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.

RESOLVED –

THAT the ‘A’ and ‘B’ lists be noted.

Apologies for absence were received from Barnes House TRA and Mansfield Road TRA.

Local Issues

The Chair announced that he had agreed to allow a resident to address the DMC regarding the Holmes Road Depot, this would take place under Item 12: Local Issues.

Cabinet Member Report

The Chair proposed that Item 10: Cabinet Member For Better Homes Update be taken as the first substantive item, to allow the Cabinet Member’s attendance. This was agreed by the DMC.

No declarations were made.

There was no such business.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Gospel Oak DMC held on 27 June 2024 and to consider the progress report and any other matters arising.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2024 and the Progress Report.

The DMC raised that Councillor Steve Adams, Bob Robbins and Alex Newham had all attended the June meeting and would like it reflected in the minutes.

When discussing the Progress Report and the outstanding action of an update on the Maitland Park Community Centre, the DMC requested that the update be provided for the next DMC meeting.

Action by: the Senior Tenant Participation Officer

RESOLVED –

THAT The minute be agreed subject to the amendments outlined above.

Report of the Director of Property Management to follow.

The DMC were advised that this report was not available for the meeting.

Report of the Director of Housing to follow.

The DMC were advised that this report was not available for the meeting.

Report of the Director of Property Management.

This report provides an update on the review of the process for bidding, management and monitoring of the DMC budget proposed for adoption.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Property Management. The report was introduced by the Senior Tenant Participation Officer.

In response to DMC questions about the wording used in the proposed guidance, the Senior Tenant Participation Officer said that the consultation was ongoing and officers would make sure that the wording in the guidance was clear.

Members asked about fast track bids for bids under £5000 and what the process would be for them. The Senior Tenant Participation Officer said that the process for these bids was still being developed. The Tenant Participation Coordinator explained that the fast track bids would still need to go through all the standard checks.

In response to a question about the need for member TRAs to attend a certain number of DMC meetings before a bid would be accepted, the Tenant Participation Coordinator advised that this was not part of the Council’s process but was a requirement from Gospel Oak DMC’s Constitution.

The DMC discussed the status of the Memorial Garden Bid as there had been some confusion surrounding it. The TRA making the proposal has been advised to follow up with a wider consultation of all Gospel Oak TRAs, before bringing the bid back for consideration.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Tenant Participation Coordinator.

This report details the Camden Town DMC budget allocation for 2024/2025, progress on approved bids and any new bids submitted for consideration. 

The Senior Tenant Participation Officer explained that there were no bids to consider at this meeting, officers were seeking more information about the bid from Forge, Mutton and Castle Road TRA before they would present it to the DMC.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Better Homes

This report provides DMC Members with an update from the Cabinet Member for Better Homes.   

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Member for Better Homes. In her introduction of the report, the Cabinet Member explained that the reports items 8a – Lifts and 8b – Voids were not available to be considered at this meeting.

In their discussion of the report, the DMC made the following comments:

Members asked about the tenant satisfaction measures referred to in the report, and said that with hard copy agendas having web links in reports could make it difficult to access information. The Cabinet Member agreed to circulate the link shared in the report to the DMC in a separate email.

Action by: the Cabinet Member for Better Homes.

The DMC discussed a tower block that was being proposed in Kentish Town. Residents commented that there was already a tower block on the West Kentish Town Estate that had been empty for 5 years. The Cabinet Member said that as this came under Regeneration and not in her portfolio, however, she would ask for an update.

Action by: the Cabinet Member for Better Homes

In response to a question around void properties, the Cabinet Member commented that though there were many reasons for void properties there were also wider impacts of properties remaining void and so it would remain a focus area.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

This briefing provides an update on the working group made up of officers and residents representatives nominated by DMCs planning delivery of the Resident Action Day event on Saturday 28 September 2024.

This report is for information only.

The information item was noted.

Report of the Health and Safety Manager, Property Services. This report outlines Camden Council’s arrangements for effective management of asbestos within its property portfolio. It also notes the responsibilities of tenants when carrying out the minor alterations to their homes.

The information item was noted.

This report provides information and a final plug to promote this interactive learning session with DMC and TRA representatives.

This report is for information only.

The information item was noted.

This report sets out how information on planned works is shared with appropriate staff, tenants and residents.  The report also outlines the responsibility of contractors/sub-contractors for identification when attending an appointment and how this process was being monitored by the Council.

This report is for information only.

The information item was noted.

This update is for information only.

The information item was noted.

This information report is to follow.

The information item was noted.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans

In light of the findings and recommendations in the Grenfell Report, the Committee requested an update on where the Council was with creating personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for disabled residents and also whether PEEPs were created for those in street properties.

Action by: Senior Tenant Participation Officer

Motion on Holmes Road and Direct Labour Force

Paul Tomlinson read out the motion (Appendix A).

In their discussion of the motion the DMC commented that there was little information about the future of the Holmes Road Depot and there was concern that any future plans might impact the amount social housing. The DMC requested an update on Camden’s intentions for the site.

Action by: Senior Tenant Participation Officer

The DMC debated and supported the motion as set out below, noting the importance and value of apprenticeships:

‘In view of increasing energy bills and repair and maintenance costs, this DMC resolves to call upon Camden Council to acknowledge the vital importance of the direct labour repair team in Camden, to strengthen the direct labour force, to increase apprenticeships for young men and women and to maintain the Holmes Road repair depot as a model and centre for repair excellence in Camden.’

RESOLVED –

THAT the motion set out above be agreed

There was no such business.