Minutes+-+March+9th+2010

__ Health services __ In December 2009 the Defend Haringey’s Health Services (DHHS) coalition, to which the Federation is affiliated, helped set up a special Defend Whittington Hospital Coalition to campaign against the threat to the A&E dept at the Whittington Hospital and other hospital cuts in North London. The DWHC organised a magnificent and powerful 5,000-strong demonstration to the hospital entrance on Feb 27th - Sue Hessel spoke movingly on behalf of the Federation at the rally at the end. The following week 350 attended a public meeting in Hornsey - Dave Morris spoke on behalf of the campaign (and also called on everyone to join or set up local RAs!), hospital consultants opposed the closure, and NHS bosses tried to spin it as an ‘improvement’ in services. A show of hands was 0 in favour and 350 against the cuts. __ School funding __ HFRA had sent our support for the campaign for greater funding per pupil for Haringey schools (in line with ‘inner London’ boroughs). __ Defending local services __ As agreed in January, we re-affirmed the need to link up with other concerned borough-wide organisations to defend all public services from the threat of cuts after the general election, calling instead for adequate funding from central government. Other local organisations were also discussing this proposal. __ Transport __ //Scrutiny Review// - Chris Barker, the Federation’s Living Streets officer, and Adam Coffman, our cycling officer, have been attending the Haringey Transport Forum. Following their prompting, a Scrutiny Review of Sustainable Transport is taking place. They have submitted evidence, and it seems to be going well.. including moves to adopt a stronger policy for 20mph to become the default speed limit for residential streets throughout the borough. //DIY Streets// - 2 small areas in the borough have been successfully put forward for local ‘DIY streets’ home zone improvements. //Love Your Street// - We agreed to publicise the London ‘Love Your Street’ fortnight, June 19th – 4th July. __ Community Toilets __ The Council had promised a new scheme would be up and running by last summer. Following reminders and a press release from the Federation the Council have at last set up a ‘pilot scheme’ involving 6 premises in Tottenham High Rd. __ Street Parties __ As usual we are encouraging and supporting street parties all over Haringey, especially this summer. We noted that this year’s national ‘Big Lunch’ day (encouraging food sharing picnics and events in public spaces) is 18th July. __ Questionnaire to candidates __ As agreed we plan to do a Residents' Questionnaire to all candidates in the coming local elections, as we had done successfully at the last election. We will also check to see if the promises made are kept! Dave Morris to do. __ Tottenham discussion meeting for RAs __ Members of the Wards Corner Coalition, supported by the Federation, called a meeting for RAs in Tottenham to discuss the election. 18 people from 6 RAs attended. It was agreed to back the HFRA Questionnaire and also encourage the Federation to issue a general statement calling on residents to speak up for their issues and concerns. A public meeting was suggested, probably to be called by the Wards Corner Coalition. __ Community Action bulletin __ Dave Morris to produce a new issue (our first since 2006!) of our news digest / bulletin of activities by Haringey’s RAs. __ HFRA Finances __ //Account// We re-affirmed that our account will stay with the Co-operative Bank, Wood Green. //Bills// We agreed to fund our Planning & Development Conference, the room for the meeting in Tottenham about the elections, and to send subscriptions/donations to the organisations we are affiliated to (Sustainable Haringey, Haringey Defend Council Housing, Tottenham Civic Society, and the Defend Haringey’s Health Services coalition).
 * __ Report of HFRA General Meeting - 9th March 2010 __**
 * //__RA Delegates Present:__//** Joyce Rosser - **Warner Estate RA, N8;** Wendy Keenan - **Fountain Area RA, N15;** Dave Morris - **Chestnuts Northside RA, N15;** Rachella Sinclair - **Noel Park North Area RA, N22;** Chris Barker - **Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Assoc, N10/N2;** Geoff Amabilino - **Woodlands Park RA, N15;** Bob Maltz - **Gladwell, Landrock & Cecile Pk Residents Action Group, N8;** Lauritz Hansen-Bay - **Hampton Ct Homeowners, N22; //__Apologies:__//** Peter Thompson - **Hillfield St James RA, N10,** and **Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Assoc, N10/N2;** Kit Greveson - **Stroud Green RA, N4;** Colin Marr - **Methuen Park Assoc, N10;** Sue Hessel - **Haslemere Road RA, N8;**  Chico Pacheco – **Park Ave South NW, N8;** Jennifer Bell – **The Hawthorns, N8;** Adam Coffman - **Fairfax Road RA, N8**;
 * 1. Minutes of 12th January 2010 Meeting ** Chris Barker wrongly added to attendance list. Otherwise agreed.
 * 2. Matters arising **// Street gritting: // Joyce looked into this and sent a statement round encouraging local RAs to ask for more anti-snow grit bins.
 * 3. Local reports ** The RAs present reported on their local news and activities. Included: //Fountain Area RA// - aiming to start work on their community garden. //Warner Estate RA// - held 80-strong local meeting about the estate’s history, plan spring festival on local green space, and plan second fact-finding trip to Edmonton incinerator/waste station. //GLC-RAG / Haslemere Rd RA// - jointly organised local public meeting about their Conservation Area. //Noel Park North Area RA// – campaigning to protect the quality of their local Conservation Area, awaiting completion of major improvements to local park.
 * 4. Public Services **
 * 5. Housing ** //Sheltered housing// - We noted our continuing support for the campaign by 4 sheltered housing communities to oppose re-location. One of the schemes (Campbell Ct, N17) had won a reprieve. The campaign continues. //London Tenants Federation// – HFRA secretary continues to be our rep there but we are looking for additional local reps to attend. As well as taking up Council housing issues, LTF is involved in working with other London-wide organisations to influence planning policies affecting housing and local neighbourhoods.
 * 6. Street Scene **
 * 7. Planning & Development Conference ** We are organising a special Haringey Residents Conference on Planning & Development Issues on April 17th 2010 to coincide with the consultation over the new draft Local Development Framework which will guide all future planning and development in the borough. The Friends of Parks Forum, Sustainable Haringey network, Living Streets Haringey and Tottenham Civic Society have already agreed to back it. We discussed and agreed the format, agenda, practicalities and publicity for the event.
 * 8. Heritage and conservation ** Joyce Rosser, our Heritage and Conservation officer, convened a borough-wide meeting on 27th February for all the borough's local conservation advisory groups. All attended and they agreed to support each other and work together to take up strategic issues. They have set up a website: [|www.des-con-hgy.org.uk]
 * 9. Sustainability ** //Food growing// Wendy Keenan, our Assistant Secretary, agreed to be our rep/link to the 'Growing In Haringey' network which is promoting increased food production throughout the borough. //SusTottenham// The new Sustainable Tottenham network is organising a series of all-day Skill Sharing events for residents, starting March 21st. They hope the idea will catch on and spread around Haringey and beyond. //Haringey Sustainability Month (June 2010)// Residents and groups are being encouraged to organise green events and activities during the annual Haringey Sustainability Month in June. [|www.sustainableharingey.org.uk]
 * 10. Local Council elections **
 * 11. Federation business **