minutes+14th+October+2003


 * Report of HFRA General Meeting,** **14th October 2003**


 * //__RA Delegates Present__//****//://** 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;** Vivienne Cuming & Simon Fedida - **Avenue Gardens RA, N22;** Stephen Whittle – **West Green RA, N15;** **//__Apologies:__//** Brian West - **Hillcrest RA, N6;** David Rennie - **Palace Gates RA, N22;** Joyce Oyeyi Effiong - **Suffolk Rd RA, N15:** John Dowsett - **Chine and Cascade RA, N10**


 * 1. Minutes of HFRA general meeting of 9th September** Agreed to be accurate.

Local reports from those present led to discussion of some of the issues raised. We aim to do seasonal bulletins of local reports/news if possible. Report summaries to follow in next mailout. //__Action__ Can anyone volunteer to help with this?//
 * 2.** **Local reports given**


 * 3. Traffic calming/safer streets** The conference Working Group has made a great deal of progress in organising the Residents’ Conference on Traffic Calming and Safer Streets on Nov 15th. Haringey Trades Union Council, Living Streets-Haringey and the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum had all recently agreed to back and publicise the event, which was also being supported and publicised by a couple of Council departments. Various speakers and contributors had been confirmed. Some donations had been promised, but not yet received. It was agreed that we should not spend more than £500 total on the event, and would not be able to pay for an ad in the local press unless the budget allowed for it.


 * 4. Rubbish and waste** Stephen, as HFRA rubbish and waste rep, has been trying to get full details and timetable from the LBH Waste Management dept about their borough-wide recycling plans so that we can comment and contribute. Stephen and others present had attended the launch of the LBH ‘Better Haringey’ campaign, which had focussed on rubbish and waste issues, among others. It seems they are genuine about promoting effective recycling. A couple of delegates present reported their associations’ involvement in trial runs for the use of temporary local skips – which had proved successful. Haringey People had published a rolling list of various street collection days. Both these type of special collections are popular and effective – but need to be held more often. It was additionally noted that there are national Comprehensive Performance Assessments that all Councils are required to abide by.


 * 5. Planning issues** **//a. General//** We again discussed the need to produce some kind of ‘How the planning system works and how to object to a planning application’ leaflet for local community groups. Local RAs are often having to oppose planning applications affecting their community (housing developments, billboards, unwanted businesses or shops, threats to green areas etc). Groups present reported on two or three successful local campaigns – and some had recently attended relevant council scrutiny panels (environment, regeneration and planning). We have been trying to circulate lists of planning applications etc obtained from the Council’s website.

It was also noted that parliament agreed a new national Licencing Act during the summer which favoured applicants, putting the onus on those objecting to state their case. This was yet another reason for the Planning __Issues Open Day / Conference__ we’ve agreed to organise for residents and RAs in 2004.

//Update:// Controversies over this consultation exercise resulted in the Federation calling for an extra 6 weeks extension.
 * //b. Council’s ‘Unitary Development Plan’//** The draft LBH ‘Unitary Development Plan’ sets the council’s planning policy proposals for 2007-16. We were unhappy that only 6 weeks were available to get copies of this very important document (some groups had been asked to fork out £20), to read and digest it, and then make any written objections. We agreed that all RAs should get a free copies. Responses to: udp@haringey.gov.uk


 * 6. Rights of Way** A map of all public rights of way in Haringey is being drawn up. This is a very important national exercise, and people are encouraged to identify (to the Planning Dept) by Nov 3rd any such rights of way which may not be currently identified or designated as such. This will result in a draft map which will then be sent out for consultation.


 * 6.** **__FEDERATION MATTERS__**


 * //a. Relations with LBH departments//** The HFRA is developing good relations and communications with a number of LBH departments. But the Housing Dept seems to have some inter-departmental issues to sort out. An informal meeting had been arranged for the HFRA Secretary and manager of the Housing Dept’s ‘Tenants Participation Team’ to meet up to discuss improving communications with the Federation.


 * //b. Haringey Community Empowerment Network//** A new organisation was launched in October aiming to encourage local community groups to work together to have a collective voice over regeneration issues, independent of the council. It is being funded by central government. 5 or 6 local RAs, and the HFRA secretary, attended.


 * //c//****//. Haringey Association of Voluntary and Community Organisations.//** HAVCO was recently launched and is holding its first AGM on 6th November. We agreed that the Federation would seek publicity and support for the Traffic Calming conference.


 * //d. Scrutiny Panels//** The Federation is now receiving reports and documentation relating to all LBH Scrutiny Panels.