Agenda and minutes

To agree the election of Chair for 2021/22 municipal year.

Nominations were received for Derek Jarman and Sue Robertson.

On being put to the vote, it was

Resolved –

THAT Derek Jarman be elected Chair for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

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.

The DMC were concerned that some TRAs were not able to hold Annual General Meetings due to the lack of a suitable venue. Those TRAs that had had an AGM advised that they had secured a suitable venue with assistance from Tennant Participation.

RESOLVED –

THAT the ‘A’ and ‘B’ lists be noted.

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 due to the circumstances of the coronavirus national emergency.

To elect up to two Vice-Chairs of the DMC for the 2021/22 municipal

year, including a senior Vice-Chair to become acting Chair should the

need arise.

Resolved –

THAT Momota Khatun and Sue Robertson be elected Vice-Chairs for the remainder of the Municipal Year. 

An apology for absence was received from Sophie Rogers (Carrol Close & Sanderson Close TRA).

An apology was also received from Emma Cardoso, Team Leader (HRA & Capital Projects) who was unable to attend the meeting.

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 14^th September 2021

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th September 2021.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 14th September 2021 be approved as a correct record.

Consideration was given to the progress report actions points arising from the previous meeting. 

The DMC was advised that progress had been made with regards to the overgrown foliage on the Rochester Road Estate.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be 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 2-hour meeting timeslot allocated.

The December 2021 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 Management and the Director of Property Management.

Peter Sebastian, Head of Finance (Supporting Communities), took the meeting through the budget section of the report. He advised that during the current year, overspend against service budgets had been lower than the forecast in previous years, and these improvements would continue into the next financial year.

Due to bulk purchasing, District Heating fixed charges had not increased since 2014/15. However, due the recent significant increases in fuel costs, heating charges were set to increased, but the use of reserves could limit this increase.

Increased pressures on fire safety costs had arisen from the Fire Safety Act 2021, at the time of the meeting there had not been any announcement of central government funding, and it was expected that the Council would bear these costs.

Responding to questions and comments from the DMC, Mr Sebastian provided the following information:

·       The proposed rent increase of 4.1% was not mandatory but was the maximum increase permitted by central government.

·       Fuel was purchased in advance and in bulk for tenants and leaseholders. Overall costs were forecast to increase by 30% for the next financial year. There was still a need to forward purchase more gas, so prices were subject to change. The increase could be more, so heating charges may need to increase by more than the proposed 15%, outlined in the report. An updated forecast would be provided on future prices, and the impact on heating scales, at the Joint DMC meeting taking place in January.  

·       The bad debt provision was usually assumed to be £3.5 million. This provision had been higher than usual due to the Covid-19 pandemic; however, the situation was gradually improving and there had been an increase in the collection rate, especially for commercial properties.

·       No details had yet been provided as to whether funding would be available for fire safety costs arising from the Fire Safety Bill. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities had been lobbied but information had not been forthcoming.

·       Roughly 70% of tenants receive housing benefit, therefore 30% of tenants paid rent in full.

·       It was recognised that increasing rent would cause residents concern, but the increase was necessary, not only in Camden but across all London Boroughs, as there were no alternative options available. Where necessary, residents could access support from the Council.

The DMC were concerned about the proposed rent increase and members made the following comments:

·       For many residents, the rent percentage increase would be higher than any increase in income.

·       Those who were in receipt of a pension would be worse off. 

·       The increase had come at a difficult time for residents, many of whom had lost income during the pandemic and the number of people claiming Universal Credit had increased.

·       Increases in maintenance and service charges and utilities would make paying increased rent even more difficult for many residents. 

Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member for Better Homes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

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 a report of the Landlord Services Manager (South).

Kieran Waller, Neighbourhood Manager, introduced the report and outlined the bids received.

In response to a question, the meeting was advised that the bid request by the St Pancras Way TRA, for the hamper project, was to provide food hampers for those in need on the estate and was linked to the food bank scheme that had taken place on the estate.

Members agreed the bids.

RESOLVED –

THAT the following bids be agreed:

Report of the Landlord Services Manager (South)

The DMC is asked to note the report and make any relevant comments.

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

It was reported that work had continued on the refurbishment of the refuse arrangements at Leighton Crescent and quotes were being sought from contractors. Kieran Waller, Neighbourhood Manager, suggested arranging a discussion outside the meeting so the TRA could be further apprised of the progress of the project.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

There was no other business.

The dates of future meetings will be:

·       Wednesday, 12th January 2022 (Joint Meeting)

·       Tuesday, 8th March 2022

It was noted that the dates of future Kentish Town DMC meetings would be on:

·       Wednesday, 12th January 2022 (Joint Meeting)

·       Tuesday, 8th March 2022