Minutes

Members present:

Shirley Baldwin - secretary
Eileen Houghton - Vice Chair
Mr & Mrs Halfpenny
Mr & Mrs Neville
Margaret Valleley
Ann Downie
Menai Roberts
John Griffiths
Lilian Jones
Betty Marchant
Mary West
Mary and Gordon Cartwright
Margery French
Mr Walbyoff
Roy Adams
Jean Fishpool
Pearl Bevis
Charlotte Baldwin
Stephen Atkins
Eileen & David Morris
Mr & Mrs Hince

I. Chairman opened the meeting at 10.45 am. He welcomed everyone present, especially Mr and Mrs Hince from Churchcroft, Fownhope and Stephen Atkins from Longmeadow, who were attending their first meeting. He also thanked Eddie Clark and Susanna Piohtee for being present.

2. Apologies were received from Richard Hancock, Nancy Evans and David Ayres.

3. The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a true record.

4. Susanna Piohtee gave us a talk on the Compact, a new working agreement between the new Landlord and its' tenants. She suggested that the Sheltered Umbrella Group might wish to develop it's own
compact concerning Sheltered Housing matters. Susanna said that she was available to all members for discussion about the Compact (called Tenants in Focus) at any time. Chairman thanked Susanna for her explanation and she then left the meeting.

5. Matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting:

a. Chairman told members that the Voluntary Grant which we had
planned on using for a day trip had terms attached to it which prevented that use. Chairman said he would think again how to facilitate a trip out.

b. Several members expressed regret that Richard Hancock was not able to attend the meeting to clarify some things. It was requested that he attend the next meeting on 6 Jun 2002 at Brierley Court.

c. Chairman told the meeting that the Council had declined the invitation to help financially with a buffet at the AGM on 6 Jun 2002, and also the hire of a larger venue for the event. This was discussed at some length and in the end it was agreed that those members who wanted a picnic lunch should bring one. Those wanting to buy fish and chips could use the salt and vinegar at Brierley Court.

d. Eileen Houghton asked Eddie for a progress report on the alarms at Longmeadow. Eddie said that by the end of May the whole system would have been renewed.

6. Chairman's Report.
Chairman said that he had been with his wife to a Tenants' Breakfast at Dines Green in Worcester. This is a quarterly Tenants' Forum and the subjects for discussion are often interesting.

The subject this time was 'Mystery Shoppers', a scheme in which volunteer tenants make calls to Housing Department officials under a fictitious name with a made-up complaint and observe and report on how well the landlord responds. Chairman said that he had told the forum that he thought that gathering information under an assumed name was spying. All members hoped that this deceitful practice never extended to Herefordshire.

Chairman said that Ann Downie had been representing Southgate Court
at Federation and some members there had suggested that Sheltered Tenants were tending to be over-represented. There was some useful discussion about this, from different points of view. Many felt that we weren't over-represented, but others were under-represented and that
was not our fault. Mr Morris said that he wondered if the formation of many different groups didn't dilute the strength of our representation. Chairman felt that more groups with strong views could only mean more democracy. Clearly there are many different and valid opinions among us all, and that's healthy and democratic too. Chairman said that he and Menai Roberts from Southgate Court would gladly advise any other schemes who wished to start their own group or association.

7. Any Other Business.
The cost of the advertisement in the Hereford Times for our AGM was £33.49p (after a discount for prompt payment) Chairman thanked the Secretary for making the payment out of her own pocket to save us money. Secretary asked if Council Tenant Participation would reimburse us for the obligatory expense. Chairman said he would ask Richard Hancock to confirm payment at the next meeting.

Menai Robert raised the subject of very protracted times from the start of repair and maintenance work to its completion. She had new heating fitted in mid-March, the job entailed plumbers, electricians, plasterers and carpenters.
The first three tradesmen all did their tasks in the first week, two months later she is still waiting for the carpenters to put shelves back into her airing cupboard. In the meantime the contents of her airing cupboard are in black bags in her bedroom, causing nuisance and danger. She had complained at liaison meeting level about the lack of 'joined-up' contracting and been told that no-one can do any job until the computer says so. All members found her complaint, and the response, completely unacceptable.

Mr Walbyoff complained about the short life of bulbs in the new fires being fitted into homes. He also complained that a neighbour, Mr Taylor of 8 Kingsway, had a dangerous wire in his house and had been told that it would be fixed by 6 June.
David Morris suggested that if Council gave 24 hours notice of repairs to tenants then much time might be saved by tradesmen calling and finding tenants out. Perhaps this could be co-ordinated by wardens in sheltered schemes. Eddie said he would look into it, but pointed out that emergency repairs for sheltered schemes were very good. Everyone agreed that they were excellent. Mr Griffiths said he was very pleased with the workmen who did the kitchens at Innesfield. Everyone then agreed that we should offer praise where we could, as well as criticism.

Eddie said tenants would be helping themselves and the system by returning the cards that they get after a repair. The information on them was helpful. It was agreed that we would invite Alan Burgess to out next meeting to establish some rapport with him as a group.

Mrs Halfpenny is very concerned about the Elderly People notices which the Council have partly erected around Smallbrook Gardens. The signs are incomplete and are not at the logical places. Eddie was asked if Highways could be approached, to liaise with Mrs Halfpenny, who will offer detailed, local advice on positioning of the signs.

Menai Roberts praised the work of the Steering Group in helping to get the best possible Tenancy Agreement with the new company.
Eileen Houghton questioned the insurance of passengers on the Council Mini-bus to and from our meetings. She felt that liability should be clarified in some way. It was agreed that we talk about transport at the next meeting, when Richard Hancock will be able to answer many questions about tenant participation. In the meantime, Secretary will speak to. Lions' Club.

The Raffle raised £22.50p, thanks to Mrs Fishpool. Thanks also to Betty Marchant and Mary West for hosting us at Barklie Court. The next meeting is to be on 6 Jun 2002 at Brierley Court at 10.30 am, followed by our Annual General Meeting at 2 pm on the same day.

Robert Downie (Chairman)

Copy to:
Mr T. Jaques - Mortimer House
Mr E. Clark - Garrick House - (Eddie, could a braille copy be sent to Stephen Atkins and a copy made for each scheme Notice Board, please?) Mr Richard Hancock - Mortimer House Ms Susanna Piohtee - Mortimer House Mr Alan Burgess - c/o Garrick House
Chair of Herefordshire Tenants'
Federation Chair of Disability Group