Minutes+-+July+14th+2009

//__Woodlands Pk RA__// Have agreed a strategy with Council re dealing with flytipping hotspots. Involved with Green Lanes street festival on Sept 20th. Plan a ‘butterflies and bees’ project, linked to local schools, to encourage more biodiverse planting in back gardens. //__Haslemere Rd RA__// Plan a Big Lunch street picnic. Concerned about loss of greenery due to new school site. //__Gladwell, Landrock & Cecile Pk__// Still embroiled in their 10yr struggle to prevent their backlands being developed. Also determined to protect the character of their conservation area in the face of a recent Council ‘appraisal’ of the area. //__Hampton Ct Homeowners__// Concerned about traffic rat-running. //__Bounds Green & District RA__// Planning issues continue to dominate regarding a new Safestore site, and the blight of the North Circular. //__Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Assoc__// Aim to protect the independent character of the shops in The Broadway from corporate chains. Completed their project to restore the historic ‘Langton Clock’ there. Latest monthly newsletter was packed with info as usual. //__Hillfield St James RA__// The new RA held a wildly successful street party and local festive Olympics, including slow bike race, dog agility show, and local talent show. //__Chestnuts Northside RA__// Supported successful campaign to prevent privatisation of the management of local GP practice (now to be run by another GP practice). //__Reed Road & Devon Close RA__// Wrote to us to say they plan a street party on their estate. //__ Community dance event __// We supported a highly successful sell-out show at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre, put on by a student dance group in co-operation with the HFRA and local RAs, involving a week of local dance/happenings in local neighbourhoods beforehand. A number of local RAs linked in. //__ Haringey Independence Day __// We hosted a very useful joint discussion with the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum at this event on 30th May about organising DIY events (eg street parties, public meetings, picnics, and festivals in parks etc). //__Street Parties__// The HFRA hosted a public meeting about how to organise Street Parties, with an invited speaker from Bristol. //__Haringey Green Fair__// We did a joint stall with the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum at this very well-attended event of up to 6-7,000 residents. Our reps talked to hundreds of people about joining and forming local groups. //__ Wood Green Children’s Library __// There was a rumour that the much-valued children’s library within the Wood Green Library could, if the current swine-flu scare developed into a major crisis, be converted into a temporary swine-flu drugs distribution centre. Chestnuts Northside RA discussed this and brought a proposal to the Federation. We agreed that the loss of library space was unacceptable and that another more-appropriate venue should be found if needed. //__Council Cashiers/Payment Office__// We agreed that it was important for residents to be able to pay in cash for many council services. Hence we agreed to back a Unison campaign to stop this facility (by the Civic Centre) being closed down. //__ Green spaces __// We noted with approval that the new Parkforce staffing strategy has been implemented, working towards more on-site staffing in parks and better partnership working. However, there are some issues to do with the way it is being implemented, and adequate resources will be needed to ensure the strategy is successful. //__School funding__// We agreed to back the Fair deal for Haringey Children campaign for greater government funding per child (to at least be level with the similar neighbouring boroughs of Hackney and Islington). Concern was expressed that all public services needed adequate funding, not cuts.
 * __Report of HFRA General Meeting – 14th July 2009__** **//__ RA Delegates Present __//****// : //** Lauritz Hansen-Bay – **Hampden Ct Homeowners, N22;** Peter Thompson **- Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Assoc, N10/N2,** and **Hillfield St James RA, N10;** Liz Pine & Geoff Amabilino – **Woodlands Park RA, N15;** Dave Morris - **Chestnuts Northside RA, N15;** Bob Maltz - **Gladwell, Landrock & Cecile Pk Residents Action Group, N8;** John Waller – **Bounds Green & District RA,** **N11;** Sue Hessel – **Haslemere Road RA, N8 //__Apologies:__//** Bernice Sullivan - **Roden Court TA, N8;** Irene Storey - **Coldfall Estate T&RA, N10;** Eileen McGrath - **Broadwater Farm RA, N15;** Wendy Keenan - **Fountain Area RA, N15;** Adam Coffman - **Fairfax Road RA, N8;** Pat Ayinde - **Bruce Grove Residents Network, N17;** Kit Grieveson – **Stroud Green RA, N4;** Joyce Rosser - **Warner Estate RA, N8;** Ibilola Campbell **- Tiverton RA, N15;** Catherine Cavanagh - **Reed Rd and Devon Close RA, N17;** Stephen Whittle - **West Green RA, N15/N22;** Paul Collier **- Ferry Lane Action Group, N17;** Candy Amsden - **Clyde Area RA, N15;** Francois Ballay - **Gardens RA, N4**
 * 1. ** **__Minutes of March 10th 2009 Meeting__** //__Accuracy:__// Agreed
 * 2. ** **__Minutes of AGM 2009 Meeting__** //__Accuracy:__// Agreed
 * 3. ** **__Local reports__** The RAs present reported a wide range of local activities, including...
 * 4. __Reports of events organised or supported by the Federation__ **
 * 5. __Street Scene__ ** We noted with approval that the Council’s has now roll out a //__car club__// scheme across 14 sites around the borough, with more to follow. Chris Barker, our Living Streets officer and a member of the Sustainable Haringey Transport group, helped convince the Council to set up a new //__Haringey Transport Forum__// open to all residents groups – its up and running and going well! There is a new proposal for identifying //__‘No Cold Calling’ zones__// to discourage aggressive door-to-door marketing in areas where this has been a problem..
 * 6. __Health Services__ ** The Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition is holding discussions about how to maintain opposition to cuts, closures and privatisation around the borough. We noted with regret the gradual loss of Haringey’s hospitals over the last 20-30 years. Lauritz, the Federation’s Older People officer, reported some success in the efforts of Haringey Forum for Older People to get the local NHS to develop better local podiatry (foot care) services.
 * 7. __Other Public Services__ **//__ Community Toilets __// Following pressure from the Federation, supported by the Haringey Forum for Older people, the Council has at last publicly promised that July will see a partial roll out of a new scheme for free public access to toilets in cafes, pubs and buildings.
 * 8. __Sustainability__ ** The //__June Sustainability Month__// series of events around the borough was very successful, with many local RAs involved (including helping deliver tens of thousands of leaflets to publicise the issues and events). The //__Sustainable Haringey network__//, which we are affiliated to, continues to flourish. There are plans for //__2 weeks of local events in December__// to coincide with the very important UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen which will debate what needs to be done to create a global, low-carbon, sustainable future for all. //__Preserving Haringey’s Trees__// The Council has adopted a new Tree Policy. Sustainable Haringey and the Tree Trust are campaigning for more nut and fruit trees all over the borough. Woodlands Park RA have proposed effective action to stop the loss of mature trees in new development, eg all RAs seeking ‘Tree Preservation Orders’ for any mature trees in their area. After discussion it was agreed to also push for new planning policies which have a presumption in favour of all trees being protected unless planning permission is sought and granted for a tree to be felled.
 * 9. __Community Spirit__ ** We have been promoting summer street parties as usual. This year we were very pleased to support the Big Lunch national day of local food-sharing parties in public places.
 * 10. __Housing__ **//__ Planning policies __// We hosted a mini-conference for tenants and residents in 5 North London boroughs to discuss Housing planning policies. It was held in Wood Green Library, under the umbrella of the London Tenants Federation. About 6 RA reps attended from Haringey, out of about 35 attendees. A group of tenants from Homes For Haringey also attended another similar conference held by the LTF in East London. //__London Tenants Federation__// Latest newsletter was distributed. Ibi Campbell and Dave Morris plan to attend the LTF AGM on behalf of the HFRA. //__Private tenants__// It was noted that the Council has recently been using its powers to force renting landlords to upgrade their properties and comply with health and safety laws. //__Affordable Warmth__// We agreed to publicise a Council event (22.7) to promote home energy saving schemes and policies. Our Secretary will attend.
 * 11. __Planning Issues__ ** //__Local Development Framework__// The Federation had organised a highly successful seminar on planning issues related to the new ‘Local Development Framework’ for Haringey. Around 18-20 RAs and local groups attended at the Civic Centre, and discussed the proposed policies as well as the complex new consultation process. There will be a full public Inquiry next year. Meanwhile, we agreed to build on the success of the seminar by hosting a Haringey Conference on Planning Issues at the beginning of next year. We agreed to seek partners (Friends of Parks Forum, Conservation groups, Sustainable Haringey etc) to help. //__Wards Corner__//. The campaign had raised £4,000 in public donations to fund a judicial review of the Planning Cttee’s controversial decision to allow the demolition of the site. It was unsuccessful, but the campaign continues to gain strength and support. //__308 West Green Rd__// The HFRA Secretary was involved in a legal challenge to an Inspectors decision to overturn refusal of planning permission for an inappropriate development, which had been successfully opposed by local RAs in the area. The case was lost, and an appeal is being considered.
 * 12. __Federation business__ ** //__Venues__// It had been agreed to consider alternative venues for future HFRA meetings to see if a change might attract other RAs to attend. However, the only place suggested so far was too expensive. We can afford up to £30 per meeting. //__Federation email news bulletins / calendar on website__// Still seeking a volunteer to help with these. //__ Finances __// Secretary and Treasurer had successfully applied to the East London Community Foundation for a £4,000 grant for the Federation’s basic running costs for the next 2 years. However, this is strictly controlled funding and we still need subscriptions from local RAs to enable flexible finances and to build up a reservoir for when the grant ends.

Type in the content of your page here.