estates and had found that the systems were antiquated and not fit for purpose, some were still using analogue systems for example, so a comprehensive upgrade was needed. 

It was confirmed that if there was no CCTV on an estate, there would be no charge.

The DMC noted that whilst CCTV was beneficial it was not a panacea, and a strategic approach was required. Therefore, it was requested that a report be provided to a future  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

There was none.