minutes+13th+July+2004


 * __Report of HFRA General Meeting – 13th July 2004__**


 * //__RA Delegates Present__://** Peter Thompson - **Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Assoc, N2;** Roy Jensen – **Keynes Close RA, N2;** Pat Ayinde - **Bruce Grove Residents Network, N17;** Dave Morris – **Chestnuts Northside RA, N15;** Laurie Owen - **Parkside Malvern RA, N8;** Jane Laporte and Matt – **Woodlands Park RA, N15;** Vivienne Cuming and Simon Fedida - **Avenue Gardens RA, N22; //__Apologies:__//** Marian Janes – **CASCH, N8;** David Rennie – **Palace Gates RA, N22;** Robert Gainsborough - **St George’s Lodge RA, N10;** Stephen Whittle - **West Green RA, N15;** Grahame Pearce – **Heron Wharf RA, N17;** Sarah Bromfield – **Campsbourne Community RA, N8;** Joyce Rosser – **Warner Estate RA, N8;** Adam Coffman – **Fairfax Rd Residents Group, N8**


 * __1. Minutes of last meeting__** The minutes for the 8th June General Meeting were agreed.

There were reports from all groups present about some of their recent activities and concerns. These included details of many special summer community events local groups were involved with organising. The reports led as always to a number of discussions on matters raised.
 * __2. Local reports from RAs present__**


 * __3. Planning and Development__**


 * a. Communities First! – HFRA residents’ conference on planning and development issues** The organising meetings for the Sept 25th event were going well (next one on Sept 1st). Conference leaflets were being distributed around the borough, and there was growing interest and involvement in the event.


 * b. Unlawful commercial advertising and clutter** Woodlands Park RA had written to the Council calling for the dozens of illegally-erected giant commercial billboards in their area to be removed. The Council responded that a dozen have so far been dismantled, and others will also go. Meanwhile Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association complained about estate agent signs being left up illegally for months or years – the Council responded by demanding the main estate agents involved remove them. Other associations around the borough are encouraged to take up these matters in their own areas.


 * c. LBH Unitary Development Plan [2nd deposit].** Following representations from the HFRA the Council had agreed to increase from 6 to 9 weeks the time available for the public to comment on amendments to the next draft of the plan. This was publicised to all the borough’s residents. However, the Planning Sub-Committee decided to reduce it back to 6 weeks [Sept 16th – Oct 28th], claiming that this was the government’s stipulated time period. We agreed to check this, and then see if we can get the full 9 week period restored.

All those who had objected to the first draft would be written to about their proposed amendments, the council either accepting them or giving reasons why not. Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) documents (including regarding conservation areas, street scene and housing design, and ‘S106’ payments by developers) were also being redrafted.


 * __4. Post Offices__** As a result of all the campaigning and protests over the Post Office’s threatened closure of 7 local branches, 2 of them are to be kept open – Park Lane N17, and Colney Hatch Lane, N10. Considering only 4 were saved out of the first 200 London offices in the closure programme, this small victory is clearly a result of the local protests.


 * 5.** **__Council Housing__**


 * a. Defend Council Housing** A recent survey showed that 66% of those in Council homes opposed any privatisation of their homes and wished to keep the current management system.

Tenants were planning a protest at the next full Council Meeting on July 19th to demand the Council commit themselves to a full tenants/leaseholders ballot over any ownership and management changes. //__Update:__// about 30 tenants took part, but were denied the right to speak and then forced out of the public gallery.


 * b. Re-wiring problems** Re-wiring plans for some of the blocks of flats in Bounds Green and Wood Green had led to tenants concerns and protests that it was being done on the cheap and the result would be unsightly.


 * c. New tenancy agreement** The Council is planning to amend its tenancy agreement covering 20,000 homes, and was currently conducting a consultation exercise. There was a brief discussion about some concerns associated with this.


 * __6. Water Rates__** Increases of 39% are planned for water rates charges, and residents are encouraged to respond with any objections. There was discussion about industry profits, increasing cut offs, need for investment in old piping and sewers etc.


 * __7. Street Parties__** As there wasn’t much time, we agreed to discuss our experiences of organising street parties, and how to do it successfully, at a future meeting.


 * __8. Area Assembly finances__** The Council has decided that local Area Assemblies will have £50,000 each annually to assign to various projects. There is concern and uncertainty over what criteria and methods will be used to decide how this money is fairly allocated, and to ensure that it goes to genuinely needed community projects.


 * __9. Federation Business__**


 * //- Documentary film//** There was a proposal to produce a short HFRA educational film about the activities of local residents associations, for showing to local groups, schools etc. This was initially agreed in principle, but more details were asked to be brought to the next meeting.
 * //- Fundraising//** Simon and Dave are still preparing a complicated application for HFRA funding for 2005. We’ve had a donation of £200 (thanks!).
 * //- Community Action bulletin//** Before the General Meeting started, there was a brief pre-meeting to draft up ideas for future editions of our Community Action bulletins. These were briefly sketched out and agreed by the meeting. It was also agreed that Sarah Bromfield, Matt, and Dave Morris would act as the editorial sub-group.
 * //- Mailout clarification and/or rider//** There was a brief discussion on whether we should put a rider in our mailouts to the effect of: //‘our mailouts may include material from other independent local or Haringey bodies, some of which may not be affiliated to the Federation. We do not necessarily agree with all the views contained in such material’.// To be discussed at the next meeting.
 * //- Haringey Community Empowerment Network//** The Federation were asked to participate in a small conference about ‘neighbourhoods’ organised by HarCEN. The Secretary attended planning meetings, and opened the conference. He outlined some of the key issues in local neighbourhoods, and the importance of the work of local residents associations. A conference report is available. The Federation agreed to remain involved with HarCEN, and has been asked to help convene a special, ongoing ‘neighbourhoods’ forum for groups in the borough interested in working together around such issues. To be discussed at the next meeting.
 * //- Eco-lightbulbs//** The Council have been given thousands of long-lasting, energy-efficient lightbulbs to distribute, and have agreed that the HFRA can pass them on to residents associations. They must be distributed responsibly, along with energy-saving advice leaflets provided, and signed for by individuals (max 2 per household). They mustn’t be sold, but local groups could ask for a donation. Local RAs can order some off the HFRA, to be collected at Federation meetings.