Agenda item
TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
The questions which have been received from members of the public to be put at this meeting are set out in the attached report.
A maximum period of 20 minutes is allocated to this agenda item.
Decision:
6.1 Question from Mr Ares Zaimes re: an elected representative for St George’s Estate on the Main Board of East End Homes. (No supplementary question was asked).
6.2 Question from Ms Claire Drake re: Balfron Tower.
6.3 Question from Ms Lorraine Cavanagh OBE re: monk parakeets on the Isle of Dogs
The above questions and in each case (except where indicated) a supplementary question were put and were responded to by the relevant Cabinet Member.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes:
6.1 Question from Mr Ares Zaimes:-
Residents are deeply concerned that the estate has no elected representative on the Main Board of East End Homes.
East End Homes has terminated the rights of residents to be represented on its Main Board by an elected local board member, who has proper delegated authority from fellow residents, and who can relay to the Main Board the concerns of the community living on St George’s Estate. This is at a time when we are grappling with a mass of problems in relation to a major construction programme that could meaningfully be resolved only at Main Board level.
East End Homes has effectively eradicated accountable resident involvement in the organization's strategic thinking and operational decisions on St George’s and other of its estates.
Do you agree that it is now time for a full review of East End Homes’ governance arrangements and the reinstatement of resident rights to Main Board representation that is accountable to residents?
Response by Councilllor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing:-
Thank you for your question. This is not the first time that this matter has been raised with me and I receive many letters and e-mails about East End Homes (EEH). After previous enquiries I managed to arrange a meeting with St George’s estate residents and EEH. At the meeting it was very clear that residents were extremely upset and concerned that they were not being properly represented or listened to. I asked that they be made fully aware of the terms of the EEH formal Proposal document and that copies be made available to them.
Tenant involvement on the boards of housing associations is extremely important. I am committed to ensuring that this is the case for all our RSLs and that tenants are treated well.
It may be that the current involvement arrangements conform to the constitution for EEH but that is not good enough.
I have worked with the Tenants Federation to improve resident involvement on boards and the St George’s estate board decided to convert to a TRA
A Panel is to be introduced that will be able to refer such complaints to the Housing Ombudsman. Have St George’s residents been approached on this matter?
[Mr Zaimes replied that they had not.]
No supplementary question was asked.
Change to Order of Business
Councillor Tim Archer MOVED, and Councillor Dr Emma Jones SECONDED, a procedural motion – “That under procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow motion 12.10 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12.10 East End Homes
Councillor Dr Emma Jones and Councillor Tim Archer altered the wording of their motion in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.8.1.
Councillor Emma Jones MOVED, and Councillor Tim Archer SECONDED the amended motion.
Following debate, the motion as amended was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes that:-
1 A Council-organised meeting was held between East End Homes residents, councillors and representatives of East End Homes on 11th April 2011. A representative of EEH was also in attendance.
2. The minutes of this meeting clearly show that each estate felt that improvements in resident involvement and representation on EEH’s board were needed urgently.
3. The St George’s estate has currently undergoing extensive construction work and it is important during this time that the estate is democratically represented.
4. Currently the EEH management board does not have a representative elected by St George’s estate residents.
This Council believes that:-
1. RSLs have a responsibility to ensure democratically elected representation for tenants, leaseholders and freeholders on estate management boards.
2. The election of resident representatives to the Main Board of EeH is documented in the Memorandum & Articles of Association of the Company and is integral to the Council’s original intention in establishing EeH as a stock transfer organisation.
This Council resolves to:
1. Urge EeH in the strongest possible terms to hold elections in each local estate area for resident representatives to the Main Board within six months.
6.2 Question from Miss Claire Drake:-
Tenants and residents are delighted that the refurbishment works to bring Balfron Tower up to Decent Homes standards will start next year.
Poplar HARCA, our landlord, is verbally now refusing and not at all forthcoming with information on whether any tenants will be able to return to their homes when the works are completed. Balfron Tower was built in the late 1960s and originally all 146 homes were for rent to Council tenants. We are concerned that Poplar HARCA is planning to sell all the homes in this block on the open market rather than let them to social housing tenants.
Will the Council help secure the right of return for tenants to their homes in Balfron Tower on completion of the Decent Homes works?
Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing:-
Thank you Miss Drake for submitting this question.
I understand your concerns and those of other residents in Balfron Tower about the lack of information and reassurances from Poplar HARCA about tenants’ right to return.
I can assure you that the Council are doing everything within our power to ensure that residents do have the right to return if they wish to exercise it.
During the Housing Choice consultation, many residents asked whether they would retain the same rights as Council tenants if they voted for the transfer and became tenants of an RSL.
The answer given by Poplar HARCA in their offer document was that with a couple of exceptions, “your rights with an RSL would be the same as with the Council.”
Crucially the offer document clearly mentions “The Right to be given information about the management of your home”, so this should encourage Poplar HARCA to answer queries about whether tenants can return to Balfron Tower after refurbishment.
The document from Poplar HARCA titled “Information for Residents living in Balfron and Carradale Towers” specifically states: “If you have lived in your home for at least the last 12 months as your only or principal home then you will entitled to a home loss payment when you move. This is currently £4,700. Only one payment is made per household. If you want to return to your home when the works are done then you will not be entitled to this payment.”
This document seems to indicate that residents are indeed entitled to return; under the circumstances indicated above.
However we need greater clarity on this and I am organising a meeting between tenants and Poplar HARCA to try get that clarity.
Summary of supplementary question from Miss Claire Drake:-
Does Poplar HARCA have planning permission or listed building consent to carry out the proposed works to Balfron Tower?
Summary of Councillor Rabina Khan’s response:-
I have submitted a Member’s Enquiry on this matter and I will have the information available for the meeting.
6.3 Question from Ms Lorraine Cavanagh OBE:
Can the Council tell me why they are supporting the culling of the monk parakeets on the Isle of Dogs when their existence is part of the Millwall Park Management Plan 2008 – 2018?
Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture:-
Thank you Ms Cavanagh for your question.
The birds are not being culled but are being captured and taken to a safe place where they are looked after and are regularly inspected by a veterinary surgeon but are no longer in the wild and are therefore no further threat to the environment.
This is the cheaper and easier way to control a potentially invasive non-native species before it establishes a large and widespread population.
The UK has an obligation under the International Convention on Biodiversity to control or eradicate invasive non-native species which threaten biodiversity
This is the UK Government’s preferred approach set out in the Invasive Non-native Species Strategy for Great Britain. It is in line with national and international policy on invasive species, and has the support of the leading bird conservation charity the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
The Millwall Park Management Plan will be revised in the light of this information.
I have a personal academic interest in this matter and will be meeting the Borough Ecologist to discuss it. Ms Cavanagh is very welcome to join us.
Summary of supplementary question from Ms Lorraine Cavanagh:-
The RSPB receive multi-million pound funding from DEFRA and other information exists that the aim is to eradicate these birds by a number of methods. Is the Cabinet Member aware that there is a budget of £90,000 allocated for removal of the 77 birds nationwide?
Summary of Councillor Rania Khan’s response:-
I am not aware of the budget details, but if Ms Cavanagh would care to join me at the meeting with the Borough Ecologist, we can discuss the matter fully.
Supporting documents: