minutes+21st+January+2003


 * Report of HFRA General Meeting 21st January 2003**

//__Apologies__//__:__** Vivienne Cuming and Simon Fedida //(HFRA Treasurer)// - **Avenue Gardens RA, N22**; Frank Forni - **Northumberland Park Independent RA, N17**; Kevin Tipple - **Bowes Pk CA, N22**; John Hajdu - **Muswell** **Hill & Fortis Green Association, N2**; James Athanassiou **Palace Gates RA, N22**; Rosemary McCartan - **South Hornsey RA**; Paul Burnham - **Partridge Way TRA, N22**; Mike Towerzey //(HFRA Chair)//
 * //__RA Delegates Present__//** M. Allende - **Broadwater** **Farm RA, N17**; Steve Cook - **Woodstock Rd Association, N4**; Geoff Amabilino - **Woodlands Park RA, N15**; Marcus Beckett - **Plevna** **Crescent RA, N15**; Pat Ayinde and Tim Wilmott - **Bruce Grove South Residents Network, N17**; Maureen Towerzey - **The Sandlings RA, N22**; Robin Le Mare and Dave Morris //(HFRA Secretary, minute taker)// - **Tower Gardens Residents Network, N17**; Stephen Whittle //(chaired meeting)// - **West Green RA, N15


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


 * __2. Local reports given or received__** Reports at meeting led to discussions on many key issues raised.

//__Broadwater__// //__Farm RA, N15__// Residents are setting up a new Tenant Management Organisation to manage the estate in partnership with the Council. Lots of preparations and training needed.

//__West Green RA, N15__// Continue to raise issues of traffic, and rubbish and waste collection (including around the introduction of wheelie bins).

//__Plevna__// //__Crescent__// //__RA, N15__// Issues to do with parking problems for disabled residents caused by CPZ. Also mixed feelings about wheelie bins. Did local ‘walkabout’ to monitor various problems.

//__Tower Gardens RN, N17__// Pursuing plans for a local parent/toddler group. Holding local Public Meeting re phased traffic calming and environmental improvements - £390,000 secured for this. Helping ‘Friends of Lordship Rec’ promote improvements in local park. Helped set up a local Pet Owners Association. Did some xmas carol-singing around the estate. Setting up local history group. In February lodged a formal complaint over general obstruction from a local Councillor and council official. See new website: [[http://www.towergardens.net/|//www.towergardens.net//

]]//__The Sandlings RA,N22__// Their community centre is the hub of their community - seeking funds, and groups to hire it out [tel 8489 8798]. Still negotiating an ‘Estate Agreement’ with the Council. Responding to problems of anti-social behaviour.

//__Bruce Grove South Residents Network, N15__// Taking up concerns over local traffic (doing their own local survey), need for local children’s play area, and wheelie bins. Met with LBH Planning Dept over concerns and possibilities to do with the planned Bernie Grant Arts Centre. Due to great interest from neighbouring areas, have expanded the number of streets involved in their association.

//__Woodlands Park RA, N15__// Current major issues include rubbish collection, and traffic calming. Planning local summer festival in Chestnuts Park. Linking up with other residents’ groups.

//__Woodstock Rd__// //__Association, N4__// Gave apologies for not attending HFRA in recent months. Continue to pursue issues to do with damaging commercial concerts in Finsbury Park, need for a local CPZ, and wheelie bins.

//__Muswell__// //__Hill and Fortis Green Association, N2__// See //www.muswellhillandfortisgreenassociation.co.uk//

__//Northumberland Pk//__ //__RA, N17__// Local community centre renamed ‘Eric Allin Centre’ after a recently-deceased well-known local tenants’ activist. NPIRA holding a local public meeting over the future of Council Housing.

//__Seaford__// //__Rd RA, N15__// Founded May 2002 out of anti-CPZ campaign. About 35 residents from 3 streets have been attending meetings in little-used tenants’ hall. They were planning bingo and coffee mornings, but the Council told them they can no longer use the hall. Concerned with rubbish and waste, rats, and building up community spirit. Do newsletters.

//__South Hornsey__// //__RA, N4__// Have merged with the Woodstock Rd Association.

//__Northern Heights RA, N8__// Concerned with proposal for local CPZ

//__Friends of Alexander Park Rd RA, N10__// Started in autumn 2001 cover 10 streets. Successfully opposed a CPZ. Concerned with recycling, wheelie-bin problems, volume of through-traffic (Alexander Pk Rd is 90% residential, but classified as a ‘B’ road), safe routes to schools, and leisure facilities.

//__CASCH, N6__// Local residents association covering 6 streets. Concerns include rubbish, traffic, graffiti and planning issues.

//__Cromwell Avenue__// //__RA, N6__// Concerned over wheelie-bins, Archway Rd noise and pollution, protecting a local green space, plus planning and conservation issues.


 * 3. Traffic calming throughout Haringey** We discussed the ever growing local campaigns for traffic calming. Our thoughts on this issue were drafted and agreed by the meeting (see enclosed briefing). A letter is being drafted to be sent to the Council seeking information, dialogue and co-operation - to be copied to all Cllrs, relevant officers, and local RAs. We are aiming to organise a borough-wide conference on this issue. To be discussed next meeting.

We discussed the introduction of wheelie bins, and the problems in some local areas. We drafted a letter to the Council (Cllr Meehan) about this, outlining the many problems and making constructive proposals for the intelligent and sensitive installation and management of the bins (see enclosed letter). A reply has been promised by 3rd March.
 * 4. Rubbish collection** Our November 2002 letter to the Council, and all Cllrs and RAs, had called 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. It received favourable publicity in the local press. Apparently Cllr Dodds replied on behalf of the Council but it was not received and no-one there can locate it. A new reply has been promised by next HFRA meeting.


 * 5. Council Housing** There was brief reference to 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), and the local Defend Council Housing campaign. A new London Tenants Federation was due to be launched on January 25th - 4 tenant delegates from HFRA were elected to go.


 * 6. The Council** The Constitution of Haringey Council, and the Codes of Conduct for members and officers are on the //www.haringey.gov.uk// website..


 * 7. Friends of Parks** This is a new network/federation of local ‘friends of..’ groups of residents who are trying to improve the condition and usage of dozens of Haringey’s green spaces (See enclosed report).


 * __8. Federation matters__** **//a. Email list//** - agreed to set up an internal list for local RAs.
 * //b.//** **//HFRA//** **//Website//** - agreed, and is now up and running! //www.haringeyresidents.org
 * c. Info/database**// - agreed to try and develop a more effective library/archive.
 * //d. Finances//** - local RAs are continuing to send in affiliations/subscriptions.
 * //e. HFRA Annual General Meeting 2003//** //-// agreed to hold in April if possible