The Holborn District Management Committee (DMC) met to discuss tenant and resident association (TRA) registrations, elect a vice-chair, review reports and updates on property services, waste management, housing transformation, and the budget. The committee reviewed three new bids for funding from the Medway Court and Brunswick TRA, concerning garden works, benches and mulch. They also discussed local issues within the Holborn district.

Holborn DMC Budget

The Holborn DMC has a budget of £144,760 for minor revenue and major works for the year 2025/2026. As of the meeting, £4,435 had already been allocated, leaving a balance of £140,325.

Three new bids were submitted for consideration:

• Medway Court TRA requested £1,645 for repairs to existing garden structures in the community garden. A quote from Chris Reeves for the garden work in Medway Court was included in the agenda pack.
• Brunswick TRA submitted two bids: £5,618 for wheelchair-friendly benches and £2,200 for mulch and bulbs to add to existing planters. Quotes from The Garden Furniture Centre Ltd and LeisureBench Ltd were included in the agenda pack.

Tenant and Resident Associations

The committee considered the registration of Tenant and Resident Associations (TRAs). Appendix A of the supplementary agenda listed the TRAs that had completed the registration process, while Appendix B listed those whose registrations had lapsed within the last 12 months. The Tenant Participation Service refers all groups with lapsed registrations to the Housing Officer for support to re-register.

The registered TRAs as of 16 September 2025 were:

• Bourne Estate TA
• Brunswick TRA
• Camden Association of Street Properties (Holborn)
• Derby Lodge TRA
• Dudley Court TA
• Falcon RA
• Flaxman Court TRA
• Glynde Reach TRA
• Gordon Mansions RA, represented by Dr Peter Wright
• Hastings House TRA
• Medway Court
• New Calthorpe Estate TRA
• Red Lion RA
• Regent Square RA
• Seymour House RA
• South Bloomsbury TRA (formerly Bury Place RA)
• Trentishoe TRA
• Tybalds Close TRA

The TRAs whose registrations had lapsed within the last 12 months were:

• 25 Gresse Street RA (GSRA)
• Birkenhead Street Estate TRA
• Gamages TRA

Preparation for Awaab's Law

The committee received a report outlining Camden Repairs and Operations' approach to meeting the requirements of Awaab's Law¹, which comes into effect in October 2025. The planned approach includes a new integrated Rapid Response and Damp & Mould Delivery Model to ensure compliance with the law, provide a 24-hour response to Category 1 hazards, and proactively prevent damp and mould. The model prioritises resident wellbeing and aims to resolve issues swiftly and respectfully.

The strategy includes installing monitors measuring humidity, temperature, and condensation in void properties, homes reporting damp and mould issues, and additional units under Camden's M&E retrofit programme. Data from these monitors will guide early intervention and inform asset planning.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) include:

• 100% of safety works commencing within 24 hours for Category 1 and significant hazards.
• 100% of full remedial works completed within 7 calendar days for Category 1 and significant hazards, unless follow-on works are required.
• 100% of inspection outcome summaries shared with residents within 3 working days of inspection.
• 100% of applicable cases followed up with residents post-works at 1, 3, and 6 months to check for recurrence or new issues.

Waste Management Collection Service Performance

The committee received an update on Camden's Environment Services contract with Veolia. The contract, which commenced on 1 April 2017 and was extended for a further 8 years in February 2024, has an 'outcome-based' specification that informs Veolia of the service standards that must be met.

The contract outcomes are:

• 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 noted that towards the end of the initial 8-year contract, there were issues with the reliability of vehicles and driver vacancies, resulting in delays and missed collections. However, in 2024/25, the contract averaged 43 missed collections per 100,000, below the threshold set out within the contract. A new fleet of vehicles, including 14 electric refuse collection vehicles, was introduced in April 2025, which has increased the reliability of collections.

Street cleansing standards in Camden are independently measured by Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) three times a year. The results for litter showed that standards were good up to 2021/22 but have dropped since, resulting in failures against the contract target of 6%. The main failings were on high streets, not estates.

Camden's Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP) 2023-25 set a target of a 35% recycling rate by 2025. The latest rate was 29.1% in 2023/24. Research has shown that a key factor in achieving Camden's target would be to maximise recycling from flats, as around 54% of Camden's housing stock are estate properties.

Housing Transformation Update

The committee received a presentation on the Housing Transformation Update, including the Neighbourhood (Housing) team structure.

Property Services and Housing Management

The committee received a report on property services and housing management, focusing on repairing and letting properties, and the Void Improvement Programme.

As of 7 August 2025, there were 461 active void properties to be re-let in Camden. Of these, 59 were in Holborn. There were also 111 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, including feedback from new tenants on their experience of the moving process. The surveying and lettings teams are now almost fully staffed, with some new colleagues due to join Camden soon.

Regarding finances, the report noted that three blocks in the Camden Town area (Cartmel, Coniston, and Langdale) have been directly affected by HS2², resulting in 120 properties currently being void. Of these, 91 units have been temporarily re-let to Bow Arts, the council's meanwhile spaces operator. The HS2 funding contributes up to five years' worth of lost rental income associated with these void properties. The last returns on rent collection in Camden covers the year 2024/25. The total rent to be collected in that financial year 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.

Housing and Property Tenant Engagement Report

The committee received the Housing and Property Tenant Engagement Report for Q1 2025-2026. The report shared insights and recommendations from the quarterly monitoring of tenant engagement activities and forums delivered by Housing and Property Services.

In Q1 2025-2025, resident feedback was gathered on a range of events and activities, including:

• Maiden Lane Tenant and Resident Association Annual General Meeting
• Seymour House Building Safety Meeting
• Camden Neighbourhood Action Day
• Lismore Circus/ Weedington Neighbourhood Action Day
• West End Sidings Neighbourhood Action Day
• Regents Park Neighbourhood Action Day
• Meet the Heads of Service Event
• Employability Workshop
• Fire Safety Awareness Workshop
• Upskilling our residents and representatives & volunteers' event
• Housing and Fire Safety Advisory Panel
• Housing and Property Resident Panel

The report also included information on applications to the Special Project Grants and District Management Committee Funds, as well as stories of impact.

Action Points Update

The committee reviewed the action points arising from the June 2025 DMC meetings.