The Camden Town District Management Committee ¹ was scheduled to meet on 10 September 2025. The agenda included discussion of the council's environment services contract, the voids improvement programme, and preparations for Awaab's Law ². The committee was also scheduled to discuss the Camden Town District Management Committee budget, and to receive an update on tenant engagement activities.

Environment Services Contract

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on Camden's environment services contract with Veolia. According to the report pack, the contract commenced on 1 April 2017 and was extended for a further eight years in February 2024. The contract has a number of outcomes:

• Managing Camden's local environmental quality to an agreed standard
• Minimising waste and maximising participation in reuse and recycling
• Generating additional surplus from business recycling and waste services
• Increasing local employment opportunities and local economic development

The report pack notes that towards the end of the initial eight-year contract there were issues with vehicle reliability and driver vacancies, which resulted in delays to some collections. However, a new fleet of vehicles was introduced in April 2025, including 14 electric refuse collection vehicles.

The report pack also included data on street cleansing standards and recycling rates. Street cleansing standards are independently measured by Keep Britain Tidy three times a year. The results showed that standards were good for litter up to 2021/22, but have dropped since, resulting in failures against the contract target of 6%. Camden's Reduction and Recycling Plan 2023-25 set a target of a 35% recycling rate by 2025. The latest recycling rate was 29.1% in 2023/24.

The report pack stated that a key challenge for Camden is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to recycling services on estates due to the variety of housing types. It also noted that there had been an increase in fires in refuse collection vehicles from lithium batteries and gas canisters being incorrectly disposed of in communal bins.

The report pack highlighted improvements to recycling infrastructure that have been made on a number of estates, including improved recycling containers and signage. It also noted that Veolia's engagement team works with Camden to deliver projects and events to increase recycling and reduce contamination.

The report pack also mentioned upcoming 'Simpler Recycling' legislation, which requires that by March 2026 all households must have access to both dry recycling and food waste collection services.

Voids Improvement Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Voids Improvement Programme. According to the report pack, there were 461 void properties ³ in Camden as of 7 August 2025. These are broken down as follows:

• Camden Town: 100
• Gospel Oak: 114
• Hampstead: 90
• Holborn: 59
• Kentish Town: 98

There were also 111 properties which were empty and not in the letting process as they were being used for other projects. These included:

• Chalcots: 44 (held for decanting households)
• Emergency Temporary Accommodation: 6
• Held for Conversion: 9 (non-self-contained studio flats in 5-7 Belsize Grove)
• Undergoing Options Appraisal: 38 (unusually small units)
• Legal Cases: 6
• Retrofit Programme: 3
• Site Offices: 5

The report pack stated that three blocks in the Camden Town area (Cartmel, Coniston, and Langdale) have been directly affected by HS2, resulting in 120 properties currently being void. Of these, 91 units have been temporarily re-let to Bow Arts, who pay the council a monthly service charge of £50 a month per property.

The report pack also included data on rent collection in Camden for the year 2024/25. The total rent to be collected was £193,568,805.72. The total rent income was £186,516,091.62. Charges on empty homes in that period totalled £7,027,191.97, or 3.6% of the total due to be collected.

Preparation for Awaab's Law

The committee was scheduled to receive a report outlining Camden Repairs and Operations' approach to meeting the repair requirements of Awaab's Law, effective October 2025.

The report pack stated that a new integrated Rapid Response and Damp & Mould Delivery Model is being implemented to ensure compliance with Awaab's Law, and to provide a 'within 24-hours' response to Category 1 hazards ⁴.

The report pack also detailed a Damp & Mould Monitoring Strategy, which will see monitors measuring humidity, temperature and condensation installed in all void properties at re-let inspection, homes reporting damp and mould issues, and additional units under Camden's M&E retrofit programme.

The report pack included a table of key performance indicators (KPIs) and impact measures, including:

The report pack stated that residents receiving repairs related to Category 1 or significant hazards will be contacted at 1, 3 and 6 months to confirm repair success, offer support, and monitoring for recurrence.

Camden Town DMC Budget

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Camden Town DMC budget for 2025/2026. According to the report pack, the minor revenue and major works budget for 2025/2026 is £158,490.00.

The report pack stated that all tenant and resident associations 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).

The report pack also stated that tenant and resident associations are advised to use the Special Projects Grant for social activities such as trips and community events. The Special Projects Grant has a £750 limit, although funds can be requested twice within a 12-month period.

The report pack included a table outlining the in-year budget and spend to date:

The report pack stated that there were no new bids for consideration at the September meeting.

Tenant Engagement Report

The committee was scheduled to receive the Housing and Property Tenant Engagement Report for Q1 2025-2026. The report pack stated that 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 pack included resident feedback on a range of events and activities, including Neighbourhood Action Days, the Housing and Property Resident Panel, and employability workshops. It also included information on applications to the Special Projects Grant and the District Management Committee Fund.

The report pack highlighted a number of stories of impact , including the refurbishment of the football pitch on Peckwater Estate, and a community clean-up day on West End Sidings Estate.

Neighbourhood Structure

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the new Neighbourhood Structure. The presentation in the report pack included maps of the North, West, East, Central and South Neighbourhoods.