minutes+11th+December+2002


 * Report of HFRA General Meeting** **- 11th December 2002**

Frank Forni - **Northumberland Park Independent RA, N17**; Jim Cassins - **HOBA & S. Tottenham RA, N15**; Cathy Herman - **Bowes Pk CA, N22**; Arthur Philbey - **Keynes Close RA, N22**; John Hajdu - **Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Association, N2**; Steve Whittle - **West Green RA, N15**; Steve Cook - **Woodstock Rd Association, N4;** Jane Laporte and Tony Wood - **Woodlands Park RA, N15**
 * //__RA Delegates Present__//** Marcus Beckett and Jennifer Bolton - **Plevna Crescent RA, N15;** Pat Ayinde and Tim Wilmott - **Bruce Grove South Residents Group, N17**; Mike Towerzey (HFRA Chair) - **The Sandlings RA, N22**; Jill Darkk and Dave Morris (HFRA Secretary) - **Tower Gardens Residents Network, N17**; Vivienne Cuming and Simon Fedida (HFRA Treasurer) - **Avenue Gardens RA, N22;** Annie Popoola – individual interested in setting up RA in S.Tottenham
 * //__Apologies__//****__:__** Pastor Kwaku Frimpong-Manson and M. Allende - **Broadwater Farm RA, N17**;


 * Chair:** M. Towerzey **Minutes:** D. Morris


 * 1. Minutes of last meeting** Agreed to be accurate.

//__Plevna Crescent__// //__RA, N15__// New group in area of about 200 homes. Issues to do with parking problems for disabled residents caused by CPZ. Also mixed feelings about wheelie bins. Difficulties with getting council to do repairs on its properties – many are of poor quality 1980s design. Finding it hard to get access to official, relevant information and reports. //__Avenue Gardens RA, N22__// Continue to raise concerns over the threatened impact of the Heartlands development plans, and the activities of consultants hired to promote the scheme. Meeting with local Cllrs. //__Tower Gardens RN, N17__// Pursuing plans for a local parent/toddler group. Discussing a schedule for phased traffic calming and environmental improvements - £390,000 secured for this. Having to deal with hostility and obstruction from a local Councillor. Helping ‘Friends of Lordship Rec’ promote improvements in local park. Setting up a local Pet Owners Association. Planning to do xmas carol-singing around the estate. Now holding weekly ‘drop-in’ co-ordination/chat sessions. Obtained a grant for the first time ever. New website: //www.towergardens.net// //__The Sandlings RA,N22__// Working hard to keep their community centre going – seeking funds and groups to hire out [tel 8489 8798]. Problems on estate with arson. //__Bruce Grove South Residents Network, N15__// Campaigning for some local children’s play areas. Trying to stop local fly-tipping of rubbish, and related issues. Concerned for effective traffic calming. Met with local Councillor to get support for their concerns and activities. Have drafted up a Constitution. //__Seaford Rd__// //__area, N15__// Local interest in setting up a new group. //__Bowes Park Community Association, N22__// 350 members, straddling Haringey and Enfield. Dangerous traffic is becoming top priority. Lobbying for art studios in regenerated former local station, and for use of empty shops in Myddleton Rd. //__Woodlands Park RA, N15__// 25 residents attended a successful first AGM. Some success with funds for traffic calming in Black Boy Lane – trying to ensure surrounding area also calmed (eg as council consultation only covered Black Boy Lane they photocopied and distributed the consultation forms themselves to the rest of the area). Looking into Community Wardens idea, especially regarding reporting of dumped rubbish. Planning local summer festival in Chestnuts Park. [Note: Jan 2003 Newsletter now out] //__Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association, N2__// See //www.muswellhillandfortisgreenassociation.co.uk// Keynes Close, N15 Group is relaunching. Includes 34 sheltered bungalows. //__Woodstock Rd__// //__Association, N4__// Publish regular local newsletter: ‘Wrangle’. Campaigning against damaging commercial concerts in Finsbury Park. Campaigning for a local CPZ. Trying to deal with dumped rubbish problems. Following last year’s success by local tenants in preventing their council homes being sold to a Housing Association they continue to be concerned over the future of council housing. //__West Green RA, N15__// Continue to raise issues of rubbish and waste collection, including around the introduction of wheelie bins. //__Northumberland Pk__// //__RA, N17__// Members involved with local regeneration projects, and related tenants’ issues. Continue to hold weekly co-ordination/drop in sessions and monthly general meetings. //__Blenhheim Rise RA, N15__// [From ‘Tenants Star’ magazine] Seven Sisters area. Shared ownership between Haringey Council and Tescos. Previous RA had dissolved, and new RA now set up.
 * __2. Local reports given or received__** Reports included discussions on many key issues raised….


 * 3. Traffic calming throughout Haringey** We discussed a proposal from Cathy Herman of Bowes Park Community Association that we pull together news and information about the wide range of locally-based traffic calming campaigns and schemes, and maybe call a conference on the issue. The Secretary was asked to draft up a letter to the Council for up to date documentation about schemes borough-wide, and to seek dialogue and cooperation – to be discussed at our next meeting.


 * 4. Rubbish collection** The Secretary had contacted Encams/Tidy Britain Group for some excellent, detailed legal and practical advice booklets - distributed to delegates at the meeting. We had sent a letter to the Council (Cllr Dodds) calling for the £15 charge for bulky items to be scrapped, an extensive recycling program, abolition of the £57 charge for dealing with rats, and regular local special collection/clean up days in all local communities organised in cooperation with local residents and RAs. Copies were sent to all Councillors and all RAs, backed up by a press release (which resulted in articles in 2 local papers). All local RAs are encouraged to take up these issues, lobby Cllrs etc. //Stop Press:// Cllr Dodds told us he’d replied to our letter, but as we’d not received it he’ll send it again. Available at next HFRA meeting.


 * 5. Council Housing - the future** There was discussion about LBH plans to set up an ‘arms length management organisation’ [ALMO] to manage Haringey’s 20,000 council homes, put up rents and introduce more service charges.


 * 6. Planning and Development** Many local RAs have been involved with issues to do with planning and development – major urban projects, small backland sites, changes of use etc. This has often resulted in a great deal of local controversy, lobbying, protests, and even alternative plans - with some successes for local communities. Planning laws re housing density have been watered down as central government puts pressure for massive housing building programmes in urban areas. ‘Regeneration’ projects often entail huge, new, but inappropriate, buildings. All RAs are invited to raise their voices as part of the Council’s current ‘Unitary Development Plan’ consultation exercise. Individual RAs fighting specific schemes detrimental to their communities are encouraged to attend Federation meetings if they want support.


 * 7. Energy supplies** You may remember we discussed last year the issue of widespread door step harassment of residents by agents of private gas and electric companies competing for contracts and using offensive and often illegal methods to sign people up. We recommended all local associations warn their members and communities about this. Since then there has been so much protest and controversy (including over 15,000 complaints last year) that London Electricity and Virgin HomeEnergy have been fined £2m, some sales staff have been charged with offences, and the industry has promised £250 compensation to all those whose signatures have been forged. But controversy continues: //Contact Energywatch – 0207 931 0977//


 * 8. Council committees** See list, enclosed. The ‘scrutiny’ committees are particularly recommended, especially as they must answer any questions which you put in writing in advance. We also have a copy of the full Constitution of Haringey Council, and the Codes of Conduct for members and officers.


 * __9. Federation matters__** **//a. HFRA Website//** – to discuss next meeting **//b. HFRA Finances and Fundraising//** - affiliations/subscriptions/donations from local RAs continue to trickle in. Our treasurer and secretary continue to look into fundraising and possible grants. **//c. HFRA Annual General Meeting 2003//** //-// discuss at next meeting. **//d.//** **//London//** **//Tenants Federation Forum//** //-// Our delegates to the LTFF had been unable to make the last meeting of this London-wide discussion/co-ordination federation concentrating on council tenants/leasholder issues. They are launching themselves as a full Federation on January 25th - all predominantly tenants/leaseholder groups interested in attending please come along to our next meeting.

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