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 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.

Apologies for absence were received from Mansfield Road TRA.

One-minute silence

The Chair announced and led a one-minute silence for the victims of the 7 October attacks in Israel, the civilians of Gaza and the four teenagers who lost their lives in the car accident in Snowdonia.

To elect up to two Vice-Chairs of the DMC for the 2023/24 meeting year, including a senior Vice-Chair to become acting Chair should the need arise.

RESOLVED –

THAT Daniel Key and Rita Thorpe be elected as Vice-Chairs of Gospel Oak DMC for the remainder of the 2023/24 municipal year.

The Chair declared that he had ongoing enquiries with Camden in relation to the master key scheme and tenant visits.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Gospel Oak DMC held on 14 September 2023 and to consider the progress report.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September be agreed.

There was no such business.

Report by the Director of Finance

This report provides an update on Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 2024/25 Budget Setting progress ahead of the January Joint DMC meeting at which DMC representatives will be asked to provide feedback on proposals.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance. The report was introduced by the Head of Finance, Supporting Communities.

In their discussion of the report, the Committee made the following key comments:

Members were concerned about the number of residents that were in arrears, they said that this should be factored into any proposed increase in charges. The Head of Finance agreed that arrears of any size needed to be a factor when proposing increases, however, cuts would be needed elsewhere if rents were not raised.

In response to a Councillor question around work and benefits, the Head of Finance explained that support was available to residents around the cost-of-living crisis and there was also Camden’s Welfare Rights team who could advise those facing hardship.

A Member asked about property insulation and what was being done to improve heating in properties. The Head of Finance said that there was a programme to retrofit properties to improve energy efficiency. Camden raised funds for this by bidding for small amounts of grants, where possible, and said that Camden was also investigating ways of funding larger retrofit programmes.

A Member said that they pay for heating each month but only receive it roughly from June until October each year. The Cabinet Member for Better Homes said that the annual cost was split into monthly payments to make it easier to budget, he would come back to the Committee when this had been confirmed.

Action by: the Cabinet Member for Better Homes

Responding to a question about metred heating and how it was a good way for residents to be in control of their energy use, the Cabinet Member said that the Council had a programme of moving towards metred heating on estates as the feedback had been positive where it had been implemented. The Cabinet Member advised that this was not always possible for certain properties. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement agreed to confirm whether this was the case for Weedington Road properties.

Action by: The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement

The Cabinet Member explained that any decision to increase charges to residents was not taken lightly and that even increasing rents would not meet all of the increased costs, savings would be needed to balance the books.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Public Safety

This report provides an overview of the work of the Community Safety Service throughout 2023.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Public Safety. The report was introduced by the Community Presence Team Leader.

In their discussion of the report, the Committee made the following key points:

The Committee asked about the incident that occurred at UCLH with the removal of rough sleepers. The Community Presence Team Leader explained that the incident was a police issued dispersal order based on a complaint raised by the hospital on private land. He said that the rough sleepers had been given 4 days notice before action was taken and that any items that had been left at the site were deemed as rubbish and removed.

In response to a Member comment around young people loitering and potential antisocial behaviour, the Team Leader said that youth centres and youth groups were under budgetary constraints. Linking youth antisocial behaviour with boredom, Camden were looking at somewhere for young people to go where they could express themselves, as well as enforcement.

Members raised concerns around the recreational use of nitrous oxide on their estates and said that their were not enough security patrols or police presence. The Team Leader said that security patrols were targeted and data led and so it was important for complaints to be raised. The more complaints an issue had, the more patrols it would receive.

The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement agreed to bring a report on the function of security patrols to a future meeting.

Action by: The Head of Property Customer Services.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Housing

This report provides performance information on areas of the Housing Service provided to council tenants.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing. After an introduction by the Landlord Services Manager, the Committee discussed the report.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement spoke about a complaints panel being set up to look at the resident experience. The panel, that would be resident led, looking at emerging themes and holding officers to account.

Members discussed the process of gaining entry to properties when residents lose keys or are otherwise locked out. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement agreed to bring an update on what options and procedure the Council have when tenants get locked out of properties with no way of regaining access.

Action by: The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Innovation & Improvement

This report asks the DMC for its views regarding the proposed Tenant Conference as set out in the report.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Innovation and Improvement, who introduced the report.

The Committee welcomed efforts from Camden to engage with residents more.

The Head of Innovation and Improvement explained that Camden was looking for wider resident participation. Acknowledging the hard work that TA reps already did, she encouraged non-TA reps to get involved.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Committee agreed to the proposal for a Tenant Conference.

Report of the Head of Landlord Services.

This report outlines the spend relating to the revenue budget for 2023/24.

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

Ludham and Waxham TRA - Bike shelters

The bid was introduced by the representative from Ludham and Waxham.

RESOLVED

-THAT the bid from Ludham and Waxham be agreed

Ludham and Waxham TRA Bacton TowerTRA Wendling TRA - The Gospel Oak living room

The bid was introduced by the representative from Ludham and Waxham.

The Committee discussed whether Gospel Oak DMC money should be used to pay for wages for schemes, they decided to adjourn making a decision on whether to pay for wages in the future to another meeting.

The Committee agreed to pay for Food supplies and kitchen supplies but not wages.

RESOLVED –

THAT the bid be agreed subject to the subtraction of staff wages from bid.

Wendling TRA – gates

The Neighbourhood Manager said that there had been a delay in the commencement of work in Wendling to install gates, he sought agreement from the Committee for funds to be taken from the current year’s budget even if work commenced in the following year. This was agreed by the Committee.

CCTV Coverage

Members discussed concerns with areas and estates that were not covered by CCTV. The Neighbourhood Manager agreed to bring an update to a future meeting.

Action by: Neighbourhood Manager

Updates regarding housing services relating to Cabinet Member Better Homes report, Neighbourhood officers roles, rent arrear, the Damp and Mould Programme, the Intensive Tenants Participation and Engagement Programme and the Universal Key Programme.

The information update was noted.

There was no such business.