The DMCs will retire to the following rooms to discuss the budget proposals separately:
Gospel Oak - Council Chamber
Hampstead - Committee Room 1
Kentish Town - Committee Room 2
Camden Town - Committee Room 4
Holborn - Committee Room 5
Minutes:
The Chair summarised the issues raised in the report and earlier debate and highlighted that although the annual meeting was known as ‘rent-setting’, the Cabinet would make the decisions. In the past, it was felt the DMCs had been ignored but she commended Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member for Better Homes, for trying to change this.
Responding to questions, Neil Simcock, Head of Finance – Supporting Communities, outlined that the savings outlined in the presentation had been agreed as part of the previous medium term financial strategy a few years previously and were essentially as a result of the forced reduction in rents.
The Chair remarked that in light of the current focus of works on fire safety it may be pertinent to consider a fire safety service charge. The Cabinet Member confirmed that the £80million grant from the Government was entirely to pay to replace the cladding and curtain walls on the Chalcots estate; this would not cover the replacement windows or the costs of the emergency evacuation.
The additional and separate £87million for fire safety works would cover new and additional fire risk assessments and any works arising from those. These would include street properties. The Head of Finance – Supporting Communities advised that the capital programme had shifted towards fire safety largely at the expense of the Better Homes programme, but the Council would be aiming to combine other fire safety works with other works as far as possible. It was agreed that officers would provide a response outlining who was responsible for undertaking fire risk assessments, whether internal, contractors or a mix.
ACTION: Andrew Butt, Head of Fire Safety and H&S Delivery
The DMC then discussed the rent levels and fees and charges proposed for 2019/20.
Decreasing rents by 1%
The DMC noted that decreasing rents by 1% for 2019/20 was compulsory under the Government’s rules, but there would be discretion for the Council in the years following.
RESOLVED –
THAT Camden Town DMC oppose the requirement to reduce Council rents by 1% for 2019/20.
Service charges
The Chair commented that it might be useful to combine all the relevant service charges into a combined resident safety and security charge to make it easier for people to understand how the service charges were being used towards matters concerning resident safety. Noting that a Responsive Security Patrol contract monitoring group had been promised and appeared to have been reneged on, and wider concerns about spending of Housing Revenue Account money on safety and security, the Chair proposed that the DMC’s recommendations on safety and security related service charges be subject to establishing a resident oversight panel to monitor expenditure.
RESOLVED –
THAT Camden Town DMC recommend that all safety and security charges be combined into a single charge with a resident oversight panel to monitor expenditure.
Caretaking – increase by 2.4%
The Head of Finance – Supporting Communities confirmed that the proposed increase was inflationary.
The Chair highlighted the ongoing caretaking review and encouraged DMC members to attend the workshop on Friday 11th January 2019.
On being put to the vote it was unanimously:
RESOLVED –
THAT Camden Town DMC recommend an increase of 2.4% in the caretaking service charge for 2019/20.
CCTV – 98p in 2019/20 and £2.10 for new system following implementation
Officers confirmed that the intention for 2019/20 was to retain the current £0.98 CCTV service charge. If the Council proceeded with the upgrade to the CCTV system, then following the completion of the planned upgrades, the service charge would increase to £2.10 per week to fund this. Once the costs of the upgrade had been paid for the charge could be reduced.
DMC members commented that if the enhanced CCTV system was agreed, then there needed to be guarantees about its effectiveness. The resident oversight panel would help ensure this. It was also noted the £2.10 service charge would likely increase in line with inflation in following years.
On being put to the vote it was, with 8 votes in favour, none against and 2 abstentions:
RESOLVED –
THAT Camden Town DMC recommend no change to the current £0.98 service charge for CCTV for 2019/20 and an increase to £2.10 following the completion of the planned investment to pay for the enhanced CCTV system, subject to establishment of a resident oversight panel to monitor expenditure.
Communal lighting – increase by 2.4%
The Chair commented that lighting was a safety consideration and could potentially be included in the combined safety and security service charge. On being put to the vote it was unanimously:
RESOLVED –
THAT Camden Town DMC recommend a 2.4% increase in the communal lighting service charge, subject to establishment of a resident oversight panel to monitor expenditure.
Communal mechanical and engineering maintenance – increase by 2.4%
The Cabinet Member outlined that the mechanical and electrical service charge was to cover works to heating, electrical or other mechanical elements in communal areas. Officers could provide a detailed breakdown in due course.
ACTION BY: Andy Hardwick, Head of Repairs and Operations
The Chair remarked that it may be that this classed as a safety related charge in the DMC’s proposed combined safety and security service charge.
On being put to the vote it was, with 7 votes in favour, none against and 3 abstentions:
RESOLVED –
THAT Camden Town DMC recommend a 2.4% increase in the communal mechanical and engineering service charge, subject to establishment of a resident oversight panel to monitor expenditure.
Grounds maintenance – no increase
The Head of Finance – Supporting Communities confirmed the grounds maintenance service charge could be frozen due to efficiencies having been identified.
Responsive Security Patrol – increase by 2.9%
The DMC discussed the current state of the Responsive Security Patrol and raised concerns about its effectiveness, commenting that it had worked well for a few months after its relaunch in 2018 though had since declined. DMC members stated that they had irrelevantly been asked to identify themselves as tenants or leaseholders when calling the service.
On being put to the vote it was, with 7 votes in favour, none against and 3 abstentions:
RESOLVED –
THAT Camden Town DMC recommend a 2.4% increase in the Responsive Security Patrol service charge, subject to establishment of a resident oversight panel to monitor expenditure.
Heating pool
DMC members discussed the options around the heating pool surplus and service charges. DMC members expressed their keenness to invest the surplus in energy efficiency works but noted service charges would have to rise if that approach was taken. The value-for-money of the new gas supply contract was also queried. The Head of Finance – Supporting Communities outlined that there was energy efficiency work undertaken as part of wider HRA investment.
After discussion, it was, with 8 votes in favour, none against and 2 abstentions:
RESOLVED –
THAT Camden Town DMC recommend that the heating pool surplus be used to freeze the current level of service charge.
The Chair concluded by outlining continued concerns over the operation of the Tenant Participation Service, both in terms of the functions of the service and concerns that officers in the team appeared demoralised. She proposed and the DMC agreed that a special meeting to discuss the Service was needed.
ACTION BY: Graeme Beedham, Head of Tenant Participation and Sheltered Housing