N.I.T.A.P. Tenant Involvement

MINUTES OF COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP MEETING

HELD ON WEDNESDAY 14th APRIL 1999 AT 12.30PM IN N.I.H.E. HEADQUARTERS, BELFAST.


PRESENT	B. Holmes S. McNally M. McKeown D. McGivern G. McClintock L. McCann J. Lilley J. McKinney D. Bass A. Smart D. Farrell	N.I.T.A.P. N.I.T.A.P North East South East West South N.I.H.E. South N.I.H.E. North East North East


APOLOGIES	S. Flynn K. McClatchey P. Barr M. Kelly M. Cox A. McCrossan W. Erwin	Belfast South West West S. East Belfast N.I.H.E.


MINUTE		ACTION/DATE


1.0	PRE MEETING - TELECONFERENCE TAPE C.A.G. members were given the opportunity to listen to the recent 'Estate Line' pilot teleconference, topic Consumer Panels. General feeling that pilot is workable but discussion to be more focused.
2.0	WELCOME
2.1	B. Holmes (N.I.T.A.P.) opened meeting and welcomed everyone in attendance. Sympathy expressed for A. McCrossan on her recent sad loss of sister.
3.0	APOLOGIES
3.1	Received as above.
4.0	MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
4.1	Proposal in Bloombory - no policy or procedure in place.
5.0	MATTERS ARISING FROM LAST MEETING
5.1	(4.1) Cinni Project - meeting took place 31.3.99, half groups at this stage were connected, hope to complete by end of April.
	(i) Mechanism through web site for N.I.H.E. to survey groups who are connected - survey on particular topics need views/comments. Analysis by Cinni. One topic/month. D. Bass to develop first 3 questions - C.A.G. members are to see questions prior to next C.A.G. meeting.	D.Bass/N.I.H.E.
	(ii) Provide a discussion forum - invite comments from anyone interested in responding. N.I.H.E. to identify a number of topics.	D.Bass
5.2	(4.2) Sexual offences against children - no further policy progress.
5.3	(4.3) Community Insurance - 0345 number is being changed, new number 07041 428076. N.B. All N.I. telephone numbers are being changed this year.
5.4	(4.4) Tenants Charter - Board Approval, awaiting ministerial approval.
5.5	(4.6) Heating Policy - see progress note (1.0).
5.6	(4.7) Intensive Management - included in Divisional Business Plan. Keep on agenda.
5.7	(4.8) Commercial Property - Ballee. Is there a time limit for sale? General information on commercial properties required in terms of are sold separately/or as complete unit. Information to be forwarded to M. McKeown.	J. Lilley
	(4.8) Hazelbank - see progress note (2.0) Copy of all documentation to be given to J. Lilley to resolve confusion surrounding this.	B. Holmes
5.8	(4.9) House Sales - no further progress.
5.9	(4.10) Community Based Workshops - see progress note 3.0.
5.10	(4.12) Estate Line - copy of report circulated. Concept agreed as useful tool. C.A.G./N.I.H.E./N.I.T.A.P. need to move this forward. C.A.G. to think of topics for discussion. Interested to see how we ourselves could operate such a conference. Probationary tenancies ... possible topic, briefing papers to be sent to participating members in advance. D. Bass to discuss with C. McQuillan logistics re: information. C.A.G. members to think of other topics in meanwhile.	D. Bass C.A.G.
5.11	(4.13) Lease - now gone to all Districts, will apply to all outside bodies for non residential use. Cannot be amended without approval H.Q. D.M. also receive copy of commended constitution. (N.I.T.A.P.). Signing of lease - has now been approved by legal i.e. Trustees or Management Committee.
5.12	(4.15) Decanting - paper to be completed by 15.4.99 - comments have been forwarded. Comments -payment of change of address for redirection of mail - who pays -extra keys -contents insurance - who pays -refuse containers - number of lifts/time scale (4.02)-day time decanting - what has changed? (led to believe standards were going to be same for both) These have already been passed to C. McQuillan.
5.13	(4.16) Neighbourhood Renewal Project - guidance sought from Social Exclusion Unit - still awaited.
5.14	(4.17) Tenant Participation Compact - remove from agenda.
6.0	WORKING GROUPS
6.1	Tenant Levy - see progress note 6.0
6.2	Tenant Training - see progress note 7.0
6.3	Community Association Conference 1999 - see progress note 8.0. Two additional categories.
6.4	Millenium Conference - to report to next C.A.G.; N.I.T.A.P. meeting Millennium Commission at end of April.	N.I.T.A.P.
6.5	Energy Efficiency - meeting Monday 19.4.99 - J. McKinney and M. Watt to report to next C.A.G. meeting.	J. McKinney
6.6	Rural Housing Working Group - awaiting information for Group Repairs Schemes.	N.I.H.E.
6.7	Handbook Group - work progressing, meeting to be arranged to finalise changes.
6.8	Anti-Social Behaviour - Councils Cxs Working Group have agreed joint protocol. R.U.C. agreed this but awaiting written confirmation and N.I.H.E. have also agreed to this. Joint Protocol to be brought to May meeting.	C. McQuillan
6.9	Continuous Tenant Omnibus Survey No comments received, C.A.G. members happy with topic discussed.
7.0	N.I.H.E. Corporate Plan - T. Green. Copy of Corporate Business Plan 1999/2000 circulated. -Statement of Purpose (P.12) -Core Values -Corporate Objectives Like to come back to C.A.G. and Area C.A.G.s Sept/Oct to look at C.A.G. ideas on participation and future inclusions. Comments welcome at anytime, contact T. Green and D. Kirkbride. In meantime will issue on a quarterly basis monitoring reports.	T. Green
8.0	DESIGN STANDARDS FOR HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT See Progress Note 12.0 in addition 3 papers, M. Gordon happy to nominate someone to attend future meeting to give more detail. - Design Standards (for Newbuild Housing) - Housing layout and design - Application of Lifetime Homes Standards
9.0	A.C.E. SCHEMES - FUTURE WITHOUT Area Managers and District Managers have responded to request from W. Erwin to highlight the difficulties re: loss of A.C.E. Schemes - this information now needs to be analysed. Proposal agreed to meet with T. & E.A. along with N.I.T.A.P./N.I.H.E./C.A.G. representatives. N.I.H.E. rep - Colm McQuillan C.A.G. rep - Louis McCann N.I.T.A.P. rep - Brian Holmes B. Holmes to co-ordinate.	B. Holmes
	D. Offices have identified the schemes in District, how D. Offices are supported. Analysis of Information to be forwarded to B. Holmes and L. McCann and vice-versa, prior to meeting with T. & E.A.	W. Erwin
	B. Holmes raised query re: N.I.H.E. role and possible things N.I.H.E. could be involved in. D. Bass, indicated that several ideas have been put to Belfast Area Manager. D. Bass to follow up.	D. Bass
10.0	ANY OTHER BUSINESS
10.1	Tenant installed oil fired heating systems - see progress note 11.0 for information purposes. If C.A.G. like to comment on content of letter respond to B. Holmes.	C.A.G.
10.2	Tenant Consultation on Transfer of Schemes to Housing Association - see progress note 13.0. Comments welcomed, to be passed to B. Holmes. D. Bass felt that it is worthwhile looking at this seriously.	C.A.G.
10.3	Code of Marketing Practice for Energy Suppliers - see progress note 14.0. Where Heating Scheme, information leaflets will be sent out.
10.4	Annual Conference N.I.H.E. 20/21 May 1999. Progress note 15.0(i). Five places being offered to Central C.A.G. members on a residential basis. Costs of accommodation and transport will be met by N.I.H.E. Nominees to be agreed at Area C.A.G.s and get back to J. Lilley before end of April.
10.5	B.B.C. Radio Ulster - 'The Speaker' - see progress note 15.0(ii). Interested in Community Groups who have been innovative in developing cross community activities. N.I.H.E. need C.A.G. approval to release information. It was felt the best way to deal with this was through the Consumer Panels.	J. Lilley
10.6	Executive Briefings - Information will be forwarded. N.I.T.A.P. Board Paper to be forwarded to B. Holmes	J. Lilley D. Bass
10.7	Repairs Monitor - Questionnaire circulated - N.I.H.E. conduct this on a pilo basis in 2 Lisburn Districts to run for 3 months. Will be an opportunity to change. To commence next month. Letter to be sent to all tenants to advise that this is happening. Any thoughts to get back to B. Holmes a.s.a.p. by 23.4.99.	C.A.G.
10.8	Housing News - proposed list of central articles. C.A.G. to look at listing. C.A.G. to prioritise and identify other areas that are omitted. Comment a.s.a.p. by 23.4.99 to B. Holmes.	C.A.G.
10.9	Rent Increase - D. McGivern stated increase came into force 1st April, pensioner increase takes place 1 week later - can cause problems. D. Bass to pass comment onto appropriate body. D. Farrell asked why are rent increases always above the rate of inflation - Government policy. D. Bass to come back to C.A.G. next meeting	D.Bass D. Bass
11.0	DATE OF NEXT MEETING
11.1	The next meeting will be held on 12th May 1999 at 12.30pm in N.I.T.A.P. H.Q., Ballymena. Agenda for next meeting to include: 1. Best Value Review of commercial property J. McPeake 2. Consultation Standards User Guide 3. A.C.E. Schemes. 4. Heating Policy - paper to be circulated followed by presentation at following meeting.

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