LGTA MEETING NOVEMBER 9TH 2022 7.00PM ZOOM
Present
Justin. Al. Deb Pisano. Sean. Des. Rachel Schon. Frank. Jo Marchant. Peter Rice. Sam Burden. Jacqui. Jenny. Helen. Sarah. Paul. Tony. Pam. Jeremy. Kristina. Melanie.
Lucy Cheetham. Rebekah. Ann P. Tamsin. Phyllis Creme.
Apologies
Ingrid. Nikki P. Manya.
Special Guests
Councillors Anna Wright. Camron Aref-Adib
Camden Recycling Officer Debora Byrne
Senior Area Management Officer David Quigley
AGENDA
1)Previous Minutes Approval. Matters arising.
2)Treasurers Report
3)Recycling Rubbish Street Cleaning
4) Better Homes Major Works
5) Festive Fund Raiser
6) Grow Lissenden
AOB
1) Minutes approved, no matters arising.
2) We have 2 bids in to DMC 29 Nov: for Christmas and Summer Party. £400 given to Camden Food Bank. We pay out Zoom subs. Healthy balance in Bank £2058-62
3) Recycling Rubbish Street Cleaning
Debora Byrne, Camden Recycling Officer, visited us in Spring. Noted lack of space in Bin Rooms for better bins.
Suggested door to door visits with recycling advice (to follow up on).
We have a mixture of Euro and Wheelie bins. Wheelie large green bins for refuse and black euro bins for recycling. Too expensive to change. Same colours across Camden.
Brown bin for food.
Signage requires total re-vamp but needs to be strong clear image, few words (to follow up on).
Particular concerns about misuse of food bins.
Lids of Wheelie Bins very heavy but unlikely to be changed. (Reasons for bin misuse might bear on this point).
Recycling collection to increase to twice per week in keeping with refuse collection (this was a promise from David Quigley – to follow up on).
Need to encourage flat packing of cardboard
Situation has improved since 2004
Clean Rubbish Areas invite better use.
David Quigley responded to questions about Veolia’s street-cleaning. Apparently, Veolia are only responsible for paths in Highgate Enclosures. Parks are in charge of grass areas. Bin design is open topped. Can this be changed? Litter bins supplied by Parks. Pam asked if a third bin could be supplied near Yew Tree because of students congregating there.
Philip Applewaithe is Veolia’s Environmental Manager for street cleaning in our area.
Street Cleaners leave bags of leaves or rubbish especially outside Chester Court, in theory to be collected by Veolia. Very unsatisfactory service which allows animals and crows to rip bags. Veolia will be alerted.
Complaints about appallingly rude treatment of residents outside 1 – 8 Cleveden by
Veolia staff when asked to move all bins back to bin room at end of path that passes front door.
Spilt rubbish left on ground.
David Quigley took note of all complaints. (Senior Area Management & Liaison Officer)
4) Lissenden residents views on the Better Homes results
Ann : Take photos before and after. Make sure draught proofing not painted over otherwise useless. Some workmen had very poor understanding of English.
Therefore communication problem. Check undercoat used before top coat of paint. Draught proofing not good. Cord replacement badly fitted. Was told that new rattling was there before. Record everything that is done and report immediately bad workmanship.
Flooring badly done on balconies. Doors unable to open.
Keep communication going through the blocks.
Tamsin: Things useful to do. Covid gave us time to check everything. Good block Communication. Camden does not have the money. Short Term approach. Does not have knowledge about the estate.
We are challenging the works through the 1st Tribunal in our block, the official method of dealing with escalating issues.
Nicola: Dust and bits of brick poured down onto the terrace of my back garden when workmen were up on the scaffolding without alerting me. Scaffolding was left all dismantled on my back lawn. Rubbish left out front. Very cursory and casual signing off of my flat.
Kate & family: Same problems as Tamsin. Kids bedrooms now extremely cold. Gaps in draught proofing. Project Manager and Construction Manager make you feel your complaint is not legitimate. Impossible to get hold of Clerk of Works except through Construction Manager. Totally inadequate amount of hours on site weekly.
Tony: 3 flats spot checked in August. All deficient. 1 being Tony’s. No plans to review whole estate again.
Tony will repaint himself. Tony had whole of damp proofing redone.
He found 200 defects. 17 meters of gaps in draught proofing. Ironmongery security not replaced. Clerk of Works could not see that draught seals were only on 3 sides, not top.
A middle window draught seal not used. Camden Surveyor came. Made list of defects
Monthly payments made regularly to builder, as C of W signed off everything.
How to stop Camden double charging leaseholder for mistakes because of negligent work by contractor and incorrect signing off?
Anna Wright: asked if all residents had questionnaire asking for satisfaction.
Some received it 6 months after contractor had gone. Just a satisfaction survey. No space for complaint.
Is there a systematic problem across services? Bench Mark is so low?
Camden made commitment to support long term carbon reduction. Where does totally inefficient Draught Proofing fit in? This is an opportunity to meet Camden’s commitment.
Paul: Next stage of works. At the consultation for the next stage of the works the draught proofing was referred to by the senior consultation officer as ‘thermal comfort’ rather than ‘energy efficiency’ – is this a way of avoiding having to meet established standards for local authority draught-proofing – called PAS 2035-2030?
Camron: Said Camden has bombed.
5) Festive Fund Raiser
Frank: Date now Sunday 11 Dec.to avoid World Cup. Start 4.30pm
Santa. Choirs. Michelle Friedman. Singing in stairwells.
£1000 grant from Councillors Anna and Camron. Not ring fenced. From the last of Community Levy. Every Child between age of 5-11 on estate will receive a gift.
Because of long meeting Grow Lissenden, Water Tanks, Fire Safety, snagging and Film Company request ‘House in Time 1920’ deferred to next meeting.
AOB
Kristina, spoke of appalling damp and leaks suffered over 3 years.
LGTA and Councillors will take action.
Meeting ended at almost 21.00 hours
LISSENDEN GARDENS TENANTS ASSOCIATION AGM MINUTES 8th JUNE 2022
ZOOM 7.00pm
Present
Sarah, Jenny, Helen, Manya, Spencer, Nicola, Nicky K., Nicky P., Nazrene, Phil, Paul, Des, Sara, Tamar, Justin, Ros, Frank, Anne, Maggie, Tamsin, Rebekah, Pam, Tony, Jacqui, Juliet
Apologies
Jeremy, Ingrid
Chair Sarah
Treasurer Helen
Minutes Jenny
1&2) Sarah welcomed members and Councillor Anna Wright who came as Independent Observer.
Sarah outlined the positive actions of the last year.
a) Murphy’s Yard withdrew its’ Planning Proposal due to efforts of local TAs, Dartmouth Park Neighbourhood Forum and other community organisations.
b) Mortimer Terrace Nature Reserve was saved, due to Councillors help. Camden Council bought it and gave it to Mortimer Terrace. Anna Wright played a big part in this.
c) 5G Mast proposal for Haddo House (a third attempt) was squashed due to local efforts.
d) Tom, Caretaker, with assistant Caretaker, Neil have weeded the back path of PHM and it will be powered washed with water.
Tom organised the Bulk Rubbish to be emptied.
e) Gary Nicholls, Caretaking Manager responded promptly over pigeon mess which was cleared and he says will be done once per week from now on.
f) Camden’s Refuse and Recycling officer, Debora Byrne, has assessed problems on the estate and will need to find funds but will also need co-operation from willing residents to do a door-to-door survey.
g) Kate Silveston has been amazing in setting up the very successful Whats App group (ever expanding)
h) Tamsin has created and developed the beautiful website.
i)This is the 50-year Anniversary of our TA which has stood up to Camden when necessary
and built a strong Community
3)The Minutes of last years’ AGM were passed
4) Treasurer’s Report
£350 given to Charity.
£500 was given to LGTA because of filming at Lido, this was through Frank’s suggestion to the company.
Helen is going to look for a new bank more appropriate to our needs.
Outgoings for Shortened Tennis Coaching last year, Communal Garden Shed & Zoom costs
Balance is £1086.37
DMC Meeting next week:
We will ask for this year’s Tennis Coaching costs
New Tennis Net
Festival Costs
All agree
5) Resignation, Nomination and Election of Committee presided over by Anna Wright.
Chair Decision to have a Rotating Chair upheld.
Secretary Sarah. Nominated by Helen Seconded by Maggie
Co-secretary Jenny. Nominated by Rebekah Seconded by Nicky P
Treasurer Helen Nominated by Nicola Seconded by Pamela.
DMC Rep Helen. Nominated by Sarah Seconded by Nicky P
DMC Dep Paul Nominated by Jenny Seconded by Frank
Phil Campbell offered to go to some meetings
(We need to invite and encourage tenant participation)
All committee members were happy to continue.
6) Changes to wording in Constitution to be voted on at next General meeting.
7) Major Works set to deal with Essential Repairs i.e. Roof, draught proofing, brickwork, windows.
The Lissenden Mansions Experience, scaffolding now down. It took 68 weeks to complete the Works that were originally said to take 12-16 weeks per block.
One resident says there are 110 things not done or repaired in their flat. Camden Surveyor agrees.
Fire and Safety were originally going to decorate communal areas with flame resistant paint. This didn’t happen.
Draught proofing a bone of contention.
Leaseholders had many questions about lack transparency of the bill.
Poor communication.
Fiona Joseph Project Manager said reason for delays over start work on Clevedon is
due to Quality Surveyor trying to check that costs would cover quality of work
(from chosen estimate of cheapest contractor’s quote).
It was suggested that work should not commence on Cleveden till all complaints were
addressed on Lissenden.
Councillor Anna Wright proposed a lessons-learned meeting between residents and Camden before moving on to the next phase of the work and offered to organise this immediately.
Community Events
Summer Party 3rd July 2022: Music, community lunch, dog show, dancing.
Frank and Natasha are the powerhouse behind this event.
Helen read an extract from Richard Pierce’s reminiscences about the start of LGTA in 1972.
The first LGTA meetings packed the hall at Gospel Oak School. (You can read his recollection in full on the website https://www.lissendengardens.co.uk/recollections )
Frank talked about the history of the Lissenden community:
Mildred Levenson and Christine Collins were powerful characters who fought the property developers. There was a tennis clubroom and Christmas carols around each staircase. The Lissenden Ladies became an item.
In 2006, the Centenary Year, Tamar was a vital member who organised a football competition between the 3 different Mansion Blocks. There was a tug of War, a cake stall, a DVD of the Estate.
The publication of Ros’s history of Lissenden: ‘To Paradise by way of Gospel Oak.’
This detailed the Armstrong family who built these 237 flats and how local residents fought the developers and got Camden to buy the Estate.
Jeff organised the setting up of 3 Plaques to illustrious residents.
The lockdown generated the community feeling with Stairway Reps, Clap for Carers, Black Lives Matter & Concerts.
Grow Lissenden
Pollinator Shrubs Wild flowers on Highgate Enclosures. Green Gym has cleared all bags of composting leaves from around tennis court and placed them in newly repaired composting bays on Highgate Enclosures. St Mary’s Community Brewery welcome hops from around and about.
8) Priorities for coming Year.
Improve shared green planted areas. Perhaps we could get sub committee funding to do it ourselves.
Clearing and planting around the tennis court.
Try to find a shared meeting Space.
Encourage wider participation from residents.
AOB
Watertanks
Rerouting of 88 (Anna Wright will field objections.)
Could we have combined Zoom and Live meetings?
Nordoff Robbins Choir has restarted. NR now has a new Filtration System.
The meeting ended at about 8.20
Lissenden Gardens Tenants Association Committee Meeting
Minutes for LGTA Committee Meeting 24 May 7.00pm 2022
Zoom Meeting
Present: Helen, Sarah (rotating chair), Jenny (minutes), Jacqui, Melanie, Rebekah, Nicki, Tony /Pam, Des, Ingrid, Manya (co-chair towards end of meeting, great improvement!)
Apologies: Jeremy, Ann (Nicky and Theo absent)
AGENDA
1) Minutes of last meeting accepted. No matters arising.
2) Actions since last meeting
Items for discussion:
3) Parking
4) Pathway and garden plots behind PHM
5) Pigeon mess
Items for information:
6) Summer festival
7) Grow Lissenden
8) AGM
AOB
2) Action since the last meeting:
Camden Refuse and Recycling Officer Deborah Byrne met with SW and JW
Says bins should be appropriately coloured
Signage improved to be made larger, simpler.
Door to door information link up. Funds still need to be found and Deborah would need
volunteers from the community.
Need to ask about incinerator in Enfield burning recycled matter.
Lissenden Front Gardens have been pruned but devastation after scaffolding
needs to be remedied by contractors A&D or funds given to residents to remedy.
Murphy’s Yard have withdrawn planning application and will rethink the project
hopefully listening to local expertise.
Lissenden Residents gave ‘lessons learned’ update on completion of Major Works
to RTA reps from Cleveden and PHM.
Waiting for start date from Fiona Joseph for Cleveden.
DMC has been applied to for funding for Summer Tennis for children and adults.
Tennis net has been replaced.
Funding for Lissenden Summer Festive Meal 3rd July has also been applied for.
Haddo House mast turned down again with some help from our rejections.
Mortimer Terrace Nature Reserve saved and bought by Camden with CIL money
for the community.
Items for decision, discussion and info:
3) Parking. 5 people responded to posters. A few residents raised the question on What’s app. Residents on other side of Highgate Road also questioning present parking restrictions.
Flyer will be distributed by volunteers. This is a resident led enquiry not LGTA.
Councillor Anna Wright has been approached.
There needs to be an opportunity for those in favour of the status quo to state
their preference if they are happy with the current parking arrangements.
4) Garden Path behind PHM. Caretaker, Tom, was offered a pressure washer. Camden offered no other options. He is now going to weed first by hand with Neil (Caretaker covering for Roger) and use pressure washer with water (only) when it is returned to him – he had to re-order it (Sarah saw him after our Zoom meeting).
Shed will go at end of path.
Jenny (Ingrid offered long tape measure) will measure hose that needs replacing. DMC funding?? Also for Grow Lissenden?
5) Estate Condition
Pigeon mess along Cleveden is a health hazard and cannot be left until major works take place. Also falling masonry round PHM chimney stack dangerous. Jacqui says make an official complaint for both The ONLY way to get results quickly.
Highgate Enclosures middle enclosure looks miserable and rubbish and food gets strewn. Understood it is crows, foxes and squirrels who create havoc.
Who is responsible for rubbish collection and sweeping paths on Highgate Enclosures?
Need to have bins with covers.
We will find out from Jevaughan whether DMC can supply lidded bins
Planting of wild flowers suggested. Need to allow seeds to drop before mowing.
Items for information:
6)Summer Festive meal will take place 3rd July on tennis court with the streets on either side car free. Music dancing, dog show, doughnuts, food.
7)Tony says people are not clearing up their dog’s mess on Northern Enclosure
where families picnic. Request for signage to remind people to clear up after their dogs.
8) AGM Wednesday 8 June Councillor Anna Wright is coming as the independent observer. 50 years since founding of LGTA!!!
AOB
Apparently the fenced off boiler outside Chester Court is a replacement for old internal boiler that has died. Need to press for replacement internally.
Front door to Tony’s block has faulty, weakened catch. Need for safety officer to attend ASAP
Jenny is going to check availability and existence of top floor ladders
Also, to get Council to check freedom of passage between flats on kitchen balcony
in event of fire.
Meeting was positive and ended a little after 20.00
7pm Tuesday 15th February 2022 on zoom
Present: Helen, Sarah, Jennie, Rebekah, Jacqui, Ann, Nikki, Jeremy, Des, Frank, Tony.
Apologies: Ingrid, Mel, Spencer, Manya
Chair (rotating): Sarah
Minutes: Jenny & Sarah
1. Previous minutes accepted
2. Correspondence.
(Scooters not mentioned) Jevaughn Bailey visit. Murphy’s Yard.
J. Bailey to start pruning front gardens within 2 weeks. We will have to talk to Housing about the path at back of PHM. Jevaughn suggested jet washing but there was some opposition from the floor. Tony advised Bleach 1-16. Paths need to be cleared now and then MAINTAINED. Veolia used to undertake this job well. IT is NOT the caretakers’ job. We need a garden maintenance team.
Action: Sarah will ask if the team who clear the tennis court regularly could take this on.
Murphy’s Yard A letter will be sent by LGTA.
3. Treasurer’s Report
Helen says HSBC are now charging us £5.00 per month. Big banks do not want small Community Accounts. Triados Bank was suggested as an alternative.
4. Festival
Frank hopes to organise a community Festival in September; we are too late for funds from March DMC meeting so will apply in June. Would like to set up a committee of young people. There will be the popular dog show, music, food and other stalls.
Possibly celebrate also the 50-year anniversary of LGTA (May 1972) the night before. Circulate the original questionnaire to residents and ask the few people who remember that time Mildred Levinson, John Crouch and Richard Pearce to share memories. Helen thought that spread over 2 days the project would not work.
Jacqui hoped that the Queen’s Jubilee could be celebrated but saw that public appetite for more than one event would not be forthcoming.
5. Parking
Jacqui and Nikki will put up posters in all hallways asking for comments on our 2 hour parking restrictions and the costs elsewhere and the use visitors to the Heath make of our car spaces.
6. Rubbish & Pigeon droppings
Jacqui pointed out that large rubbish bins are too high with heavy lids for children to open. Residents do NOT respect the signage and also do not take large items to bulk rubbish area even when new signs are made. Many ideas for tackling this:
Education about Recycling Veolia need this. Appear not to understand.
Recycling Officer employed as in a West Hampstead venue.
Planters on low walls Cleveden to give more positive vibe.
Spring Clean for Lissenden by Lissenden residents. Block by Block. Swop Party on Tennis Court at same time. The idea of spring clean not very enthusiastically received.
Lock food bins lids so only small aperture for compostable bag.
Action: We will contact Adam Harrison councillor with responsibility for Environment and ask him to come and advise.
Action: We will ask for pigeon droppings to be cleaned more regularly until the Major/better homes works begin at Clevedon. When (presumably) pigeon deterrents will be installed at 1-8 Clevedon.
7. New Tennis Net to order. Juliet to ask Dean if he will give lessons this Summer.
8. Haddo House Mast Jacqui wants to know if we should support situation, Rebekah will talk to residents
Action: We will send LGTA Letter of support
9. Noise Item to be postponed till next time.
10. Ceilings coming down. Cracks in ceilings only seem to get refurbished when resident states danger. Instead of lath and plaster replaced with 1cm plasterboard since 1980 refurb. Pulling of old ceiling paper can cause ceiling to come down.
Action: find out whom to contact?
11. Grow Lissenden has erected the green gardening shed in garage yard with help of v.g handyman paid for with DMC grant.
AOB
Money available for Obelisk in communal garden
Demand for new hoses in back gardens and front garden
Action: Rebekah and Tony to measure respective hoses
Meeting ended at 8.20pm
Lissenden Gardens Tenants Association
Minutes of the Murphy’s Yard Development meeting, 2nd Feb 2022 on Zoom.
Present: Sarah, Helen, Jenny, Manya, Rebekah, Tony, Ann Pordage, Maggie, Tamsin, Joey O’Keefe, Jill C, Paul, Nick Duffell
Chair (rotating): Sarah
Minutes: Sarah and Jenny
Apologies: Jeremy, Jacqui and Ingrid
1. Since the last LGTA meeting in October 2021 communication between TA’s, Dartmouth Park Neighbourhood Forum (DPNF) and West Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum (WKTNF) has developed and strengthened.
2. December 15th 2021 Murphy held a zoom transport workshop. Very well attended.
Specifics about problems of Gordon House Road were very fully aired by participants, pointing out in detail the problems of pavement width, massing of students/ parents, road congestion, station access, cycling on Gordon House Road and that there is no cycle route onto the Heath from the Lido entrance - all of which created a lively discussion with Murphy about pertinent public concerns.
3. Individual objection comments by Feb 21st to Camden about planning application of Murphy’s Yard.
[To comment online, type in: Planning Application Search - Camden Council. Once you are on the page type in the Application Number 2021/3225/P. Click on ‘Search’. Then click on ‘Application Number’.]
4. Summary of current plans have been circulated by Dartmouth Park Neighbourhood Forum (DPNF) with many points to consider. They have also written an OPEN Letter which they hope all TAs and celebrated notables will sign. LGTA will do this but this does not exclude the necessity of individual letters online with personal comments. A letter from LGTA will only be read as 1 objection.
Tony reminds to state some pros as well as cons. Wording of DPNF about relevant points is helpful. Sarah reads out OPEN letter.
DP mention connection across railway (the bridges) which is highly sought after (but British Rail not prepared to consider – or too expensive, they are no longer in the current plan).
5. Points raised:
No mention of council housing, Camden need 3 or more bed accommodation not 1 or 2 bed (as proposed on Murphy site). The proposed plan creates 30% over capacity 1/2 bed.
What about the Carbon footprint? This needs to be raised. High-rise footprint worse than 3 story. Buildings appear to be crammed in on site.
Camden Climate Action Plan has very through sustainability statement which all planning applications must adhere to (https://www.camdencca.org). CO2 emissions from concrete need to be checked to see that they comply with London wide sustainability requirements. Camden must also comply. Need to read sustainability report from Murphy. Sarah will check in case DPNF has already gone into this. If so, we can reference them. It will show that we are all working together.
The fact that flat owners cannot have cars means there will be an insurmountable amount of vans depositing goods.
The greenway for cyclists and pedestrians through the scheme will result in many bikes arriving at the Gordon House Rd exit almost opposite the Heath, and will spill out onto the road or ride (forbidden)onto Heath which is disallowed at that juncture.
The view has been protected from the Heath but view to the South East will be badly mangled from the back of Lissenden Mansions. View from Kentish Town and from City Farm all overbearing. Are there other groups round the Heath in the neigbourhood whose concern we can draw on? What does the City of London who manage the Heath think?
We were not informed by letter of this enormous development on our door step because Camden has rigid rules about notification.
Camden will welcome the industrial/workshop space on the site but the accommodation is not in keeping with the needs of local community. Camden first
required 1000 dwellings on site This Murphy got reduced to 750 and now has increased to 825? As the blocks are designed will they lead to being owned by international investments and then lie empty, like King’s Cross??
Councils go along with most planning applications. Camden cannot afford to lose appeals so they give in. But they do appreciate support from local groups. This plan does not yet have planning permission.
Action plan:
1. To write to local councillors and invite them to the next meeting (before the May local elections).
2. It was decided that in order to get more support we need to put a poster in each stairway and issue a leaflet with photos of filled in high rise proposals to make more readable from different view points and info about LGTA address and action points which can be used in objection comments. We could also give support
to the writing of the letters. WE will get Block Reps to deliver leaflets and raise awareness of the need to write by 21st February.
The meeting ends at 8.08pm.
Lissenden Gardens Tenants Association
Minutes of the General Meeting 20th October 2021 on Zoom
Guests: PC Dorean Roach of the Highgate Safer Neighbourhood Team and Terry Reynolds from Heathview.
Present: Helen, Jenny, Manya (rotating Chair), Sarah, Rebekah, Nicky P, Jacqui, Anne P, Des, Tony, Pam, Frank, Pete, Kate, Tamsin, Andrea, Sara, Nicola, Maggie, Rachel, Vicky, David, Phil C, Naznene, Tom, Ana, Gary, Zita, mum’s ipad (!).
Apologies: from committee members - Jeremy, Ingrid, Spencer/Melanie, Theo.
The Chair (rotating), Manya, welcomed everyone and introduced PC Dorean Roach.
1. Neighbourhood Safety. PC Roach, one of the two Highgate ward Safer Neighbourhood team PC’s spoke about what could help make Lissenden safer after the recent attempted burglary of a ground floor flat. Trim hedges, as suggested by the forensic team. The area around the tennis court is poorly lit, could ask the council to help with more lighting and/or alarms, cctv. Tony Edwards asked about window locks. PC Roach suggested an EVA (environmental visual assessment) with the council around Lissenden to draw up recommendations for safeguarding here. With regard to drug dealing, if residents flag issues with the safety officers, they can patrol. There have been very few reports from Lissenden. Tony requested patrol of the community garden area at the end of the school day. Pete Revell, the Lissenden rep at the Safer Neighbourhood meetings, said that at last night’s, he was told 77 new recruits from Hendon will boost Camden’s street patrols and work till 10pm or even midnight (police patrols end at 8pm). Pete asked about safety lights at the front of ground floor flats. PC Roach suggested to check with neighbours first as they could shine into flats and disturb sleep. PC Roach shared contact details (SNTEK-Highgate@met.police.uk) and a flier that the LGTA will post on noticeboards (Action). Reports can be anonymous. Or residents can call crime-stoppers (0800 555 111).
2. Murphy’s Yard Development. Paul Mitchell reported on yesterday’s Lissenden site visit with Murphy’s development team – Paul Brosnahan and Kate Macmillan. The Murphy’s outline plan has been submitted to Camden but has not yet been given planning permission. The plans are available to see online. The site is 25 acres with old industrial buildings. The plan is to build a series of high-rise residential and some light industrial buildings for IT/creative industries etc. There are two competing rules being applied to the land. One from Camden demands 750 new homes of which 30% are to be “affordable”. The second, from the GLA (greater London authority), demands that 65% of the entire plot has to be industrial, required for job creation. There is not enough room for both without stacking offices in large high-rise buildings and flats in high-rises. There is very little open space in the current plan, apart from the small winding cycle and pedestrian path. Murphy’s intend to hold a workshop to see how to solve the access problem both of getting construction vehicles into the site from Gordon House Road and the long-term issue of pedestrian access in a narrow and already very well used area. The Kentish Town plan originally included bridges for pedestrians into the site from near Kentish Town station – Murphy’s does not own this land and network rail are not co-operating. So, there are no bridges and access to the site and any ‘through way’ starts after the Forum. Terry Reynolds from Heathview confirmed Paul had given an adequate description of the current plan. He then talked about the Mortimer Terrace Nature Reserve, of which he is a trustee, that was recently up for sale (despite covenants and restrictions that protect every tree and make it impossible to ‘develop’ or build on). At the last minute the plot was pulled from the sale. The Nature Reserve remains locked and inaccessible and attempts are being made to find out what is happening now. Murphy’s are keen to preserve trees that shield neighbouring communities from the site. A vote was carried for the LGTA to link up with representatives of the other neighbouring community groups as a single action group to have a stronger collective voice about the shape of the plan. Pam Edwards pointed out that Dartmouth Park Neighbourhood Forum (DPNF) has been very active monitoring the development and may already be such a platform. Action: The LGTA will make contact with the DPNF and other neighbouring community groups.
3. Treasurer’s Report. Helen said there has not been any fundraising and little spending. Started with £2,754.66 – zoom subscription, £100.73, children’s tennis coaching by Dean £260 – which leaves £2,393.93 – of which £820 is ring-fenced for Pam’s Grow Lissenden garden storage).
4. Previous minutes accepted, no matters arising.
5. Correspondence Sarah said that since the last meeting, Veolia has re-labelled all the rubbish bins and changed some for new ones. Camden’s cycling officer arranged for old abandoned bikes to be removed from on-street stands.
6. Major Works/Better Homes. Kate Silverston reported from Lissenden Mansions. The most recent major works newsletter said completion due by the end of November. The additional internal communal areas’ decoration work will not be complete by then. This was delayed as Camden thought it was going to be done by Wates as part of the Fire Safety programme. It adds about £1,700 to the leaseholder bills. Overall, Kate says that some LM resident are happy with the works, some are unhappy. She thinks the signing off process by the Clerk of Works is not working well. Kate and Tony both advised neighbours to take photographs before the work starts and as a record once underway to take photographs of anything controversial. And to make notes of who visits, what work is done. Clevedon Mansions major works are due to start in March 2022.
7. Fire Safety Work. Sarah said the work is not yet complete. Wates did not renew their Fire safety contract and the work has reverted to Camden. Any unfinished work or ‘defective’ work should be referred to pegah.parsafar@camden.gov.uk – The communal fire alarm system has not yet been approved. If it is it will only be in some blocks, where it is thought necessary.
8. Front-garden pruning. Sarah & Jenny walked round Lissenden with Jevaughn Bailey, Camden’s grounds monitor, on 8th October. Jevaughn will organise pruning of PHM as a matter of urgency. Each ground floor flat resident can decide on how low to prune to balance safety and privacy. Some residents tend their own front gardens – Jevaughn is aware of this – Camden has a map! Jevaughn suggested the scaffolding company could be asked to pay compensation for destroying the front garden shrubbery at Lissenden M. There will be re-planting after the works are completed. Maggie asked about her garden that will be scaffolded twice. Jevaughn also promised twice yearly tonne bags provided for collection of garden prunings from balconies and front gardens. Action: LGTA to follow up/chase.
9. Christmas Community Event. Frank plans this for Sunday 12th December 4:30-7pm. In line with government and Camden Covid-safety measures and with full array of marquees set up on the tennis court – and a separate one for singers. He’d like a small team to help with logistics and to do a practice marquee set up in mid-November. Action: Frank to create team and co-ordinate. Open to community suggestions of which charity to support.
10. PHM rear pathway neglect. Jenny says Gary Nicholls has agreed to power jet the moss. Rebekah says weeding also needed (without chemicals) and pruning on Heath side. Action: Jenny to ask about weeding and Sarah to ask Jevaughn about repair and renovation of the pathway to the Heath. Andrea is considering hiring a tree surgeon for the plum tree.
11. The Bulletin. Manya thanks Jacqui on behalf of all of us for her years of editing. No one forthcoming to take it on. Action: To think further.
12. Lights behind PHM. Jacqui says the exterior safety lights changed/dimmed by Julian Duke are a big improvement. There are three more that need trees pruning before they can be changed.
13. Airbnb – in Camden it is a breach of your lease to do holiday lets or Airbnb. Action: for Camden to act on this.
14. Community Fibre update. Chester Court signed up. Des doesn’t know when PHM will be. CM and LM not cabled up yet.
15. Noise reduction. Des on the good news that the noise reduction in the void flat in PHM has substantially reduced the noise and the Soundscreed 28 works well. It cost £5,000. Action: LGTA to email Deana Tazeany and Camden team to thank them and tell them it’s v.positive what has been done and push the council to do this again when flats void. Des and Manya propose an anonymous (or not) sound survey of the estate to find out residents’ noise experiences and strengthen the case for Lissenden. Tony urges that a great measure is good neighbourly relations.
16. Tennis court net. Vote carried to cover the cost of replacement. Action: Juliet to order new tennis net.
17. Grow Lissenden. Pam says the full report will be on the ‘Grow’ section of the website – lissendengardens.co.uk with thanks to Tamsin. Upcoming events - there may be bulb planting on Saturday in the Highgate enclosures. Action: Pam and Tony need help with the gardening shed when it arrives in the New Year. And with moving the first phase leaf mould from the area by the tennis court to the composting area on Highgate enclosure. There’s an opportunity for Lissenden to link up with local initiatives ‘Camden Forest’, ‘Bee-line’ and Heath Hands when they extend their work to the fringes of the Heath. Pam asks whether the community supports asking for an open-air gym on Highgate Enclosures (for future discussion).
18. Items for next agenda. Mice (Sarah) – What will replace Gas boilers? (Kate), Action: invite someone to talk about sustainability and green power at the next meeting.
19. AOB none
The meeting ended at 9.15
Lissenden Gardens Tenants Association – AGM 31/03/2021, 7pm Zoom
Meeting started at 19.06
Present: Councillor Anna Wright, Cabinet Member for Promoting Neighbourhoods and Communities and Hugh Boatswain (HB), Senior Officer for Tenant Participation – Independent Observer for the meeting.
Jenny West (JW), Sarah Wallis (SW), Helen Jack (HJ), Manya (M), Frank Chalmers (FC), Roz Bailey, Des Quilty (DQ), Tony Edwards (TE), Pam Edwards, Jeremy Walker (Jeremy), Rebekah Ball, Ingrid Foxton, Jacqui Jeans, Melanie Coe, Anne Pordage, Nicky Pizzey, Maggie Green, Paul Mitchell, Tamsin Pearce, Kevin Marsh, Melissa Marsh, Justin Nuttall, Roland Lamb, Tahmima Anam, Nicola Stabb, Tom McKay, Katie Argent, Franz Borho, Andrew German, David and Marylou Cleary, Sean Kennedy, Phil Campbell, Elaine Revell, Zeta Stone, Rachel Schon, Richard Wardle, Naznene Sparrow, Ana Santos, Alexandra.
1&2. Welcome & Co-secretaries (also acting as Co-chairs) annual report
JW: Welcome to Councillor Anna Wright and Hugh Boatswain.
Welcome to our AGM, long delayed as we all know because our Chair St John’s death. He was a wonderful Chair, sardonic, kindly, firm, wise and young. We are glad that Migo and Sally enabled us to stand in Lissenden Gardens to say goodbye as the hearse passed and to watch or attend the Funeral and Memorial services on zoom.
Jeff Morris is looking into putting up a permanent plaque for Olive Horrocks (LGTA secretary for 20 years) and St John Wright (LGTA chair over 30 years). Before then, Kate Silverston is going to make a temporary remembrance of St John, somewhere on the Estate.
We would like to remember many other people of character who have passed away this year - Mavis Haut, Jim MacDonald, Liz Block, Chris Jeans, Victoria Adewole who was a very young woman who died from non-Covid causes. There were two others whose full names I don’t know, Stefan, Debbie (also granny Lizzie). If someone can give us their full names, we’d like to remember them.
Welcome to Roland and Tahmima who have moved in to The House. There are other new residents who we will welcome when we have more information.
SW: A round up of this strange year, the community came together over COVID. We had regular meetings on zoom, St John loved chairing them. We created the staircase rep. system, initially for cleaning and looking out for each other, and delivering Frank’s Covid bulletins and Jacqui’s newsletters when they resumed. Thank you to both for those.
A new community WhatsApp group was created by Kate Silverston and a community website, by Tamsin Pearce. Frank C has kept us all cheerful with music through the year, initially on the street when we clapped for carers and at the Black Lives Matter Lissenden event, where St John spoke. There were back garden concerts and recently Lissenden Lounge on zoom. Thank you to all who have contributed.
3. Approval of last year’s AGM minutes
Manya approved the 2019 minutes with no amendments.
4. Treasurer’s report
Helen shared the screen. Some of the usual features such as parties have not happened so haven’t raised money. Started the year with £3,029.12 between the old-fashioned building society account and in cash.
Before we had zoom meetings, we hired a room at the local Greek church which cost £50 and is reclaimable.
Expenses - a lot less than usual. In the first lockdown we bought communal cleaning products, there was a lot mutual aid, lots of communications regarding COVID and Jacqui’s newsletters and a Zoom subscription.
We finished with £2,754 and we now have a HSBC bank account. £820 is ring-fenced for Grow Lissenden garden storage.
Approved and seconded by Pamela.
5. Resignation of committee & election of new committee
Discussion HB: Normally start with the chair or conduct the elections.
JW: When we last met, none of us wanted to take St John’s role, so we will rotate the chair. Is everybody happy to have a rotation of chairs?
There were no objections but Tamsin queried whether this is open-ended, and it was confirmed that this is a trial but with no specific end date.
HB: Once you have elected the committee, if you need a permanent chair any post within the committee can be filled by existing members and then ratified at the next meeting.
EVERYBODY AGREED
JW: Everybody except Michael Thorp wanted to stand again as committee members.
Sarah will propose:
SW: Helen as treasurer, Manya Seconded
SW: Jenny as Co-sec, Ingrid seconded
JW: Sarah as Co Sec, FW seconded
SW: Jacqui as committee member, Melanie seconded
Nicky Kyriacou as CM, FW seconded
Manya (Deputy DMC rep), Maggie seconded
Rebekah, Maggie seconded
Ingrid, Jacqui seconded
Theo (not present), Helen seconded
Tony, Rebekah seconded
Spencer/Mel, FC seconded & Maggie seconded
Jeremy, Rebekah seconded
Des, Rebekah seconded
Anne Pordage, Ingrid seconded
Nikky Pizzey, Maggie seconded
HB: Manya is the deputy DMC rep, who is the main one?
SW: Helen Jack while we find the replacement, FC: Seconded
HB: Happy to agree with that.
6. Constitution, Code of Conduct, Equal Opportunities policy
HJ: We now have to adopt the constitution and code of conduct and equal opportunities. There is a model constitution that Camden produces that we have had since 2014. There is a newer one with tweaks which we could adopt, but we didn’t comply with the technicalities. We want to adopt our existing constitution which can go on the website for the time being, until the next meeting when we will discuss the new one, and this will be made available to residents more than two weeks beforehand to give time for comment.
HB: There is one clause you may wish to amend, it only gives one vote per household. I suggest anyone who is eligible to vote is eligible, to cater for disagreements between households.
GENERAL AGREEMENT
Jacqui: The newsletter will include an invitation for comments, and everybody will receive it.
7. Anna Wright talks about developments in Camden
AW: Hello, I am Anna Wright, your Ward Councillor – of which there are 3 - myself and Oliver Lewis, Labour and Sian Berry is the Green councillor.
Lots of things going on - COVID crisis is the main issue, proud of Camden and its efforts compared to other boroughs. Enormous resources have been allocated and there has been a huge response from volunteers. The Covid crisis has revealed inequalities, large amounts of people in need of food and support. As we ease out of lockdown people are living in acute poverty and won’t bounce back easily, we are putting a lot of work to make sure food support is still available as we transition into a sustainable model. We’ve made a commitment that nobody is going hungry. There is a website called Find Food, which shows local food availability, recipes, sanitary products etc. There is a huge process with 10 official food partners who communicate with Camden so their effort is sustainable. We have staff redeployment, it’s easy to forget that a lot of exceptional work is carrying on. Many of you have experienced frustration that the normal services aren’t as responsive, we need to be a bit mindful because of redeployment. We want to return people to their normal jobs.
Georgia Gould is thinking about Building Back Better. The Renewal Commission has four missions: Food, Youth, Diversity and Estates.
The Estates mission is about being creative and sustainable. I thought about Lissenden, it’s an extraordinary example of lively, sustainable community activism. You should be proud and we’d like to use Lissenden as a case study – your Stairwell rep system etc.
On vaccination over 70k residents and over 94% of care home residents have been vaccinated, the others didn’t want it.
DQ: Do we know when redeployments will go back to their normal jobs?
AW: Don’t know when people will be deployed back, still uncertain depending on department. Housing and repairs teams are the most important. HB, any insight?
HB: We are waiting to see what the priorities will be. A lot of us are doing two jobs at the same time. As my workload has halved, I have been doing food bank work and Antisocial behaviour work. Hopefully things will level off. Some of the DMCs have asked about priorities, Capital Works, repairs, access for repair staff to come into a home. Questions about paying rent, providing support networks while balancing the budget, which is the big issue. We are in a better place than other boroughs, but still bad.
AW: Camden has reduced budget by half, but government has said that it won’t do full repayment as promised. There is good financial management in Camden and we won’t go bankrupt.
Traffic is another issue. We want to be progressive about air quality, as lockdown eases there is a growth in traffic, so we have been doing work encouraging walking and cycling, new cycle racks, charging points, road closures, no right turns to stop rat-running. These measures are controversial, views are split. Difficult to achieve consensus.
AW: Please email me if you need help, pleased to respond.
JW: Thanks Anna and Hugh
8. Short report on Better Homes, Community Events and Grow Lissenden
Jeremy: Better Homes, Water Tank and Fire Safety
Making progress after considerable delays due to COVID, 2 blocks have had scaffolding up for over a year. All works in Lissenden are meant to finish by end of August 2021. Better weather means faster progress. Lot of issues with quality - masonry repointing and balconies are the main issues. The way the balconies are waterproofed had issues with water coming in. These are being addressed.
We have asked for netting to be rolled up in the first weeks as unnecessary during surveys. We have repeatedly asked for cost explanations, bills are complicated, still waiting for clarity from Leaseholder services.
Tamsin: Have asked Camden to keep entire estate up-to-date with developments, even though Lissenden Mansions is in the firing line.
TE: Virgin, Fire safety works, what should we do when there are faults, Virgin did careless work drilling holes and broke off brickwork. It needs Clerk of Works inspection.
Jeremy: Virgin comes under Better Homes. I don’t know the Clerk of Works for the Fire safety works.
There have been complaints about COVID compliance. Contractors should wear masks, if not, report immediately to Charlotte at AD.
Tony: Clerk of Works is on site half of what we had during the last works.
Jeremy: There have been Quality Control issues, we are concerned, need to work with what we’ve got and keep pushing.
Tamsin: All contacts are on the website.
Kevin Marsh: We found that there is no supervision, so you have to micro manage, be aware of what they are supposed to be doing and point out when it isn’t being done. If you want the work done you have to project manage yourself.
Jeremy: Some residents have had water tanks bills well over 20k per each block for a day’s work. The bills are 5-10 times what they should be. We have been challenging it for 4 ½ years. Our RTA have objected. Others can object through their RTA to cost and reference Jeremy’s objection (he’s happy to read draft emails). You can ask leaseholder services to put bill on hold until it’s resolved or pay in instalments.
Fire safety SW: Shamsul Alam told me today that there are 50 doors not done yet. He has agreed to meet residents to review the fire safety work in 2 weeks-time. The Communal fire alarm system is being redesigned again and still has to go to building control and the conservation team.
Jeremy: Fire safety signage has been done in an institutional way, we are protesting, they are very ugly.
Paul: Talk about Clevedon, Parliament Hill and Chester Court. Paul shared a draft letter (on chat) to all residents in CM, PHM and Chester Court with the plans for the Major Works after LM. Fiona Joseph said because of Brexit, Camden can do a single contract without tendering across Europe. There will be one contractor. Pellings the surveyor company has done scoping already. Took high res pictures of roofs, to create tender doc. The letter that starts the consultation process will go out early next week and then the public consultation is proposed to be on 21st of April via Zoom: Chester at 4pm, Clevedon at 5, Parliament Hill at 6pm to react to suggested works.
Camden will put out the tender in the middle of June, from middle of July there is an 8 week leaseholder consultation period to put queries and Camden has to respond.
JW: Thank you Anna Wright and Hugh.
AW: On those issues, I’ve been following and happy to intervene if you wish.
Paul: Essentially the contractor for all three should be appointed in Sept. Site setup will be the same as Lissenden. Perhaps it can go into contracts to screen the site better from the beginning. Scaffolding will be go up beginning of Jan and 4-5 months per block. So, Parliament Hill at end of 2021.
FC: Justin and Jenny for PHM RTA are proposing Tenants be on committee as observers, so we have tenants in attendance. PM: We are doing that at Clevedon as well.
Discussion: Paul explains the tender for all the remaining blocks will happen at the same time. Discuss date and decide collectively that 21st is too early. Paul will ask for it to be a week later till 28th April. Justin says PHM RTA meeting on 20th April, must be formed before the July leaseholder consultation. Jeremy agrees to attend public consultations to share experience from Lissenden M. The 28th gives Jacqui time to complete the newsletter with enough notice for everyone.
Kevin M: The Written objections are much more important and bear more weight, they are a record if we need to challenge bills. We found that face to face is for information only.
Tamsin: Putting together a list of things we might want to look at to make an assessment of what is needed to look out for in our own flats. For example - if you take photos of external walls for your neighbours and swap you can do a basic survey. Will tweak list and make it available to those who would like it.
FC: Community Events. Momentous year - Clap for Carers, back garden concerts, BLM, 3 zoom music events. A wealth of talent on the estate. Natasha and I said we shouldn’t organise a street festival this year. Didn’t have one last year which was fortuitous because of COVID. We hope to plan a community meal on the tennis court, which is easy to organise, we have enough money in kitty to hire tables and chairs. Use marquees if needed and ask residents to bring food to share. Just LG residents.
If people request, I’ll organise back garden concerts, even if we can’t meet in person.
Pam: Grow Lissenden report will go on website. Grow Lissenden launched in 2012, a green action for change program, with support from DMC. Thanks to everybody who has taken part. We do what we can locally to reduce impact on environment and health, encourage insects, use no pesticides/herbicides, grow organic veg and harvesting street tree leaves for organic compost and rewilding havens for insects. Been keeping it going in COVID, people have been getting on with things. A range of vegetables and salad items, also brewed some beer. Lynne Watton gave support tower. Thank you to Tony and Sarah and Dean who collected all the leaves. Thank you to Tony and Suzy for veg beds. Always need help on that.
Faced special challenges on Enclosures, couldn’t water everywhere, but got damsons.
Have to repair damage to leaf mould composting bays as some homeless people put up tents in summer.
Ready for green gym, lots of big jobs stacking up. Great to see blooms and birdsong. All much more special, when Ingrid tells us which pollinators are which.
Linked up with other growers, local climate change, new project DP Neighbourhood forum. Greening where Rosella is. Looks like a really good project.
Need to sow wildflower seeds, will send out invitation.
Green Gym on HG Enclosures, need wood working and DIY skills. Suggestion of Bat boxes, if there is an idea of thinning out laurel trees so we can plant.
Idea for Zoom balcony visits to admire and see if there is a request for balcony growing, provide on-line information.
This whole report and more will go the community website. And there will be a Grow Lissenden Zoom, soon, contacts will be on website.
9. Priorities for the coming year
SW: thin greenery round tennis court, new planters outside Lissenden and Cleveden from Camden, a printer from Hugh and the DMC. We want to deal with the unused mobility sheds, look into the possibility of a meeting room, help Pam put up shed, reorganise leaf mould, and figure out how we get the tennis court resurfaced. Open to more suggestions and ideas from the community.
AOB
Jacqui - Lorries coming up back path on heath, deliveries parking and unloading. Discussion – Tony suggests might be for playground.
SW: Propose asking questions and finding what out what is going on. To discuss at the next meeting.
M: We met with Paul Maskell, Heath Events Manager. There will be a pop-up cinema, between 8-12th of Sept. People will need to book. A matinee and early performance, a lot of people traffic. Children’s’ matinee will be free. The screen will be near 100 PHM, we asked for it to be further towards the Heath. Will finish by 10. Wanted to know if there are any objections.
Jacqui: If it’s not in the carpark it’s ok.
FC: It will be a silent cinema – with headphones.
SW: A PHD student from Edinburgh, funded by Camden, is looking at resident engagement for fire safety. Doing research into residents and experts working together, wants a focus group discussion.
JW: Thank you everybody, that’s almost 2 hours. Happy that you all came.
LGTA Committee Meeting - 17th February 2021, Zoom 7pm
Agenda
Jenny's intro and welcome to Hugh
1) Date and time of the AGM
2) New committee email (only St John had access to old one)
3) Review of LGTA structures and procedures
a - LGTA constitution
b - LGTA code of conduct
c - LGTA equal opportunities statement
d - St John's LGTA role statement
e - Camden's tenants and residents' association self-evaluation form (not discussed)
4) Communication (WhatsApp, newsletter, website, emails)
5) How to reach out to residents to find a new chair (and vice-chair?) and a new DMC rep
Present
Hugh Boatswain, Camden Senior Tenant Participation Officer
Jenny, Helen, Sarah (left at 8), Rebekah, Melanie, Tony, Jacqui, Nicky (left at 7.30), Manya, Jeremy, Anne
Apologies
Ingrid
Not Present
Michael, Theo
Jenny chairs and welcomes Hugh
1) AGM – Hugh explains that the 15-month rule is extended due to the covid-pandemic and AGM’s now have extension till 2-year anniversary (for us till January 2022).
Agree to late March depending on school hols.
3a) Constitution – Jenny invites questions about our 2014 constitution.
Jacqui asks for clarifications. She states that the new chair has to be a tenant, the formation of the committee must be majority tenants. If a chair leaves their post, the temporary chair has to be a resident. No one in a political party can take part, so can councillor Anna Wright stand in as chair at AGM while committee stands down?
Hugh explains that there are some very archaic clauses in the LGTA constitution that Camden have since changed. The TA committees are as far as possible to reflect the make-up of the estate. The proportion does not matter so long as members are resident on the estate. The clause that stated members or officers must be a tenant is now considered discriminatory against leaseholders. Hugh will send a copy of the updated model constitution. He suggests we may wish to reflect on changing a few clauses. If we want to make changes they need to be approved by a majority at AGM or a general meeting.
Jacqui and Manya say there are problems with the general meetings, that it is hard to get tenants to participate.
Sarah mentions that with the staircase rep. system and the what’s app group there was more opportunity during the pandemic to reach and engage more members of the community.
Jacqui and Manya raised again the need for Lissenden residents to have a meeting room. They originally suggested the space under 1-8 Clevedon. The LGTA put in a bid for CIL (community infrastructure levy) funding to re-furbish that space. Subsequently, Hugh took a surveyor with him to do a comprehensive assessment of that space. The surveyor condemned the whole area on health and safety grounds, including no wheelchair access. Hugh says the amount of work and costs were too high for CIL money. Hugh was prevented from making a comprehensive costing by the pandemic. The idea is not shelved but put on the back burner.
Anne asks why the bulk storage could not be moved behind 1-8 Clevedon and that space be turned into a meeting room.
Tony reminded committee that Grow Lissenden has an allocated space for storage there. He also brought up his concern about what boundary agreement The House had made with Camden when Mr Lorraine re-built the bulk storage area. Hugh will check with Camden’s neighbourhood manager, Kieran Waller what the boundary agreement was.
Manya says it would be good to clarify before The House is sold.
3b) Code of conduct Hugh says the LGTA one is standard and covers everything. Code of conduct approved.
c Equal Opportunities statement approved
d Will send copy of St John's Statement so it can go in Newsletter.
4) Clarified that WhatsApp group is a residents group not affiliated to LGTA.
Hugh all in favour of WhatsApp groups. Hugh suggested that it was important not to be too rigid – WhatsApp-ers could point relevant topics towards LGTA for confirmation.
We need to re-establish the block reps as a means of communicating between the staircases and the LGTA, welcoming new residents and providing a point of contact.
We need to create a new LGTA email address.
Hugh said that all newsletter printing could be carried out free of charge by Tenant Participation.Also mentioned about being able to offer a printer.
5) Hugh clarified the role of the DMC. It refers to housing issues, heating, fire safety, heritage issues.Meeting every three months Cabinet Member for Better Homes is always present.
Agenda online. Reps are as interactive or minimal as they choose. There are grants that can be applied for from a communal pot which if not emptied DMC cannot carry over to following year.
Chair we thought a rotating chair was a good idea, Hugh agreed.
Tony reminded us that Spring had come and to get planting seeds this weekend.
(The meeting ended after 9pm)