Agenda item - Round Robin

Residents will be asked to discuss what their association considers to be the main issues in their area and how the Panel can help with these in the coming year.

51.1              Residents stated that there were plans for tree planting on Pankhurst Avenue that coincided with International Woman’s day in the New Year.

51.2              Residents from Pankhurst Avenue asked if they could change the use of their clean-up day budget to invest in trees and planters for the estate which would complement the environmental improvement initiative. This was agreed.

51.3              The Chair stated that residents should pick sites carefully, discuss ideas with community groups and encourage volunteer involvement.

51.4              A resident raised concern over the lack of resident engagement at Highcroft Lodge and asked the panel for ideas on invigorating the community, better options to encourage representation and how to recruit a more diverse group of tenants. She stated that difficulties in resident engagement arose in her building due to the high resident turnover, a lack of communal areas and that the demographics tended to be younger families where often English was not their first language.

51.5              Ododo Dafe, Head of Income Involvement & Improvement, suggested residents set up social groups framed in a positive light that could appeal more to tenants. She added that in terms of communal areas, other Residents Associations (RAs) may be willing to lend spaces.

51.6              In response to residents, Delia Hills, the Mears representative, stated that Mears’ contract was managed by the council and that Mears was responsible for service delivery. EBD enquires should be directed to RAs and the Resident Involvement Officers (RIOs) or any problems with the process should be directed to the council.

51.7              Residents stated that they would create a report about community communication with police on a local level in central Brighton which they would share with the area housing panel upon completion.

51.8              In response to residents, officers apologised for the poor accessibility measures around Sloan Court regarding steep angles on curves and insufficient wheelchair ramps. These problems had caused accidents and they said they would take the issue directly to Highways.

51.9              In response to residents, officers stated that residents should direct their gas related problems to the utilities company, Scotia Gas Networks (SGN), as they held the statutory responsibility. They added that they had asked SGN for a programme of works and once they had received an answer they would report back to the panel.