minutes+9th+September+2003


 * Report of HFRA General Meeting,** **9th September 2003**


 * //__RA Delegates Present__//****//://** Ulla and Ole Lefmann - **Burleigh** **Road Area RA and N.Watch, N8;** David Rennie - **Palace Gates RA, N22;** John Compton - **Muswell** **Hill & Fortis Green Association, N2;** Laurie Owen - **Parkside** **Malvern RA, N8;** Dave Morris - **Tower Gardens Residents Network, N17;** Pat Ayinde & 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;** Judith Hannah - **Clyde Area RA, N15;** Paul Burnham - **Partridge Way RA, N22;** Corinne Stevens - **Deaconess Ct Tenants Association, N15;** Andrew Bichard - **CASCH, N8**


 * 1. Minutes of HFRA general meeting of 8th July** Agreed to be accurate.

Verbal reports (brief summaries below) led to discussion of some of the key issues raised. It was agreed that we should try to do seasonal bulletins of local reports/news if possible – we also have press cuttings and local Newsletters from local associations. //__Action__ Can anyone volunteer to help with this?//
 * 2.** **Local reports given**


 * //West Green RA//** Now have their own anti-graffiti kit. Planning a public meeting about crime, with local street crime wardens. Opposing inappropriate planning applications and developments.


 * //Muswell//** **//Hill and Fortis Green Assoc//** Also have their own kit for removing graffiti. Campaigning for new bus route westwards. Concerned over noise and stress caused by recent increased volume of air flights over Muswell Hill. Latest Newsletter packed with information and news.


 * //Avenue//** **//Gardens//** **//RA//** Very busy summer. Met with Cllrs to take up issues of rubbish, traffic calming, railings etc. Got graffiti kit. Plan to publicise a special 2-day bulky rubbish skip. Opposing aspects of the huge ‘Heartlands’ development proposals, and also responding to Council’s UDP policy draft.


 * //Burleigh//** **//Rd RA and NW//** 250 homes off Turnpike Lane. Raising problems of rubbish from shopping area and alleys. Plus homes above shops don’t have wheelie bins. Opposing certain planning applications, including residential homes being turned into shops or bedsits. Noise nuisance also a concern.


 * //Parkside//** **//Malvern RA//** Monitoring the Heartlands proposals – campaigning for a new access road to relieve traffic on Hornsey Park Rd (which had been agreed, then dropped from the plans). Planning local public meeting on this issue. Named 2 local alleys after famous local people – successfully got press publicity.


 * //Bruce Grove RN//** Taking up planning enforcement matters over a local factory and some anti-social car parking. Made a presentation to the full Council meeting of the BGRN’s vision for the Bruce Grove ward, and about the community’s need for regeneration resources. Taking up traffic calming in the area.


 * //Palace Gates RA//** Working with 7 other local RAs for improved traffic calming in the region and to stop rat runs. Some funding obtained.


 * //Tower//** **//Gardens//** **//RN//** Very busy summer. Organised a public meeting about housing issues, a week-long residents’ arts & creativity exhibition, a local history open day, and a residents’ petition over problems caused by a local wholesale butchers unit (which got front page of the Journal). Also helping with phase 2 of local traffic calming programme.


 * //Woodlands Park RA//** £150,000 earmarked for some of the local traffic calming they campaigned for. Lobbying for some local community notice boards. Planning some social events. Concerned over some anti-social car parking on pavements and a car sales business.


 * 3. Traffic calming/safer streets** The conference Working Group is getting on with organising the Residents’ Conference on Traffic Calming and Safer Streets throughout the borough on Nov 15th. Minutes of the open planning meetings can be provided on request. Support for the event is growing, including backing from many Haringey-wide organisations (including the LBH Street Scene dept). Can all RAs publicise to their members and local communities? //__Update:__// The working group met on Sept 27th. An HFRA delegation met with Street Scene officials on Sept 29th – as a result a new, larger venue (paid for by the Council) has been confirmed – the African Caribbean Cultural Centre. Next planning meeting – 16th Oct, 7.30pm at 42 Falmer Rd, N15. All welcome. //__Action:__ Working Group and local RAs.//


 * 4. Rubbish and waste** We’re awaiting full details from the LBH Waste Management dept about their borough-wide recycling plans so that we can comment and contribute. //__Action:__ Stephen//


 * 5. Planning issues** **//a. General//** Local RAs are often having to oppose planning applications affecting their community (housing developments, billboards, unwanted businesses or shops, threats to green areas etc). Recently there have been successful local campaigns, some of which have gained press publicity. But often its hard to get the information in time, and to know how to put in objections and take action to defend our neighbourhoods etc. We are working on an advice leaflet. We recommend attending relevant council scrutiny panels (environment and planning meetings), and checking the council website for regular lists of planning applications etc. We agreed to try to organise __a Planning Issues Open Day / Conference__ for residents and RAs in 2004.


 * //b. Council’s ‘Unitary Development Plan’//** The revised draft LBH ‘Unitary Development Plan’ sets the council’s planning policy proposals for the coming years - consultation is now in progress until Nov 6th on this vital document which sets out what can or can't be built where in Haringey. Copies of the very long document can be read in all libraries and on the Council website //[|www.haringey.gov.uk]//. This document provides the legal backing for residents or communities to challenge inappropriate development, gives protection to heritage buildings and open spaces, sets transport and traffic strategy, and gives context for ensuring that services like doctors, dentists and school places balance with housing supply. There are concerns (to be discussed) - RAs can and should make a fuss! Responses to: udp@haringey.gov.uk


 * 6. Public housing a.** The local Defend Council Housing campaign organised a public meeting for Sept 17th about the uncertain future status for the 20,000 local council homes //__Update:__// It was a very interesting meeting, attended by about 20 people including the lead Member for Housing – report back at the next HFRA meeting. //__Note:__// The next DCH meeting is on Nov 4th, 7.30pm, Wood Green Labour Club, Stuart Crescent, N22.


 * 7. Rights of Way** //__Update:__// We’ve been asked to alert all RAs that a map of all public rights of way in Haringey is being drawn up. This is a very important national exercise – to be discussed next meeting.


 * 8.** **__FEDERATION MATTERS__**


 * //a//****//. Haringey People//** Our entry is at last appearing in the ‘What’s On’ section. Many thanks to all those RAs who had complained.


 * //b. LBH Housing Dept’s Tenants Participation Team//** It was agreed to contact them about improving communication between them and the HFRA //__Note:__// According to the TPT (Sept 2003), the Housing Dept recognises 40 local RA and TAs, 26 of which they fund. Other LBH Depts seem happy to work with all local RAs (there are about 95 on our mailing list, of which 58 have so far affiliated to the Federation), and to work with the HFRA.


 * //c. Haringey Community Empowerment Network//** This new organisation, being set up by consultants paid by the Government, is aimed to encourage local community groups to work together to have a collective voice over regeneration issues, independent of the council. //__Action:__// HFRA Secretary will attend and report back.


 * //d. Haringey//** **//Friends of Parks Forum//** This successful new network of ‘friends’ groups continues to grow. Details of next meeting, contact Joan Curtis (Friends of Lordship Rec) – 8881 1018.