Present: Sanya Polescuk, Sorin Floti, Linda Chung, Bogdana Ghinescu, Anne Black, Irena Seget, Senka Vranicki, Lysine Bysh
Apologies for absence: Barbara Orlando, Lily Chan, David Saxby, Michael Jampel, David Castle, Stephen Taylor, Judith Mante, Stephany Guz, Niall Kirwan
Minutes of AGM 2017 approved (Sanya proposed, Anne accepted)
Report on the year 2017-18
1 Established links with local groups and associations:
- Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum www.hampsteadforum.org (over 1000 members), Neighbourhood Plan voted in 21st June. The policies support affordable, community led housing
- Heath and Hampstead Soc www.heathandhampstead.org.uk (2000 members) - published a write-up about our work in Spring Newsletter resulting in a handful of new CLT members.
- Downshire Hill Residents Association http://downshirehillra.com/index.htm (50 members) Cooperating on Queen Mary’s Home (QMH) and Old Hampstead Police Station together with
- Belsize Residents Association www.belsize.org.uk (500 members)
- Guardian; re:sale of QMH)
- Ham and High; re: sale of Branch Hill Care Home
- Lorna Russell; Camden Cllr and NW3 CLT member and champion at Camden
- Sian Berry; Camden Cllr and GLA chair of Housing, CLT supporter, tabled MQ about QMH site sale: would he buy it as was St Ane’s Hospital in Haringey? Answer due early July
- Maria Higson; Camden Cllr and RFH Trust Governor and NHS employee, help with QMH
- Georga Gould; Leader of the Council, unfortunately little response to date
- Neil Vokes; Camden’s Director of Development of CIP (delivering Council schools, housing, etc.) offered meeting to consider small sites for NW3CLT to develop - David S., Sorin and Sanya to attend
Briefed about NW3CLT and QMH and the need for affordable homes in the area:
- Keir Starmer - Sanya met Keir and he agreed to support joined-up approach to Community led Housing w other Labour party officials in Camden (Tulip and Georgia)
- Tulip Siddiq - Sanya and David C. to meet in September
- Community Housing Hub: NW3 CLT’s illustration of Branch Hill won at the Hub’s launch in Spring; David S. and Sanya met with the coordinator Lev Kerimol to discuss tactics and dealings with the council
- Octavia Trust HA: Sanya met David Woods, Director of Development. Octavia is Camden's Approved Partner for affordable housing and are interested in partnering w NW3 CLT
- Newlon Housing Trust: Sanya talked to Caroline Penock, Director of Development, re: Branch Hill Care Home, said they would not bid. David C. talked to Ezinne Ogbonna, Deputy Director Business Development re: QMH. Also not able to bid, given they manage 300+ units for the RF Trust and need to continue good working relationship
- Sanya met with Andrew Panniker in February and spoke to Maggie Robinson in April, both in charge of Estates and future plans for QMH. Little traction. Maria Higson asking via RF Trust Board of Governors, awaiting answers. David C. via FOI obtained useful data about RFH employees distance of travel to work, income levels and housing, all clearly illustrating lack of local affordable housing
Projects
- Branch Hill - sold. S106 negotiations ongoing. Developer will submit Planning Application. Continuing to ask questions about affordable housing.
- Hampstead Old Police Station - Abacus school preparing for new application, consulting w neighbours on line. NW3 CLT registered preferred use for building = affordable housing and workspaces. BRA regularly updated by Abacus being their original supporters for a location in Belsize, not Hampstead. DHRA looking for alternative location of site for Abacus, Old Belsize Fire Station. Another possibility might be old Spring Health Club, suggested by Lysiane – Sanya to suggest to DHRA
- QMH - awaiting results from the first round of marketing, via Maria Higson or A Panniker and Magie R. Linda said Lib Dems together with other groups preparing a campaign. NW3 CLT interested in joining forces
Governance:
1 Current Directors - Barbara, Bogdana and Sanya
Barbara and Sanya standing again
Bogdana stepping down as moving to The Netherlands. We all wished Bogdana very best of luck and hope she will return so to broaden our knowledge based on Dutch examples of community-led-housing!!!!
New Directors: Sorin, taking up the role of Treasurer and Lily, taking on Membership Secretary
Both were proposed by Sanya and accepted by Lysine
2 Application for Charitable status is in progress, handled by Michael. Sorin and Lily to provide necessary info for Michael
Membership:
- 90
- Discussed ideas for boosting the membership numbers:
- Anne suggested leafleting, a flier including Q&A and asking potential members to join and to write to local Cllr about lack of local affordable housing
- Sorin suggested writing to CNJ under ‘readers’ letters’ or to Editor for Panning, Dan Carrier
Finances
- Accounts for first year of trading (to 30th April 2018): £323.95, includes £166.83 donations, the rest is membership fees and expenditure of £99.88 to FCA, Paypal, Jotform and Facebook advertising (proposed by Sorin, accepted by Senka)
- Discussed other source of income and donations, including ‘DONATE’ button on the website. Niall to advise
