Agenda and draft minutes

Following the meeting between ward Councillors, representatives from the pharmacy, the health centre and NHS North Central London on 27 July 2012, an update was requested for the next Committee meeting.  ACTION: Clerk

Post Meeting note - From NHS North Central London (Angela Ezimora-West, Contracts and Performance Manager – GP) -

Marion Lombardelli (Practice Manager) has been sent the details of a practice manager of a practice in Islington with a similar list size that has made good progress in improving access over the past few years.  They have also been given a copy of an access pack.  Marion seemed very receptive to both these suggestions of support.  I have agreed with Marion that I will speak to her again at the beginning of next month to see whether Somerset Gardens have adopted any of the ideas suggested by the practice or the plan.  There have been no access PALs contacts or complaints received about this practice in the last quarter.

Issues raised by residents during the Area Forum

Waste Collections

·        The change in collection date could lead to missed collections, and a build up of refuse at some properties.

Officers assured the Committee that this would not happen – additional vehicles would be put on the collection rounds to pick up any missed collections.

·        A resident referred to the compostable liners for food waste and asked how the Council had addressed the issue of the extra cost for households to buy the special liners.

Officers explained that food waste did not need to be in liners to go into the food waste bin.  However, those residents who did want to purchase bags could do so through Veolia.  Options were being looked at with regards to the feasibility of the Council providing bags, but a decision was yet to be made.

·        Street-sweepers were not always reporting issues – for example, fly tipping incidents, and broken glass left on the streets.

All street-sweepers were required to report issues – these issues would be taken up with the Veolia Village manager to ensure that routes were monitored on a regular basis.

·        Bins were not always returned to properties following waste collections.  This posed a number of problems – for example, bins could get lost, some elderly residents were not able to move the bins back to their own properties, and there were potential security issues.

Officers accepted that this was not good enough and that it needed to improve.  Weekly visits were carried out and the message would be re-iterated to staff.  Once the last phase had been implemented, each route would have the same crew each week, which would make it easier for the management team to monitor and manage issues.

Residents could contact Veolia by telephone – 020 8885 7700 – or email –enquiries.haringey@veolia.co.uk

Council Tax Reduction Scheme

·        A resident asked whether the reductions in Council Tax benefits would be the same across other boroughs.

Each Local Authority would develop their own proposals, based on consultation and their own circumstances.

·        What affect could the reduction in Council Tax Benefit have on some residents?

If a resident received 100% Council Tax Benefits under the current scheme would receive an 80% reduction in their bill.  For a claimant in a band ‘d’ property, this would mean that their benefit would be reduced by £298.21 per year and so they would have to pay this towards their Council Tax bill.  This would equate to £5.73 per week.

Houses in Multiple Occupation – proposed additional Licensing Scheme

·        Was it possible for private rents to be capped?

The Local Authority have no powers to cap private rents.

·        What would happen to tenants if a licence was revoked?

The Local Authority would take action against the landlord to make sure that properties were maintained to an acceptable standard.  Where there were too many tenants, a landlord would not be required to evict them but it would be expected that the number would reduce over time  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.