Minutes

Members Present
Roy Adams
Lillian Jones
Mary West
Betty Marchant
Mr & Mrs Neville
Margaret Valleley
Mr & Mrs Halfpenny
Jean Fishpool
Mr&MrsHince
Mr & Mrs Morris
Nancy Evans
Eileen Houghton .
Charlotte Baldwin
Menai Roberts
Ann Downie

1. The meeting opened at 1.45pm, Chairman welcomed all present. Richard Hancock represented Herefordshire Council.

2. Apologies - were received from Stephen Atkins, Mr Walbyoff, Shirley Baldwin and Mrs Gough.

3. Minutes - of our inaugural meeting were read through by Chairman.

4. Chairman's report.
Robert discussed with members the events of the past year. The main item of discussion was the 'Yes' vote and it's implications for Sheltered Housing. Robert pointed out the detail in the first newsletter from the Company. Most members had not read more than the headline of their copy and had not appreciated that the Company were changing the terms under which they had been voted. Robert explained the long process of negotiation which led to the Company accepting the Steering Group's recommendation that the Tenant Members of the Shadow Board would stand down for re- election at the first AGM of the Company. The Company now are changing one of the basic promises which gave many tenants the confidence to vote for them. A vote was taken and members unanimously condemned this action by the Company.

Chairman spoke about the development of Compact and how it applied to us. Richard suggested development of an addition to Compact which was specific to Sheltered Housing. Members discussed this and thought it was an interesting development, to be pursued in the coming months.

Members raised the subject of differing standards within the Warden Service. Richard suggested that Tenant Participation provided the vehicle for us to create an inspectorate of out own within which we would be able to survey the conditions at each sheltered scheme and comment on them.

4. Treasurer's Report.
Treasurer reported that we have £34 in cash, plus £20 which
was raised in the raffle earlier. Many members expressed disappointment that Council did not seem willing to refund the cost of our advertisement and were unhappy to pay for a braille copy of our minutes. Richard suggested that we should think about fund-raising for ourselves and not rely on the Council for everything. Members were stunned that Richard suggested them starting a money-raising scheme and didn't even ask for his ideas.

5. Chairman stood down from the chair and Richard Hancock took over the meeting for the election of officers for the coming year. Eileen thought this was the time to say that we should not have to rely on the Chairman to bring members to the meeting in a mini-bus, because if he is ill or not around then meetings cannot happen. She suggested that another way of getting members to meetings must be agreed in principle by Council so that the future of our Group is secure. Richard said that we should approach Special Services for any money that we needed. He said that the small amount in Tenant Participation does not compare to the millions that Special Services have. Robert asked Richard to confirm for us that tenant participation was a Government requirement, not a grace and favour gift from Council, and that it was mainly funded by Central Government, not by local taxes. There was no progress on this subject, so we got on with election of officers.

No-one offered to take the post of Chair, so Robert agreed to Chair again for the time being, but said that for the Summer he would do only the basic tasks for the group in order to spend time with his family. Jean Fishpool agreed to continue as Treasurer and Eileen Houghton will assist her. We shall ask Shirley Baldwin to continue as Secretary.

6. Election of representatives to Federation. It was agreed that Robert, Shirley and Lillian continue as our reps at the Federation.

7. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 3.40pm.

(Robert Downie) Chairman

Copies to:
The Housing Corporation
Chair of Shadow Board of Herefordshire Housing
Mr T. Jaques - Herfordshire Council
Mrs N. Gough - Herefordshire Council
Mr Eddie Clark - Herefordshire Council
Herefordshire Tenants' Federation
Chair of Tenants' Disability Group
Shirley Baldwin
Stephen Atkins
Mr Walbyoff