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The London
Tenants Federation (LTF) is an umbrella organisation bringing together
London's borough wide council tenant federations and organisations.
It does not aim to supersede any of its member organisations, but
instead, to strengthen them through: sharing and exchanging information,
making collective London wide responses to consultation and at times
campaigning together. It aims to provide a strong voice for London's
council tenants. The London Tenants Federation (LTF) has representation
on the Mayors Housing Forum and one of its delegates chairs the
Forum's Community Engagement Sub Group.
LTF is
keen to make links with tenants of other tenures and with other
community and voluntary sector organisations in London. LTF is a
member of London Civic Forum and the London Voluntary Sector Council.
It is financed through London Council's grants committee.
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RECENT
ISSUES, CONSULTATIONS AND OPEN MEETINGS
LONDON
TENANTS FEDERATION CONFERENCE 25TH JULY 2009 - THE LONDON PLAN
- 10.00am - 4.00pm Directory of Social Change, 24 Stephenson Way,
London NW1 2DP
The
London Plan, which the Mayor of London has responsibility
to produce and to review, dominates planning policies and development
in London. Initial proposals for
a new London Plan have been published and comments already sought
from London Assembly members. Public consultation will commence
in the Autumn and a formal Examination in Public will take place
in 2010. Do proposals meet the needs of our communities? How do
we ensure that tenants voices are heard? Link to invitation below
- if you wish to attend the conference please let us know in advance.
LTF London Plan Conference - Invitation
LTF members
responded to the Mayor's 'Planning for a Better London' which
set out his key areas that he wants to address in revisions to
the London Plan
LTF
response to consultation - 'Planning for a Better London'
LTF
briefing on 'Planning for a better London'
Planning
for a better London
The London
Tenants Federation was one of a few community and voluntary sector
organisations to gain an invitations to the Examinations in Public
of both the early and further alterations of the previous Mayor's
London Plan. Please follow links under 'The London Plan' listed
at the side (green background)
LTF
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 25.06.09
Invitation
LTF
Annual Report 08/09
LONDON
HOUSING STRATEGY
The
London Housing Strategy is
out for public consultation until 31st August 2009. It will be
London's first statutory housing strategy which all London councils
will be obliged to comply with. An earlier draft was produced
for consultation with London Assembly members and few changes
made as a result of their comments.
London
Housing Strategy
An
officer from the GLA's Housing and Homelessness team gave a presentation
on the earlier draft strategy (for the London Assembly members)
to LTF members at its general meeting in January '09. It has organised
three consultation events on the strategy. Two were hosted by
LTF member organisations (one in East and one in West London).
The third larger event was held in partnership with Shelter, Planning
Aid for London and Just Space Planning Network.
Summary
of LTF meeting January 2009
Report
from LTF London Housing Strategy meeting - held in Hammersmith
and Fulham
Report
from LTF London Housing Strategy meeting - held in Newham
Report
from LTF London Housing Strategy event - held in Hackney June
09 (in partnership with Shelter, Planning Aid for London and Just
Space Planning Network
LTF
has produced a consultation pack for its members. Other tenant,
community and voluntary sector organisations that have an interest
in housing may also find the pack useful. It includes information
on proposals set out in the strategy, together with some initial
comments and questions made by LTF members. LTF encourages as
many as possible to respond to the consultation.
LTF
consultation pack on the London Housing Strategy
HOUSING
REVENUE ACCOUNT REVIEW In
December '07, the then Housing Minster, Yvette Cooper MP, announced
a review of the national Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 'subsidy'
system. The review is to examine the case for changes to the national
HRA, to consider evidence about the need to spend on management,
maintenance and repairs to council homes and to consider rent
policy . It is to make its final report in spring 2009. It will
also 'provide advice in 2008' to inform decisions about council
rents and 'subsidy determinations' (for each council) for 2009
/ 10 and 2010 / 11.
The
Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) was commissioned by the
government to facilitate a number of workshops on issues relating
to the HRA and to advise the Review as it proceeds. Amongst the
60 or more invited members of the workshops, only three were tenants.
Reports have since been produced from the four workshops - (links
below). The CIH also held three events in Leeds, Bristol and Birmingham,
but with limited tenant attendance.
CIH
workshop report on costs and standards
CIH
workshop report on rents and service charges
CIH
workshop report on mechanisms for delivering council housing finance
CIH
workshop report on HRA rules
The London Tenants
Federation and others have been critical of the failure to positively
engage tenants in the HRA review, particularly since rents and
funding for management, maintenance and repairs to tenants homes
are bread and butter issues for many council tenant representatives.
In an attempt to ensure that representatives of London's borough
wide council tenants federations and organisations are heard,
officers of the CIH and the LGA were invited to the LTF July meeting.
The Local
Government Association (LGA) published its 'My
Rent went to Whitehall' position paper, setting out its position
around the HRA.
LTF
Briefing on the HRA Review
Notes
on discussion held on the HRA review at the LTF meeting 29.07.08
The LTF was the only
tenant organisation to formally make a submission to the HRA Review
Team.
LTF
submission on the HRA Review Team
Some of its members
also attended a regional tenants meeting organised by the government
about the review. A report is included in the LTF Newsletter of
Spring/Summer 2009.
A consultation paper
on the governments Review of the Housing Revenue Account is imminent.
MEETING
SUMMARIES
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The
LTF welcomes comment and contributions from tenants, but we cannot
respond to individual complaints or concerns about issues in individual
boroughs.
We
are not an advice agency and cannot assist directly with tenancy
issues for tenants of any tenure. For advice on any legal issue
please contact your local law centre or Citizens Advice Bureau.
Please also visit our links page for links to advice guides and
Community Legal Services Direct.
Address
- London Tenants Federation, C/o Camden Federation of Tenants and
Residents Association, 11-17 The Marr, Camden Street, London NW1
OHE. Tel 020 7874 5464
E-mail
info@londontenants.org
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