THE LANSBURY ESTATE STEERING GROUP
19th June 2006 AT 6:30PM
Meeting at: Salvation Army Kerbey Street E14
MINUTES
Chair
Simon Kempson
19 Elizabeth Close
E146DW
Tel: 7515 6483
simon@thekempsons.co.uk
Present: Simon Kempson (Chair), Michelle Gordon, Marie Litson, John Winney, George Farmer, Margaret Tough, Jim Durrance, Val Durrance, Pauline Brooks, Carmel Flay, Marilyn Baltutis, Anastasia Edwards, Nigel Goddard (Baily Garner), Jonathan Smith (Baily Garner), Tracey Fletcher (Poplar HARCA), Rob Hannabuss (Poplar HARCA), Andrew Hargreaves (Poplar HARCA) Pauline Marsh (Poplar HARCA) - left after item 4.
- Apologies for absence were received from Julie Browne.
- The minutes for 23rd May 2006 were approved.
- The manager of estate services, Pauline Marsh, presented a revised plan for the 100-day promise that showed the offer document commitments being met. It was explained that after the transfer a member of her department would be present at each estate board
meeting.
- The following is an update on the actions from the minutes of 23rd May 2006:
- Andrew Hargreaves (AH) reported that the parking around Elgin House will be entirely Harca's responsibility following transfer. It was asked that Baily Garner consider bringing forward appropriate design work to prevent unwanted parking
- The title of the driveway between Rigden Street and Rocky Park is still not proven. Harca stated that they will maintain the driveway if its ownership cannot be determined.
- Tracey Fletcher (TF) said that it is believed that the land near Bartlett Park belongs to Bartlett Park; however, this has to be confirmed.
- TF mentioned that the next LRAG meeting is at 10am on 18th July at Trussler Hall.
- Harca presented a paper giving details of the progress on the transfer. There may be a 2-3 week delay as a result of a complication over the market.
- The ESG noted a letter sent to Councillor Bawden as agreed at the previous meeting.
- There was a discussion of the Quick Wins that are in addition to the 100-day promise. Key points were as follows:
- In addition to the proposed provision of CCTV to the tower blocks, it was asked that a plan be produced to show what will happen when for other areas.
In particular, this should show when security in Chrisp Street would be addressed, but all areas should be covered.
- With some of the pram sheds there is question as to how the land they stand on should be used. For example, it may be appropriate to add part of this land to neighbouring gardens. RH will ask the Harca surveyor to look at this. It was also asked that the residents with gardens next to the pram sheds should be consulted before the next ESG.
- Rob Hannabuss (RH) has asked for alternative quotes for the pram-shed demolition.
- As requested at the previous ESG: for Tree planting there should be a date given as to when the environmental strategy will be complete and when tree planting will begin. Harca have contacted Trees For Cities and need to pursue this further.
- A survey of TV aerials on all blocks should be use to identify any early wins. RH to obtain a date as to when this can take place. This should result in a plan as to what will be done to each block's aerials, and when. If work can be done that doesn't require new cabling or access to homes, this should be considered as an early win. The particular concerns of residents are:
- the quality of the signal
- whether Channel 5 is available and
- whether digital TV is available.
- Harca are waiting to see if LBTH will provide them with their most recent drain survey. They will then act accordingly to solve the most urgent problems with the drains.
- The last Tech sub-group meeting was cancelled as Baily Garner were caught in severe traffic. Baily Garner presented some of the information that would have been presented to the sub-group, particular regarding procurement and URS's. The response of the ESG to URS's was lukewarm, although it was felt that some blocks might benefit from them. There was a discussion on recycling and it was asked that Baily Garner re-present their URS strategy at the next Tech sub-group having included recycling in their strategy. Also, they should seek input from a recycling group with practical experience of recycling on an estate similar to Lansbury.
- AH updated the ESG on governance issues, as follows:
- The Estate Board will be formally constituted too late to take part in the election of a resident director for north and south Lansbury. The ESG were happy for the north Lansbury Estate Board to elect the director for the next two years.
- There will be three places on the Joint Estate Panel (JEP) for north and south Lansbury. One of these will be taken by the resident director. The ESG were happy for north Lansbury to take one of the remaining places and to leave one open for south Lansbury once it has become an Estate Board.
- It was explained that if the ESG wish Simon Kempson (who is a freeholder)
to be chair of the Estate Board they will be able to co-opt him onto the Estate Board and then elect him as chair.
- The following matters were discussed under AOB:
- A relative of an ESG member lives on Uamvar Street and reported that there have been no lights on the stairs for some time. Harca believe that they have yet to take responsibility for managing these properties, but will investigate.
- It was agreed that the Leaseholder services manager should attend the next ESG. It was asked that he bring a comparison of actual leaseholder charges with estimated charges for the last year.
- AH reported that his replacement, Fintan Tynan, started work for Harca today
and so will have an eight week handover.