Resident Meeting 12 February 2025

Agenda Item

Discussion

Actions

1a. Lifts

Can send individual concerns to Cllr Potter in addition to reporting to repairs team. Clare.Potter@hackney.gov.uk

Some discussion around the overheating issue that was identified. Cllr Potter believes this was addressed by Hackney but residents stated the lifts improved for a while but now breaking again

Residents questioning value for money regarding lifts and service charges overall

Struggling to find commitment from individuals /departments within Hackney to deal with this ongoing issue

Response from Higgins: ‘it’s Hackney’s problem’

JWM – are we beyond the defect period yet? Council has been maintaining lifts for 5 years, is default period 10 years?

Sept 2017 moved in, official handover 2018, lifts built before that though.

Questions from Residents:

–            Are the lift breakdowns definitely being added onto service charges

–            Why is emergency button not working?

–            Who takes responsibility to check repairs have actually been repaired properly? (Sometimes things not fixed when repairs say they are or they break again soon after the fix).

Residents in newer blocks are updating a spreadsheet of the lift issues. Permission to share with Cllr Potter? Is it up to date?

Emergency button is an ongoing issue, have been chasing but no response yet

Cllr Potter is looking for significant issues across all lifts. Residents present from Kimpton, Sandon, Chipping confirmed ongoing lift issues

How do residents feed into the new contract?

Robert said there is a new temp company starting

Transparency around the selection and if doing a good job

Remi to get permission and share (updated) spreadsheet of lift issues with Cllr Potter

Remi to contact Cindy lift manager with questions and spreadsheet (if permission given to share)

1b. Complaints procedures

Have been separate complaints to flag the issues

Should costs be covered by Hackney if they have taken responsibility for he issue. Hackney should have been aware of all contractors and sub contractors.

Stage 1 complaints, keep going through the steps of complaints procedure to ombudsman. Have to go through all of the stages first though before ombudsmen

If council gets enough individual complaints will have to take notice

Has been hundreds of complaints already

1c. Safety concerns

Need to feel safe

Need meeting with specific Hackney people to deal with the issues

Need better communication. Likely a wider issue across Hackney/country

Bits not picked up, perhaps vacuum not working, surfaces not wiped. Infrastructure is degrading, needs to be well maintained

Also issues on Weston – frequently filthy (2 guys responsible for all older blocks) – balconies once a week, communal areas daily

Chutes blocked and drawers broken – Theobald (cleaners just put it back instead of getting it fixed – dangerous). Also blocked in Bramfield.

cleaner.estates@hackney.gov.uk address given to residents – advised to message directly with concerns

Audit needed on cleaning front. Possible to survey residents?

Need more transparency with service charges

Residents must email directly with cleaning concerns

cleaner.estates@hackney.gov.uk

Remi to discuss cleaning concerns with head of cleaning

Updated

Documents can be seen HERE

Ideas and feedback from residents on this:

·        Show was loud – particularly children with neurodiversity felt overwhelmed

·        Need more diversity in the music to reflect the diverse community

·        Turkish, salsa etc, more international

·        Could shorten the length of the music bit

·        More DJs for less time each and careful with volume/base levels

·        How to get people involved?

·        Survey with rough plan and open for suggestions?

·        Dog show again?

·        Local celebrity to judge competition??

Winter market again 29 November

Discussion around plans for youth summer project and if we are getting lottery finding again. Got a plan – Remi will let know after some meetings

Lots of wellbeing events and activities – all on HS website: https://www.hackneyshowroom.com/wellbeing/

·        Ringfenced TRA slots for wellbeing activities or things that benefit our community – can be weekly or monthly. Open to suggestions.

·        Menopause café suggested – to email Remi

·        Isabela – evenings or weekends – Sunday morning meditation

·        Hackney has a text service – Nnem can help promote

·        Can also do advert to share once activities decided and can put on our website https://kingscrescent.org

Food bank at Hackney Showroom Tues 12-2pm open from11am. Open to those on KCE and nearby.

Busy, running out of food at 1pm instead of 2pm. Can we help?

Also soup kitchen at St Johns church Tues/Sun and Church street on Thurs/Fri

Now Hackney Showroom box meals on Fridays after lunch club and deliver for those who can’t attend in person

Volunteers?

Help to sign up for vouchers: https://www.hackneyshowroom.com/volunteer-with-us/ email for more info: ruan@hackneyshowroom.com

Residents to email with any ideas for weekly/monthly community activities

kingscrescentn4@gmail.com

Want to volunteer with Hackney Showroom email: ruan@hackneyshowroom.com

Allotments update

·        Year ahead – 29 March workshop Nat Hackney Herbal advice on how to use plots, will also do support in allotment

·        5 new plots allocated recently

·        Got money to spend by end of taxy year (April)

·        In March, getting compost, need to order on truck for delivery, needs to be managed with a plan for how to distribute compost

·        Next event opportunity to catch up with everyone

·        Tap working now!

·        Water butts only one is working – better to use rainwater if possible

·        Mulalley provided compost bins going well

·        Need to paint swap some plots– need Julian’s dad to paint!! Window still to fix.

·        Remi meeting w/julian on 18^th

·        Vincent will still be working on the project but someone else day to day

·        Lights for shed need putting up – need handyman! Ask in chat?

·        Kids have been coming for several years, some teenagers now

·        Ask them what their needs are and what want to do. More board games requested – monopoly, uno extreme etc. Watching films (currently buy these, possible to use streaming accounts?)

·        Lottery funding last year, thinking of reapplying this year with own control over planning and management. Get in sports and other leaders to support.

·        Trips – bowling tomorrow, ice skating

·        Maybe Sobel inflatable course

·        We facilitate what the kids want. Hall games like bulldog. Fun to see teens still acting like kids. Free snacks

·        25 kids registered, 12-15 come each week

·        Space safe to express opinions, discuss religion, open. Kids opinions are important

22 May 2025 – Next residents meeting 7.30-9pm

12 July 2025 – Street Party