MEMBERS PRESENT
JEAN FISHPOOL CHAIRMAN
MARGARET VALLELEY, SECRETARY
MOLLY HODGES, TREASURER
DIANE HOWLS
ROY ADAMS
CRAWFORD POWNEY
JACK HALFPENNY
BETTY MARCHANT
JO ANSCOMBE
LILLIAN JONES
NANCY EVANS
MENAI ROBERTS
PEGGY CAVANAGH
GORDON CARTWRIGHT
DOUGLAS GREEN
LESLEY BEEKS
EDDIE CLARKE HEREFORDSHIRE HOUSING

1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES
Jean, chairperson, opened the meeting and welcomed all members present.

Apologies were from: Lily Halfpenny, Shirley Baldwin, Greta Ashford,
June Bates, Mary West, Mary Cartwright, David Morris, and Mr and Mrs Sangster.

2. MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING
Members agreed that they were a true record of the proceedings. All members had received a copy of the minutes.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST MEETING
Thank you Eddie. We now have a warden once a week at Elm Grove.

Eddie: The boiler at Ballinger Court will be replaced before the end of the summer. This will include both the hot water and heating system. It will mean the system being closed for a week. I will keep you updated.

A lot of outstanding work is on the improvement programme.

I have made enquiries about a breakdown of the service charge. We inherited it from the council and I don't think anyone can really itemise the service charge.

4. GUEST SPEAKER
Our guest speaker this month was Gordon Shirley.
SHTUG had invited Gordon along to their meeting to help answer some out standing questions.
Fowbridge Gardens has been measured for replacement PVC double glazed windows. They were told that work would commence on the second week in April. The warden has now informed them that work would start in August. Tenants' feel it's very important that Herefordshire Housing keeps them updated.
A lady on the same scheme has been waiting for over three years to have a shower fitted. She has been assessed by the O. T. and told that one would be fitted.
When she rang Herefordshire Housing, they said according to their records that a shower was fitted three years ago.

Gordon will into look into these problems.

Also on the same scheme, tenants have been waiting for connection to the new water system. Blue pipes were already laid and were sticking out of the pavements.
Both Eddie and Gordon said they were waiting for Welsh Water to carry out the work.

Gordon was also asked about the likely hood of lifts being fitted at both Southgate and Brierley Courts? Tenants at both Courts are finding themselves prisoners in their homes' as they are unable to use the stairs. For many, having to move is traumatic.

Gordon said there were no funds at present for lifts to be fitted. This needed to go on the future Improvement Programme.

SHTUG told Gordon of the widespread problem with the new doors.
Many bells were not working and many letterboxes were broken.

Jean thanked Gordon for coming to our meeting and said he had been very helpful.

5. SARAH JAMES .
Sarah said she was part of the Tenants Participation Team, now renamed Customer Involvement
and Communications Officer. She said, I am setting up Service Review Groups. We want your ideas and suggestions
and want to keep the groups friendly and interesting.
Last year tenants told us in our annual survey that there were certain things that mattered to them.
These were: Responsive repairs to your home, Anti-Social Behaviour and The Improvement Programme.
I have come along today, as I am looking for members of SHTUG, who would like to become involved. Transport will be provided and meetings will be held at Legion Way.
Six members joined the groups.

Jean thanked Sarah very much for coming.

6. EDDIE
Eddie passed around to members a copy of the revised Sheltered Housing Procedure. This will be added to the Tenants' Hand Book.

The survey you all received is not from Herefordshire Housing. It is a general survey sent out by Herefordshire Council. This could set the needs for the future of Sheltered Housing.

Disraeli Court as you all know, is to be demolished. Herefordshire Housing is doing everything possible to make things easy for tenants on this scheme. They have regular meetings with Tony Jaques and they have a support group.

We are putting together a package of their needs. Expenses will be met for example, moving and decorating.
Disraeli will lose its lunch club and sadly there is no other lunch club in the city that's open seven days.

7.TREASURERS REPORT
After today's draw we now have £242-00 in our fund.

8. TENANT LIAISON MEETINGS
Fowbridge Gardens had a successful meeting. Tenants suggested that copies of these minutes should be made
available to the Head of Herefordshire Housing.
The amount of broken doorbells was also mentioned.

Penyard Gardens meeting had been cancelled.

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

ELM GROVE
Workmen have left a big hole whilst doing the electrics. It's been like this for a long time.

PENYARD GARDENS
Penyard gardens had a power cut from 6pm until 11pm last week. Will the pull cords work during a power cut?
Eddie, yes there is a backup battery that lasts for up to four hours. If you are in any doubt telephone the alarm centre on 01432 276442.

Numbers 29 and 31 Penyard Gardens smoke alarms are not working.

10. GUEST SPEAKERS FOR THE NEXT MEETING
The group decided to invite Jim Russell and Susana Piohtee as guest speakers for the next meeting.

11. DATE AND VENUE FOR THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held at Brierly Court on Thursday 4th August 2005 at 10:30am.

Jean then closed the meeting.