Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the following:

Cllr Kober, Leader of the Council

The Chair welcomed those present to the meeting and gave an overview of the items that would be discussed.

Making a Difference Programme

It was noted that people representing groups that had received funding from the Making a Difference Programme would be asked to participate in a group photo to celebrate the 2009 successful projects. 

Due to widespread concern by local residents, Cllr Diakides asked the council’s Director of Resources (Julie Parker) to provide a brief update on the subject, outlining the current situation, the action taken by the authorities and the latest advice to the public.

It was noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had raised the level of alert to global pandemic status on 11 June.

Following this the Government altered the focus of its strategy to tackle the virus from containment to treatment. In practical terms this meant that the virus would be diagnosed clinically rather than testing patients and waiting for results to be obtained from laboratories.  

In addition antiviral medication would now be issued to people showing symptoms rather than anyone who had been in contact with the virus.

The council and NHS Haringey continue to monitor the situation through a special joint committee and NHS Haringey is preparing to establish collection points for antiviral drugs if this became necessary.

Special leaflets have been already circulated to local residents and further copies are available at local libraries and other information points.

Key symptoms of the virus included:

• high temperature
• cough
• runny nose
• sore throat
• headache
• joint pain
• diarrhoea
• vomiting

In order to limit the spread of the virus general good respiratory hygiene was recommended. It was also recommended that people plan ahead and establish ‘flu friends’ who could help if an individual fell ill. In addition it was also recommended that people keep a supply of the usual cough and cold remedies.  

It was noted that the Council and NHS Haringey were working closely to ensure that the necessary support was in place for vulnerable residents and to ensure that the relevant community groups received the necessary information.

It was noted that the Council would be required to select a new Leadership Model in Spring 2010 and the second phase of consultation with respect to this would commence on 22 July. Further information was available on the Council’s website.

The legislation provides for only two alternatives:

(a)       A directly elected Executive Mayor, (ie elected by all voters at a direct election) who will have wide executive powers over the authority’s operations (including appointing and dismissing Cabinet members at will) for 4 years, or

(b)       an indirectly elected Executive Leader of the Council (ie elected by all the councillors) who will also have wide executive powers over the authority’s operations (including appointing and dismissing Cabinet members at will) for 4 years

With respect to comments made that a vote should be have been held with regard to the new Leadership Model during the recent European Election, the meeting was advised that there were strict regulations around what could be included within a ballot paper that prohibited this. The Chair suggested that local residents should raise this with the local MP.

It was agreed that further details of where the consultation exercise would be publicised would be circulated to those present.

Making The Difference Programme

It was noted that over 169 applications had been received (totalling over £750k worth of bids) against £50k of available resources, which was the highest number of bids in the borough.  From this forty-five successful projects and three reserve had been shortlisted and our assembly was again successful in securing a matching contribution of £10k from the NDC, which enabled us to support more bids than otherwise.

In a new development Neighbourhoods had also provided 2 workshops (1 in the East and 1 in the West of the borough) covering all the requirements of successfully organising and delivering projects. In addition to ensure all projects are properly supported each one has a designated project officer that will work with groups.

Those who had not been successful in obtaining funding had been provided with information on alternative sources of funding. 

Community Pay Back Scheme

Projects were being sought that would benefit from unpaid labour from offenders and those present were asked to advise the Neighbourhoods Team if they were aware of any local  projects requiring free labour. 

West Green Road / Philip Lane Strategy Group

At the invitation of the chair of the Assembly Cllr Diakides, the Leader of the Council Cllr Kober, accompanied by senior council officials, had visited the West Green Road / Philip Lane area to give traders an opportunity to highlight issues of local concern. During the visit the Leader had discussions with local business people who were part of the West Green Road and Philip Lane Business Strategy Group and the issues raised were being taken up by the Neighbourhoods Team.

Markfield Park –‘Walking Wednesdays’

It was noted that ‘Walking Wednesdays’ were being held in Markfield Park and that the two designated meeting points were Crowland Road and South Tottenham Station.  Anyone was welcome to join the group.

Home Composting Scheme

Residents were asked to contact Adam Parvez Environmental Resources Officer for Sustainable Food, Policy and Projects on 0208 489 5691, regarding this scheme. If there was sufficient interest expressed Adam willing to attend resident’s association meetings to discuss the scheme further.

Nick Rau of the Fountain Area Residents Association gave a presentation on the environmental improvements being made in the area, focussing particularly on the ‘Revamp the Ramp’ project.

This area had been targeted as it was currently a hot spot for Anti Social Behaviour (ASB), fly tipping and was poorly lit. The group had carried out a questionnaire that established that local residents supported the project and funding has been obtained from the Making the Difference Programme.

To kick start the project an event had been held to raise awareness and further consultation was planned with local residents to determine exactly how the funding should be spent to improve the area.

It was confirmed that when ‘consultation’ was referred to it did not mean that external consultants were being employed and that the group itself would undertake this work.

As an interim measure, the RA also carried out a small planting project on parts of the area around the ramp (Lomond Close and Southey Rd car park verges), which was carried out by resident volunteers, with help from Homes for Haringey, Neighbourhood Management and the council’s Parks department. The RA intends to look after the plants with water provided through a specially purchased long hose-pipe, using the supply from the house of one of the RA members.

The Chair of the Tiverton Estate Residents Association, Ibilola Campbell, gave an overview of a project the group had been piloting to establish an area where residents could grow their own food.

It was noted that Homes for Haringey had supported the project and that other Residents Associations and schools had also been enlisted to help develop the scheme and these groups had helped provide recycled materials such as pallets and compost.

Further information would be provided when details of how the scheme would be rolled out had been agreed.

A brief presentation was given by Jane Anderson, a plot holder at the Marsh Lane Allotments, one of the oldest allotments in Haringey.

The site consisted of eighty-seven plots and was used by a wide range of people. The allotments were situated in a largely industrial area and provided an area of green space for local people to grown their own food. They also provided an opportunity for people from different sections of the community to try new foods and exchange ideas.

There was also a large element of recycling and a ‘trading shed’ had been established where seeds and plants were sold or swapped. Any profit derived from this was invested back into the allotments.

The social benefits of being a plot holder were an integral part of the experience and barbeques and other events were organised and these helped foster a sense of community. 

Following the presentation several people expressed concern at the length of the wait for allotments and it was suggested that there should be an increased drive to turn derelict pieces of land into spaces where people could grow food. 

The meeting was provided with an overview of the work being carried out by ‘Tottenham Chances’, part of a charitable trust managing the former British Legion building.

The aim of the project was to provide a forum for local people to pursue arts and crafts, gardening, theatre and other activities. It was hoped that the Trust will establish management committees consisting of local residents would eventually be established to manage various project on a long term basis.

It was also noted that volunteers were being sought to help convert part of the existing car park to a garden and a regular sustainable local food market.

Neighbourhood Management will be supporting the project to develop a Community Garden Project by digging over the tarmac car park. An update on progress would be provided as the project developed.

NB There were also exhibitions and information stalls about other local sustainable food initiatives (eg the “Living Under One Sun” initiative at the Tottenham Hale allotments – re-landscaping the site with the help of volunteer operatives from Lovells the Decent Homes Standard contractors working with local residents) and information about other local projects, like the Sustainable Food Network, the …. Operating from Broadwater Farm Centre and so on).

Allotments / Sustainable Food Sources

The Chair noted that there was a growing movement towards the use of allotments and sustainable food sources and in response to this the Council had recently appointed an Allotments Officer to work with residents on this issue.  In addition an officer Working Group had been established to help residents identify areas of unused land that may be suitable for this type of use.

There was agreement that a briefing note should be drafted setting out the work that was being undertaken and who residents should contact to obtain further information. 

It was suggested that a mechanism should be formed by the Council so that areas of land identified by local people could be brought into use more quickly.

An update was provided on the position at Wolves Lane following the Council’s decision to take over its management after funding had been withdrawn.

The site includes a mini-tropical garden in a glass house and plant nurseries as well as a café and other facilities. It is the base of a special project for people with learning difficulties (working in the nurseries and the café) and is used as a training facility where basic catering and horticultural qualifications could be earned..

The plants nursery, tropical hot house and other facilities, need refurbishment and options for this, including seeking match funding, were being considered at present, by the council working with users and other community interests.

The educational element of the nursery was particularly successful and was well used by local schools. Developing this further was seen as being essential to the long term stability of the nursery.

Councillor Diakides expressed his support for the nursery and noted that the unique approach to environmental issues and supporting individuals with social care needs into work was greatly valued by the local community. These comments were echoed by other residents and Councillors present and people were encouraged to visit the nursery.

Cllr Diakides also expressed his hope that local community organisations get involved in the future development of the nursery and use the opportunity to eventually the centre into the base for all community activities involving sustainable local garden and food production and promotion of healthy food.

In response to a query the meeting was advised that although securing funding was an ongoing issue the commitment given by the Local Authority to support the nursery had provided the stability necessary for the nursery to be sustained.  

An update would be provided as the project developed.

Councillor Lorna Reith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, introduced the item and noted that over £200M would be invested in schools in the Borough as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. 

In addition to improving the facilities provided within schools for children and young people there was also a focus on providing new facilities for the whole of the local community. The Local Authority would be encouraging Head Teachers and School Governors to open up the new facilities for greater community use. It was anticipated that this approach would also foster a closer relationship between the schools, communities and parents.

The two schools receiving funding in the Tottenham and Seven Sisters area were John Loughborough and Gladesmore; (as well as the  Parkview Academy at the border of area).  An overview was given of the work being carried out and questions were taken.

It was noted that there was a standard specification that buildings constructed as part of the scheme were expected to achieve in terms of sustainability. However, in some cases there were restrictions due to existing buildings or certain site constraints, which meant that sustainable features could not be implemented as fully as they would be in new buildings.

In response to concerns that schools would not be willing to open up their facilities for use during the evening and weekends, Councillor Reith advised that she was raising this issue with Head Teachers and encouraging them to take a flexible approach to this. However, schools and Governors could not be compelled by the Local Authority to cooperate.

The new IT facilities being installed were discussed and concerns over the use of laptops were recognized. However, it was noted that technology developed rapidly and there was a need to balance this against providing facilities that could be adapted to meet these changing requirements.

Prior to the last item the Chair asked the meeting note the following:

• Sergeant Iain Williams of the Tottenham Green Safer Neighbourhoods Team had recently been promoted and his replacement, Lee Hobbs would be invited to attend the next meeting.

• 16 August the Annual Summer Down Lane Festival taking place –this was being organised jointly by the Chestnut Area Residents Association and the Friends of Down Lane Park, with support from the Assembly’s MTD programme and Neighbourhood Development Team.

• 12 September Tottenham Village Show being held at Lordship Rec

• 2 August a ‘Seed Swapping’ event  being held at Bruce Castle

• Tottenham and Seven Sisters Website – it was proposed by a resident that the monthly newsletter and diary of local events produced by Councillor Diakides should be expanded upon and turned into a local community website for the area, along similar lines to Haringey on-line. Anyone interested in contributing to the development of this should contact Sue Penny following the meeting.

Councillor Lorna Reith and Councillor Dhiren Basu took questions from members of the public.

Recycling Collection at the Tiverton Estate

In response to concern around the decision to no longer issue blue rubbish bags to residents and the problems this had created for residents in terms of moving their recyclable rubbish;

Councillor Reith explained that the blue gag scheme had to be discontinued in certain estates as a result of advice from the Fire Brigade (which had raised concerns at the storage of rubbish on landings as it presented a fire hazard) and that the council with Homes for Haringey were looking at all possible alternatives.

Councillor Reith agreed to raise this issue with officers and report back through the Neighbourhoods Team.

Wards Corner

The meeting was advised that legal advice was being sought by the Council at present. Once the Leader of the Council was in receipt of this a statement would be issued. Now the current legal case is at an end WCC requested a meeting with the Leader which Cllr Reith said she would take back.

Use of Bailiffs by the Council

A resident raised concern with respect to the way his Mother had been treated by Bailiffs employed by the Council and the Director of Corporate Resources agreed to discuss this issue in more detail outside the meeting.

Public Toilets

Concerns raised about lack of public toilet facilities in the area and numerous incidents of people urinating in public spaces.

Cllr Reith referred to a study done some tome ago on the issue and promised to take it up with the relevant department and report back.