The Camden Town District Management Committee (DMC) met on Wednesday 8 December 2010 to discuss a range of housing-related issues, including the registration of tenant associations, budget allocations, and the future of customer services and district housing offices. Key decisions included the formal registration of tenant associations and the co-option of their representatives onto the committee, as well as the approval of specific funding requests from the DMC Revenue Budget.

Registration of Tenants Associations

The committee formally registered the tenant associations listed in Appendix A of the agenda and co-opted their nominated representatives onto the DMC for the 2010/11 Municipal Year. This decision allows these associations to have a formal voice in the committee's discussions and decision-making processes.

Camden Town District Management Committee Budget Report

The DMC approved a total of £3,181.17 from the revenue budget for two specific bids. Agar Grove TMC received £2,981.17 for a CCTV camera on the 18th floor and additional notice boards. Coopers Lane TRA was allocated £200.00 for anti-climb paint to prevent access to their hall garden.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Housing

Discussions covered several key areas. The Cabinet Member for Housing committed to further investigation into disputes between leaseholders and the Council regarding billing, noting an estimated 1,000 leaseholders were affected. A panel of five, including an independent chair, leaseholder, tenant, trade union representative, and a caretaker, will be established to review caretaking services between January and March 2011. The Council is also exploring ways to achieve greater value for money with its contractors for repairs and to improve forward planning for heating systems. The Allocations Policy was discussed, with confirmation that new council homes would be provided as part of the King's Cross development. Regarding housing succession, it was noted that this would continue with partners but not with children, and this change would not be retrospective.

The role of Estate Officers was also discussed, with a proposal to develop their roles to spend more time with residents in community centres and libraries, supported by hot-desking arrangements at Bidborough House. However, concerns were raised by Unison regarding the success of hot-desking, the practicality of taking voids work from Estate Officers, and the suitability of touchdown locations for confidential meetings. The Cabinet Member for Housing argued that funds spent on underutilised district housing offices could be better allocated to housing services. It was noted that any changes to district housing office arrangements would require full consultation and Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs). The Chair suggested an additional meeting to discuss the potential closure of these offices.

HRA Review - National Context and the HRA Budget Position

The committee considered the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) review and budget position, noting that a policy document from the Department for Communities and Local Government was expected in January 2011. The Localism Bill is anticipated to include the abolition of subsidies, leading to an expected annual rent increase of approximately 7.1%. A budgetary gap of around £3.2 million is anticipated, consistent with recent years, with additional pressure from low interest rates and pension costs. The Council has committed to significant savings as part of its Medium Term Financial Strategy, with the Housing Department investigating efficiencies in Housing Management and the Repairs Service. The Quality Assurance Team will also focus on ensuring value for money with contractors.

Regarding Tenant Participation, potential savings could be made by reducing specialist staff and re-allocating some work to Estate Officers. Concerns were raised about the Decent Homes Programme and repairs, with the Housing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee commissioning a panel to investigate these issues. Potential savings in the Housing Repair Service include issuing decorating packs or vouchers to tenants, carrying out only essential communal repairs related to health and safety, and potentially using voluntary organisations for non-essential decorating for older tenants. Further work will be done to address the causes of repeat repairs.

Proposed Changes to Customer Services and the Future of District Housing Offices

The committee discussed proposed changes to customer services, including the development of a multi-purpose Contact Centre intended to reduce the number of direct phone numbers and improve call redirection. Improvements to the website are also planned, with the Contact Centre expected to go live in May 2011. A previous review had achieved savings of 12% in the Housing Management budget without closing district housing offices, but current financial pressures necessitate further savings.

The Council is considering the use of 'touchdown' points across the borough as a more cost-effective alternative to current district housing offices, which are not used to full capacity. Pilot surgeries are also planned, drawing on lessons from previous trials. While no firm timescales for changes to district housing office arrangements have been set, the Council will conduct sufficient Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) to manage the impact on local residents. Discussions highlighted potential one-off costs for IT equipment, which were considered minimal compared to projected savings. Concerns were raised about the disproportionate impact of these changes on elderly and non-English speaking residents. The DMCs will be consulted on appropriate sites for new service points. Members requested that any EIA work be distributed to the Committee promptly.

Other Noted Items

Several other items were noted without significant discussion or decision, including the Agenda frontsheet 08th-Dec-2010 18.30 Camden Town District Management Committee, the minutes of the previous meeting, action points updates on heating charges, the Joint Monitoring Group scorecard, feedback from the Better Homes consultation, updates on food waste recycling, the Active Tenants and Residents Panel, noise nuisance, and housing benefits. The committee also noted the Department for Communities and Local Government's consultation paper, Local Decisions: A Fairer Future for Social Housing.

The Chair suggested that the DMC could hold a special meeting in January 2011 to discuss the proposed budgetary savings, with the date to be confirmed. The next scheduled meetings were noted for Thursday 6 January 2011 (Joint DMC) and Wednesday 2 March 2011.