Agenda item
TO RECEIVE ANY PETITIONS OR DEPUTATIONS
The valid petitions and deputations received for presentation to the meeting are set out in the report at agenda item 5.
Any further valid petitions or deputations received before the deadline in the Council’s constitution will be tabled at the meeting.
Decision:
The Order of Business was varied during the course of the meeting but for ease of reference, the decision sheet is in the same order as the agenda.
PETITIONS
5.1.1 Petition re: Broomfield Street proposed development: This petition was withdrawn and referred instead to the Development Committee as a planning application has now been received in respect of the proposed development.
5.1.2 Petition re: the withdrawal of parking permits at 38 & 40 Horseferry Road and 53 Narrow Street
Ms. Selda Bicer addressed the meeting in support of the petition.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
5.1.3 Petition re: Canton Street garages
Mr. Declan Purcell addressed the meeting in support of the petition.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
5.1.4 Petition re: installation of CCTV in and around Parkview Estate
Ms. Johanna Kashcke addressed the meeting in support of the petition.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture)
DEPUTATIONS
5.2.1 Deputation re: East End Homes Leaseholders & Freeholders Association
Mrs. Gloria Thienel addressed the meeting in support of the deputation.
DECISION
That the deputation be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
5.2.2 Deputation re: Pitsea Estate youth facilities
Mr. Mahbud Alam and Mr. Abdul Malik addressed the meeting in support of the deputation.
DECISION
That the deputation be referred to the Corporate Director, Children, Schools and Families for a written response on outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Isobel Cattermole, Interim Corporate Director, Children, Schools and Families)
Minutes:
PETITIONS
5.1.1 Petition re: Broomfield Street proposed development
This petition was withdrawn and referred instead to the Development Committee as a planning application had been received in respect of the proposed development.
5.1.2 Petition re: the withdrawal of parking permits at 38 & 40 Horseferry Road and 53 Narrow Street
At the invitation of the Mayor, Ms. Selda Bicer addressed the meeting in support of the petition. She then responded to questions from the Members of the Council.
Change to order of business
At this point, Councillor Ajbol Miah MOVED and Councillor Dulal Uddin SECONDED – “That under Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be changed to allow motion 11.5 to be considered after item 5.1.2.”
On being to the vote, the procedural motion was lost.
Councillor Marc Francis, Leader Member for Housing and Development, said that following his own discussions with Ms Bicer last year, Council Officers had looked into the concerns of residents at 38-40 Horseferry Road. There was a section 106 legal agreement signed by the developer Newlon Housing which specified that the development is "car free". This was agreed and signed in 1999. The obligation is on the developer – Newlon - in these instances to inform potential occupiers that the development is car free and they will not be allowed on-street parking permits.
However, in the light of the concerns that these tenancies were not advertised by LBTH as being subject to a Car Free Zone agreement, the Lead Member had requested that officers review this matter. His personal view was that he did not think it was appropriate for the Council to enforce the CFZ on these tenants. However, the council clearly would need to ensure that any such decision was legally watertight. He hoped to have a report back on the way forward in the next month.
In the meantime, the Head of Parking Services had agreed that tenants would be entitled to re-new their Residents Street Parking Permits for another year.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
5.1.3 Petition re: Canton Street garages
At the invitation of the Mayor, Mr. Declan Purcell addressed the meeting in support of the petition. Mr. Purcell and a colleague responded to questions from Members of the Council.
Councillor Marc Francis, Lead Member for Housing and Development, said that no planning application had yet been received in relation to the conversion of the garages in Canton Street into housing. However, Poplar HARCA had told the Council that they were proposing to convert these garages and that they were currently undertaking some more public consultation with local residents. If Poplar HARCA decided to apply for planning permission to convert these garages it would be dealt with in the normal way via the planning application determination route which would involve further consultation.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
5.1.4 Petition re: installation of CCTV in and around Parkview Estate
At the invitation of the Mayor, Ms. Johanna Kaschke addressed the meeting in support of the petition and explained that the petition had originally been started by the mother of a child that had been molested twice on the estate. Ms. Kaschke responded to questions from the Members of the Council.
Councillor Abdal Ullah, Lead Member for Cleaner, Safer, Greener thanked Ms. Kaschke for bringing the petition to the meeting. He explained that CCTV cameras needed to be targeted effectively and Police incident reporting systems were used to decide where they were placed. Unfortunately at this point in time, cameras for the Parkview Estate were not proposed. The Council were not in a position to install CCTV inside estates or in blocks as this would normally fall under the responsibility of the Registered Social Landlord.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
DEPUTATIONS
Change to order of business
At this point, Councillor Tim Archer MOVED and Councillor Peter Golds SECONDED – “That under Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be changed to allow motion 11.4 to be considered after item 5.2.1.”
On being put to the vote, the procedural motion was agreed.
5.2.1 Deputation re: East End Homes Leaseholders & Freeholders Association
At the invitation of the Mayor, Mrs. Gloria Thienel addressed the meeting in support of the deputation. Mrs. Thienel then responded to questions from Members of the Council.
Councillor Marc Francis, Lead Member for Housing and Development, thanked Mrs. Thienel for bringing the deputation to the meeting. The Council itself accepted that the fair and equitable treatment of leaseholders was an absolute necessity. This was demonstrated by its support for an Independent Audit of the 2007/08 service charges. The Council agrees to work with RSLs to recognise and support democratic and representative resident structures that meet the reasonable recognition criteria agreed by the RSL Board Members.
Councillor Francis informed the Council that the Board of East End Homes had considered a request for the formation of a new leasehold structure from the Island Gardens Leaseholders Association in December 2007 and had agreed to seek the views of local boards in respect of separate leasehold representation. The result of this consultation was fed back to the Board and discussed in April 2008. The consensus from the consultation process suggested that the current inclusive arrangements for leaseholder involvement and representation at Local Board level should be maintained. It was further noted that leaseholders are well represented on all local boards and, on several, form the majority of the Board.
As a result of this feedback, East End Homes have formally advised the Chair of IGLA that a report is being prepared on local governance and resident involvement that will be considered at their next Board meeting at the end of January 2010. Part of that discussion will include the formation of the EEHLFA, and Mrs Thienel had been invited to make representations at that meeting. It was anticipated that following this meeting work could commence on developing a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with EEHLFA.
This would take account of the priority the organisation gives to local Boards and their requirements. Councillor Francis stated that councillors on his side of the Chamber welcomed this development and had confidence in its outcome.
RESOLVED
That the deputation be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
11.4 Motion proposed by Councillor Tim Archer regarding East End Homes Leaseholders and Freeholders Association
Councillor Tim Archer MOVED and Councillor Peter Golds SECONDED the motion as printed in the agenda.
Councillor Marc Francis MOVED, and Councillor Lutfur Rahman SECONDED, an amendment to the motion to delete text after “This Council notes” and replace with:-
- “East End Homes is a resident-led housing association, with six tenants and two leaseholders on its Board;
- East End Homes took on some of those council estates suffering most from the historic under-investment in council housing;
- East End Homes has been assessed as being a Two-Star “Good” organisation by the independent Audit Commission;
- The dissatisfaction expressed by some leaseholders and freeholders of East End Homes;
- The formation of the borough-wide East End Homes Leaseholders and Freeholders Association (EEHLFA);
- That East End Homes is committed to working to establish a constructive relationship with EEHLFA and has invited representatives to its Board meeting on 28th January.
This Council believes that:
- Genuine engagement, transparency and accountability are the key to achieving a high quality housing management service and improving Value for Money for leaseholders and tenants alike;
- Democratically-elected local Estate Management Boards are an essential component of the governance arrangements at East End Homes;
- A good working relationship with other groups set up to represent residents of East End Homes would be a positive step forward;
- Increased involvement with EEHLFA would help address the concerns of some of East End Home’s freeholders and leaseholders.
This Council therefore resolves to:
Encourage the Board of East End Homes to recognise the EEHLFA through an agreed Memorandum of Understanding with that organisation and work positively to resolve leaseholder/freeholder issues.”
After debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was agreed.
The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
- East End Homes is a resident-led housing association, with six tenants and two leaseholders on its Board;
- East End Homes took on some of those council estates suffering most from the historic under-investment in council housing;
- East End Homes has been assessed as being a Two-Star “Good” organisation by the independent Audit Commission;
- The dissatisfaction expressed by some leaseholders and freeholders of East End Homes;
- The formation of the borough-wide East End Homes Leaseholders and Freeholders Association (EEHLFA);
- That East End Homes is committed to working to establish a constructive relationship with EEHLFA and has invited representatives to its Board meeting on 28th January.
This Council believes that:
- Genuine engagement, transparency and accountability are the key to achieving a high quality housing management service and improving Value for Money for leaseholders and tenants alike;
- Democratically-elected local Estate Management Boards are an essential component of the governance arrangements at East End Homes;
- A good working relationship with other groups set up to represent residents of East End Homes would be a positive step forward;
- Increased involvement with EEHLFA would help address the concerns of some of East End Home’s freeholders and leaseholders.
This Council therefore resolves to:
Encourage the Board of East End Homes to recognise the EEHLFA through an agreed Memorandum of Understanding with that organisation and work positively to resolve leaseholder/freeholder issues.
5.2.2 Deputation re: Pitsea Estate youth facilities
On the invitation of the Mayor, Mr. Mahbud Alam and Mr. Abdul Malik addressed the meeting in support of the deputation. Messrs Alam and Malik then responded to questions from Members of the Council.
Councillor Abdul Asad, Lead Member for Children, Schools and Families, said the Youth & Connexions Service delivered a number of youth provisions in the vicinity of Pitsea Estate, in particular the Martineau Village Club (Lukin Street) which was walking distance from the Pitsea Estate. The Rapid Response Team also offered mobile provision in Lowood Street, Shadwell again walking distance form Pitsea Estate and also mobile provision on Monday and Friday between 6.00-9.00pm. The Youth Service also had a designated venue known as the Tower Project (Whitehorse Road) which had facilities for young people with Special Educational Needs.
The idea of having a youth facility on every street corner was good however it defeated the objective of creating a community who was willing to travel and also reinforced the territorial boundaries by creating clubs based on post codes which by default would create particular affiliations which the youth service was working hard to stop.
The Youth & Connexions Service understood the concerns of the residents of Pitsea Estate and would be happy to meet with the delegating parties to meet with the local youth provider, Bishop Challoner School, which the Council was happy to host and explore possibilities of linking and sign posting these young people into nearby Village club and also link the work with Connexions to support the young people into employment and training opportunities.
RESOLVED
That the deputation be referred to the Corporate Director, Children, Schools and Families for a written response on outstanding matters within 28 days.
Supporting documents: