Issue - meetings

Mildura Court Residents Association

A presentation was provided by Mr Alex Hearn, Chair of the Mildura Court Residents Association, setting out the challenges and achievements of the group since its establishment.

Mildura Court is comprised of thirty eight mixed tenure flats and includes Homes for Haringey tenants. The Residents Association (RA) had been established following a general feeling amongst residents that a focus was needed in respect of the following issues:

• Repairs and maintenance
• Environmental improvements
• Low level Anti Social Behaviour (ASB)
• Decent Homes Programme
• Parking

Mr Hearn noted that although residents had been keen to establish an RA there had been a lack of knowledge about what the process around and what this entailed. However, Council officers and local Ward Members had provided support and information with respect to training and fund raising opportunities.

A positive relationship had been cultivated with various departments across the Council and with other agencies, which had been beneficial to local residents and key achievements included:

• Installation of new litter and refuse bins
• Neighbourhood Watch
• Free estate parking for residents
• Environmental improvements
• Raising of £13K in eighteen months 

Mr Hearn noted that although setting up a RA could be daunting the support available from the Council and other agencies made the process easier. The benefits brought about by closer relationships with the Council, Police and other agencies, was worthwhile.

The Chair thanked Mr Hearn for his presentation.

Neighbourhood Watch

Sergeant John McGrath noted the Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) had a goal to establish a Neighbourhood Watch (NW) group in every street in the Borough. Establishing a point of contact in every street allowed the Police to disseminate information more rapidly and provided an additional mechanism via which residents could report matters of concern.

It was noted that there was a NW Coordinator in place and that support would be provided to any new group in terms of organising the initial meeting. After this a volunteer to lead the group would need to be identified and this person would act as a coordinator for the group.

NW groups were free to meet as frequently as they wished and there were no prescribed rules or obligations in place around the format of meetings. Sergeant McGrath invited anyone who was interested in establishing NW group to speak to him during the break or contact him following the meeting.

The Chair thanked Sergeant McGrath for his contribution.