PUBLIC MEETING AT THE STEPHENSON WAY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, TO DISCUSS THE SRB SCHEME (SINGLE REGENERATION BUDGET) AND THE BCHS (TENANTS PARTICIPATION SERVICE).

Welcome — Councillor Mark Pengelly, Councillor Betty Wade, Denis Wise from the BCHS,

Introduction

1. Refurbishment of houses Residents are unhappy with the standard of work, others want to know why they're left out and there appears to be a general dissatisfaction with the way the scheme is being run. People report that the SRB office is a black hole of information — they don't respond to correspondence. No one on the estate is allowed on the SRB committee, so there's no local representation or input other than via our councillors. People are also concerned about traffic calming measures, the poplar trees that appear to be dying, the dreadful state of the brook, street lighting and fencing. Residents appear to have no faith in the SRB Management. A typical comment is: "What's the point of coming to the meeting when the they don't listen or care?" Councillors Mark Pengelly and Betty Wade will take questions on these issues.

1. £200,000 spent on the recent refurbishment but SRB funds ran out before the work was complete. Committee left to fund the remaining necessary modifications, such as the kitchen and the landscaping of the gardens — cost £6200. Money came from own funds. Double glazing, storm porch and other items were omitted due to lack of funds (they should have been done when centre was refurbished). We can ill afford this sort of expenditure because our annual council grant was cut this year from £19000 to £12000. No access to upstairs. Huge space above unable to be used because of suitable access. Therefore we need funds to buy a lift.
2. Caretaker wanted. Volunteers wanted. One place left on the committee (minute secretary required).

General questions on the estate (Councillor Mark Pengelly and Betty Wade).

1. Discuss the tenants' participation service and forming a residents' association. He will also discuss the BCHS survey that was conducted recently.

Minutes

The centre was packed with notable people — the council architects (Clive Harrison and one other chap); the SRB team including Nigel Vernon and Eileen Cronin; Jimmy Noble, John Murray, Jim and Betty Wade, and Jimmy Kane. Denis Wise was representing the BCHS organisation. In fact, there were more people representing the council and the SRB than there were residents. Mrs P. M. of Whitworth Avenue went on about lack of communication with SRB, the fact that you can tell them things until you're blue in the face and they still don't listen. No one has any faith in them. She didn't want her bathroom moved upstairs, either, but the SRB management wouldn't go ahead with the rest of the repairs unless she agreed to have it shifted. This would break her tenancy agreement, she said, for it states that the council are supposed to consult and discuss with her when they want to make changes. It would also take away her choice. Nigel Vernon couldn't answer this. He kept going over the fact that she had no choice, and that moving the bathroom upstairs was a requirement (the bathroom became an issue because most of the properties on the estate have bathrooms that open directly onto the kitchen, thereby making them unhygienic and putting them in breach of modern housing regulations). However, Pauline doesn't have this problem. Her bathroom is in the hall and doesn't open onto the kitchen. Marion Jones of Whitworth Avenue didn't want her bathroom moved either. Residents were unhappy with the general standard of work (tiles falling off of walls, toilet pans loose and toppling over, ceilings stained with water). There appears to be a general dissatisfaction with the way the scheme is being run. People report that the SRB office is a black hole of information — they don't respond to correspondence. The attitude of residents was "What's the point of coming to the meeting when the they don't listen or care?" One chap complained about his roof, saying that the ridge tiles were sliding off and that he could see light when in the loft. Councillor Murray spoke up for the residents. He said that politicians should be dealing with the problems. They should be telling the officers what to do regarding the refurbishment of people's homes. People were concerned about traffic calming measures. Clive Harrison brought out a plan of the area and explained that chicanes would be built in strategic places along Stephenson Way. This was warmly accepted. The poplar trees were mentioned, the fact that they appeared to be dying. Mark Pengelly said that a tree expert (arborist) was satisfied with the trees. However, many trees that had been severely pollarded were showing signs of death — leafless or near to leafless.

I reported that £200,000 spent on the recent refurbishment of the centre but SRB funds ran out before the work was complete. The committee was left to fund the remaining necessary modifications, such as the kitchen and the landscaping of the gardens at a cost of £6200. The money came from much needed centre funds. Double glazing, storm porch and other items were omitted due to lack of funds (they should have been done when centre was refurbished). He also appealed for volunteers to come forward and help in the centre, and said that a part-time caretaker was needed.

Denis wise gave a presentation. He said the East Lloyd's Estate was chosen by the BCHS to use as a pilot scheme (because of the volume of money that's being spent by the SRB). It was to do with tenants' option studies which could lead on to tenant empowerment grants. The tenants' option study related to issues and concerns of tenants and residents. He produced a flip chart of matters that concerned residents, with degrees of their concerns — from crime through to drug taking and rubbish collecting. The statistics were obtained from a door to door and letter survey. Matters that were of most concerned to residents were: nothing for the youth and youngsters, rubbish and litter, drugs, parking and road safety. He talked about tenant participation with the police and council, with a view to local people managing the affairs of the estate. He also appealed to residents to set up a residents' association. This appeal was echoed by the chairman. The meeting closed at 9.pm.