The Gospel Oak District Management Committee (DMC) met on 19 June 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including community safety, the DMC budget, and tree management. The committee was also scheduled to elect a new chair and vice-chairs, and to discuss the DMC's constitution and code of conduct. Additionally, the committee was expected to receive updates on tenant engagement and property services.

Community Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on community safety and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the Gospel Oak District, which was to provide an update on the activities of the Community Safety Service from April 2024 to April 2025. The report was expected to include data on ASB reporting trends by ward, and detail actions taken to address these issues.

The report highlights that during the reporting period, there were 2080 reports logged. The data showed that Haverstock and Gospel Oak wards consistently had the most reports. Haverstock ward had the highest number of reports across the borough during this 12-month period.

The most frequently reported types of ASB across the Gospel Oak DMC area were:

• Drug Use
• Drug Dealing

The report also outlined key actions taken to address concerns in each ward, including:

• Intensive resident engagement, including attendance at Tenant and Resident Association (TRA) meetings.
• Quick communications distributed to encourage reporting, particularly in underreported areas.
• Walkabouts with residents to discuss concerns and take proactive action on issues related to ASB and women's safety.
• Environmental Visual Audits conducted to identify improvements that could reduce or disrupt ASB.
• Responsive Security Patrols (RSP), Community Safety Enforcement Officers (CSEOs), and Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) tasked to patrol and witness ASB incidents.
• Locations identified as hotspots for criminal activity referred to appropriate Police teams for targeted enforcement.
• Referrals made to Youth Services to engage with young people observed loitering on estates.
• Installation of signage on estates to promote awareness and discourage ASB.
• Estates referred to Partnership Tasking Meetings (PTM) for joint problem-solving with Police and partner agencies.
• Meetings held with ward Councillors to discuss concerns and agree on strategies to tackle issues.
• Locks installed in parking areas where evidence of ASB was identified, to restrict access and deter further incidents.
• Notices issued to vehicle owners requesting removal of vehicles within 15 days, in response to concerns raised.
• A Notice to Quit was served on a household due to ongoing reports of persistent ASB.
• Warning letters issued to alleged perpetrators following investigations.
• Two injunctions secured against individuals identified as being responsible for persistent ASB.

The report also detailed the Community Safety Service's new proactive Hotspot strategy, which involves pinpointing ASB hotspots and deploying frontline practitioners from different agencies to these areas.

Gospel Oak DMC Budget

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Gospel Oak DMC budget for 2025/2026. The report detailed the budget allocation, progress on approved bids, and any new bids submitted for consideration. The minor revenue and major works budget for 2025/2026 was reported to be £151,040.00.

The report also stated that all Tenant and Resident Associations (TRAs) are encouraged to submit their bids as early as possible to allow enough time for assessment prior to DMC consideration, and that all expenditure must occur within the current financial year (2025/2026), unless it is clear that an individual scheme meets the capital criteria and needs to be categorised as such.

One bid was scheduled for consideration at the meeting:

• A bid from Gospel Oak Sheltered Housing Scheme x3 for £3,740.00. The bid was submitted by council officers, seeking funding for a programme of well-being activities for sheltered residents, along with equipment.

Tree Management Contractors Performance

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from the Tree Manager providing an update on tree management across housing estates. The report noted that trees on housing sites are managed in line with the Council's Tree Policy and are subject to a programmed 3-year health and safety inspection regime.

The Tree Section is responsible for inspections and contract monitoring of the council's contractor, Treehab Limited. The report noted that a new tree maintenance contract for a period of 3 years with the option of a 1-year extension was tendered in 2024/2025, and that Treehab Limited were successful in the tender and started a new contract with the council in April 2025.

The programme of 3 yearly health & safety inspections and maintenance for 2025/2026 on Housing estates covers the following wards: Holborn & Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, Kings Cross, Regents Park, St. Pancras & Somers town, Camden Square, Camden Town, Kentish Town North and Kentish Town South.

The report also provided performance information, noting that the number of enquiries received was broadly the same between the last two financial years, but that over twice the number of enquiries had been closed in 2024-2025 compared to 2023-2024.

Property Services and Housing Management

The committee was scheduled to receive a report providing an overview of empty homes in Camden, and the council's void improvement programme.

The report stated that at the time of writing, the number of void properties to be re-let was 459, and that there were a further 115 properties which are empty and not in the letting process as they are being used for projects.

The report also provided updates on the Surveying and Lettings Team, noting that they are co-located in the Holmes Road depot, working together on properties while works are being carried out to make them available for new tenants to move into as soon as possible after completion of repairs.

Residents' Learning Programme Ambition

The committee was scheduled to receive a report outlining a framework for developing a residents’ learning programme. The programme is intended to align with the new regulatory framework and consumer standards environment, the ambition set out in 'We Make Camden,' and the enhancement of resident engagement and participation.

The key objectives of the residents' training programme include:

• Empowering residents to participate in service design and place-shaping
• Encouraging continuous learning and build capacity for active engagement
• Fostering a culture of participation that encourages residents to contribute and value their opinions and views
• Equipping residents with the skills to advocate for their communities.
• Strengthening collaboration between residents, the council, local and other community stakeholders.
• Increasing and widening the diversity of residents and tenants accessing engagement and participation opportunities, and bespoke learning to reflect Camden's diverse community.
• Raising residents' and tenants' awareness of the Council's complaint process, support services, and how they can influence organisational policies.
• Enhancing residents' understanding of the new regulatory framework.
• Ensuring alignment with consumer standards and expectations.

The report stated that the programme content will be a balanced mix of essential, vocational, and subject-specific learning, and that the programme will be delivered over rolling semesters, with a target start date of summer/autumn term in 2025.

Tenant Engagement Report

The committee was scheduled to receive the Tenant Engagement Report for Q4 2024-2025. The report shares insights and recommendations from the quarterly monitoring of tenant engagement activities and forums delivered supported by Housing and Property Services.

The report gathers feedback from a range of tenant engagement groups and activities, and captures insights around the reason for attendance, enjoyment of groups, and measurements of impact.

The report also includes key suggestions for improvement and key areas that residents valued.

DMC Bids Annual Report

The committee was scheduled to receive a report providing an overview of the budget allocation for the Gospel Oak DMC for the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25.

The report outlines the requests submitted by Tenant and Resident Associations (TRAs) and highlights the approvals that have been granted. The allocated budgets to Gospel Oak DMC for 2023/24 and 2024/25, respectively, were £135,800.00 and £148,080.00

The report notes that District Management Committees (DMCs) generally do not utilise their entire allocated budget, and that in response, the Engagement team will collaborate with individual TRAs to support them in the funding application process.

Other Business

The agenda also included items for the election of the DMC Chair and Vice-Chairs for 2025/26, the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting, and agreement on the DMC Constitution and Code of Conduct for 2025/26. The committee was also scheduled to make appointments to other bodies, including the Camden Safer Neighbourhood Board¹ and the Resident Action Day Working Group.