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 Mary Smith (Woodfield and Barnfield TRA), Christine Geraghty (6-60 Bassett Street TRA) and Rachelle Mcfarland (Russell Nurseries and Jim Pitch TRA).

Minute Silence

The Chair led a minute silence for Harry Pitman, who was fatally stabbed on Primrose Hill on New Years Eve.

No declarations were made.

There was no such business.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings of the Gospel Oak DMC held on 30 November 2023 and 10 January 2024 and to consider the progress report and any other matters arising.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meetings held on 30 November 2023 and 10 January 2024.

Rita Thorpe, Kiln Place TRA, commented that her name appeared twice in the minutes of the November meeting.

The Chair raised that he recollected being selected to represent the Committee in relation to the planning of the resident conference. This was agreed by the Committee.

RESOLVED –

i)                 THAT the minutes of the meeting held 30 November 2023 be agreed as a correct record, subject to the amendments outlined above.

ii)               THAT the minutes of the meeting held 10 January 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Directors of Housing and the Director of Property Management

This report offers an update on the Housing Transformation Programme, highlighting key areas and the progress in both housing and repair services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing and the Director of Property Management. The report was introduced by the Landlord Services Manager.

In their discussion of the reports, the Committee made the following comments:

·       Members were interested in whether the work of residents panels would help with the development of new policy and asked whether the information would be published. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement said that whilst the panels were not themselves decision making bodies, the panels provided an opportunity for residents to ask important questions of the Council and its work. The work of the panels was published online. He gave an example of the work and ideas that had arisen from panels with the creation of instructional ‘how to’ videos, to help residents carry out repairs that fell within their tenancy responsibilities. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement agreed to share the latest discussions of the panels with the Committee.

Action by the Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement

·       The Committee asked questions about engagement around the resident participation strategy and whether there would be a different approach when consulting residents in street properties. The Landlord Services Manager said Camden would be engaging with street properties but that there would be slight differences in the approach. The Landlord Services Manager agreed to share the details of this to the Committee.

Action by: the Landlord Services Manager

·       In response to a comment from the committee, the Landlord Services Manager said that drop-in sessions for residents to meet local staff were being looked into. Members of the committee welcomed this as they agreed it would help residents know who they needed to contact for particular reasons.

·       The committee discussed anti-social behaviour that had been taking place at Maitland Park Villas and the anxiety this was causing residents. The Landlord Services Manager said that they could not disclose the Council was doing, but assured residents that there were remedies available to the Council.

·       In response to a question for the committee about the ongoing damp and mould inspections, the Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement commented that the Council recognised the impact of having mould and damp issues. This was a long-term project and 12 full time damp and mould inspectors had been recruited.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Public Safety

The report outlines the actions taken or currently underway on how the Council is collaborating with other stakeholders in response to the recent youth murders to ensure community safety and reduce fear of crime.

The Item, Community Safety Update had been included in the agenda as an information item.

The Chair allowed time to hear from Chris Fagg, the Chair of the Safer Neighbourhoods Panel, who provided an update on the work.

Report of the Director of Property Management

The report provides an update on then upgrade roll out programme of new CCTV on estate/areas in phase 1 of the programme, along with a schedule of estate for the phase 2 of the programme. The report also offers performance update on the responsive security patrol service.

The Committee discussed accessing CCTV and using it to find out perpetrators of poor behaviour. The Community Safety Officer explained that access to CCTV was protected by GDPR regulations. They said that a visit to the CCTV room could be arranged so that residents could learn more about the process.

In response to questions from the committee about the CCTV replacement programme on estates, the Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement agreed to share an update on the CCTV replacement programme in the June round, including the criteria required for a replacement.

Action by: the Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement

The meeting discussed off street parking and heard from the Estate Parking and Access Manager who spoke about the strategic plan to introduce traffic management orders to estates, which would mean the Council had more enforcement powers.

Committee members from Southend Close asked about the resident engagement around traffic management orders as they felt that estates had not been kept apprised with progress. The Estate Parking and Access Manager agreed to provide an update on the traffic management order consultation happening on Southend Close.

Action by: the Estate Parking and Access Manager

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Neighbourhoods.

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 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. The after an introduction by the Landlord Services Manger, the committee considered the bids.

Forge, Mutton and Castle Road TRA

The bid was outlined by a representative of the TRA.

RESOLVED –

THAT the bid be agreed.

Ludham and Waxham TRA

The bid was outlined by a representative of the TRA.

RESOLVED –

THAT the bid be agreed.

Bacton, Wendling and Ludham & Waxham TRAs

The bid was introduced by the Landlord Services Manager who explained that the bid was from three TRAs to provide funding for the Gospel Oak Living Room. Officers had reviewed the original bid which had included funds for wages, cleaning and project management. Officers had reviewed the used of DMC bids and a decision was made that funds could not be used to pay for these things and so they had been removed from the bid being presented. Shiri Shalmy from Cooperation Town was present to answer questions about the bid and Gospel Oak Living Room.

In response to questions from the committee, Shiri Shalmy explained the purpose of the Gospel Oak Living room, to provide activities, hot room and a warm space for residents who might be experiencing cost of living hardship. They had nearly 2000 visits from residents in the last quarter.

After a vote, the committee agreed the bid.

RESOLVED –

THAT the bid be agreed.

The committee commented that it would be useful to have more information around bids and the process. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement agreed to bring clear guidance on the bidding process for DMCs to the June meeting.

Action by: the Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement

Report of the Strategic Lead.

This briefing provides an update on the work by officers and residents representatives nominated by DMCs that are together planning delivery of the event the Resident Conference Event scheduled for summer 2024.

Consideration was given to the report of the Strategic Lead, Supporting Communities. Officers outlined what the resident conference was and how the idea came about.

The committee discussed having Gospel Oak DMC representation on the panel to feed into the organisation of the conference.

RESOLVED –

THAT James Robin, Kiln Place TRA substitute member, be put forward to represent the DMC on the resident panel.

The committee carried out a vote whether to agree, in principle, for £4000 of the 2024/ 2025 DMC budget to be given to the project.

RESOLVED –

THAT the committee agreed, in principle, £4000 from the 2024/2025 budget to paid to fund the resident conference.

Kiln Place

The representative from Kiln Place announced the intention to submit a bid at the next meeting. The bid would be for a memorial garden that honoured DMC representatives who had died, and the many years of work many of them had given to the community,

Report of the Director of Finance

This report provided information regarding the cost of CIP to the HRA over the last 5 years, how much of this had been paid back to the HRA, and the rate of interest on any borrowing

The information item was noted.

Report of the Repairs and Operations Service Delivery Team Leader.

The universal key programme has recommenced from October 2023 and will continue to roll out Boroughwide until the end of 2024/25.

The information item was noted.

Report of the Director of Property Management

This report provides an update regarding the installation programme and the alternative approaches that were available.

The information item was noted.

Report of the Project Manager

This report provides an update on our project to improve parking on Camden's estates.

The information item was noted.

Report of the Director of Housing

This report provides details on the election process for DMC committee officers (chairs and vice chairs) at its June meeting that is the start of the municipal year.  The report includes the prescribed forms DMC members are asked to complete and return should they wish to nominate themselves or another member.

The DMC nomination paper 2024 was noted.

To note the dates for future meetings document.

The dates of future meetings were noted.

There was o such business.