Meetings

Meeting Details

Meeting Summary
Great Yarmouth Tenants Forum
12 Nov 2014 - 17:30 to 19:30
Scheduled
Council Chamber
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  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Standard Items
1 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

You have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in a matter to be discussed if it relates to something on your Register of Interests form. You must declare the interest and leave the room while the matter is dealt with.

You have a Personal Interest in a matter to be discussed if it affects
•    your well being or financial position
•    that of your family or close friends
•    that of a club or society in which you have a management role
•    that of another public body of which you are a member to a greater extent than others in your ward.
You must declare a personal interest but can speak and vote on the matter.

1

No interests declared.

2 pdf CODE OF CONDUCT (24Kb)

2

Code of conduct noted.

3 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence.

3

Apologies received from Donna Gillet and Peter Burrage.


4 pdf MINUTES (98Kb)
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2014.

4

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 October were confirmed.

5 MATTERS ARISING
To consider any matters arising from the above minutes.

5

Peter summarised the ‘Improving Financial confidence’ initiative, and that the forum had been invited to collaborate on developing ideas to support tenants with financial matters.

ACTION: Simon O’Leary to present information at the December meeting.

6 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE JVC
A presentation will be given by the Housing Assets Manager.

6

Graham Hollingdale reported progress on GYN- see attached slides. 

A forum member enquired regarding repairs service, and what was being done to improve it. GH reported that an additional 2 staff members are now within the team, to increase capacity in the interim, but that GYN will be working as quickly as possible to utilise new technologies to improve the service (seen as one of the biggest priorities for GYN), however this is likely to take months rather than weeks.
A forum member enquired about premises for GYN. GH assured that, although suitable premises had not yet been secured, they would be based in the borough. GH reported that the liaison board for GYN was being developed, and that there would be 2 spaces available for Tenant Forum members.

ACTION: Expression of interest form to be sent out with meeting paperwork for those interested in applying for a seat. A formal vote will then be held at the December meeting.

7 RENT INCREASES
A report will be given by the Group Manager Housing Services.

7

Trevor Chaplin updated the Forum on historical rent requirements, and also the current situation- see attached slides. GYCH are currently talking to stakeholders, to gain opinions on the appropriate action to take regarding increases, following certain requirements being removed by central government. A vote was taken and the Forum agreed that a 2.7% increase is the favoured option of the Forum.

8 COST SAVINGS MEASURES
An update will be given by the Chairman.

8

Peter Kirkpatrick presented a draft letter to the Forum, addressed to Robert Read, Trevor Wainwright, and Gordon Mitchell. The letter expressed the Forum’s position with regard to finances.  The letter was agreed.

9 CO-OPTION

9

pdf Co Option Form (51Kb)
Forum members are asked to complete and submit this form to be considered for co-option on to the Forum.


It was noted that no co-option forms had been received.

10 REPORTS AND UPDATES
  • Feedback from Community Housing Board
  • Communications Group
  • Foster's Liaison Group
  • Scrutiny Panel

10



GYCH Board: Nothing to report. 2 Tenant board member seats are still available, and the Deadline is in December.

Communications group: New magazine is out and receiving good feedback. Request for more contributions to the magazine. 2015 schedule is being finalised. Suggestions for a letters page. 

ACTION: Reg Taylor to take to the group for discussion. Budget breakdown to be discussed next meeting. 

 Foster liaison group: recent meetings have been cancelled. The group is planning to include all contractors.

 Scrutiny: Mutual exchanges has commenced. Group updated on overview of regulations and criteria that GYCH have to adhere to. Plan of scrutiny activity is being developed. ACTION: Holly Notcutt to email Peter Kirkpatrick and Christine McDonald meeting documents.

General meetings: the group reminded members that if they are unable to attend meetings that it is their responsibility to contact the relevant person to gain information of meeting details, and subsequent meeting dates. 


11 pdf NOMINATION FORM FOR ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN (21Kb)
A nomination form is attached which should be completed and returned to the Member Services Officer at the end of the meeting.

11

Submissions received at the meeting will be forwarded to Christina Webb, to be added to any nomination forms received prior to the meeting.

12 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
To consider any other business as may be determined by the Chairman of the meeting as being of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration.
  1. £10k is available in Energy Grants for tenants who cannot afford to heat their homes.
  2. The Improving Financial Confidence project opportunity to engage tenants.
  3. The GYBC Vision document.
  4. The request for a GYCH Manager to attend each meeting (even if they are not presenting).
12

Energy grants: Holly Notcutt updated that £10,000 worth of grants are available to tenants who cannot afford to heat their home. Requests need to go DIAL Great Yarmouth.

GYBC visioning: Holly updated the group of the work of the council regarding the development of a vision and strategic plan for the long term. Members were asked to consider ideas to contribute to the vision. 

ACTION: to be included as and item in the December meeting. 

Request for GYCH manager to attend future meetings- was welcomed by members. 

13 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
The AGM will be held on Wednesday, 3 December 2014 at 5.30 pm at the Town Hall.

13

Wednesday 3rd December at 5.30pm, Town Hall.

Attendance

Attended - Other Members
Name
No other member attendance information has been recorded for the meeting.
Apologies
NameReason for Sending Apology
Peter Burrage 
Donna Gillett 
Absent
NameReason for Absence
Kath Howard 
Jack Jones 
Ron King 
Peter Nicholls 
Karin Watt 

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

PRESENT:

Mr P Kirkpatrick (in the Chair); Mrs C McDonald, Mr N Gallant, Mrs B Dawkins, Mr R Taylor, Mrs A Arger, Mr J McGaritty and Mrs S Taylor.

Cllrs Linden & T Wainwright.

Mr C Osinski

Mr G Hollingdale, Mr T Chaplin and Ms H Notcutt (GYBC Officers)


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