Minutes+-+Sept+8th+2009


 * __Brief Report of HFRA General Meeting – 8th September 2009__**

//__ Sheltered housing tenants facing relocation __// There has been uproar and protest 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 housing (?). RAs and tenant reps there have been making a huge fuss, backed by the Defend Council Housing Campaign. We have publicised and supported their campaign. //__London Housing Strategy__// The HFRA secretary responded to consultation over draft changes to London’s housing planning policies. //__HFRA social housing reps__// 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.
 * //__ RA Delegates Present __//****// : //** Lauritz Hansen-Bay – **Hampden Ct Homeowners, N22;** Peter Thompson **- Hillfield St James RA, N10;** Dave Morris - **Chestnuts Northside RA, N15;** Chris Barker - **Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Assoc, N10/N2; Joyce Rosser – Warner Estate RA, N8 //__Apologies:__//** Liz Pine & Geoff Amabilino – **Woodlands Park RA, N15;** Bob Maltz - **Gladwell, Landrock & Cecile Pk Residents Action Group, N8;** John Waller – **Bounds Green & District RA,** **N11;** Sue Hessel – **Haslemere Road RA, N8;** Wendy Keenan - **Fountain Area RA, N15;** Adam Coffman - **Fairfax Road RA, N8;** Kit Grieveson – **Stroud Green RA, N4;** Ibilola Campbell **- Tiverton RA, N15;** Catherine Cavanagh - **Reed Rd and Devon Close RA, N17;** Stephen Whittle - **West Green RA, N15/N22;** Candy Amsden - **Clyde Area RA, N15;** Francois Ballay - **Gardens RA, N4;** Marian Janes – **CASCH RA, N6; Seamus Carey – Dowsett Estate RA, N17;** Matt Bradby – **Tower Gardens RG, N17;** Chico Pacheco – **Park Ave South NW, N8;** Wendy Keenan – **Fountain Area RA, N15;** Brenda Babalola – **Tenants’ Advocate for Grovelands, Lemsford and Leabank Estate, N15**
 * 1. ** **__Minutes of July 14th 2009 Meeting__** //__Accuracy:__// Agreed
 * 2. ** **__Local reports__** The RAs present reported on their local news and activities.
 * 3. __Health Services__ ** After a number of discussion meetings in various venues over the last few months the Stop Haringey Health Cuts Coalition, which the Federation has been a founder member of since 2006, has decided to rename itself the Defend Haringey’s Health Services (DHHS) coalition. It will continue to encourage local communities to oppose cuts, closures and privatisation around the borough, and support long term health service improvements. The DHHS have also agreed to refer to Haringey LINk those interested in monitoring and consultation around health services. The Federation’s older people’s officer, Lauritz, is on the LINk committee.
 * 4. __Community Toilets__ ** Following pressure from the Federation, supported by the Haringey Forum for Older People, the Council had promised that July would see a partial roll out of a new scheme for free public access to toilets in cafes, pubs and buildings. No news on this.
 * 5. ** **__Green spaces__** Publicity has at last gone out about the new //__‘Parkforce’__// partnership working and increased on-site staffing in many green spaces. Also, key groups have been meeting up with the Council to talk about a new //__Biodiversity Action Plan__// for Haringey.
 * 6. __Street Scene__ ** Chris Barker, the Federation’s Living Streets officer reported back from the //__Haringey Transport Forum__//. Meetings are constructive and open to all residents groups. Discussions at those meetings, and other street scene issues, include: the details of planned traffic calming measures and road maintenance; 20mph zones (and making 20mph the default speed limit for all the borough’s residential streets – which is now an aim in neighbouring Islington); possibility of one or two more special ‘home zones’ where pedestrians and traffic share the street equally – residents asked to propose suitable streets with local support for the idea; LBH have 3 speed cameras which local RAs can borrow if they have a problem with speeding traffic. Joyce added that Park View Road had recently had high quality paving stones put in, which are apparently available for other areas if requested (presumably where there are plans to re-do pavements).
 * 7. __Sustainability__ ** We agreed to support and publicise plans by the Sustainable Haringey network for //__2 weeks of local events in December__// 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]
 * 8. __Community Spirit__ ** We were very pleased to note more //__street and estate parties__// this summer (including 3 on the Warner Estate alone!). We believe this is partly due to annual encouragement from the Federation and increasing recognition by the Council that this is something all can do – but also due to the first ever national Big Lunch day of local food-sharing parties in public places. It was reported that the //__ Muswell Hill Festival (Sept 13th) __// and the //__Lordship Rec__// __Festival (Sept 12th)__ were major community-run events about to take place in parks. The HFRA was also planning a stall at the //__Green Lanes Food Festival__// organised by local residents and traders on a closed Green Lanes in Harringay on Sept 20th. And another event was planned for //__Northbank/Pages Lane__// on the 19th.
 * 9. __Housing__ **//__ Affordable Warmth __// A number of RA and Federation reps attended a Council event (22.7) to promote home energy saving schemes and policies. There were some very constructive discussions about the need for borough-wide insulation and energy saving programmes.
 * 10. __Planning Issues__ ** //__Local Development Framework__// The Federation held a highly successful seminar on planning issues related to the new ‘Local Development Framework’ for Haringey. We are now preparing to host a 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 could include discussions about planning issues regarding green spaces, heritage, sustainability, street scene, local alternative plans, how to object to planning applications etc.
 * 11. __Heritage and conservation__ ** There have been concerns expressed over the quality of the current appraisal (review) of the //__Crouch End Conservation Area__//. Bob Maltz (GLC-RAG) and Joyce Rosser (HFRA Chair) have been discussing organising a public meeting for residents in the area. Joyce is also considering a //__borough-wide meeting for all conservation groups__//. A //__new conservation committee__// has been set up by residents of Noel Park to promote and protect the heritage aspects of the Noel Park estate / conservation area. They will work alongside the local residents association. National //__Open House weekend__// is due on Sept 20th, when many rarely-viewed heritage buildings open their doors to the public.
 * 12. __Licensing__ ** Concern expressed over use of a gun in a //__Muswell Hill nightclub__//. We noted the strong Crouch End residents’ campaign over a proposed new ‘//__lap-dancing’ club__//.
 * 13. __Federation business__ ** //__ Federation email news bulletins / website __// Still seeking a volunteer from a local RA to help with news bulletins, and calendar on website. Federation officers Chris Barker (Living Streets) and Joyce Rosser (Heritage & Conservation) offered to help with pages relevant to their themes.

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