minutes+March+13th+2007


 * __Report of HFRA General Meeting – March 13th 2007__**


 * //__RA Delegates Present__//****//://** Matt Bradby – **Tower Gardens Residents Group, N17;** Lloyd Davis – **Chesnuts Area RA, N17;** Bernice Sullivan – **Roden Ct TA, N6;** Laurie Owen - **Parkside Malvern RA, N8;** Peter Thompson **- Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Assoc, N10/N2;** Bob Maltz - **Gladwell, Landrock & Cecile Pk Residents Action Group, N8;** Joyce Rosser – **Warner Estate RA, N8;** Dave Morris - **Chestnuts Northside RA, N15;** Sue Hessel – **Haslemere Rd RA, N8;** Paul McKay – **Hewitt Rd RA, N8;** //__And:__// Wendy Keenan – Kirkton Rd Area RA (in formation), N15;. **//__Apologies:__//** Nazar Alikhan – **Gardens RA, N4;** Dan Evans – **Queens Rd Action Group, N11;** Marsharee Maydeene – **Sky City RA, N22;** Anna Thomas – **Maze West RA, N17;** Bob Towerzey **– Sandlings RA, N22;** Pat Ayinde – **Bruce Grove RN, N17;** Kate Huddie – **Noel Park North Area RA, N22;** Vivian Cuming and Simon Fedida - **Avenue Gardens RA, N22;** Candida Amsden – **Clyde Area RA, N15;** Stephen Whittle - **West Green RA, N15;** Kit Grieveson – **Stroud Green RA, N4;** Joyce Oyeyi-Effiong – **Suffolk Rd RA, N15;** Annie Bebbington – **Seacole Ct RA, N15;** Adam Coffman – **Fairfax Rd RA, N8;** Susan Meighan - **Wightman Rd N4 RA, N4**; Ulla and Ole Lefmann – **Burghley Rd Area RA, N8;** Marilyn Robinson – **Millicent Fawcett Ct RA, N17;** Sue Secher – **Wood Vale CA, N10;** Kay Griffiths – **New River Village RA, N8**


 * 1.** **__Minutes of February 13th General Meeting__** Agreed, but note that we decided on May 19th for our AGM.

Sue Hessel, the Federation’s Health & Social Services Officer, made a presentation about how so many people of all ages and backgrounds among our neighbours in our communities are vulnerable and needing active support and support services. This had recently been highlighted during the campaigns opposing health cuts, where health managers were using the idea of ‘Care In The Community’ as an alternative to hospital provision.
 * Care In The Community //SPECIAL DISCUSSION//**

Yet community services are clearly inadequate and often virtually non-existent. Carers are usually isolated and often close to despair – they need regular respite breaks. Promises to re-open the closed Hornsey Hospital with respite care facilities had been broken. Crucial day centres like the Keston Centre - very popular with vulnerable users and their families – are currently facing closure to save money despite being a successful, caring and creative centre with dedicated support staff. This, she said, is scandal in such a wealthy society as ours.

Home-based support and ‘interventions’ are promised, but this often means brief visits by agency staff and little chance to build up trusting relationships. Yet with adequate resources Care In The Community, backed up by a network of neighbourhood drop in centres and clinics, could be so much better. But the NHS and local Council are making constant cuts.

Everyone is entitled to the public health services and care they need. It is often hard for vulnerable people to speak out – in which case it is up to us all to be aware of the needs of those around us in our communities. Sue’s local RA had united with users of a local family centre (Red Gables in Crouch End) a couple of years ago to mount a strong and successful campaign to save the centre from closure.

After discussion the general feeling was that we should encourage our RAs, where possible, to: - take up these issues and be advocates for the vulnerable sections of our communities - defend existing services - support user groups of care services - encourage people to claim benefits and ‘special needs assessments’ they are entitled to - encourage neighbourliness, and try to break down isolation


 * 3. __Local Reports__** Those present reported the latest news from their own local association and area – covering a wide range of activities and issues. In some cases these reports led to discussion or advice from other delegates. There were also some reports in writing.


 * 4. __Planning and Development__**
 * //London Plan and the Mayor’s ‘Peoples Question Time’//** As agreed we produced a statement for distribution at this event at Tottenham Green at the beginning of March, explaining how current planning policies (especially in the Mayor’s London Plan) are leading to controversial and damaging development in the borough. 3 or 4 RA reps handed about these leaflets to over half of the 500 people at the event. Some local concerns (eg about Tottenham Hale over-development, and worries over the future of St Ann’s Hospital) were raised.


 * //Application for extension to Shopping City//** We discussed issues to do with the proposed extension to Shopping City just off the High St near Wood Green Library. Local RAs are concerned over the design, and are lobbying for ‘people-friendly’ facades at the back. It was suggested that, as this was an area of open space deficiency, as much open space as possible adjacent to the library would benefit everyone using the High Rd.


 * //Heartlands//** Local RAs still have major concerns over the new ‘spine road’ into the Heartlands development.


 * 5. __Green spaces__** Groundworks is an organisation which has started working in partnership with local community groups and the Council to develop a wide range of environmental projects throughout Haringey over the next few years. It is hoped that they will be able to apply for greater resources for such projects. Dave, as HFRA Secretary, met up with a Groundworks rep to talk about some of Haringey’s major environmental issues and the great potential for local community organisations (RAs, Friends groups etc) to drive forward improvements.

6. __Health Services__

The __Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition__, of which we are part, organised a successful public meeting on March 1st attended by 60 people This was followed by protests on March 3rd as part of a national Day of Action – including a protest by 30-40 residents organised by the West Haringey Better Local Healthcare Campaign outside the Hornsey Hospital site (now being demolished), and a Haringey delegation to join a 5,000-strong Save Chase Farm Hospital demonstration in Enfield. 10,000 Haringey leaflets were distributed in the month before.

The Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Association reported that, following their protest involving 30 residents last December over the closure of the __Fortis Green Health Clinic__, the Primary Care Trust had agreed to relocate all the services in nearby venues – the MHFGA has now successfully negotiated with the PCT to act as an inspection/monitoring body to ensure the services are being properly provided.

The Federation Secretary attended a meeting of the Haringey __Well-being Partnership Board__ which is a consultation body involving a range of key borough-wide public and statutory organisations including the Council and Primary Care Trust. He called for all partners in the borough to insist on greater government resources for health (rather than cuts), to safeguard health-related sites and land, and to ensure that all the borough’s residents were registered with GPs and dentists. Unfortunately Haringey Primary Trust Reps opposed all three proposals so its up to community groups to keep up the pressure.


 * 7.** **__Street Scene__**
 * //Billboards//** We are still awaiting a response from the Council’s enforcement dept over the proposed joint strategy for the removal of all the billboards illegally erected around Haringey. We re-affirmed our decision to take action ourselves against a key offender at a prominent location.


 * Street Parties** We are again encouraging local RAs throughout the borough to organise street parties this summer. RAs needing advice/ideas/inspiration are welcome to contact the Federation.


 * Road Safety Scrutiny Review** Paul, the HFRA Living Streets Officer, reported that he has been attending and contributing to a current review of road safety issues. This includes encouraging local ‘Community Street Audits’ in various parts of the borough (eg Broad Lane, N15), promoting widespread 20mph zones, and traffic calming measures for neighbouring areas around the North Circular.


 * 8. __Heritage & Conservation__** Joyce, the Federation’s Heritage & Conservation officer, reported that the Council’s updating of their own list of locally listed buildings of heritage merit will be discussed at a Planning Cttee in May or June. All RAs are urged to send in details of any buildings or sites which they feel should be listed. Please send to: Vernon.Farmer@haringey.gov.uk, Principal Conservation Officer, 639 High Road, N17 - and also cc: jrosser@lineone.net

She’s also been doubling as the Tottenham Civic Society’s events officer, and has organised a series of 6 Tottenham heritage walks and talks this summer. She also reported that the Peabody Estate in North Tottenham has had its conservation status strengthened by an ‘Article 4 planning direction’.


 * 9. __Sustainability issues__** Everything seemed to be going well for the Sustainable Haringey Conference on Sat March 31st. Members of quite a number of RAs are helping organise and publicise it.


 * 10. __Federation Business__**


 * //- Annual General Meeting//** We decided last month that this should be on May 19th. As it is cup final day it would have to be early (say 10am – 1pm). To be discussed at our next meeting.
 * //- Haringey Community Empowerment Network//** Due to internal problems and a split in the Harcen management board the Council has unfortunately cut off its finances. The organisation has subsequently decided to close. The Federation is owed £1,500 which we are unlikely to get.
 * //- HFRA Finances//** In the light of the above we agreed that we need to have reliable, independent sources of funding. Please can all RAs send in their subs for 2006/7 (due at end of March) to 42 Falmer Rd, N15 5BA? Individual donations or regular standing orders from residents are also welcome. Cheques to be made out to ‘Haringey Federation of Residents Associations’.
 * //- Relations with, and support for, new RAs//** Due to some recent experiences of local RAs we agreed to discuss next month how local RAs should be properly appreciated and supported by Council officers.
 * //- Federation Officers//** We agreed to rename our ‘Special Needs and Vulnerable Groups’ officer post as ‘Health & Social Services’ Officer. We have vacancies for other co-opted posts, eg Green Spaces; Council Housing; and Public Services; Youth Officer. And of course nominations and volunteers are sought for elections at the AGM for the posts of Federation Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.