minutes+13th+May+2003


 * Report of HFRA General Meeting,** **13th May 2003**


 * //__RA Delegates Present__//****//://** Stephen Whittle – **West Green RA, N15**; Pat Ayinde and Tim Wilmott - **Bruce Grove Residents Network, N17**; Jane Laporte - **Woodlands Park RA, N15**; Dave Morris - **Tower Gardens Residents Network, N17**; Vivienne Cuming and Simon Fedida - **Avenue Gardens RA, N22**. **//__Apologies:__//** Marion Janes - **CASCH, N8**; John Hajdu - **Muswell** **Hill & Fortis Green Association, N2**; Corinne Stevens - **Deaconess Ct TA, N15;** Mike Towerzey - **The Sandlings RA, N22**; Damian Martin and Frank Forni - **Northumberland Park Independent RA, N17**; Andy Kazan – **Gardens RA, N4**; Brian West - **Hillcrest T&RA, N6**


 * 1. Minutes of general meeting of 8th April, and AGM of 12th April** Agreed to be accurate.


 * 2. Reflections on the AGM** The general feeling was that it was a very positive event, especially the willingness of people to take on various HFRA posts, the discussion about traffic calming, and the Q & A session with Stephen McDonnell (LBH Waste Management). It would have been great if more of the many associations who sent messages of support could have been able to attend and actively participate.


 * 3. Local reports given or received – see attached summary**


 * 4.** **Traffic calming/safer streets**

We decided to organise a conference/event on Saturday October 25th to discuss traffic calming and safer streets throughout the borough. The following themes were proposed:

– learning from the best practice and successful measures in existing local schemes – what range of calming options are there, the pros and cons, and how much do they cost – supporting current local safety/calming campaigns – effective consultation and participation by residents – understanding and having more influence over funding bodies like Transport For London, LBH etc – better public transport and cycling alternatives – developing a borough-wide strategy to work towards effective calming measures for every neighbourhood

It would make sense to focus on safer streets in local neighbourhoods, but we could maybe also touch on some miscellaneous related themes (parking issues, congestion charging, major roads etc).

The idea is that it will be well publicised and open to all Haringey residents, but we particularly hope to bring together members of local associations concerned about traffic in their own communities. We should also invite relevant traffic management officials, as well as concerned organisations, researchers and campaigners.

It was agreed that Dave Morris would convene a working group to help organise the event. All local associations would be welcome to join the working group - please contact Dave if you have someone particularly interested in traffic calming issues. We welcome your ideas, help in presenting workshops, help with publicity etc. See enclosed separate sheet – please fill in the tear off slip and bring to the next meeting or send it back to us.

Dave agreed to bring to the next HFRA meeting (on June 10th) some official information about traffic calming measures, the range of options, pros and cons, costings etc. There will be copies for delegates.


 * 5. Rubbish and waste**


 * //a. Recycling//** We had been contacted by the Haringey Agenda 21 group to support a special ‘Making Recycling Work’ meeting on May 28th to discuss the implementation of borough-wide kerbside recycling measures. We had agreed to provide a speaker (Stephen Whittle, HFRA Rubbish and Waste representative), and to publicise the event to all RAs (see last mailout). //Update:// It went very well. There’ll be a report back at the next meeting.


 * //b. Wheelie Bins//** There was concern that the new door-to-door leaflets had not yet been delivered, and that large and small size bins had not been available for some months. We agreed to chase these matters up.


 * //c. Generally//** Local RAs may find it useful to attend LBH Environmental Scrutiny Cttee meetings to raise any concerns they may have on these and other related matters.


 * 6. Planning issues**


 * //a. Billboards//** As discussed previously Woodlands Park RA had discovered that 48 of 50 local advertising hoardings had no planning permission – ie erected and used illegally. They managed to get front page headlines for this in the local press, but had had no response yet from the Council. This seems likely to be happening across the whole borough and all associations are encouraged to investigate and protest. To be further discussed.

==//b. UDP// The Council is currently reviewing and updating its Unitary Development Plan governing its planning priorities and policies over the coming years. All RAs are encouraged to get copies from the Civic Centre and respond with their views.==


 * 7. Haringey Association of Voluntary and Community Organisations** This new umbrella organisation is having a launch on Wed June 11th, 10am - 1pm, at The Decorum, 22 Western Rd, N22. We have joined and will be running a stall there.


 * 8. Federation matters**


 * //a. LBH Housing Dept Consultation//** The council’s Housing Dept has completed its consultation exercise to try to improve management of the much-criticised local housing service, including in particular more involvement of tenants. The HFRA sent a letter in response (enclosed in our last mailout).


 * //b//****//. Haringey People//** As explained in our last mailout, this Council-run free door-to-door paper had refused to put in HFRA details in their ‘What’s On’ section on the say-so of the Residents Participation Team. After much controversy and and complaints of censorship, Leader of the Council George Meehan intervened saying he’d had a promise it would go in in the May edition. It didn’t, so we agreed to take it further. //Update:// After contacting the editors again, they wrote guaranteeing it would go in.


 * //c. Chesnuts festival//** HFRA will have a stall at the Chesnuts Park (N15) Festival on May 31st, and our Secretary will hold an open discussion/workshop there on the theme: ‘Getting together in every street and neighbourhood. What we can do, and how to join in.’

d. Haringey Green Map A new map of the borough has been produced by Haringey Agenda 21 to ‘promote community action for sustainability’. It includes details about the Federation, local Friends of Parks groups, recycling etc. Copies available at the next HFRA meeting.


 * //e//****//. e-list//** We have agreed to set up an internal HFRA email list for RAs involved to share news and information. The Secretary is investigating options.


 * //f. HFRA Finances//** Thanks to the RAs who’ve sent in donations/affiliations/subscriptions recently – much needed so that we can continue to produce our literature and do monthly mailings. The Sandlings RA are in financial difficulties themselves and have asked us to pay for room hire in future. We agreed to discuss this with them, or seek an alternative venue - if any group knows where we could meet for free, please let us know.


 * //g. Decisions between meetings//** We need to be able to make some decisions between meetings (eg to support the Making Recycling Work meeting - see point 5a above). We need to be efficient, but to ensure decision-making in the Federation stays with local RAs at general meetings rather than becoming ‘top heavy’. Hence it was decided that HFRA officers may make such decisions as are necessary, as long as all officers agree, and the matter conforms to our constitution or agreed policies and activities. It was specifically decided that the Federation could not support any event organised by a political party, unless agreed by a general meeting.


 * //h. Participation at meetings//** 35 different associations have attended HFRA meetings since April 2001, and 19 others have sent apologies. However we agreed to look into ways to encourage more RAs to attend the regular monthly meetings. Any suggestions from local groups would be welcomed. Naturally we realise and respect the fact that most active RA members are already very busy and often overstretched by their local commitments.