Hello <<First Name>> and happy May day International Workers Day
Our last newsletter was posted at Christmas. There have been no events since then due to lockdown. The Management committee has been meeting monthly via Zoom but we’ve had no real news to tell you about. There seems to be a thaw in both the weather and lockdown restrictions so here we are once again… and tomorrow is May Day!!
|
|
This Saturday is May Day, International Workers day. It coincides this year with a Kill The Bill demonstration at Trafalgar Square, meeting at midday Saturday 1st May. Amongst other things the Police Crime Courts and Sentencing Bill discriminates against the Gypsy Roma and Traveller community who, once the bill is passed will be further discriminated against and find their current way of living made illegal. As safely housed co-op members we are appalled by this bill. For more information about the event, see here
|
|
|
|
Why May Day?
|
|
We’ve had a few voids in our houseshares recently. For a reminder about the procedure to follow if you have a void, see below
Voids
When someone leaves your house and you contact the office, the New Members Committee will send you details of unhoused members. We will also send unhoused members your contact details. We aim to keep at least 12 people on this list. We send an initial 6 contacts for interview and it is hoped that from the 6 a suitable housemate will be housed, if this isn’t the case please contact the NMC and they will do their best to provide more candidates. Rooms should be filled within 4 weeks, 6 week’s maximum We try and contact people regularly to make sure the list is up to date. When you contact people remember to cc in the NMC email so we can see who is getting back to you and who is not. newmembers@threeboroughs.co.uk
Interviews
It is up to you to arrange interviews. We hope you use a democratic decision-making process that all in your house agree to. No one should be pressured to share a house with someone they don’t feel comfortable with or feel the decision-making process was unfair. Please contact us if you would like guidance on this. Although it can sometimes be difficult and stressful to arrange interviews, households must prioritise setting up interviews to choose a new housemate. The longer rooms are empty the more it costs all of us financially. Other co-ops place a tenant in a house share if the house-share fail to fill the void after a fixed period, a policy we have not adopted.
Although our waiting list is usually full we do keep contact details of people who have expressed an interest and want to join. In due course, as we have more movement we send applications to these people. Due to the housing crisis which is most extreme in London we have a lot of people on this list as well. We operate on a first come first served basis. All applicants are listed according to the date on their application. As soon as candidates have been interviewed by the NMC, you (the household) are free to choose anyone you wish from the pool of members we send you irrespective of when they applied.
At the heart of the co-op ethos is fairness and transparency. We cannot fast track people and make them members of the co-op at the request of members, everyone has to go through the same process.
|
|
New Members Committee
Remember if you have friends who would like to join the waiting list to join the co-op the email to send them is this newmembers@threeboroughs.co.uk
The waiting list is currently closed but as there are more voids there may be room later in the year.
|
|
Engagement
Would you like to get involved in the running of your co-op? We are only as strong and efficient as our members. If you have any ideas about how we could improve the co-op and would like to join or form a subcommittee send us an email on the usual newsletter address threeboroughs@gmail.com or use our whatsapp group here. Please feel free to use the whatasapp group to raise agenda items you would like the Management Committee to discuss.
|
|
Deptford History
If you have any films about the local area you would like to share please sent us a link. Here’s one about the infamous Harry Hayward, lifelong Deptford, Lewisham resident, when not detained at her majesty’s pleasure. HH was also a volunteer for DAGE (Deptford Action Group for the Elderly) in his later years. Happy watching.
|
|
|
|
Local (bad) lad loved by the community
|
|
Repairs
Don’t forget to let the office know if you are in a houseshare and you have repairs which need attention. 02084693690
Also email us at the email below if you have left the co-op and want to be unsubscribed from the newsletter.
|
|
Minutes: March MC Meeting
Three Boroughs Housing Cooperative Minutes of the MC Meeting held on Monday 15th March 2021 Hosted on Zoom 7pm Attendance: Joe Wilkes MC (JW/Acting Chair), Brigitte Parusel MC(BP), Maurizio Pantalone MC(MP) Jockel Liess MC(JL/Secretary), Lorraine Kelly (LK/CHM), Sara Haworth (SH), Lesley-Anne Staunton MC(LS) Chris Olivares-Chandler (CC) Benn Woodward MC (BW/Treasurer), Nia Tilli (NT) Minute Taker Matt Dyer (MD) Item Topic Action/ Result 1.0 Establishment of quorum Meeting quorate 2.0 Apologies for Absence Clara Kelly, David Ashby, Nick Gabbey 3.0 Introductions N/A 4.0 Declaration of Interests N/A 5.0 Approval of Minutes Correction 10.2 CHM - The heading titled Sub Letting should read Authorised Absence. Proposal - A true and accurate account of the meeting with the additional amendment. Proposer - JW Seconder - JL For - 5 Against - 0 Abstain -0 Unanimous Passed 6.0 Members Items Bird in the Bush car park SH - An estimated budget required for a gated barrier would be in the region of £15,500 + VAT. - Fee for planning application £234 -An estimate for the cost of an electrician would be £1000 at most. - Cost of annual maintenance approximately £359-£500 + VAT Quotes 1) Strand Systems Ltd - £13,857+VAT. Annual maintenance £359+VAT 2) Jacksons Fencing - £16.407 + VAT. Annual maintenance first year free then £400-£500 3) Southern Automatic Gate System - Pending Michael is happy to carry out the work with Southern Planning Authority. Including preparation, submission and the necessary engagement with the planning office. Action point - The CHM will talk to Optivo about the possibility of funding for the work. Diversity and equality SH suggested including a written statement reflecting the co-ops policy and ethos on the new website. Action Point - SH and LS to write a questionnaire for the members of the co-op focusing on the issues of diversity, equality and Inclusion. But also including broader issues reflecting the members’ interests and concerns. 7.0 CHM Report Hexagon - FRA’s up to date - Gas checks up to date - Monitoring Return submitted - Waiting for feedback on the re-let rents I raised in December. They have agreed the rents are going to be adjusted, but the person in charge has subsequently left. - I’ve contacted Hexagon about the contractors cold calling. Optivo - Gas checks up to date -FRA’s still awaiting training - Monitoring Return submitted - Work on water ingress issue at Bird in Bush is almost completed. - The Management Agreement has been signed by both parties. - Optivo made a mistake with the maintenance allowance. We are not going to be getting the 15% allowance discussed in the last meeting. - The Ribbon Dance Mews properties were always classed as HMO’s and we always got an allowance on each tenancy, which we are no longer getting. Therefore its unclear whether we will break even or lose out on the new agreement. BW - The allowance is the same whether its on the rent on the property or for the two tenants combined. Boiler replacement We have a member in an Optivo property who has not had a working boiler for 5 weeks. Because the boiler is only eight years old, Optivo are reluctant to replace it. LS - We should lodge a formal complaint to Optivo. BW - Agreed but what concerns me if we hand over responsibility for boiler repairs to Optivo, the CHM will have to go through four different tiers of people. CHM - If the members have the contact details of Optivo, they can be in direct contact with them. Proposal - The co-op pays for the boiler to be replaced tomorrow if Optivo will not. Proposer - DT Seconder - SH For - 7 Against - 0 Abstain -2 Electrical Safety Checks Optivo are saying we should be doing the ESC’s. I’m going to ask them what exactly they expect of us. They have been doing upgrades which should be the responsibility of the landlord. BW- Its another thing we need to speak to the other co-ops about. CHISEL - Gas checks up to date - Monitoring Return submitted - Emergency lighting checked - Void works are progressing Complaints The policy and procedure document states the secretary will draft the concluding letter (to a complaint). As the secretary doesn’t deal with complaints, its somewhat onerous to expect them to write it. Proposal - The P&P document is changed so the complaints panel composes the concluding letter, which is then signed off on by the secretary. Proposer -DT Seconder - BW For - 7 Against - 0 Abstain -1 Cleaning Service I’ve circulated the quotes highlighting the contractors I think we should Appoint. Passed Passed 8.0 Housing Association Reports N/A 9.0 Sub-Committee Reports N/A 10.0 AO.B Authorised Absence Proposal - David Ashbys’ request for authorised absence to be approved Proposer - JW Seconder - DT For - 8 Against - 0 Abstain -0 Unanimous Tree - Manor Mount CHM - The Eucalyptus tree has been reduced in size. Lettings/Voids CHM - Deptford High St has been re-let. - We have a space at Lind Street - We have a space on the 18th of April in Hatcham Park Road. Squirrel Problem CHM -As its a four story block of flats they cant work off ladders. I’ve only got one quote at the moment. The work is £450 but the scaffolding is £1,150. I’m getting another quote but the issue has to be dealt with. Website MP - We have two estimates we are interested in going ahead with, we should have more information at the next meeting. Passed
|
|
We wish you a happy May Day and whatever you do hope you celebrate it in style. We’ve got a new website which will be live soon, we’ll send a link next time.
|
|
|
|
