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The Big Yeller March 2013
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AGM2013
To add an item to the General Mee5ng Agenda, or to publish any ar5cles
please mail thebigyeller@homesforchange.co.uk before 5:00 pm on..….……...
Apr
16
Apr
3 next
General mee.ng 6:30 @ Yard
March
19
commi;ee mee.ng member’s room @ 6:30pm
general mee.ng the yard theatre @ 6:30pm
Apr
2
May
21
May
8 Jun
18
June
5
Environment on Call, the council’s bulky waste collectors, will no longer collect large amounts of waste/furniture etc from the building. Due to cuts, each household may only receive two collections a year (3 items per collection). If you have any furniture etc please do not leave the items outside the building near the back gate or dump it within the compound for others to deal with. It is now the responsibility of the householder to remove the items themselves. If you do not have transport to do this you can call Environment on Call on
0161 954 9000. Remember you only get to do this twice a year! At the moment Jo and Fiona are trying to come to an arrangement with the council to pick up from the building more regularly but with no success so far. Please do not leave anything outside unless you have arranged pick up with the council yourself. Please leave your Olat number and a note on any goods you leave.
HFC TENANT REPAIR REQUEST
DO NOT RELY ON TELEPHONE CALLS, CONVERSATIONS OR EMAILS TO REPORT REPAIRS. OUR BRAINS ARE ADDLED AND WE HAVE POOR MEMORIES. YOU MUST ALWAYS COMPLETE THIS FORM AND HAND IT TO A REPAIRS OFFICER A.S.A.P. FLAT NO. ______ NAME of person reporting repair___________________________ NAME/S OF TENANT ( if different ) _________________________ ACCESS DETAILS: Please give morning or afternoon dates when we can gain access. Date(s)(AM 8-12 or PM 1-5) ____________________________________ contact NAME (for keys) ____________________ Flat No (if different) ____ Home Tel_______________________Mobile______________________
REPAIR OR PROBLEM DETAILS (please be as specific as possible )
Who did you report repair to NAME ___________________________Date_____________
ARE YOU REPORTING AN EMERGENCY REPAIR YES / NO An Emergency repair is anything that is likely to cause injury, affect your health or damage property. ALWAYS WARN NEIGHBOURS. GAS LEAKS turn off supply - ring Transco 0800 111 999- ventilate property & do not smoke! WATER PIPE BURSTS turn off at stop cock. ELECTRICAL WIRING etc – switch off at mains fuse box do not touch electrical switches. Contact ANY repairs officer immediately - Stay in or near property if safe to do so to ensure access. For all BOILERS, basic plumbing, minor electrical you can call Didsbury Plumbing and Heating 0161 434 9455 Emergency only 07912 206490 Bulky rubbish e.g. furniture, electrical items –call 0161 954 9000 to arrange for it to be collected. REPAIRS OFFICERS FLAT NO. Emergency Simon Birch 213 07990 956629 (Lee) Fiona Forster 302 07445 291 627 (Nicola) Hannah Berry 309 Silvestre Fernandez 410 Tony Pace 105 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
POST INSPECTION Repair inspected by …………………………………………………..Date ……………………… Approved YES NO Comments …………………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… TENANT SATISFACTION Tenant …………………………………………………………………..Date ………………………. Sa.sfied YES NO Comments ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Co-‐ordinators: Rob O’Connor and Siân Whi;on Members (March 2013): Chiara Addis, Kath Bird, Eloise CockcroL, Siobhan Foley, Sue Gallagher, Sarah Gilston, Allan Kelly, Eddie Koehler, Chris5an Klasse, Mercedes Jacques, Rob O’Connor, Julie Roberts, Luke Slater, Johnny Tasker, Siân WhiVon, Mike Upton. Tenancy Management-‐.Membership group have a role in inves5ga5ng allega5ons of tenants not keeping to the rules of their tenancy agreement. Ul5mately, it is our role as a social landlord to take ac5on where we find that HfC tenants are not keeping to the rules set out in their tenancies. We have inves5gated and taken ac5on on 2 tenancy breaches which have included non occupancy and sub-‐le]ng of HfC property. There are 2 issues which we have not yet fully inves5gated. We have found a difficulty in taking any further inves5ga5on/ac5on on these issues due to the way in which tenancy management issues have been responded to at commiVee mee5ngs and general mee5ngs. As a group we feel we need more support in this area if we are to do the work which is appropriate of HfC as a social landlord. Membership Management-‐ Kath Bird has con5nued to work with membership management in helping prospec5ve members get involved in the coop, con5nuing the prospec5ve members surgery from 6-‐6.30pm before a General Mee5ng. We hope that this work will con5nue to make HfC more accessible to people wan5ng to get involved. We have worked with P&I to adver5se the fact that we have 3 and 4 bedroom proper5es and have con5nued to see more interest from prospec5ve members requiring these family sized homes. Johnny Tasker and Julie Roberts have been running induc5on mee5ngs for prospec5ve members. Wai.ng List and Alloca.ons We have been upda5ng the wai5ng list as appropriate and conduc5ng numerous home visits so that each applica5on has appropriate points for housing need allocated. There has been much less movement within the coopera5ve in the last year and this has meant that there has not been an external alloca5on to process. We have processed 1 exchange between HfC tenants. We have reviewed the system we use to allocate points for housing need, making improvements. We have also developed a new ‘Under Occupa5on policy’ and we hope that this policy along with changes to the points system will help people under occupying their property and facing housing benefits cuts to be priori5sed for internal transfers. This will hopefully, in turn, free up family sized homes for those in need of this. Admin Johnny, Mercedes and Mike have con5nued to respond to the register of interest forms we receive. Siân WhiVon and Rob O’Connor are standing down as coordinators of the group from March 2013.
New Members Since Last AGM Resigned Members Since Last AGM
Boardman Cathy Castile James Cockcroft Eloise Fitton Neil Gale Helen Scullion Caoimhe Gooding Clara House Simon Menken Peter Newall Tachia Slater Luke Tolkien Kallum Members at 31/3/2012: 101 New members 1/4/12 to 5/3/13: 9 Members leaving 1/4/12 to 5/3/13: 3 Members at 5/3/2013: 107
New Members Since Last AGM Resigned Members Since Last AGM
Boardman Cathy Castile James Cockcroft Eloise Fitton Neil Gale Helen Scullion Caoimhe Gooding Clara House Simon Menken Peter Newall Tachia Slater Luke Tolkien Kallum Members at 31/3/2012: 101 New members 1/4/12 to 5/3/13: 9 Members leaving 1/4/12 to 5/3/13: 3 Members at 5/3/2013: 107
Membership Management-‐ Kath Bird has con5nued to work with membership management in helping prospec5ve members get involved in the coop, con5nuing the prospec5ve members surgery from 6-‐6.30pm before a General Mee5ng. We hope that this work will con5nue to make HfC more accessible to people wan5ng to get involved. We have worked with P&I to adver5se the fact that we have 3 and 4 bedroom proper5es and have con5nued to see more interest from prospec5ve members requiring these family sized homes. Johnny Tasker and Julie Roberts have been running induc5on mee5ngs for prospec5ve members. Wai.ng List and Alloca.ons We have been upda5ng the wai5ng list as appropriate and conduc5ng numerous home visits so that each applica5on has appropriate points for housing need allocated. There has been much less movement within the coopera5ve in the last year and this has meant that there has not been an external alloca5on to process. We have processed 1 exchange between HfC tenants. We have reviewed the system we use to allocate points for housing need, making improvements. We have also developed a new ‘Under Occupa5on policy’ and we hope that this policy along with changes to the points system will help people under occupying their property and facing housing benefits cuts to be priori5sed for internal transfers. This will hopefully, in turn, free up family sized homes for those in need of this. Admin Johnny, Mercedes and Mike have con5nued to respond to the register of interest forms we receive. Siân WhiVon and Rob O’Connor are standing down as coordinators of the group from March 2013.
P= Present Ap= Apologies LOA= Leave of Absence
Attendance at General Meetings – Mar 2012 to Feb 2013 If you are not listed below, or if you are not recorded for as many GMs as you think you attended, then your name is not on the GM attendance sheets – please remember to sign otherwise your attendance won’t be recorded. Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan ‘13 Feb Addis Chiara ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Ademuyiwa Jaki ! ! ! Bailey Miranda ! Barton Andrew ! ! ! Bell Janice ! ! ! Berry Hannah ! ! ! ! ! Bird Kath ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Cooper Lucy ! ! Davies Rachel ! Dunlop David ! ! Dunning Matt ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Evans Geoff !! ! ! ! Fitzgerald Paul ! Foley Jo ! ! ! ! ! Foley Siobhan ! Forster Fiona ! ! ! ! ! ! Foster-Brown Bindi ! ! ! ! ! Gale Helen ! Gallagher Sue ! ! ! ! Gardenchild Saffron ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Gilston Sarah !! !! ! ! ! ! ! Gooding Clara ! ! ! Harrison Rob ! ! ! ! ! Hasan Xen ! ! ! Hayward Luke ! Heys Lianne ! ! ! ! Higgins Leonie ! ! ! ! ! Hodgkinson Mark ! ! ! ! House Simon ! Jacques Mercedes ! ! ! ! James Janine ! ! ! ! ! ! James Zia ! ! ! ! ! ! Joslin Kim ! Klesse Christian ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Koehler Eddie ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Kovacevic Angelo (jr) ! ! ! Kovacevic Angelo (sr) ! ! ! ! ! Lennard Jane ! ! ! ! ! ! Mellor Benjamin ! ! ! ! ! ! Menken Peter ! ! Middleton Chris ! ! ! Middleton Ruth ! Morse Osbourne ! ! !! ! ! ! Murphy Shelagh ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Newall Tachia ! ! ! Nyananyo Karina ! ! O'Connor Rob ! ! ! ! ! !
We have spent much of this year chasing leaks and slowly solving them. During heavy rain the building leaks all over, especially on Phase 2. Some are a complete mystery. We are trying to replace the intercom and fix the door entry systems but are having real problems ge]ng good contractors to respond Improvements programme has been completed, all flats should be up to Decent Homes Standard Exterior Windows and cladding have been treated Hundreds of repairs done inc Emergency ligh5ng overhauled and tested regularly and Vehicle gate repaired. Members: Lee Fullwood, Shelagh Murphy, Tony Pace, Fiona Forster, Nicola Hallet, Andy Barton, MaVhew Forster, John Pugh, Simon Birch, Jo Foley, Hannah Berry, James Wand, Kallum Tolkien, Julie Roberts, Fiona Reilly New members – Simon House, Peter Menken, ScoV Miller, Sarah Gbeleyi
Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan ‘13 Feb Pace Tony ! ! ! Parnell Simon ! ! ! Pereira Teresa ! Plumb Rachel ! Pugh John ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Quinn Niki ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Redhead Dave ! ! ! ! ! Redhead Jamie ! ! ! ! ! Reilly Fiona ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Roberts Julie ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Roberts Kelly ! Scott Chantelle ! ! ! ! ! Smit Pauline ! ! Street Debbie ! ! ! Tasker Johnny ! ! ! Taylor Nicola ! Tolkein Kallum ! ! ! ! ! Upton Mike ! Underhill Keith ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Vilela Ricardo ! ! ! ! Walker-Sheriff James ! ! Whitton Siân ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Witham Nickie ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Wood Nigel !
For the purpose of this annual report I am confining our ac5on and spending to between March 2012 and March 2013. Our actual budget /financial year is October 2012 to October 2013. We have covered work undertaken and costs in the two previous annual reports 2011 and 2012. We intend to provide a five year summary 2008 to 2013. In this summary we will include all spends and work completed as a result of and guided by the self-‐assessment survey of 2008. Replacement Kitchens. We secured quotes, selected a contractor and replaced eight original 1996 kitchens, total cost £13,917. The target cost was £1700 per kitchen. Two kitchens were above this (one due to stolen units whilst in the building!) We have not been able to replace all original kitchens, we know of five s5ll remaining out of fiLy. In addi5on to replacing kitchens we have also organised and improved hea5ng in three more flats to a total cost of £1014. One request for a mixer shower was also installed instead of just bath taps. Total cost £109 Mezzanines. We conducted a survey of all flats with mezzanines. Not all tenants want / require the mezzanine style to be removed in order to improve insula5on. Two flats have had mezzanine removed to a total cost of £1300 Five flats cannot have mezzanine removed due to spiral staircase design. Addi5onal func5ons: We have designed and produced forms to profile every flat and to record all ac5ons and costs against each flat. Ini5ally this is by our group but can be opened out to all maintenance for all flats. We have recorded dates, ac5on taken, contractors and to our best ability all costs incurred. We aim to create a picture of areas in the building that will need future spends. We aim to move to computer / electronic storage of this informa5on. We aim to be trained with the new bookkeeping system; to complete paperwork and reduce repe55on of effort across volunteers. Members 2012 Rachel Davies Sylvestre Fernandez Lianne Heys Jane Lennard Peter Menken Shelagh Murphy Teresa Pereira Rachel Plumb Dave Redhead Fiona Reilly Ricardo Vilela James Walker Sherif Debbie Street Nigel Wood New members: Andrew Sowden and Chris5ne Donavon. Summary of total spends March 2012 to March 2013. Kitchens x 8 £13,917 Hea5ng x3 £1014 Mezzanine x2 £1300 Mixer Shower £109 Total spend £16,340
The ac5ve members of the gardening group work together as a group to maintain and improve the garden, flower beds and grassed areas on all levels of “Homes for Change”. Garden loveliness is the goal of those members of the group who par5cipate. This is the group‚Äôs mission statement. In addi5on to this, the ac5ve members of the group keep the building 5dy with liVer picking and general 5dying up of the building. The ac5ve members are also able to keep the walkways and staircases in a clean condi5on by periodically jet washing these areas. The group hopes to con5nue the above for the foreseeable future within “Homes for Change” Gardening group list of members: John Pugh,(coordinator) Louise Walwein, Jaki Ademuyiwa, Kelly Roberts. Pauline Smit, Nicky Witham, Dave Redhead, Kim Joslyn, , Colin Rowan, Ben Mellor, Leonie Higgins, Jo Foley, Clara Gooding, Kirs5n Glendenning, Jamie Redhead, Nuradin Abdi. John Pugh
Co-‐ordinator; Niki Quinn Deputy Co-‐ordinator; Ricardo Vileda Events Co-‐ordinator; Janine James Members; Fiona Reilly; MaV Dunning; Geoff Evans; Zia James; Saffron Gardenchild; Leila Payne; Chantelle ScoV; Jaki Ademuyiwa; Rachel Huggins BIG YELLER Each month P&I has produced the Big Yeller newsleVer and delivered 75 copies by hand to each flat and approx 5-‐10 paper copies to external members / poten5al members. This year we have also set up a mailing email list to send external members electronic copies of The Big Yeller instead of paper copies as this is fair more environmentally friendly and in line with HfCís green ethics. So far we have 30 members/poten5al members on the email list which also saves us 5me and money each month. The Big Yeller has been redesigned this year thanks to our new Editor and includes the minutes of both the General Mee5ngs and the CommiVee mee5ngs and a range of informa5on and interes5ng ar5cles which have included ëWha�s on in Hulmeí, ëFree Events in Manchesterí, and informa5on such as useful contact names and addresses and the dates of various mee5ngs. We are about to launch a new monthly feature interviewing a member / poten5al member each month. We will con5nue producing the Big Yeller with a range of interes5ng ar5cles in it and move more external members / poten5al members onto the email mailing list for The Big Yeller. PUBLICITY Throughout the year we have con5nued to make improvements to the website and are currently working on further changes. We have also produced a number of posters to adver5se events such as the General Mee5ng and we have been working on designing a new logo for Homes for Change. We are also 'reclaiming' the HfC no5ceboard outside of the HfC office and star5ng to fill this with useful informa5on.
An allega5on was recently made on Yell that the decision made by the Membership Group regarding the treatment of a lodger member was influenced by a personal rela5onship between a member of the group and another person on the wai5ng list. †More specifically, the allega5on stated that the member of the group did not want the lodger member to be priori5sed for the next available tenancy in order that the person they had a rela5onship with would be offered it first. † Membership Group refute this allega5on in the strongest terms. †The members of the group take a number of precau5ons to ensure that decisions that are made are fair, accountable, transparent and not influenced by personal rela5onships. †Members of the group are excluded from decisions that directly affect them or people they have rela5onships with (i.e. they leave the room to allow others to openly discuss and vote on the issue). †Members are careful to declare poten5al conflicts of interest.†A further precau5on we have taken to help safeguard the integrity of the decision-‐making process is to share the co-‐ordinator role between two individuals. †We have discussed the lodger member's case in several membership mee5ngs collec5vely and have made decisions and recommenda5ons in the light of a thorough considera5on of rules and procedures and their ethical implica5ons.†The allega5on that the group advanced the interests of an individual member is disrespec�ul of our work and efforts and insul5ng to every member of our group.† We wish to add that throughout this process we have made efforts to treat the lodger member fairly and with respect and sensi5vity, providing them with the detailed rules of the tenancy (including item 6.34) and encouraging them to seek independent legal and housing advice. A further allega5on is made that the Membership have 'broken rules' regarding their decision. †Membership would welcome the submission of a formal complaint (rather than pos5ng on Yell) in order that the allega5ons can be properly and thoroughly inves5gated by the CommiVee. †We are fully confident that our decisions and conduct regarding the HfC wai5ng list and le]ngs policies and procedures will stand up to both internal and external scru5ny. †We would also encourage any members or prospec5ve members who would like to contribute to our work on behalf of the co-‐op to join the Membership Group. Membership have to make oLen difficult and complex decisions on behalf of the co-‐op; some are 'unpopular'. †We consider personal aVacks, such as this allega5on and personal remarks made in General Mee5ngs, as damaging to the communal spirit of the co-‐opera5ve and beyond that as an act of bullying, which has no place in the collec5ve management of our housing affairs. Membership Group
This year we have: Replaced the Firewall computer and phased out the old WFC firewall. Increased the speed of our connec5on from 7.2 MBs-‐1 to 10-‐13.5 MBs-‐1 Repaired the Network Cupboards Labelled all the connec5ons to the switches. Fixed problems with voip phones. Connected 209 210 207 208 209 410 411 directly to the Garden Switch. Completed cabling to level 4 and level 2 north. Set up and configured UPS for the firewall to ensure the network stays up aLer short power losses in the office. Set up a new network monitoring sta5on.
Things we are working on: Directly connect all phase 2 flats to a switch Securing wireless connec5ons Automa5cally backing up the firewall se]ngs Faster fibre and wireless connec5ons with MDDA Connec5ng G09 directly Installing Level 2 and level 4 East cables Members of the Network group are: Chris Middleton, Helen Gale, Janice Bell, Keith Underhill and Mark Hodgkinson
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) began work on the academic building for their new Birley Fields campus last summer. †We have had a number of problems with the work, par5cularly around contractor parking, weekend working and site vehicles using our residen5al streets. †With the approval of members I have been liaising with MMU, the main contractors Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM) and Manchester City Council (MCC) on behalf of HfC. †Lee Fullwood aVended the first MMU 'Community Forum' last month on our behalf and we will con5nue to highlight problems caused by the development and try and get these resolved. † Planning approval was given last month for the 1200-‐bed student residences, and work has just started on this part of the development. †The changes to our community when this campus opens will be huge. †Whilst we need to keep trying to reduce the nega5ve impact of this change, I think it's also 5me for us to explore what posi5ve outcomes might be achieved for HfC and the local community.† ALer January's General Mee5ng, Cath Keane (Manchester City Council, Local Regenera5on Officer for Hulme) and Diane Higgins (Sir Robert McAlpine, Community Liaison Officer) met with HfC residents to discuss issues around the redevelopment. †ALer the mee5ng I gave them a tour of the building and we discussed ideas for various projects that we could ask MMU and SRM to help us with, as part of their bid to improve local community facili5es. I suggested that HfC present to them a 'wish list' of projects we would like to have done and they agreed to this. †Other posi5ve comments have been made by MMU and SRM about the poten5al for community projects. It's difficult to know at this stage what they might consider, and what financial resources might be made available. I don't think we need to produce detailed plans at this stage, but I would like to give them a list of projects that the majority of members agree upon.† I think that we need to do this sooner rather than later, as the process of them deciding what they would agree to do, planning it and ge]ng it done could take a lot of 5me and they will want to do it whilst the building work is s5ll taking place and they have access to materials and people to do the work. †I don't think we want to spend too much 5me at this stage deba5ng the finer details of any ideas we put forward. I have already posted informa5on about this on Yell and invited people to suggest possible projects -‐ thanks to those who have contributed so far. †I would like to collate these requests into a 'wish list' for approval at the next GM. †We can then submit our ideas to MMU. Jamie Redhead has already met with some of HfC's younger residents to find out what changes they would like to our outside space, and further sugges5ons for this are welcomed. †Other ideas so far have included: reques5ng help with repairing/replacing our flat roofs, exploring the possibility of developing the empty WfC units into extra housing and improving exterior plan5ng and decora5on. If you haven't done already, please e-‐mail any ideas (big or small) to me at katherinebird@rocketmail.com, or post them on Yell before this month's GM. Thanks Katherine Bird
Elec5ons for the following posi5ons will take place at the AGM March 19th 2013 . Please read carefully! Coordinators and deputy GM Chairperson: Maintenance, Publicity and informa5on, Membership, Gardening, Network and Finance These elec5ons will be conducted by the alterna5ve vote. You must be an individual member or a prospec5ve member to be a candidate. Joint candidates are not allowed, however each working group must also elect a deputy coordinator and may elect coordinators for sub commiVees. You can be a candidate in as many of these elec5ons as you wish. There is also an elec5on for Deputy GM Chairperson. The rules are the same as those for coordinators. CommiVee (9 places): ALer these elec5ons the elec5ons for 9 members of the commiVee will take place: In order to be a candidate for the commiVee you must fill in and sign the nomina5on form below (If you do not wish to spoil your newsleVer a piece of paper with the same or similar words will be acceptable). You must be a member to be a candidate for elec5on to the commiVee. If you wish to be a candidate for the commiVee elec5ons and you cannot aVend the elec5on at the AGM you must fill in and sign the form below. Nominated candidates are expected to aVend the mee5ng at which the elec5on takes place. If a candidate cannot aVend the elec5on, and they present a reason for not aVending, that the returning officer decides is reasonable, they may appoint someone to make a statement on their behalf. Candidates at the mee5ng must provide an answer to any ques5ons put to them by the returning officer on behalf of the electorate. The elec5on will be conducted by ballot paper aLer the candidates have addressed the mee5ng and answered any ques5ons. Ques5ons must be in wri5ng and must not be directed at individual candidates. These elec5ons will be by the one person one vote system called "the single transferable vote" This is not a ranking or points system. Your first preference is your single vote. The rest of the preferences are con5ngencies if your first preference is not fully u5lised. Later preferences might not even be considered. The vo5ng procedure will be as follows: You have one vote, this is a transferable vote. You must put a 1 against your first preference, a two against your second preference and so on un5l you are indifferent. A later preference cannot count against an earlier one. Re-‐ open nomina5ons will also be a candidate. Re-‐open nomina5ons will win seats propor5onately. Nomina5ons for commiVee will be kept secret by me un5l the nomina5ons close. You are however welcome to announce your inten5on to stand in any way you feel necessary (ie Yell, leaflets etc) -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐ Nomina.on form I wish to be a candidate for the commiVee elec5ons (Insert name)_____________________________________________ Normal Signature ________________________________________ Keith Underhill (Returning Officer) Deliver to Flat 303 before March 19th or at the AGM email keithunder@gmail.com (0779 268 6588)
Hello everyone, The proposal for an annual rent increase of 3% at the General Mee5ng of Tuesday 19th February, 2013 raised a point of members feeling they had not received enough informa5on about this issue. As a consequence it was agreed by the GM that the ques5on of the 3% rent increase should be referred to the Finance Mee5ng in early May. In addi5on I hope to hold an informal mee5ng of all members interested as an important opportunity to get involved on Saturday 23rd March, 2013 at 2pm @ Kim by the sea. If you wish to contribute (no head for complicated figures required!) then please either email me or pop a note through my door (flat 102). My contact details are: Email: red_jamie@hotmail.com Many thanks, Jamie Redhead
Elec5ons for CommiVee 2013/2014 AGM March 19th 2013 At the commiVee mee5ng it was informally raised that we should hearten people about par5cipa5ng in the commiVee so I am wri5ng to share my personal experience of serving two brief terms on the commiVee to show that it is not onerous and encourage all members that can stand do. Have you ever felt what can I do to help but didn’t know how or where to begin? Pu]ng your name down for the commiVee is a great place to start. It only requires aVending a mee5ng once a month where you can put your views and opinions forward and take part in decisions that help secure the long term smooth running of HFC. Don’t be in5midated or feel scared about what I can do as long as you are posi5ve and willing to spend just a liVle 5me monthly then you will take part in a valuable and rewarding process. All fellow members are friendly and will welcome you with open arms as I have personally experienced. You can volunteer to do more or less as you can fit around your busy lives. The two 5mes I have served on the commiVee have both been heartening personally and helped to develop some valuable skills such as communica5on and par5cipa5ng in construc5ve debates. Jamie Redhead
Dear Membership group and working group members I would like to inform you that I have been recently rehoused by MCC due to my urgent rehousing need. I no longer need to seek accommoda5on within HFC but am unsure of the process to follow in order to update HFC. Due to lots of changing personal circumstances I am currently unable to commit to my du5es in my working groups or regularly aVend GM's and feel at this 5me I have liVle to offer HFC as a member. To be honest I find the the whole process slightly confusing and don't know if I need to terminate my membership? I would also like to add that having access to Yell has not encouraged me to want to live within HFC at this present 5me due to the unprofessional manner some take when discussing HFC issues, at 5mes I have felt in5midated to ask ques5ons or make sugges5ons as I have witnessed people taking HFC issues very personal, some5mes resul5ng in personal aVack, mostly verbal but non the less hur�ul. Sad to see. Please advise me on what a less ac5ve member of the coop can do to, if retaining my membership is an op5on? Kind Regards Jaki Ademuyiwa
James Cas5lle, flat G01, a member of our co-‐op, sadly passed away at Manchester Royal Infirmary
on Sunday 3rd March at 12:30pm whilst his family were at his bedside.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Rest in peace Jimmy.
Thursday Tiny Tots & Toddler Time, 10.15-‐10.45am, under 5s, free. Stories, rhymes and fun for babies, toddlers and pre-‐school children (with their parent/carer). Term 5me only. Kni]ng Group, 5-‐7.30pm. Get those needles clicking and wool flying through your fingers! Turn up and join in. Warm welcome to all. From beginners to experienced! All kni]ng materials provided.
What’s on in Hulme This month’s featured venue: Hulme Library Hulme Library, Stre�ord Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5FQ. Telephone: 0161 227 3739. Email: hulme@libraries.manchester.gov.uk. The library contains compu5ng facili5es, internet access, fax, prin5ng and photocopying, books for loan in a range of languages (including English, Kurdish, Pushto, Turkish, Dari, Somali), African-‐Caribbean collec5on, language courses for loan, talking books for loan, CDs for loan, children’s DVDs, a health informa5on point, local studies collec5on, newspapers and magazines, and a mee5ng room. Please note that there may be a charge for some services. Please contact the venue for further informa5on about any of the services.
A list of community venues in Hulme/Moss Side and their contact details can be found below. Please contact venues for details of classes, workshops and events. CLAREMONT SURE START CHILDREN’S CENTRE: Claremont Road, Moss Side, Manchester, M14 7NA. Telephone 0161 227 3463. This venue offers a variety of play sessions for parents/carers and young children and also ESOL/func5onal English courses. HULME COMMUNITY GARDEN CENTRE: 28 Old Birley Street, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5RG. Telephone: 0161 227 8198. Informa5on about current and forthcoming events, workshops and classes are available on their website: www.hulmegardencentre.org.uk. HULME LIBRARY: Stre�ord Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5FQ. Telephone: 0161 227 3739. Email: hulme@libraries.manchester.gov.uk. The library contains an IT suite, internet access and photocopying facili5es. Please contact the venue for further informa5on. KATH LOCKE CENTRE: 123 Moss Lane East, Hulme, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 5DD. Telephone: 0161 455 0211. A variety of classes and therapies are available. Further informa5on is also available on their website: h;p://www.thebiglifegroup.com/big-‐life-‐centres/ MOSS SIDE LEISURE CENTRE: Moss Lane East, Manchester M15 5NN. Telephone: 0161 226 5015 MOSS SIDE POWERHOUSE LIBRARY: 140 Raby Street, Moss Side, Manchester M15 4SL. Telephone: 0161 227 3758. MOSS SIDE SURE START CHILDREN’S CENTRE: Selworthy Road, Manchester, M16 7UH. Telephone: 0161 226 0162. YARD THEATRE: 41 Old Birley Street, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5RF. Telephone: 0161 226 7696. Z-‐ARTS: 335 Stre�ord Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5ZA. Telephone: 0161 226 1912. The website hVp://www.z-‐arts.org/ has more informa5on about all classes, workshops and events. ZION COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE: 339 Stre�ord Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 4ZY. Telephone 0161 226 5412. A variety of classes, groups and therapies are available. Informa5on is also available on their website: hVp://www.zioncentre.co.uk
Baby Explorers The Manchester Museum, Manchester Tuesday 5th March -‐ Tuesday 30th April from 10:30am Sensory play and interac5ve story sessions for babies who aren’t walking yet. There are limited spaces so booking is essen5al. Call 0161 275 2648 (a week in advance). Everything's Inevitable: Works Selected by Des Hughes Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Monday 4th March -‐ Sunday 5th May "Sculptor Des Hughes has put together a fascina5ng, thought provoking new display for this exhibi5on.” Strike A Pose: 50 Years of Football & Fashion Na5onal Football Museum (was Urbis), Manchester Monday 4th March -‐ Tuesday 27th August
"From Bobby Moore to the Beckhams via mods, skinheads and casuals, meet the men and women who have taken
football from Kop to catwalk.
Terrace style and social movements meet designer brands in a fascina5ng look at 50 years of English style. Features ou�its, adverts and era -‐ defining photography from Terry O'Neill and others.”
Tranchester By Malc Stone
Contact Theatre, Manchester Monday 4th March -‐ Saturday 20th April
"Portraits of Manchester's unconven5onal club kids, featuring Zsa Zsa Noir, Dave Tester, Israel Delgado and more, from Homoelectric's resident photographer Malc Stone.”
Raqib Shaw
Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Monday 4th March -‐ Sunday 26th May
"Enter the gallery doors past a magical series of willow and spring flower installa5ons to discover the dark, unseVling world of Raqib Shaw’s art. Beneath the seduc5ve surface of his jewel-‐encrusted works, you’ll find a disturbing land
inhabited by terrifying monkey warriors and other mythical beasts. " It's very bright and sparkly and most of the Adult themes would go over kids heads but parents of liVle kids might
want to steer them away from some of the sculpture.
Open Mic Poetry The Kings Arms, 11 Bloom Street, Salford, M3 6AN
Friday 8th March 2013 from 8:00pm
"Fancy reading a poem or two? Or perhaps playing a bit of a song? Come down and throw your name in the hat!
These events are for those new to wri5ng as well as more seasoned performers who want to get their stuff out there, all are welcome to come and have a go.
Then the basic principal is that the each poet picks the next person out of the hat. Breaks will be called when glasses
are empty and bums are itching. Simple.
No hierarchy, definite equality and a relaxed night bringing together crea5ve people.”
Hulme Social Media Surgery Z-‐Arts Centre, Manchester
Wednesday 13th March 2013 from 4:00pm , un5l 6:00pm
Social Media Surgery is here to listen to what organisa5ons like you, community organisa5ons, want to achieve by using social media in your workplace.
Are you ‘Facebooked out?!’ Need help with your account? Do you want to know what everyone is twiVering on
about? Have you already got a wordpress account and have specific ques5ons for us? Do you want to use video or pictures on the web to raise the awareness of your group or cause?
Your place on this workshop is free; Come and bring any social media ques5ons and our volunteers and social media
experts will help you out.
Big Dig Day The Manchester Museum, Manchester
Saturday 16th March 2013 from 1:00pm, un5l 3:00pm
The Museum Allotment is signed up to be a Big Dig garden. Drop by and find out more about urban growing in a small space.
Present: Rob Harrison, Lee Fullwood (leL before end of mee5ng), Saffron Gardenchild, Jamie Redhead, Janine James, Luke Hayward, Lorraine (Mosscare), Keith Underhill, Katherine Bird Apologies: Shelagh Murphy Minutes: Katherine Bird 1) Mosscare report Lorraine presented Mosscare's rent arrears report, the format of the report has been revised to include legal ac5ons, updates and records of leVers sent. There is a decrease in the arrears of the 'top ten' accounts of £2741.52, this is due to a large payment being made on one account. There is a decrease in total arrears since April 2012 of 8.12% Ac5ons taken since February: 4 arrangements agreed, 3 arrears leVers sent, 5 arrears visits undertaken and 5 approval to serve NTQ visits undertaken. There was a query from membership regarding the status of a NTQ which Mosscare had been asked to serve on Flat G06. Lorraine will chase this up. There was a request from Keith: Membership/GM needs to be no5fied of NTQs issued as this affects vo5ng rights in General Mee5ngs. Mosscare will inform HfC when NVQs are issued. Lorraine will no longer be represen5ng Mosscare at CommiVee Mee5ngs and will be replaced by Nicola Davies. This should be more effec5ve as Nicola will prepare the accounts herself. 2) Minutes of last CommiVee Mee5ng Ground floor flat security following break in – Lee to propose ac5on Keith suggested that in future CommiVee Mee5ng minutes, where the CommiVee is divided on an issue in the open sec5on of the mee5ng, the minutes should record how individual CommiVee members vote. This was agreed: 5 for (Rob, Janine, Jamie, Luke and Saffron) and 1 against (Lee). 3) Book Keeping post 4 applica5ons have been received, one further applica5on was e-‐mailed to an incorrect e-‐mail address and this will be re-‐sent. There was a discussion about other co-‐op administra5ve work that could poten5ally be included within the role in the future. This would have to be approved by the GM. It was agreed that the CommiVee's decision regarding the appointment would be devolved to the interview panel: Lee, Rob, Luke and possibly Shelagh. The interviews will comprise experience and competency-‐based ques5ons, which will be provided to applicants before interview. There was a discussion about whether the work should be offered on a hourly basis or as a fixed fee, it was agreed it should be hourly. Interviews may take place Thursday 14th between 2pm and 5pm (TBC) 4) Elec5ons and AGM Keith has posted informa5on about the vo5ng process on Yell, there have been some slight changes. The Treasurer and Secretary will be appointed by the CommiVee at the next mee5ng following the AGM. 5) Rent increase It was agreed to propose an increase of rent of 2.3%. This is because of the short period that the GM have agreed to look at and agree the long-‐term business plan – it was felt that this was too short a period to do it properly. It was suggested that the rent could be decreased in 2014 following a planned strategy from May onwards to look in detail at the projected costs of building repairs. This was agreed unanimously. 6) Closed session HfC went to court in March and secured a 2 year suspended Possession Order regarding an incident of an5-‐social behaviour that took place in 2012. It was agreed to accept 2 weeks wriVen no5ce to quit received from a tenant. 6 months Leave of Absence was agreed for Sian WhiVon and Julie Roberts. It was agreed to place a tenant on the internal 4-‐bed wai5ng list due to special circumstances related to disability and wheelchair access (backed up by external evidence).
Chair: Keith Underhill Minutes: Katherine Bird/Keith Underhill
The mee5ng started at 18:31 GMT
1) Members present: (41 including 7 commi;ee members) Chiara Addis, Chris Middleton, Chris5an Klesse, David Redhead, Eddie Koehler, Fiona Reilly, Geoff Evans, Jamie Redhead, Jane Lennard, Janice Bell, Janine James, James Walker Sherif, Jo Foley, John Pugh, Jonny Tasker, Julie
Roberts, Kallum Tolkien, Katherine Bird, Keith Underhill, Kelly Roberts, Kim Joslin, Lee Fullwood, Leonie Higgins, MaV Dunning, Mercedes Jacques, Nickie Witham, Niki Quinn, Ossie Morse, Paul Fitzgerald, Pauline Smit, Peter Menken,
Ricardo Vilela, Rob Harrison, Saffron Gardenchild, Shelagh Murphy, Siân WhiVon, Simon House, Simon Parnell, Susan Gallagher, Teresa Pereira, Zia James
Non Members present: (2) ScoV Miller, Steven Perry
2) New people.
ScoV Miller and Steven Perry introduced themselves
Minutes of Last GM: 3.1) Minutes were PASSED as a true and correct record with 12 absten5ons
3.2) MaVers arising? none
4) Commi;ee report. No ques5ons.
5) Commi;ee report Ra.fica.on
The report with the excep5on of item 5 and the rent rise part of sec5on 4 was PASSED with 1 against and 4 absten5ons.
The commiVee proposed to increase the annual rent by 3% Rob Harrison spoke in favour of the proposal he said that he increase was necessary in order pay for future repairs as
specified in the business plan and in order to ensure that our costs are covered.
There were a number of ques5ons. Jamie Redhead proposed an amendment to change the 3% increase to 0% this was seconded.
Jamie said that he had been through the business plan and he felt that we did not need an increase in the rent this year especially if we could obtain cheaper contractors.
There was a number of ques5ons
Rob Harrison spoke against the amendment. saying that it would be beVer to explore the details at a commiVee mee5ng rather than at a GM. We should agree the 3% now and look at all the issues carefully over the next year.
ALer a number of ques5ons a procedural mo5on to refer the maVer to a finance mee5ng in early May was proposed and seconded.
In favour it was stated that this would be a good opportunity for people to get involved and it was a good idea to
delay the decision. John Pugh Speaking against said that people will lose interest if it was delayed and that we should vote now.
It was AGREED that the ques5on of the 3% rent increase should be referred to the Finance Mee5ng in Early may.
The vo5ng was 26 in Favour 7 against and 6 absten5ons
6) Next Mee.ng Tuesday 19th March 2013
7) AOB.
none
Closed Session: 8) New member Scot Miller was elected to membership with 2 absten5ons 9) Item 5 of the commi;ee report It was agreed that Kallum to 'be moved from lodger status to tenant status and housed in appropriate accommoda5on' as specified in sec5on 6.34 of the tenancy agreement. This means that for a 4 month period following the expira5on of the NTQ Kallum Tolkien will be placed on the top of the wai5ng lists for the relevant flats. The vote was by secret ballot There were 16 in Favour 15 against and 1 absten.on The mee.ng finished at 19:54
Prospec.ve Member’s Surgery is from 6.00pm to 6.30pm
and is for prospec.ve members to get any support and advice about becoming a member of the co-‐op.
1. Members and non-‐members present
2. Introduc.on of new people 3. Minutes of Last GM 3.1. Any correc.ons 3.2. Ma;ers arising
4. Commi;ee report 5. Ra.fica.on of commi;ee report
6. Finance Report 7. The Accounts
8. Appointment of an Auditor 9. Formal Reports from each Working Group including a list of members
10. A;endance Record of General Mee.ngs 11. List of new members since last AGM
12. List of resigned members since last AGM 13. MMU Birley Fields development -‐ This mee.ng resolves to suggest a list of
possible projects: 14. Date, .me and venue of next mee.ng
15. Any other business (to be given to the chair before mee.ng starts) 16. Elec.on of working group Coordinators and Deputy GM Chairperson
17. Elec.on of Commi;ee Closed session
18. Other closed session business
unit 25 _ 41 old birley st _ Hulme _ M
anchester _ M15 5RE info@
homesforchange.com
0161 _ 232 9801
INDEX:
H4c mee5ngs 02 The big yeller deadline 02 Useful phone numbers 02
Bulky waster 03 Pest control 03
LiL Breakdown 03 Tenant repair form 04
Membership Report 06
GM AVendance 09 Maintenance Report 10 Improvement Report 11
Gardening Report 12 P&I Report 12
Network Report 13
Membership response 13 MMU Birley Fields dev 14
Elec5ons 15 23rd March Mee5ng 16
Elec5ons leVer 16 Jaki’s leVer 17 RIP Jimmy 17
In the neighborhood 18 Community lis5ngs 19 What’s on in mcr 19
CommiVee minutes 21
GM Agenda 23 GM Minutes 22
Aims & objec5ves 24
Contacts 24
Recommended