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 were received from June Dodds (Peckwater TA).

There were no announcements.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no notifications of any items of urgent business.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Kentish Town District Management Committee held on 17 September 2019.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the 17^th September 2019 meeting.

Pauline Stafford from Maiden Lane Estate addressed the meeting in light of the discussion at the last DMC meeting on estate parking. She said that there were people parking on the estate with digital permits, and unclear information had been given to residents at meetings about how many permits had been issued.

Dermott Mullan, the Landlord Services Manager, said that there was a consultation taking place on whether to have a Maiden Lane Estate TMO (Traffic Management Order) and urged residents to respond.

The Chair asked that an update on this come to the March 2020 meeting, and that officers meet with the TRA beforehand.

                                                            ACTION: Landlord Services Manager  

Petra Dando asked if there was information about the outcomes from previous deputations that had come to the DMC. Hugh Boatswain, Senior Tenant Participation Officer, said that information requested had been given to two of them.

Louis Loizou expressed concern that information had not come to the DMC on mobile phone masts. Gavin Haynes, Director of Property Management, said that there was a report on the Council website on digital rooftops (http://democracy.camden.gov.uk/documents/s84639/Digital%20Rooftops%20Governance%20Report%20FINAL.pdf ) which members could read to find out

more information about the Council’s approach to the issue.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th September 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

The DMC is asked to note the progress of the action points arising from the 17 September meeting.

Consideration was given to the progress report.

Hugh Boatwain distributed information regarding Brookfield and Holly Lodge. Abu Naser highlighted that reference to “Kenwood” should be “Kenbrook”.

RESOLVED –

THAT the progress report be noted, subject to the amendment above.

TO FOLLOW

Hugh Boatswain tabled notes from the 14^th November 2019 special meeting.

He highlighted that attendees had made a range of suggestions at the meeting, but some were borough-wide issues and needed to be part of a wider review of DMCs.

It was suggested that there be an officer surgery prior to DMC meetings, which could enable residents to raise local issues of concern. There was also the view expressed that the agenda was too long and that DMCs should see their role as more local and concrete, like TRAs.

The Chair said that he felt that the DMCs should work together in terms of getting involved with the Housing Scrutiny Committee. He suggested writing to other DMCs to consider this.

In terms of communicating in between meetings, members asked if Tenant Participation could circulate people’s email addresses with their permission. Mr Boatswain said he would write out to people and ask which of them were willing to have their email address circulated.

ACTION: Hugh Boatswain (Tenant Participation)

Members agreed the current DMC draft constitution, which had gone to the June and September 2019 meetings. Members who wished to change it were advised to come up with new wording which could be circulated at the March 2020 meeting and voted on at the June 2020 meeting. It was suggested that once email addresses were circulated, those who were interested in forming a working group to look at re-drafting it could do so.

RESOLVED –

(i)            THAT the notes of the 14^th November meeting be agreed;

(ii)          THAT the Kentish Town DMC constitution circulated with the June 2019 papers be approved.

Report of the Director of Property Management.

This paper provides an update on work to improve the repairs service.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Property Management.

Gavin Haynes introduced the report. He said that call handling had been transferred to the Property Management division from Contact Camden, and that other teams would be being restructured too. The aim was to pool resources on a north/south basis.

Councillor Apak said that a minority of cases led to a large number of repeated visits and resident discontent. He was hoping the new arrangements for repairs could tackle some of these.

Some residents expressed concern about the quality of contractors and the monitoring of their work. They wanted the Council to get tenants’ views on contractors, to remove bad contractors and for council officers to make sure that their work was monitored. Mr Haynes said that residents were involved in some of the tendering panels that awarded contracts to private contractors, and that officers did seek tenant feedback.

The Chair raised concerns that some blocks might still have lead pipes. He also said the Council needed to allocate resources so that it was ready to deal with emergencies around burst pipes that were likely to occur in winter.

Louis Loizou said that there was a need for independent planned inspections of pipes and plumbing. He made reference to a leak from 54 year old pipes on his estate. Members voted to recommend that the Council arrange for planned inspections of plumbing.

A resident raised concerns that new tenants were not shown how the central heating system and boilers worked when they moved into her estate. This could cause unnecessary problems as new tenants could damage the system inadvertently. Mr Mullan said that Neighbourhood Housing Officers, in the new structure, should be showing residents how to operate their new home.

Residents asked for greater precision in the appointment times they were given. It was inconvenient for residents to have to wait a whole morning or afternoon for an operative to arrive.

The Chair asked that a report on the Repairs Service come back to the next meeting.

ACTION: Director of Property Management

RESOLVED –

(i)            THAT the report be noted;

(ii)          THAT the Council be recommended to establish a planned inspection scheme for plumbing;

(iii)         THAT an update report come to the March 2020 meeting on the Repairs Service.

Report of the Team Leader (HRA and Capital Projects).

DMCs are asked to note the contents of this report and the questions that will be consulted on in January 2020 as part of the formal HRA budget setting process.

This report summarises the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account and the decision on rent and service charges to be made from April 2020.

The report also highlights the formal consultation with DMCs that will take place on 8 January 2020.

Consideration was given to a report of the Team Leader (HRA and Capital Projects).

Rhys Makinson, Director of Housing Support Services, introduced the report. He highlighted that local authorities had been mandated to reduce their rents by 1% per year and this had contributed to pressure on the HRA (Housing Revenue Account). From April 2020 onwards, rents could be increased by up to CPI+1%. CPI was about 1.7% at the moment. It was also proposed that service changes would increase in line with the CPI.

The Chair asked how much central government money was available for fire safety. Mr Makinson said that this was not clear at the moment.

There was a discussion about the enhanced caretaking service that was being proposed at a cost of 94p per week. Councillor Apak said that there would be a floating team to help existing caretakers and more window cleaners. He added that the external cleaning part of Veolia’s role would be being brought in-house.

Councillor Apak was asked how many extra caretakers would be being employed. He said he would ask officers to provide those figures.

                                                            ACTION: Head of Estate Management

A question was asked about leaseholder service charges. Mr Makinson said that these were more individual and depended on the estate in question.

Petra Dando, a CASP representative, highlighted that street property tenants had met with the then Head of Estate Services to raise the issue of whether caretakers working on street properties could pick up the health and safety issues that arose in them. This was a concern of street property residents. They also felt that they were missed out of consultations as some officers forgot that some street properties received a caretaking service.

Officers reminded attendees that the joint DMC meeting on 8^th January 2020 would be discussing rents and service charges further.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report and the comments above be noted.

Report of Head of CIP Programme Office.

This report informs DMC members about the number of tenants Camden Living manages, where they are located, the Camden Collection Private Rent Model and the annual company accounts.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of the CIP Programme Office.

Rhys Makinson introduced the report. He explained the Camden Living properties were aimed at middle income households and offered three-year tenancies.

He said 63% of Camden Living tenants were public sector workers and 25% were sons and daughters of Council and Housing Association tenants.  

Members asked if tenants would have to move after the 3 years of their tenancy finished. Mr Makinson said that Camden Living would review their circumstances and, if their circumstances were similar, would renew their tenancy.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report and the comments above be noted.

Report of the Landlord Services Manager (South)

The DMC is asked to, note the report and approve any new bids as appropriate.

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

Tara Cookson, Neighbourhood Manager, introduced the report. She reported there was approximately £24,000 remaining in the DMC budget and this would be sufficient to meet the bids that had been received for this meeting.

Derek Jaman stated that the bid from Willingham Terrace TRA could be reduced from £500 to £410, as he had been able to find a cheaper heater.

DMC members approved the bids.

RESOLVED –

THAT the following bids be agreed:

Report of the Landlord Services Manager (South)

This report provides an update of recent news within the Kentish Town DMC area since the last meeting.  As previously requested, TRAs are asked to submit items for inclusion in the report that they wish to share.

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

Dermott Mullan introduced the report and highlighted that the new Landlord Service had gone live in the south of the borough from 16^th September 2019.

He said that Cadent were undertaking the annual gas checks for tenants and so they should expect a visit from a Cadent staff member (who would have an ID card) to check their gas supply.

Mr Mullan highlighted that there were some local Police initiatives on drugs and anti-social behaviour taking place. A resident highlighted that drugs and ASB were a problem on his estate. He was advised that the issue could be raised with the Neighbourhood Policing Panel if he felt his estate was one they should prioritise. 

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Tenant Participation and Sheltered Housing.

This report informs DMC members about a review of the Tenant & Leaseholder Engagement Code of Conduct, the consultation on the document and feedback received from DMCs to date.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Tenant Participation and Sheltered Housing.

Stanton La Foucade, Tenant Participation Co-Ordinator, introduced the report. He said that this was the second draft of the code of conduct document, and Tenant Participation were seeking tenants’ views on it. He asked people to send their comments to tp@camden.gov.uk.  A final draft of the document would come to the March 2020 round of DMCs.

                                                                        ACTION: Tenant Participation

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

To note reports on:

- Resident Safety Charter

- Fire evacuation policy and Fire Risk Assessment update   

- Update on the work of the Responsive Security Patrol Panel

The service reports were noted.

To note reports on:

- Tenant Participation Officer patch summary

- Tenant Participation training

- TRA registration process

- Tenant Participation Steering Group update

- Grants, equipment and loans

The engagement reports were noted.

There was no other business.

Dates of future DMC meetings are:

·         Wednesday, 8^th January 2020 (joint with the other DMCs)

·         Tuesday, 3^rd March 2020

The dates of future DMC meetings would be:

·         Wednesday, 8^th January 2020 (joint with the other DMCs)

·         Tuesday, 3^rd March 2020