1. Present: Femi Apata (NPIJ, Rob Lantsbuy (Poplar Harca), Tracey Fletcher (Poplar Harca), Rob Hannabuss (Poplar Harca), Richard Isabell (Poplar Harca), Andrew Hargreaves (Poplar Harca), Nigel Goddard (Baily Garner), Martine Barnard, John Lyddon, Mary Fennell, Maureen Bell, John Winney, Simon Kempson, Michelle Gordon, Valerie Durrance, George Farmer, Joseph Jackson, Carol Munro, Martin Rabicano, Margttret Tough, M Siddique, A Siddique
2. Apologies for absence were received from Marie Litson, Adam Kirkpatrick and Oreen Kirkpatrick.
3. The minutes of 13th January 2004 were approved, though it should be noted on item 10 that the meeting on Thursday 12th was subsequently postponed.
4. A draft budget from PPCR was present to the ESG. Members were very unhappy with some of the items on the budget and it was agreed that the Chair would inform PPCR of this and pass on some of the specific comments. It was noted that this is a draft budget and so subject to change.
5. Attendance of PPCR at the ESG was discussed, but principally in the light of the budget provided. There was no objection to PPCR attending ESG meetings, and it was specifically agreed that they should be asked to attend the next meeting to discuss their budget proposals. However, it was agreed that we would not want to pay for a sales pitch and so it should be suggested to PPCR that it would be inappropriate for them to charge for this.
6. The Stage 3 Estate Agreement was briefly explained, and copies were available at the meeting. It was agreed that if the Chair does not receive any objections within one week of 24 February 2004, he will sign this agreement on behalf of the ESG.
7. Item six on the agenda was withdrawn and the ESG will remain an ESG until any ballot occurs.
8. The Chair reported that the selection of the Master Planners was as per the process agreed at the previous ESG, except that one of the three Master Planners short-listed withdrew before the interviews were held. Bailey Garner was selected.
9. Richard Isabell fed back on the sub-groups that have met.
10. A proposed timetable with a number of additional dates was presented and agreed. This included Technical Consultations with the Estate.
11. The Chair presented an "Ideas" document and asked that people give ideas for this, now and in the future. A number of items were added in the following discussion, i.e. Heckford House, Spitting, Clearing Drains and water collection and recycling.
12. Harca reported that they are still in negotiations with the Council with the aim of bringing Flora Close into the Housing Choice process.
13. The Chair's letter to the local MP on the Conservation issue was noted.
14. NPI presented the Council's decision, following consultation with the government, that means there will not be a mandatory leaseholder cap. Harca explained that they are currently working with the Council with the aim of clarifying the Council's policy and ensuring that steps are taken to ensure that the leaseholder charges are as small as possible. The Chair noted that he had received a letter from Tower Hamlets Leaseholders Association two days before the meeting requesting that we consider withdrawing from the Housing Choice process unless the Council changes its policy. In response to this request, the Chair had drafted a letter making it clear to the Council that we will consider withdrawing from the process unless the Council reconsiders its current policy and asking that councillors and a senior council officer attend the next ESG to explain their position. Following discussion, it was agreed that this letter should be sent as is on behalf of the ESG to the local councillors and an appropriate council officer.
15. An identity logo was briefly discussed and ideas were given to Harca. It was requested that they bring a number of options to the next ESG.
16. Nigel Goddard of Bailey Garner was introduced to the ESG and gave an introduction to Bailey Garner and to the Master Planning Process.
17. A number of items were covered under Any Other Business, as follows:

A question was raised as to whether existing leaseholder service charge debts would be passed by the Council to Harca so that Harca will then be responsible for collecting them. Femi Apata (NPI) agreed to obtain this information for the next meeting.

The Chair had been approached by Julie Browne as she is now working for Harca and understood that she shouldn't attend the ESG now that she is a Harca employee. Femi Apata (NPN commented that although there was a conflict of interest for RSL employees during Stage II, he thought it would be inappropriate to exclude any resident from Stage III. Following discussion it was agreed unanimously that any Lansbury resident should be eligible to be a member of the ESG during Stage III. [It should be noted that this is effectively an amendment to the constitution of the ESG].

During the meeting, a query was raised regarding a leaseholder in Stanley House. While the details of the query are private, it was requested that Harca respond_ to this query by the next meeting.>

Original Minutes taken by: Simon Kempson

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