BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Kings Crescent - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://kingscrescent.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Kings Crescent
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Europe/London
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20240331T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20241027T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20250330T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20251026T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:BST
DTSTART:20260329T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:GMT
DTSTART:20261025T010000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250918T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250918T210000
DTSTAMP:20260405T064422
CREATED:20250617T103250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251005T143232Z
UID:3142-1758223800-1758229200@kingscrescent.org
SUMMARY:ETRA meeting (housing issues) 18 September 2025
DESCRIPTION:KC ETRA Meeting\n(Enhanced Tenants & Residents Association Meeting)\nThursday 18 September 2025\n7:30 – 9.00 pm\nHackney Showroom\n  \nMinutes\n  \n18 September 2025 7.30 – 9pm \n‘Enhanced’ Tenants & Residents Association Meeting \n1. Welcome\, Introductions & Apologies\nLead: Remi (TRA Chair) \nPresent:\nTRA members – Remi (Chair)\, Emley\, Richard\, Isadora\, Kathy\, Jill\, Sarah\nHackney – June Welcome (Housing Officer KCE)\, Josephine Burton (Homeownership Team)\, Laura Coombs\, Bernard Thomas (Cleaning)\, John Prestage (Repairs)\, Cllr. Clare Potter\nApologies: Bianca Rembrandt (ASB) \n\nMinutes from the last meeting (22 May 2025) were approved.\n\nKathy McEwan: \n\nEmphasised the need for more resident support to keep TRA activities running.\nHighlighted the voluntary nature of TRA roles (not paid\, no financial benefit).\nTRA aims to build a stronger community through initiatives such as allotments and youth club.\nUrged members to help set TRA priorities for the next year – residents to bring ideas to the AGM in October.\nTRA needs new committee members and volunteers for: communications\, newsletter\, funding applications\, strategy\, youth club\, gardening\, website\, treasurer\, administration\, secretary\, and Hackney liaison.\nGardening and youth club will continue\, but succession planning is required.\n\nRichard McVetis: \n\nOutlined rules of engagement for meetings: respectful communication\, focus on agenda items\, no interruptions\, concise contributions.\n\nAction Points: \n\nResidents to think about and suggest TRA priorities before the October AGM.\nTRA to circulate a volunteer call-out with specific roles listed.\n\n  \n  \n2. Estate Cleaning\nLead: Bernard Thomas (Hackney Cleaning Team) \nDiscussion: \n\nPersistent issues: urine in blocks (Bramfield\, Theobold)\, pigeon droppings\, dirty corridors\, uncollected recycling\, and external rubbish dumping.\nResidents reported cleaning issues being unresolved for weeks/months despite being logged.\nConcerns raised that service charges increase annually\, but cleaning standards remain low.\nQuery on accountability: who checks standards and ensures cleaning has been completed?\n\nBernard (Council): \n\nExplained cleaners’ duties: lifts\, entrances\, bin areas\, litter collection.\nDeep/“spot” clean every 20 days.\nAdmitted problems with ASB occurring after cleaning which delays resolution.\nCleaning regime to change – two cleaners will now work together.\nCleaning Charter available on Hackney website: https://hackney.gov.uk/estate-cleaning\n\nResidents: \n\nBramfield Court corridor reportedly not cleaned for months.\nStandards feel subjective – need agreed baseline.\nSpecific pigeon issue: allotment gate and Wallington Court exterior access corridor heavily affected by droppings.\n\nJune (Housing Officer): \n\nWill share her estate inspection schedule with TRA.\nInvited residents to join inspections.\n\nAction Points: \n\nBernard & June to conduct a joint walk-around with TRA to set agreed baseline standards.\nJune to circulate her inspection schedule to TRA members.\nBernard to investigate pigeon issues and request pigeon spikes installation (allotment gate\, Wallington Court).\nResidents to continue reporting cleaning issues via estate cleaning email address (Hackney).\nTRA to monitor changes following new two-cleaner regime.\n\n  \n  \n\n\n Repairs\n\n\nLead: John Prestage (Hackney Repairs) \nAgenda Items & Discussion: \n\nLighting – Theobalds Court/ Flooded Area – Old Boiler Room\n\nJohn confirmed he could not comment on lighting issues (he is carpenter background and not electrician).\nRepairs system described as fragmented\, emailing without a reference number or date risks requests being deleted.\nResident raised issue of a huge leak. Leak was fixed\, but the repair left a large hole.\nConcern: repairs often leave incomplete or poor-quality outcomes.\n\n\nBroken Courtyard Gates\n\nOngoing frustration with repeated issues not being resolved effectively.\n\n\nCommunication & Oversight\n\nResidents questioned: Who decides on the work? Who checks it has been carried out to standard?\nRepairs system seen as “not fit for purpose” – siloed departments\, no clear accountability.\nCall centre staff often lack training and knowledge of estate complexities.\nStrong concerns about value for money in service charges given repeated\, unresolved repairs.\n\n\nCouncillor Input\n\nCllr. Clare Potter asked that all repair issues be sent to her directly by residents.\nResidents suggested escalating concerns to the Housing Ombudsman.\n\n\n\nResidents’ Requests: \n\nOPTs time planner to attend next meeting.\nRon Springer (Hackney Repairs) to be invited to attend.\nMore training for Hackney call centre staff.\nDedicated repairs overseer needed with full estate oversight.\n\nAction Points: \n\nTRA to formally request OPTs (Manager at call centre) time planner’s attendance at the next meeting.\nTRA to invite Ron Springer (Hackney Repairs) to next meeting.\nResidents to feed ongoing repair issues to Cllr. Clare Potter for escalation.\nTRA to draft a letter to Hackney Council requesting:\n\nclearer accountability and supervision of repairs\,\nimproved call centre training\,\ndedicated estate-wide repairs oversight.\n\n\nConsider escalation to Housing Ombudsman if systemic issues persist.\n\n\n4. Lifts\nLead: Cindy Crawford (Interim Lift Service Manager)\n(Unable to attend – written responses promised. Presentation given by resident Karsten Hartmann.) \nDiscussion: \n\nPresentation & Report\n\nKarsten Hartmann gave an overview of the lift maintenance report\, stepping in due to council officer absence.\nThanks were extended to Karsten for undertaking this work on behalf of residents\, effectively doing the council’s job.\nEmley to circulate Karsten’s report to residents via email and WhatsApp.\n\n\nPersistent Failures & Design Issues\n\nResidents highlighted that Hackney Council has failed to address the root causes of repeated lift breakdowns.\nDesign faults were identified in earlier meetings but remain unresolved\, raising serious questions about whether newer block lifts are still under warranty and if design flaws are being properly addressed.\nResidents noted that the same issues have persisted for years despite repeated reporting.\n\n\nHealth & Safety Risks\n\nAlarm buttons in lifts frequently fail to work.\nThere is no reliable mobile signal or emergency phone coverage inside lifts.\nResidents reported women and babies trapped in lifts for hours without being able to call for help – a critical health and safety hazard.\nCurrent failures represent not only an inconvenience but a significant risk to life and wellbeing\, particularly for vulnerable residents.\n\n\nAccountability & Oversight\n\nNo evidence of a proper monitoring system or accountability structure to ensure repairs and servicing are carried out effectively.\nResidents expressed frustration that they are forced to act as investigators and monitors\, effectively doing the work of Hackney Council\, while still facing increasing service charges and declining service levels.\nThe absence of the Lift Service Manager (Cindy Crawford) was seen as unacceptable given the seriousness of these ongoing issues.\n\n\nEscalation\n\nCouncillor Clare Potter to be sent the full lift maintenance report and resident accounts.\nResidents raised the possibility of escalating matters to external regulators due to consistent failures in safety and service.\n\n\n\nAction Points: \n\nEmley to circulate Karsten’s lift maintenance report to all residents (email and WhatsApp).\nCindy Crawford (Lift Service Manager) to provide written responses to all lift-related questions (maintenance\, design\, warranty\, accountability).\nTRA to request confirmation of whether lifts in newer blocks remain under warranty.\nHackney Council to clarify:\n\nWho is currently responsible for lift management and oversight.\nWhat actions are being taken to address acknowledged design faults.\nTimelines for resolving alarm and emergency coverage failures.\n\n\nTRA to prepare a formal letter highlighting lifts as a serious health & safety risk requiring urgent intervention.\nCouncillor Clare Potter to receive the full report and resident testimonies for escalation within Hackney Council.\nTRA to consider escalation to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and/or the Housing Ombudsman if immediate and verifiable improvements are not made.\n\n  \n5. Homeownership & Service Charges\nLeads: Josephine Burton & Laura Coombs (Hackney Homeownership Team) \nDiscussion: \n\nRole of the Homeownership Team\n\nJosephine and Laura introduced themselves\, explained their roles\, and invited resident questions.\nStated that residents can dispute service charges\, but this requires very specific detail and supporting evidence\, which many residents find burdensome.\n\n\nNature of Service Charges\n\nClarified that Hackney’s service charge is not for “service provided” as residents might expect\, but rather a contribution towards the costs of works\, utilities\, and services (e.g. building insurance\, cleaning\, maintenance\, management fees).\nResidents challenged the fairness of rising charges given falling service standards.\n\n\nAccountability & Oversight\n\nResidents expressed frustration at the lack of transparency or accountability over how charges are calculated and monitored.\nManagement fees were highlighted – residents asked how these are calculated. The team confirmed details are on Hackney’s website: https://hackney.gov.uk/service-charges.\nHomeownership officers admitted they interact with many different council teams but do not always have the power to intervene directly. They agreed to feedback frustrations and issues.\n\n\nStructural Changes\n\nA new Head of Service role has been created to focus on resolving systemic problems.\nThe team acknowledged that current systems are inadequate and that past failings were unacceptable.\nNew IT systems are being developed to provide more accurate costings\, pricing\, and transparency (particularly around reserve funds and future works).\n\n\nSpecific Issues Raised by Residents\n\nLifts: Residents were told that obvious lift-related costs may not automatically be passed on to service charges\, depending on circumstances.\nCCTV: Residents questioned why they were still paying charges for CCTV when it had not been functioning.\nReserve Fund:\n\nResidents asked how much was being held in the reserve fund for their specific flats/blocks.\nOfficers assured residents that the money exists but admitted they could not currently provide figures for individual buildings.\nNew IT systems are expected to resolve this\, but no timeline was given.\nConcern: historically the council did not operate reserve funds for Right-to-Buy leaseholders. Current reserve fund arrangements are presented as a “USP” (unique selling point)\, but residents remain unconvinced.\nReserve fund intended for major works (e.g. door replacement\, roofs\, lifts) but has not yet been utilised.\nResidents expressed strong concern about the lack of financial systems\, data gaps\, and future planning (e.g. for major works expected around 2030).\n\n\nConsultation & Engagement:\n\nResidents frustrated that they have not been consulted on system changes or restructuring.\nQuestioned how improvements can be designed without resident input.\nNoted that the Homeownership team does not always hear about issues raised at TRA meetings.\n\n\nComplaints Procedure\n\nTeam reminded residents to use Hackney’s three-stage complaints system.\nResidents responded that the complaints process often feels like a closed loop with no accountability or joined-up thinking\, leaving them powerless.\n\n\n\n\n\nAction Points: \n\nHomeownership team to feed residents’ frustrations and concerns back to senior management.\nJosephine & Laura to confirm when the new IT systems will provide transparent reserve fund data by block/estate.\nHackney Council to clarify:\n\nhow management fees are calculated and justified\,\nhow reserve fund contributions are held\, tracked\, and reported to leaseholders\,\nhow residents will be consulted in restructuring/improvement processes.\n\n\nTRA to draft formal request for reserve fund statements by building/flat\, with a clear timeline for delivery.\nTRA to escalate systemic concerns about lack of accountability to the Head of Service and consider raising with the Housing Ombudsman.\nCouncillor Clare Potter to receive a summary of resident concerns for follow-up.\n\n  \n6. Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)\nLead: Bianca Rembrandt (ASB Officer – Apologies sent) \nDiscussion: \n\nNoise Complaints\n\nOngoing concerns about noise disturbance from residents and events.\nSpecific mention of street parties continuing beyond permitted times\, creating disruption and distress.\n\n\nCriminal Activity\n\nResidents reminded that criminal activity must be reported directly to the police.\nNext Police Safer Neighbourhoods meeting:\nSt John’s Church\n15 October\n7pm\nResidents strongly encouraged to attend and raise issues directly with police.\n\n\nRespect & Conduct\n\nChair reported receiving unfair treatment and personal attacks\, including during discussions around ASB and noise.\nMeeting reiterated that TRA operates on a voluntary basis\, and respectful behaviour is essential.\nResidents were reminded that living in a community requires mutual respect and consideration for neighbours.\n\n\n\nAction Points: \n\nResidents to raise specific ASB and criminal activity concerns directly with the police at the 15 October meeting.\nBianca Rembrandt to follow up with TRA on unresolved ASB cases at next meeting.\nTRA to restate rules of engagement at the start of future meetings to prevent personal attacks on volunteers.\nExplore possibility of joint estate walkabouts with ASB officer and Housing Officer to monitor persistent problem areas.\n\n  \n7. Any Other Business\n\nBikes in the Lock-Up\n\nIssue raised regarding abandoned or unclaimed bicycles in the estate lock-up areas.\nJune (Housing Officer) will develop a plan to address this\, including:\n\nIdentifying and tagging bikes to determine ownership.\nSetting a timeline for residents to claim their bikes.\nArranging removal of abandoned bicycles.\n\n\nResidents were asked to allow June time to gain a full overview of the estate and its challenges\, as she is newly in post.\nJune emphasised her commitment to effecting positive change on the estate but noted this will require both time and resident support.\n\n\n\nAction Points: \n\nJune to prepare and circulate a clear plan for dealing with bikes in the lock-ups (including process\, timeline\, and communication to residents).\nTRA to support June by encouraging residents to engage with the identification/claiming process.\nReview progress at the next TRA meeting.\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \nPrevious Information prior to meeting:\nETRA meetings are where residents can speak to Hackney officers about estate issues \nWhat should we bring to the Council’s attention?\nAs your Tenants and Residents Association (TRA)\, we are responsible for setting the agenda and inviting the relevant council departments. \nSo far\, we’re planning to raise the following key issues \n* Pest control (mice\, rats\, mosquitoes)\n* Lifts (maintenance and reliability)\n* Cleaning (internal and external areas)\n* Gardening (green space maintenance)\n* Parking (use and enforcement across the estate) \nPlease let us know urgently if you have additional agenda items to add (email KingsCrescentN4@gmail.com) \nThe deadline for adding issues to the agenda is Monday 18 August to allow us time to invite the relevant Hackney representatives. \nPlease ensure any housing/estate issues you are raising have been reported to Hackney directly. \nYou can find details of relevant Hackney departments on the ESTATE page of this website \n  \nUpdate (28.08.2025):\nWe are still working on the agenda as we have not had confirmation from Hackney teams regarding who will be attending. \nIn attendace so far will be June Welcome the Estate Manager\, and someone from Leasehold/Service Charges team. \nPlus we will discuss ASB/community safety. \n  \nIssues raised with other specific departments but no reply yet: \nRepairs team:\n\n\nSome specific concerns are: \n\nLifts – Maintenance and reliability. Ongoing issues with repeated breakdowns\, why is this happening? Is anyone looking into cause of these? Response times to breakdowns have improved but they do keep happening. Would it be possible for you to get a report of all of the breakdowns reported on Kings Crescent over the past 5 years? Who (if anyone) checks on the quality of repairs done if there are repeated issues?\nLift alarm buttons – residents reported previously that life emergency alarms were not working\, have these been assessed and are they all working now? (Many lifs in the newer blocks have no mobile reception so there is no way to let someone know they are trapped in a lift without the alarm button!). (Just to add there have been breakdowns since I sent the email and the lift alarm buttons did not work)\nLighting in Theobalds Court corridors have been broken for 3 years now. People come to ‘fix it’ but it remains broken. What can be done about this and why do issues go unresolved like this for so long? (Lights work but come on during the day and not at night).\nFlooded area at base of Theobalds Court – the old boiler room is flooded. This has been drained a few times but just floods again\, can a long term solution be achieved to stop this happening? This may be impacting the lighting issue and issue residents are having with mosquitos.\n\nCleaning\n\n\nSome of the specific issues are:\n\n\nUrine in blocks not being cleaned for several weeks (Theobald Court) despite residents and June our Estate Manager reporting this\nGeneral standards of cleaning in many of the older blocks and some of the newer blocks\nHow often do deep cleans take place? According to the website it states:  “We deep clean blocks on a priority basis\, based on the overall condition of the building itself\, with ceilings\, floors and walls receiving a thorough deep clean. We deliver block cleaning to meet the British Institute of Cleaning Science cleaning standards.” I have only seen this happen once in 13 years in Bramfield\, so I’m wondering what the criteria actually is.\nWho is responsible for cleaning outside blocks? For example lights covered in spider webs and dust\, pigeon poo in communal areas etc that have been like that for years.\nThe cost of cleaning increases on service charges year on year but the standard still seems low\, how is this justified and who checks that cleaning has been done?\n\nPest Issues:\n\n\nSpecifically the pest issues are mice/rats in the buildings and getting into flats via communal areas such as pipes\, mosquitoes potentially breeding under balcony flooring\, and pigeons nesting on balconies. \n\nKings Crescent buildings have a mixed tenure with some council tenants\, come leaseholders and some shared ownership properties\, but the issues are affecting residents across all tenures. So we would like to discuss the concerns with an expert from your team to know how this should be approached.\n\n\n\nOther issues that have been raised: \n\nPainting programme – As Hackney says\, “we will base our planned painting programme for properties on an eight-year cycle\, subject to review and survey.” Can we get an update on when the next repainting cycle is planned?\nMonthly inspections – How can we be kept informed about what’s being identified and reviewed for fixing during the monthly inspections? There are many issues around the estate (broken gates\, exposed screws\, dirt\, poor cleaning)\, and we need clear communication so residents know what’s being detected and addressed.\nBike storage – There are lots of unused bikes taking up space for years\, occupying spots that heavier or frequently used bikes could use. What’s the plan to ask residents to donate/sell unused bikes\, or at least move them to areas where they won’t block those who cycle daily?\n\nSee HERE for all of the previous meeting minutes
URL:https://kingscrescent.org/calendar/etra-meeting-18-september-2025/
LOCATION:Hackney Showroom Space\, 4 Murrain Road\, London\, N4 2BN\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:ETRA meeting
ORGANIZER;CN="KC TRA Committee":MAILTO:kingscrescentn4@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR