Join us for an open meeting and Christmas party 22 December, with mince-pies, drinks and crackers at our offices from 6pm at 11-17 The Marr , off Camden St NW1 0HE. This replaces the 1st December general meeting.

All tenant reps are invited  -  we hope Santa will call with good news on the campaign to stop fixed term tenancies or near-market rents in Camden council housing, and on Camden Fed’s funding negotiations.

Camden Tenants Fed has put our case against fixed term tenancies, near-market rents and other measures to increase insecurity, force more into the unaffordable private sector, and cut access to council housing.  See Camden Fed’s views put to Councillors for discussion at the Landlord Policy Scrutiny Panel 28 Nov 2011.

Cuts to Camden Fed’s funding are threatened, which would hit our services to TRAs and the Independent Voice for tenants, including the Camden Tenant newspaper.  This contradicts Councillors’ pre-election committments to maintain Fed funding and tenant representation. See Council report here.

The new Camden Fed chair, Jim Widdowson of Oakshott TRA, is leading negotiations with the Council, and will report back at our open meeting on 22^nd December.

A Council committee wants views from tenants on rents, tenancies, and access to housing for the homeless, in light of new Government policies which ‘pave the way for time-limited and market rent tenancies’.

Tenant reps need to rush in responses by 12 noon Thursday 17th Nov,  to oppose these threats.  Some senior officers are pushing councillors hard to use fixed term tenancies and up to 80% market rents.

Send your views and whether you want to attend and/or speak to the Council Scrutiny meeting Mon 28^th to Hannah Hutter hannah.hutter@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 6065 by 12 noon Thursday 17th November.

See Camden Fed’s response here

Tenant groups could get  Micro Grants  up to £1,000 – but you need to move fast. You must email to express interest by Friday 4 November 2011 at 5.00 pm; application deadline Monday, 7 November 2011 at 5.00pm. 

Two Team London grants up to £1,000 are available for smaller, unconstituted and/or grassroots voluntary sector and community organisations in Camden with an annual turnover of less than £10,000, to improve quality of life through projects and programmes that involve volunteers to build stronger neighbourhoods and improve the environment. For details see Full criteria and guidance notes

Council consultation on controversial changes to tenancies and housing rights has been delayed, following tenant opposition.  This gives Tenant groups more opportunity to lobby, organise meetings and publicity information.

Camden Council will wait until the new year to consult tenants on  Landlord (Tenancy) powers including fixed term tenancies, access to council housing for the homeless, and an open housing waiting list.  This  follows tenant opposition at  September District Management Committees (DMCs).  

 Consultation on Landlord (Tenancy) changes proposed in the Localism Bill,  will be separate from a later consultation on the Allocations scheme.

Camden’s lead Councillor for Housing has ruled out  use of flexible (fixed term) tenancies and near-market rents.  Councillor Julian Fulbrook told tenant reps at our Annual meeting on 21st September: ‘Camden Council’s Labour Administration will not be taking up the discretionary arrangements in the Government’s Localism Bill on rents and security of tenure.

‘To introduce these permissive powers in Camden would have led to un-affordable rents and in-security of tenure, which would be anathema to a Council dedicated to providing safe and affordable homes for local families.’

This is a welcome committment.  Camden will this month begin a consultation on its Landlord (Tenancy) policy, on whether to use fixed term tenancies,  support ‘opportunities’ for existing tenants to move to up to 80% market rent housing, close the housing waiting list to anyone not a statutory priority,  cut succession rights of new tenants, and remove access to council housing for the homeless.    See page 3-4 of Council report here: http://democracy.camden.gov.uk/documents/s4916/Item%2019%20-%20Process%20for%20allocations%20review%20and%20social%20housing%20reform%20consultation%20-%20for%20CS.pdf

Note: Consultation plans are now changed, following tenant opposition at the September round of District Management Committees (DMCs).  The Consultation has been delayed until the new year.  Consultation on Landlord (Tenancy) changes proposed in the Localism Bill,  will be separate from a later consultation on the Allocations scheme.  (Added 31.10.11)

The September issue of  Camden Tenant puts the case against threats to tenants’ secure life-time tenancies.  Tenants, and key councillors, are opposed to ‘Flexible’ fixed-term tenancies proposed by Government.  Camden Council is consulting tenants on its Landlord (Tenancy) Policy and  whether it should use fixed term tenancies of two years minimum.  Use Camden Tenant to get the arguments to every tenant.  You can download the September issue here and contact  office@camdenfed.org.uk or call 020 7383 2227 to get copies.

Tenants Associations due to hold their Annual Meeting in the next three months are listed here. All are welcome so get in touch if you want to get involved. There are 80+ organised tenants’ associations active in Camden. If your area isn’t listed or you want help getting (re)organised, contact office@camdenfed.org.uk or call 0800 652 3140.

Tenants across Camden won awards for the best Community Gardens, vegetable beds, balconies and planters.  Walter Fernando of Brunswick TRA was awarded 3rd place for the cheerful entrance displays he and Brunswick Square Gardening Club have created.  Walter also won an ‘individual champion’ award for his work to support gardening and wild life in Camden Parks.

Taplow Garden Club won best Hampstead Garden and best community food growing area.  The Club was founded and is actively supported by the Tenants Association.  Many Tenants groups have community gardens and gardening clubs, which brighten up communal areas and bring a new dimension to life for many.

For more on this year’s winners see the latest issue of Camden Tenant.  Full list of winners is here

Winners of Camden in Bloom 2011