Forum Minutes 05 03 2014

MINUTES FROM THE MEETING HELD ON 5th MARCH 2014
AT 2.15PM, SHERWOOD COURT, KIRKBY IN ASHFIELD
Present:
Tenants and Residents Associations
Cath Garrett
Chair AFTRA / George
Doreen Savage
Secretary AFTRA / Carsic TRA
Street TRA
Steve Needham
SAT
Pat Housley
SAT
Pat Simms
Coxmoor TRA
George Slack
Coxmoor TRA / Board Member
Fred Bramley
George Street TRA
Barrie Hurst-Green Reach Out Residents Group
Ken Cotham
Hucknall Central
Myrrha Hibbert
Reach Out Residents Group /
Gateway
Dennis Mayoh
Welbeck Community
John Marriott
Gateway
Association
Jenny Mayoh
Welbeck Community
Association
Ashfield Homes Ltd
Nicky Moss
Tenancy Services
Justin Catton
Planned, Cyclical and Estates
Manager
Maintenance Manager
Andrew Filer
Interim Tenant
Participation Officer
Ashfield District Council
Councillors
Charlie Edwards – Community Protection
Cllr Linford Gibbons
Cllr John Wilmott
Other
Andrew Cowie – EMH Homes
Apologies
Kate Slack – Coxmoor TRA
Teena Needham - SAT
Cllr A Patrick
Joseph Hughes – Coxmoor TRA
Cllr C Butler
All other Hucknall Councillors
Please be aware that the above have been taken from the attendance sheet
Please ensure that you have signed in at meetings to be recorded as present and
receive minutes
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1
Welcome and Introductions
Cath Garrett (Chair) welcomed everyone to the meeting, with introductions being
made around the table.
2
Apologies
See page 1
3
Minutes and matters arising from the previous meeting
The minutes were passed as a true representation of the meeting.
ACTION
Page 2
AF advised NM’s apologies had been added to the minutes from 4th September
2013, as they had been missed off.
NM advised she had resolved an enquiry raised by Cllr A Patrick
Page 3
A discussion about an event with Paddy Tipping is down as agenda item 4.
A Lead Environmental Officer from ADC was not present at the meeting despite
Sam Dennis committing to this. AF to coordinate with Sam Dennis.
AF
Page 4
Andrew Cowie from EMH Homes attended the meeting and advised they currently
have around 600 properties within Ashfield, and there is also current expansion
where they are taking over some smaller Housing Associations. EMH Homes are
happy to work with community groups where they have stock such as around
Stanton Hill and Coxmoor. If anyone would like further information from Andrew,
please email [email protected].
4
Policing in Ashfield
Following on discussions from previous meetings, CG has been in contact with
Paddy Tipping’s office to try and arrange a wider event giving community groups the
opportunity to ask questions of Paddy Tipping on the ‘big picture’ questions about
policing in Ashfield, and need to be pre-notified to Paddy Tipping so that he can give
a full response. If there were specific local questions, there would need to be
addressed through the local sergeant.
This will be a Special Meeting, with Tuesdays or Thursdays the preference as per
Paddy Tipping’s availability. CG to organise date with Paddy Tipping’s office, and
coordinate with AF to book an appropriate venue.
AF will then help with producing invitations, posters and flyers to help promote the
event, making it clear that the questions need to be given in advance.
A further discussion then took place on the availability of the Police attending local
community group meetings. This included a discussion about Safer Neighbourhood
Committee meetings which have a varied success rate across the District.
CE advised that the Community Protection Team attend as many meetings as they
can. They also do regular ring rounds with ‘key’ local residents such as reps from
community groups to check on any local issues.
CE added that the CPO’s also target work around public perception and feeling
rather than figures of crime, which is how the Police work. This therefore means that
although they work closely together, their priorities are often different.
2
CG / AF
AF
5
Board update
George Slack gave an overview of the discussions that took place over the January
Board meeting.
The full reports can be found on the Ashfield Homes website, or on request.
It was agreed for the overview provided to have a short summary of what each
report was for. AF is also to bring along some copies of the published minutes for
members to look at.
6
AF
Training and development
AF gave an update on upcoming training courses that had already been arranged,
asking for any feedback, and also for any future courses the group felt would be
useful for their roles.
Members felt the ‘Better Meetings’ and ‘Safeguarding’ sessions were particularly
good.
‘Basic Emergency First Aid’ and ‘Tackling Community Issues’ were talked about as
further sessions. CE advised that he provides training on community issues. AF to
discuss with CE to potentially take this forward.
Food hygiene was also mentioned, with PS advising that community groups can get
this free through Vision West Notts College, so if anyone is interested they would
need to contact them directly.
A discussion on youth involvement followed mentioning the good work Catch 22
provide (including work with Carsic TRA), and that Notts County Council have a new
officer who can support youth projects (details have been sent to TRA’s by AF
already).
CG also advised of a project the George Street Area TRA are starting with the youth
of the area in commemoration and celebration of local people who lost their lives
through the First World War. Cllr Jim Grundy and the British Legion are supporting
them with this.
7
Tenant Participation update
Andrew advised that the Complaints ’Designated Panel’ made up of AFTRA
representatives is now up and running, and have just had their first case to review.
Andrew advised the Tenants Gateway currently has 4 vacancies (1 x Sutton, 1 x
Hucknall and 2 x Rural). In addition to this Myrrha Hibbert has currently been coopted as an Interim Board Member until the election process has been finalised.
A further resignation has now seen a vacancy in Kirkby, meaning there are currently
5 vacancies.
Andrew confirmed that there was some Mystery Shopping currently taking place
with the Repairs Contact Centre, and Lettings Team.
There are currently 12 TRA groups across the District (not all supported by AHL),
with Hucknall Central and welbeck Community Association, now with a fully formed
committee. ADC are also supporting a potential new group in Sutton to cover
around Outram Street / St Michaels area.
There are then a few that are struggling with lack of interest, such as Kirkby West,
Holly Hill and Alfreton Road Area, with ongoing support being provided where
possible.
Work is ongoing to generally advertise and promote TRAs, with recent mail shots
also going out to estates that had groups over recent years to gauge interest in
setting further groups up, though very limited interest has been received back.
Members felt that the lack of major issues in areas, fear of reprisal from being
involved were barriers to people getting involved with a TRA.
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AF
It was felt that alternative less formal methods of Involvement should be
investigated such as using Social Media. NM advised AHL are looking to review the
Tenants Compact this year, so will be looking to do some wide consultation on this
in the summer.
AF also advised members that good feedback had been received on the recent
Annual report, and thanked the relevant Gateway members who helped with this.
The latest Tenant Magazine is currently being collated, so if anyone has ideas for
articles or good news stories from their community groups, please forward these
through to AF for consideration.
8
Future Items for Discussion
Members discussed inviting a representative from the local Credit Union to help
promote the work they do, and also to invite along someone to discuss Foodbanks
in the District again to help promote these with the aid of TRAs. AF to coordinate.
AF
Cllr Wilmott advised he was also on the Board for the local NHS and the local
Clinical Commissioning Group, so could coordinate a representative to attend if
required.
9
Any Other Business
FB raised concern over the types of smoke alarms in properties, and where they are
located. JC to look in to and feedback at the next meeting.
NM advised on behalf of Cllr A Patrick (who was unable to attend the meeting) that
ADC are currently looking at a protential programme to replace storage heaters. Cllr
Patrick will bring along further information to the next meeting.
Dates of Future Meetings
•
4th June 2014
•
3rd September 2014
•
3rd December 2014
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JC

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