public+services+-+Bits+and+Pieces+-+Access+all+areas?

=**Access all areas?**= 8.4.08
 * Residents Associations demand access to their local meeting spaces**

Federation Letter to Cllr Lorna Reith - LBH Cabinet Member for Community Engagement

1. At the last meeting of the Federation, attended by 17 RAs from all corners of the borough, we had a discussion about a matter of great concern - that residents associations should have effective access to community meeting places in their estate or neighbourhood which are owned and managed by the Council. As we are sure you will know and appreciate, all local RAs desperately need places to meet (easy to access, and for free or at 'peppercorn' hire charges) if they are to be able to function effectively.

Due to unnecessary problems with access (inappropriate insurance conditions, lack of LBH officer time, RAs not being able to collect keys, confusion over LBH/HfH responsibilities etc) many local RAs seem to be seriously inconvenienced. In many cases the said premises are there specifically for local residents, sometimes having been purpose-built to that end.

There were a number of examples that came up - and we can provide further details if needed. As an illustration, they include the Milton Rd and Willow Walk Community Centre N15, and also the Downhills Cabin / Philip Lane N15 (ex-Warden's Block).

2. Meanwhile many RAs report no problems and some run their own meeting rooms and Centres without any problems - which of course saves a great deal of LBH officer time, money, effort and bureaucracy. It also ensures that residents aren't treated like second-class citizens on their own estate or in their own neighbourhood.

3. In this day and age, even the Government is committed to Community Empowerment and community groups' access to local meeting rooms and centres. New laws have been passed empowering Councils to be able to sell under-used facilities to local community groups for as little as £1 if it would be to the benefit of the community.

4. We have been informed that officers in the Neighbourhood Management dept are aware and keen to resolve this problem as quickly as possible to ensure RAs' access. We have also been informed that Property Services have been asked to look into and amend the relevant insurance policies.

5. Just to give one example: at a recent meeting of a local RA in Tottenham on this issue, which I had been asked to attend, lack of access to their community centre on their estate had led to great animosity from residents to LBH officers. Homes For Haringey officers present stated clearly to all present that they were happy to immediately do whatever needed to be done to resolve the issue but 'it is the Council, not us' who deal with insurance policies. Local Councillors present also agreed that something should be done, and done quickly. 6. Neighbourhood Management officers I have spoken to regarding that and other examples have also taken the same view that the matter could and should be swiftly resolved, but it is something which needs action 'from above'.

7. The Federation meeting agreed we should ask for your active support and intervention in this matter, as the relevant Cabinet Member. Please let us know if we have it, and please provide an update about how this problem is being looked into and hopefully being speedily resolved to the satisfaction of local RAs.