Northampton Federation of Residents’ AssociationsEstablished 1980 Together we do make a difference
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL SIGNED BY CHAIRMAN
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 22nd June 2011 in the
Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Sheep Street
Present:
Tony Mallard Acting Chair Eastfield Residents’ Association
John Connolly Acting Vice ChairSt James Residents’ Association
Sheron Watson SecretaryEastfield Residents’ Association
Shayley Watson Acting TreasurerEastfield Residents’ Association
Martin de RosarioBlackthorn & Goldings Residents’ Ass
Anthony MontagueBlackthorn Residents' Association
Clive BacchusBrookside Residents’ Council
Dianne FinnieBrookside Resident’s Council
Dinah Kingston Rectory Farm Resident’s Council
Glenice MossDouble H Residents’ Association
Janice GroverDouble H Residents’ Association
Ted HardingEastfield Residents’ Association
Ron FitzhughFar Cotton Resident’s Association
Councillor Beverly MennellKingsley Residents’ Association
Ann TimsonSpring Boroughs Residents’ Association
Brian ConverySt Crispins & Berrywood Residents’ Ass
Ian WhippeySt James Residents’ Association
Peter Unwin Northampton House Residents’Ass
Mr J Biskupski NBC Community Engagement Manager
Derek TuckerBoothville Residents' Association
Pauline RileyLakeview Residents' Association
Doreen McKintoshGuest
1.Welcome & Introduction
1.01 The Chair welcomed all members attending, informing that he was going to break from the Agenda and let Mr Biskupski, the Northampton Borough Council Community Engagement Manager address the meeting first, as he had to leave shortly.
1.02 Mr Biskupski gave an update to members on the progress made and time-scales involved regarding the community centres. Explaining that the community centres had been split into three groups. The first group of eleven, having existing Management Committees preparing business plans, which are due to be received by June/July to be approved by July/August. These should then be bought before Cabinet in October – decision September/October.
1.03 The second group, of which there are eight are subject to public offers. Seven offers had been put forward, of which four were put on the short list – response due by the end of June to be approved on 4th July – coming before Cabinet in July – decision September/ October.
1.04 The third group had two community centres up for public offers. These are St James and Semilong. They had received six expressions of interest to date – business plans had to be in by 18th July, to be approved by 24th August and come before Cabinet on 14th September.
A brief discussion and question and answer session ensued, largely centring around whether or not community groups would be able to afford the charges.
Chairman Tony Mallard thanked Mr Biskupski for attending and continued with the Agenda.
2.Apologies:
Katie ChownColwyn Road Residents’ Association
County Councillor Alan WrightEastfield Residents’ Association
Keith Holland-DelamereRectory Farm Residents’ Association
Graham CroucherSt James Residents’ Association
Anthony EarleSt Crispins & Berrywood Residents’ Ass
Ruth Davies Minute Secretary Honorary Member
3. Minutes of the Meeting held on 25th May 2011
1. NITA is an abbreviation of 'Northampton Independent Tenants Association'
4. Caretaker has not left; it was an old sign, not yet taken down.
8.01 This item should read 'not clear if they were turned off'
10. Should read 'The hope is all groups will be staying but it is down to the new Management Committee.
The minutes were adopted and signed as a correct record with the above amendments.
4. Chairman’s end of year Report.
Attached
5. Treasurers Report.
5.01 The books had now been audited. This covered the last three years, 2008 to 2011. Copies of the audited accounts would be circulated to all members before they are signed off.
5.02 Current Account £ 416.12
Deposit Account £1,894.15
£2,310.27
6.The Committee stepped down.
6.01 Beverley Mennell took the chair whilst the new Committee was elected.
6.02 Tony Mallard, nominated as Chairman by John Connolly, seconded by Martin De Rosario – 15 votes for – none against - 2 abstentions – it was pointed out the abstentions were from members that did not have a vote. Therefore, did not necessarily reflect their opinion of the decision .
6.03 John Connolly, nominated as Vice Chairman by Tony Mallard, seconded by Sheron Watson – 14 votes for – none against - 2 abstentions.
6.04 Shayley Watson as Treasurer. Nominated by Ted Harding, seconded by Janice Grover – unanimously agreed.
6.05 Sheron Watson nominated by Tony Mallard as Secretary, seconded by Glenise Moss – unanimously agreed.
6.06 Ruth Davies was nominated in her absence, should she wish to stand, for Minute Secretary by Sheron Watson. This was unanimously agreed.
6.07 Martin De Rosario was nominated by Sheron Watson as a Committee member. This was unanimously agreed.
7.Matters Arising not on the Agenda
7.01 Amendments to the Constitution – no proposals were received, despite the invitation to members.
7.02 The issue of the office of Mayor was raised. It bought a number of questions.
7.03 The Mayor being an elected Councillor, effectively being neutered because of his position - Who would now represent the ward for which he was elected?
7.04 Should the electorate be given some warning prior to election that their Councillor could possibly hold the position of Mayor post election?
7.05 Could there be a conflict of interests should another Councillor from another ward step in?
7.06 Should the Mayor have a deputy, with full voting rights to represent his ward?
7.07 Some wards only have one Councillor; perhaps all wards should have at least two, to allow for situations such as the Mayors position, or simply to cover illness etc.
7.08 It was agreed that since these decisions came from Government we should ask these questions of our local Members of Parliament.
8 Housing issues
8.01 The Chairtold the meeting of the plans for 2 year Tenancy Agreements on council housing. A scheme, which had failed in Australia. It is an undisputed fact there is a great shortage of social housing, but this was not seen as a way forward, more a slippery slope of what was yet to come.
8.02 Changes in financial circumstances withdrawing rights to social housing. Would that take away the desire to improve oneself?
8.03 Tenants being moved out for under-occupancy of properties – for example, families having grown up and moved on – no account taken for visiting relatives, or the fact that it is a family home of many years, not just bricks and mortar.
8.04 Could the shortfall in housing be better dealt with by controlling our borders?
It was agreed that there were numerous questions that we wanted answers to surrounding the whole issue of social housing.
9. Street Lighting
9.01 The Chair questioned the turning off of street lighting to save £1.5m. Only for the County Council to consider investing in Private Finance Initiative funding for street lighting at a cost of £3.6m a year, over the course of the next 25 years – that does not take into account the maintenance costs – which are high.
9.02 It was pointed out, that cutting back overgrown trees would go some way into improving existing street lighting.
9.03 The issue of safety was of great concern, with uneven pathing, rubbish being left out over night etc – how safe people felt venturing out after dark – potential for increases in crime levels and anti-social behaviour.
10. Refuse collection
Leaflets giving collection dates not given out – leaflets only in English - trails of rubbish being left after the collection vehicles have left – refuse not being separated – refuse not being collected on dates given – some items are being refused by the refuse collectors – not able to get through to NBC on the phone – being passed to the refuse collection company, who then pass you back to NBC.
It was agreed to leave things to settle down for a month to see if things improve.
11. Members Concerns
11.01 Double H - Properties on Artizan Road have had their hanging baskets stolen – yellow lines in front of a garage had been painted over.
11.02 Kingsley - An ungated alleyway on Fairway that runs through to the Golf Course is suffering with anti-social behaviour, causing a nuisance to residents – looking into the possibility of having the alley gated – Compensation is being sort for damage caused by workmen carrying out work on council properties, in bringing them up to the Decent Homes Standard.
11.03 Boothville – A public House once painted white, has now been painted bright orange.
11.04 St James – Also suffering with mess left by workers not cleaning up after themselves – Vice Chair, John Connolly asked that tenants photograph everything and keep a record.
11.05 NOTE – to all, Subscriptions are due
11.06 Armed Forces demonstration day at 11am to 3pm on Saturday 25th June on the Market Square.
11.07 Area 4 housing meeting on 28th June at the Doddridge Centre.
11.08 Area housing meeting on 23rd June at 6pm at the Abington Community Centre.
The Chair thanked everybody for attending and closed the meeting.
12. Date of Next Meeting Wednesday 20th July 2011
The meeting closed at 20.45hrs
Meeting in the Blue Room at The Ex-Servicemen’s Club & Institute
Wednesday 20th July 2011 at 7.00pm
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