Minutes+-+Dec+10th+2009


 * __ Report of HFRA General Meeting - 10th November 2009 __**
 * //__ RA Delegates Present: __//** Rachella Sinclair, Hazel Miller and Ted Arvizu - **Noel Park North Area RA, N22;**  Candy Amsden - **Clyde Area RA, N15** and **Wards Corner Community Coalition, N15;** Peter Thompson - **Hillfield St James RA, N10,** and **Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Assoc, N10/N2;** Dave Morris - **Chestnuts Northside RA, N15;** Joyce Rosser - **Warner Estate RA, N8;** Sue Hessel - **Haslemere Road RA, N8;** Geoff Amabilino - **Woodlands Park RA, N15;** Bob Maltz - **Gladwell, Landrock & Cecile Pk Residents Action Group, N8;**  **//__Apologies:__//** Sue Holtom - **Bruce Grove Residents Network, N17;** John Waller - **Bounds Green & District RA, N11;** Wendy Keenan - **Fountain Area RA, N15;** Adam Coffman - **Fairfax Road RA, N8**; Kit Grieveson - **Stroud Green RA, N4;** Ibilola Campbell - **Tiverton RA, N15;** Stephen Whittle - **West Green RA, N15/N22;** Lauritz Hansen-Bay - **Hampden Ct Homeowners, N22;** Chris Henderson - **Lea Court RA, N15;** Liz Pine (HFRA Memb’ship Sec) - **Woodlands Park RA, N15;** Chris Barker (HFRA Living Streets officer) - **Warner Estate RA, N8;**


 * 1. Minutes of September 8th 2009 Meeting** Agreed


 * 2. Local reports** The RAs present reported on their local news and activities. As always, lots going on around the borough! In particular there was a long a detailed report from the __Noel Park North Area RA__ who'd not attended for a while. They cover the whole of Noel Park Estate (over 2,000 homes, mainly council housing), producing regular door-to-door bulletins. Members have set up a very active Conservation Area advisory/action group and are planning to distribute a special leaflet for the whole estate about this. They are also active in the Friends of Russell Park, a green space where many improvements are now underway. Members have also organised a recent Community Festival in the grounds of the local school, and are planning a Xmas Quiz Night (organised each year jointly with the Parkside Malvern RA). The RA are preparing to monitor the Decent Homes works programme for all the local Homes For Haringey homes, and are also lobbying around asbestos in back gardens and excessive bus use of part of the estate.


 * 3. Public Services** __Health services__ The Defend Haringey’s Health Services (DHHS) coalition, to which the Federation is affiliated, continues to meet regularly to encourage local communities to oppose cuts, closures and privatisation around the borough, and support long term health service improvements. There were concerns raised about the need to defend our services as the three main political parties in the 2010 national elections are threatening major cuts, and not just to health services.

__Transport__ Chris Barker, the Federation’s Living Streets officer, and Adam Coffman, our cycling officer, regularly attend the Haringey Transport Forum (which unfortunately was due to meet the same night as the HFRA). Meetings are constructive and open to all residents groups. Issues include: traffic calming measures and 20mph zones (including advancing the Federation's policy of making 20mph the default speed limit for all the borough’s residential streets); road/paths maintenance; ‘home zones’. __Community Toilets__ Following pressure from the Federation, supported by the Haringey Forum for Older People, the Council had promised that July 2009 would see a partial roll out of a new scheme for free public access to toilets in cafes, pubs and buildings. On 10th November the Federation was told that officers responsible for launching the Scheme have got bogged down at the ‘research and options’ stage for the last 6 months. It was agreed to write to the officers responsible, as well as the Council Leader (Cllr Kober), asking for a report on what the options currently being considered are, what the research has shown, and what exactly the challenges are considered to be - and basically to get on with it! __Street trees__ There was a brief discussion on the need for more street trees, and also that they have to be managed/looked after properly (especially when young).
 * 4. Street Scene**


 * 5. Community Spirit** We were very pleased to note the continuing wide range of events of all types and sizes organised by local residents in local streets, estates and parks. This included 3 major recent highly successful community festivals each attended by thousands of people: Muswell Hill Festival (Sept 13th), the Lordship Rec Festival (Sept 12th), and Green Lanes Food Festival (Sept 20th), plus a coming social organised by the Wards Corner Coalition. We’ll publicise & attend next annual Community Cohesion conference organised by the Council.

__Biodiversity Action Plan__ A new Biodiversity Action Plan for Haringey is about to be adopted. __Parks and green spaces__ In October members of the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum hosted a London-wide gathering of Friends Groups. This has led to the formation of a new London Green Spaces Friends Groups Network, which will be sharing ideas and experiences across the capital, and campaigning for increased resources for the proper maintenance and management of all London's green spaces. The London Network is linked up with other similar bodies across the UK. The HFRA secretary has been attending the London and National meetings.
 * 6. Green spaces**

__Sheltered housing tenants facing relocation__ We agreed to support a November 17th lobby/protest at the Civic Centre over the proposed relocation of 3 long-established sheltered housing communities (179 flats) from Campbell Court, Larkspur Close and Stokely Court. The Council has refused to upgrade these blocks in the current Decent Homes works programme saying they could be better used for other kinds of housing. We also noted a threat by the Drapers Company to move out sheltered tenants of the Bruce Grove Almshouses - we agreed to back the tenants there if they chose to oppose this. __HFRA social housing reps__ As previously reported, Dave Morris and Ibi Campbell have been attending London Tenants Federation meetings over the last couple of years on behalf of the HFRA. We are looking for a couple more reps (who are also social housing tenants) to share being delegates. Contact Dave, 8211 0916.
 * 7. Housing**

__Mass insulation__ We agreed to back the Sustainable Haringey network's efforts to get the Council to commit to developing a programme for the mass insulation of the borough's homes. This could be a key aim of the Council's Affordable Warmth strategy, which currently is targeted at those individuals who are most vulnerable. __Local green events / Copenhagen__ We have agreed to support and publicise plans by the Sustainable Haringey network for 2 weeks of local events in December (5th - 18th) to coincide with the very important UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen which will debate what needs to be done to create a global, low-carbon, sustainable future for all. www.sustainableharingey.org.uk __Food growing__ We are also supporting the Growing In Haringey network which links up food growing sites, projects and individuals in order to promote increased local food production - we agreed to seek a volunteer to be co-opted as an HFRA food officer.
 * 8. Sustainability**

__Local sites__ Candy reported that the **//Wards Corner Community Coalition//** of local traders and residents is still involved with legal challenges to the decision by the planning committee to allow the demolition of this historic and lively area. The WCCC have raised £14,000 so far to help with this - from public donations and local fundraising events. The property developer, backed by the Council, wants to replace the current site with luxury private flats and mainly mall-type chain stores. In contrast the WCCC are continuing to develop their own Community Plan for the restoration and improvement of the site. **//Tottenham Hale gyratory//** Mixed news about this area. Transport for London have agreed to finance an overhaul of the much-hated 'gyratory', to return to 2-way traffic. This £37m scheme could also be an opportunity to improve the street scene in the area. Chris Barker, HFRA Living Streets officer, is preparing some detailed proposals. With all the development underway in Tottenham Hale, including thousands of new homes, the local **//Down Lane Park//** was promised improvement. However, the local Friends group and local residents associations were shocked to find out recently that the Council has suddenly and unilaterally proposed to build housing on the southern part of the Park, with some 'compensation' area as replacement to the northern end. We agreed to back the Friends’ campaign. __Local Development Framework__ The new draft LDF is due to go to the Council in Feb/ March, and will then be put out for statutory public consultation. It is vital that as many residents as possible understand this important document which will guide all future planning and development. We need to identify the key issues and the changes we wish to lobby over. For this reason we are organising a special Haringey Conference on Planning Issues in April 2010. We have agreed to do it with other partners. The Haringey Friends of Parks Forum, Sustainable Haringey network, and Living Streets Haringey have already agreed to back it. The conference is likely to include discussions about planning issues regarding green spaces, heritage, sustainability, street scene, local alternative plans, how to object to planning applications etc.
 * 9. Planning Issues**


 * 10. Heritage and conservation** __Conservation Areas__ We noted concerns over the latest Crouch End Conservation Area draft policy document, the formation of the new Noel Park conservation group, and a coming remembrance service at the Hornsey Hospital War Memorial (a site recently saved from demolition after a strong residents' campaign). Joyce, our Heritage and Conservation officer, is trying to convene a borough-wide meeting for all the borough's local conservation advisory groups so that they can support each other and work together to take up strategic issues.


 * 11. Vulnerable Groups** Sue, the Federation's Vulnerable Groups officer, reported on the government-led imposition of a new 'personalisation' strategy for specialist public services to many vulnerable residents requiring additional support due to disabilities etc. The theory is that its a good thing that people have a range of choices regarding various services. However, it is likely to lead to increasing fragmentation and privatisation of currently public services. It is expected to be made compulsory by 2012 and Sue is working with specialist disability groups to raise concerns.

__Federation email news bulletins / website__ Still seeking a volunteer from a local RA to help with news bulletins, and calendar on website. __Contacts List for local RAs__ We reaffirmed our policy of not passing on our full contacts list of RAs to anyone, but giving out specific individual local RAs details when requested. __Finances__ Geoff, HFRA Treasurer, is trying to organise the update of our bank signatories. Type in the content of your page here.
 * 12. Federation business**