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The agenda for the meeting can be found here and the papers for the meeting can be found here , here and here.
News from KPE TRA: September 2014
Election of representatives at the Annual General Meeting
At the AGM on 24 September we shall be electing our Executive Committee, on which each block on Kennington Park Estate is entitled to have at least one representative – more if there are willing volunteers. We shall also be adopting a new constitution, and asking all members present to elect our Officers. This is to ensure our representatives have clear legitimacy and authority in representing our views to Hyde. This is particularly important at a time when Hyde is proposing to develop a new building on our Estate in the Blades, Alverstone, Lockwood courtyard, and when we are questioning their commitment to delivering an acceptable standard of landlord services.
Discussions with Hyde on the proposed development on the Harleyford Street site
Hyde is proposing to redevelop the site which currently includes our Community Centre and the Harleyford Street depot (outlined in red hereà). The TA has made it clear that information and consultation meetings with Blades, Alverstone and Lockwood residents must be held at the earliest opportunity. Hyde has promised detailed consultations and we encourage residents of Blades, Alverstone and Lockwood to get involved and help to ensure any such development is of benefit to Kennington Park Estate. (Note: our Community Centre will be replaced on site.)
The first consultation meeting for Blades, Alverstone and Lockwood residents will be on Monday 22 September, 7-8pm, in the Community Centre, when Hyde and their Architect will present their plans to us. We urge everyone to attend – this is important!!
Planned and cyclical maintenance programme for Kennington Park Estate
As reported briefly at the TA meeting in July, Hyde was not keeping to the spirit or the word of our tenancy agreement in relation to its responsibilities for planned and cyclical maintenance on our Estate. (For planned and cyclical maintenance, read, regular external maintenance to keep the exterior of the buildings and associated external fixtures and services in a good state of repair.)
The TA asked for details of the planned and cyclical maintenance programme at this time last year on the basis that it was back in 2005/06, immediately following transfer of ownership, that a comprehensive schedule of external maintenance was undertaken. The TA pointed out this programme of work was well overdue even last year. In March this year, we were presented with a programme of cyclical maintenance work extending from 2014 to 2020. (We should bear in mind it is our rent and service charges which pay for maintenance on our Estate). We immediately made it clear that a programme which meant that some of our blocks would be left to deteriorate for several more years up to 2018, 19 or 20 was completely unacceptable and we submitted a formal complaint. At one point we were told no changes were to be made to the programme of work, then, suddenly, they agreed to ensure the work was brought forward under a revised programme. The TA is deeply unimpressed and disappointed that residents have to make formal complaints before our landlord can be persuaded to comply with our tenancy agreement.
A particularly important element of the planned and cyclical maintenance programme is the drainage stack clearance programme. It is only too obvious to us that this overdue. We know of the damage and distress to our residents this has caused. We were recently informed that Axis has been commissioned to do the stack clearance work and we have asked for the precise details. Residents will remember our TA meeting in November last year when we were promised the stack clearance work was imminent.
When we receive full details of the escalated programme (including the revised time line) we shall check with tenants and leaseholders if the improvement on the previously proposed timeframe is good enough.
Service Charges
For the past couple of years, TA representatives have be involved in scrutinising exactly what we are all being asked to pay through our service charges. Some progress has been made in identifying rogue invoices, over charging and unwarranted bills and, as a result of our challenges, smart meters will soon be installed to keep a proper check on communal electricity usage. There is still a lot of work to do. If you have questions about your service charge bill or have spotted something wrong, do please let us know!