minutes+11th+November+2003


 * Report of HFRA General Meeting,** **11th November 2003**


 * //__RA Delegates Present__//****//://** Liz Mason - **Blenheim Rise RA, N15;** Peter Thompson - **Muswell** **Hill & Fortis Green Association, N2;** Laurie Owen - **Parkside** **Malvern RA, N8;** Dave Morris – **Chestnuts Northside Residents Association, N15;** Tim Wilmott - **Bruce Grove Residents Network, N17**; Jane Laporte - **Woodlands Park RA, N15;** Simon Fedida - **Avenue Gardens RA, N22 //__Apologies:__//** Irene Story - **Coldfall** **RA, N10;** Marian Janes - **CASCH, N8;** Paul Burnham - **Partridge Way RA, N22;** John Gordon - **Hornsey Lane Association, N6;** David Rennie - **Palace Gates RA, N22;** Joyce Oyeyi Effiong - **Suffolk Rd RA, N15;** Stephen Whittle - **West Green RA, N15**


 * 1. Minutes of HFRA general meeting of 14th October** Agreed to be accurate.

below. These led to discussion of some of the issues raised. Some associations also brought copies of their recent leaflets or Newsletters. [If we get enough copies we’ll put them in our mailouts].
 * 2.** **Local reports given** As usual there were extensive local reports from those present – brief reports


 * //Woodlands Park RA, N15//** Distributed 6-page Newsletter to all local homes. Seeking their own local community notice board – and removal of illegally erected local commercial billboards. Pursuing local traffic calming measures and bollards to prevent parking on certain pavements.
 * //Chestnuts Northside RA, N15//** Newly created association – with so far 43 members in 230 homes. Meet every 3 weeks (alternating between ‘general’ and ‘organising’ meetings). Investigating local issues eg traffic calming, lighting, trees, parks, a backland development etc – as well as building up community spirit.
 * //Muswell//** **//Hill and Fortis Green Association, N2//** Their latest members’ Newsletter (6 pages) is packed with local news – including MHFGA efforts to revive the annual Muswell Hill community festival, and issues of litter bins, graffiti and lighting, traffic calming, Ally Pally park plans, and unwanted building developments. They’re also organising various discussions and events. Peter also reported from his local Hillfield Park Neighbourhood Watch group – they do their own local newsletter, and a ‘welcome’ leaflet for new residents. Getting a mobile number for local beat police support officer. Had successful ‘local rubbish skip’ collection day. Opposing 24hr licensing for pubs – meeting up with local publican about it.
 * //Avenue Gardens RA, N22//** Worked hard to produce detailed response to Council’s UDP proposals, especially relating to the Heartlands development project. Raising related issues on various council committees.
 * //Blenheim Rise RA, N15//** 50 council flats above Tescos. RA have produced a ‘welcome’ leaflet for new residents. Campaigned hard for 10 years for estate improvements – planning a big launch event upon completion. Controversy over 10 leaseholders being billed out of the blue for recent works funded by a grant.
 * //Parkside//** **//Malvern RA, N8//** Concentrating on Heartlands development issues, and campaigning for reduced traffic through Hornsey Park Road.
 * //Bruce Grove RN, N17//** Involved with a range of local planning issues, including successfully opposing inappropriate local business activity, and a house conversion. Also: traffic, rubbish and waste etc. Planning a public meeting of the BGRN with local MP.

//Note 1:// We agreed to publicly back Blenheim Rise RA in their efforts to support their leaseholder members (see above).

//Note 2:// We are looking for a volunteer to compile seasonal bulletins of local reports/news. //__Action__// //Can anyone volunteer to help with this?//


 * //3.//** **Planning issues: Council’s ‘Unitary Development Plan’**

c. **//Calling for an extension//** Our call for an extra 6 weeks extension for public consultation over the draft LBH ‘Unitary Development Plan’ was successful. The Federation and many local RAs wrote to the Planning Dept and the leader of the Council, and got coverage in the local press. Firstly the official position was that there would be no extension as 6 weeks was a government-set limit. Then that groups could have 3 extra weeks if they specified the nature of their planned objections in advance. However, we stuck to our guns for a 6-week extension for everyone in Haringey. More and more groups demanded more time, and finally on November 6th, 3 hours before the final deadline, our proposed new date of Dec 18th was confirmed to us by the Planning Dept. Congratulations to all those who helped to keep the pressure on – it shows the strength and importance of co-ordinated activity by residents associations across the borough!

It had also been agreed that copies of the main UDP documents (the draft Plan, and the Supplementary Planning Guidance) would be free to all RAs. //Contact the LBH Planning Dept urgently if you’ve not got both documents.//


 * //b. Controversial proposals//** The meeting discussed the content of some of the draft proposals outlined in the very detailed and complex document. It was felt that there were many extremely important issues and that we should hold a full discussion on this at our next meeting. Some of the concerns mentioned at the meeting included: the proposal for massive increase in house-building and therefore increase in the numbers and density of the borough’s population; lack of full protection to green spaces and parks (which could face ‘development’); environmental disparities between east and west of the borough; effects of the Heartlands project and other big developments; designation of some residential streets as ‘distributor roads’.

It was agreed that the whole UDP consultation controversy was yet another reason for the __Planning Issues Open Day / Conference__ we’ve agreed to organise for residents and RAs in 2004.


 * 4. Traffic calming/safer streets** The residents’ conference on Traffic Calming and Safer Streets on Nov 15th is all set. It has received a fair bit of publicity including letters in the press from HFRA Secretary, and leaflets distributed to 700 community groups by the LBH Voluntary Sector team. We agreed to make some proposals to put to those attending the event – to call for greater resources for calming measures, 20mph maximum speed on Haringey roads (unless otherwise designated), and greater staffing of LBH Street Scene. The conference has cost about £1000 to put on. LBH Street Scene paid for the venue (£330), but further donations would be welcome. It was hoped that many people would help out with practical things on the day.


 * 5. Public health – rats** There has been increasing public concern and complaints about the growing rat problem around Haringey, especially certain areas. Sewers are ageing and cracked, and they are no longer being routinely baited. //Action: To be discussed further at the next meeting.//


 * 6. Billboards** Concern was once more raised over the illegal erection of billboards without planning permission all around the borough.


 * __7. FEDERATION MATTERS__**


 * //a. Relations with LBH departments//** The HFRA is continuing to develop good relations and communications with a number of LBH departments, most recently Street Scene. HFRA Secretary and the manager of the Housing Dept’s ‘Tenants Participation Team’ have agreed to meet up to discuss improving communications.


 * //b. Federation Email list//** It was agreed to put all known email contacts for local RAs onto our list [currently 34 RAs]. It was noted that some local RAs have their own internal e-lists and are circulating news from the HFRA list.


 * //c//****//. HFRA Website//** We also agreed to add to our website links to local RA’s websites (eg Muswell Hill, Tower Gardens, Avenue Gardens etc). Please let us know if your association has a website and you want to publicise it!


 * //d. Finances//** As always we are in desperate need of general funds. There may be a proposal at our next AGM (probably April 2004) that we introduce formal affliliation/subscription fees for RAs, unless donations and other sources of funds can be found. Thanks again to all those RAs who’ve sent in cheques!