INFORMATION

FORUM MEETING:

 

RESULTS OF MEETING - MINUTES

 

SATURDAY 29th June 2024

 

Unite the Union London
33-37 Moreland Street
London EC1V 8BB


Zoom Link:

 

This event is free to all those interested in community led housing, whether members or not

Join Us

 

Visit our meeting page for details

 

 

 

Previous Forum Presentations

Below are previous forum presentions listed in date order. ** All document links have remained active for download and information purposes**

 

 

 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & FORUM - May 2022
SATURDAY - 28th May 2022 from 10:30am - London
Here's a link to the Minutes of the AGM Meeting held on the 28 May.

If you'd like to view the meeting please click on this YouTube link.

 


Agenda

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Minutes of the last AGM
  3. Matters arising from the minutes
  4. Interim Annual Officers’ Reports on the Federation’s activities over the last year
    This will be shared in advance and on the website, but will be updated further during the year.
  5. Recommendations from the Executive
    Subscription levels to remain the same
  6. Election of the Executive Committee - 15 places available. There will be a very short get together of elected members at the end of the AGM to check a date when the new Executive will meet to elect officers and plan dates for future events.
  7. Annual Accounts – 2021 - Copies will be circulated to members in advance if not supplied with this agenda and on the website.
  8. Appointment of Auditors for the coming year
    Including a decision not to require a full audit and to have an independent examination

  9. This year we are especially keen to recruit people with a particular mandate for an area of work, whether Guardians, shortlife, new development, social media or anything else. If you would like to be considered for election to the Executive Committee please send your name, contact details and personal statement to us by email by 12 noon on Thursday 26th May 2022

  10. FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION FORUM ‘GREEN ISSUES’ 11 – 12:30
    All interested parties are welcome to attend
  11. Charlie Baker, Red Co-op www.red.coop
    Retrofitting Co-op Properties and Virtual batteries for Communities
    (This discussion will be a continuation from the previous forum)
    Any additional speakers will be added via the website
    There will also be time for presentations giving news on their own developments or seeking to raise money through loan stock.

Link: LFHC combined report 2021 and 2020 Accounts


Please see forums presentation page for information on previous LFHC forum meetings and prepared links over this past few years.

 


SATURDAY - 4th December from 10:30am
Zoom.us Telecom Meeting ID: 821 0429 7587 Passcode 036580

Or Telephone 020 3901 7895 or 020 8080 6591
Zoom Link to the Meeting


Agenda

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Minutes of the last AGM
  3. Matters arising from the minutes
  4. Annual Officers’ Reports on the Federation’s activities over the last year These will be available at the meeting and on the website.
    1. Recommendations from the Executive
    2. Subscription levels to remain the same
    3. Complaints Policy
  5. Election of the Executive Committee - 15 places available. There will be a very short get together of elected members at the end of the AGM to check a date when the new Executive will meet to elect officers and plan dates for future events.
  6. Annual Accounts 2020 - Copies will be available to members in advance through e-mail application to ⦁ londonfed@gmail.com or at the meeting and on the website here.
  7. Appointment of Auditors for the coming year Including a decision not to require a full audit and to have an independent examination.

If you would like to be considered for election to the Executive Committee please send your name, contact details and personal statement to us by email by 12 noon on Thursday 2nd Dec 2021 londonfed@gmail.com

 

FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION FORUM ‘GREEN ISSUES’ 11 – 12:30


Charlie Baker, Red Co-op www.red.coop Retrofitting Co-op Properties and Virtual batteries for Communities
Mick O’Sullivan and Waverley TA Co-op Decarbonising the Co-op Housing Stock
Alex Hartley &Nadia Smith, SELCE & Community Energy London Sustainable Energy Options Across London & What Co-ops can do for themselves and the wider community.
Rising Sun Collective – Update on their purchase and loan stock.

 

Link: LFHC Interim Annual Report 2021


 

Spring Forum 2021
SATURDAY - 10th April from 11am – 12:30pm
Zoom Meeting - This event was free to all those interested in community led housing, whether members or not.


Agenda
  1. The London Tenants’ Manifesto, Martin Dumont
    Following our last joint conference with London Tenants Federation and NFTMO, recording 100 years since the first Town and Country Planning Act, we came up with a manifesto of our own, setting out what we as tenants and communities want to see in London. Launched on 19th March 2021 this was a timely response to the Housing White Paper.
  2. Updates

    1. New Housing Projects
      A quick round-up of new projects and new plots released.
    2. Housing Association Management Co-ops
      A progress report on those co-ops renegotiating management agreements with the housing associations holding their leases.
    3. Shortlife Co-op Housing and Empty Homes
      How we are getting on with new model agreements for meantime properties and news from the courts about action against Guardians.
    4. London Housing Panel
      A brief resume of what has been discussed as it looks like support from the GLA will end for the group.
  3. Introductions – New Housing Co-ops

 

 

Autumn Forum 2020
SATURDAY - 28th November from 11am – 12:30pm

Agenda
  1. Housing Association Management Co-ops
    For co-ops managing properties owned by housing associations, moving from lockdown to possible lockdown is placing pressure on the relationship between co-op and landlord. We will discuss the impact on management agreements and finances and what co-ops are doing.
  2. Shortlife Co-op Housing
    Following the collapse of Camelot Property Guardians after court decisions ruled many of their practices, err… dubious, ‘meanwhile' arrangements are back in focus. This will be a brief update on what we’re doing to bring empty homes into shortlife management.

LFHC Annual Report 2020

 

 


SATURDAY - 23rd November 2019 from 10am – 4pm
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftsbury Avenue, London WC2H 8E

This is our sixth all day conference and the fourth one held jointly with London Tenants Federation and NFTMO – attendance is still free of charge


This year is the 100th Anniversary of the Addison Act - the act for Town and Country planning that promised homes fit for heroes. We will consider what has changed in the century since the act came into force and ask what our manifesto should be today.

09:30am    Coffee, signing in and choosing workshops
10:00am    Introductions and speakers to be confirmed
11:00am    Workshops:

    1. What would Tenants rights to shape our future look like?
    What would high quality democratic and accountable tenant involvement in making the decisions about the management and maintenance of our existing homes and development of new homes and neighbourhoods look like? In this workshop will look at legal rights and powers, structures for engagement and communication with tenant management bodies, public landlords and other authorities.

    2. Building and keeping strong stable sustainable homes and communities. Having good and well-maintained homes are not in themselves sufficient to satisfy our social needs and help us to maintain or build the kinds of strong and supportive communities that are desirable. What else is essential for us to have on our estates and in our neighbourhoods?

    3. Environmentally sustainable homes and communities. What are the most important environmental issues we need to consider for the homes we have now (which will hopefully still be there in 30 or 50-year time) and for newly developed future homes and neighbourhoods? We will look at issues such as green infrastructure, construction materials, embodied carbon, length of time homes should last for, recycling, heating, cooling and the extent to which any of these can be tenant controlled, managed and sustained.

    4. Sustainable homes – the economic issues. This workshop will look at the big issues around ensuring there is sufficient and sustainable funding to maintain and refurbish existing homes and to develop new ones in the future. What safeguards would need to be in place to secure this at the national, regional and local level? How would the costs to tenants; rents, service charges, heating and cooling homes; be kept as low as possible whilst providing homes of high quality?

    5. Housing without landlords: While recognising that tenants will want to see a range of publicly controlled or tenant managed homes in the future, could community owned housing be a more prominent contributor in providing low-cost rented homes in London? What and where are the best examples and successes? Could they become mainstream in a future vision of the best kind of low cost rented homes for most people? What barriers would need to be overcome?

    6. Safe, well-designed and maintained homes. How could we ensure that all those involved in design, construction and living in low-cost rented homes have the same interests in delivering the best possible safe, well-designed and maintained homes? We will look at the legislation as well as the relationships between tenants, building workers, designers and landlords that we would need to achieve this


NB Please note that details may be subject to change.Workshops will repeat in the afternoon.


 

 

Annual General Meeting 2019


SATURDAY - 1st June 2019 from 10:30 – 1pm
Boardroom 1, Unite Office, 33-37 Moreland St, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 8BB


Agenda
  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Minutes of the 2018 AGM
  3. Matters arising from the minutes
  4. LFHC Annual Report (Including Accounts) on the Federation’s activities over the last year
    These will be available at the meeting and on the website.
  5. Recommendations from the Executive
    Subscription levels
  6. Election of the Executive Committee - 15 places available. There will be a very short get together at the end of the AGM to check a date when the new Executive will meet to elect officers and plan dates for future events.
  7. LFHC Annual Accounts 2018 They will also be included within the annual report.
  8. Appointment of Auditors for the coming year
    Including a decision not to require a full audit and to have an independent examination.

Discussion Forum 11:00 – 1:00pm

Some co-ops are developing - How have they progressed since last year ?
• How can the London Community Hub support community groups with a vision to develop ? Lev Kerimol Download presentation
• What support do co-ops wishing to develop need from the movement in London ?


How is LFHC seeking to address housing policy in London and our membership of the London Housing Panel ?



Spring LFHC Discussion Forum

Saturday 13th April 2019 10am – 1pm
Boardroom 1, Unite Office, 33-37 Moreland St, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 8BB


Rebuilding Common Decency by Doubling the Size of the Co-op Sector.

 

  • Claire McCarthy, General Secretary of the Co-op Party will explain where the Co-op Party goes next after the 2018 Co-ops Unleashed Report.
  • There will be a chaance for questions for us to probe how the Co-op Party can support co-operative housing in London.

 

 

Making the Green Paper Work for Us – Housing Conference [Download Green Paper]

 

 

***MEETINGS 2018***


SATURDAY - 20th OCTOBER 2018 from 9:30 – 4pm
Resource for London Centre, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA

This is our fifth all day conference and the third one held jointly with London Tenants Federation and NFTMO – attendance is still free of charge


The day will review the government’s consultation proposals for housing, discuss what tenants and co-ops in London actually need and update on progress made since last year.

09:30am    Coffee, signing in and choosing workshops
10:00am    Introductions, “A Positive Future for Social Housing in London”
11:00am    Workshops:

    1. Reclaiming Social Rents

    2. Safe and Decent Homes

    3. A Representative Tenant Voice in London

    4. Expanding Social Housing Supply

    5. Empowering Residents

    ** Workshops will be repeated in the afternoon

12:15pm    Lunch (Possibly some mini discussions and demonstrations / ‘fringe’)
13:15pm    Overall Housing Situation -or- Local Housing Companies - tbc
13:45pm    Workshop 2 – As above, though there may be a topical substitution.
15:00pm    Plenary, Feedback and Key Points


NB Please note that details may be subject to change.


For this event, please contact us at londonfed@gmail.com to inform us you are coming as with three groups involved, places will be limited. Some lunch will be provided.

 

 

 

 

AGM SATURDAY 14th July 2018 FROM 10:30 Followed by Discussion Forum 11am - 1:00pm
Council Chamber 2, Unite HQ, 128 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8SP

Nearest tube is Holborn, Buses 19, 38, 55, 98 & 243 stop within 100 yards.

 

Agenda
  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Minutes of the 2017 AGM
  3. Matters arising from the minutes
  4. LFHC Annual Reports on the Federation’s activities over the last year
    These will be available at the meeting and on the website.
  5. Recommendations from the Executive
    Subscription levels
  6. Election of the Executive Committee - 15 places available. There will be a very short get together at the end of the AGM to check a date when the new Executive will meet to elect officers and plan dates for future events.
  7. LFHC Annual Accounts 2017 They will also be included within the annual report.
  8. Appointment of Auditors for the coming year
    Including a decision not to require a full audit and to have an independent examination.

Discussion Forum 11:00 – 1:00pm

We had been planning a full day conference, so some items we had planned will be held over.


Some co-ops are developing - How are they achieving the finances to develop ?
• What are start-up co-ops managing to do ?
• Which lenders are able to lend and what are the limits ?
• Do existing co-ops have money to lend and should it be encouraged ?


What are co-ops doing about GDPR and how much is enough ?

 

 

 

Linking the Local to the London Wide - Whole Day Housing Conference
This will be our fourth whole day conference and our second that is held jointly with LTF (London Tenants Federation) and NFTMO (National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations)
SATURDAY 28th OCTOBER 2017 FROM 9:30 – 3:30pm
London Welsh Centre, 157-163 Grays Inn Rd, Holborn, London WC1X 8UE


Schedule for the Day
  1. 9:00am...Coffee, signing in and choosing workshops
  2. 9:30am...Formal Opening of Conference
  3. 9:40am...Morning Speakers
    Ron Hollis/Pat Turnbull: Feedback from the last conferenceand why we should care about the London Housing Strategy
    Frances Clarke (Tower Blocks Network): The future of tower blocks and issues for tenants
    Greg Robbins (LFHC): Communities currently developing housing in London
  4. 11am..Coffee and move to workshops * Issues for Housing Association Tenants
    * Estate Regeneration
    * A year on from the Housing and Planning Act - Key campaigning issues affecting communities
    * Success stories in community led developments
    * The future for tower blocks after Grenfell
    * Communications, a media strategy, video and debunking the language of the press and authorities
  5. 11:10am..Workshop 1
  6. 12:15pm..Lunch
  7. 1:00pm...Afternoon Speakers
    GLA Speaker, James Clark, on the London Housing Strategy and the Mayor's Priorities
    The Community Hub - A one-stop-shop for communities want to build new homes
    Andy Bates: Developing land in London for a tenant management cooperative
    Questions
  8. 2:00pm..Workshop 2
    * Keeping our homes warm
    * Developing new homes - getting the most from the GLA
    * London Housing Strategy - meeting the needs of Londoners
    * Threats and challenges to tenant management organisations/cooperatives
    * Our vision for not for profit housing and a possible 'think tank'
    * Meanwhile and shortlife housing - agreeing a strategy
  9. 3:10pm...Plenary, Feedback and Key Points
  10. 3:30pm...Close

AGM SATURDAY 3rd June 2017 FROM 10:30 Followed by Discussion Forum 11am - 1:00pm
CALLY RESOURCE CENTRE, 140 COPENHAGEN ST, LONDON N1 0ST

The Centre is off the Caledonian Road. Stations - Caledonian Road and Barnsbury (North London Line) Kings Cross/St Pancras (Main Line & Tube) Caledonian Road (Tube) Bus: 17, 91, 259, 274

Agenda
  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Minutes of the last AGM
  3. Matters arising from the minutes
  4. Annual Officers’ Reports on the Federation’s activities over the last year
    These will be available at the meeting and on the website.
  5. Recommendations from the Executive
    Subscription levels
  6. Election of the Executive Committee - 15 places available. There will be a very short get together at the end of the AGM to check a date when the new Executive will meet to elect officers and plan dates for future events.
  7. Annual Accounts – 2016 - Copies will be available to members in advance through e-mail application to londonfed@gmail.com or at the meeting. They are included within the annual report.
  8. Appointment of Auditors for the coming year
    Including a decision not to require a full audit and to have an independent examination.

Discussion Forum 11:00 – 1:00pm

With the forthcoming election, the plans for a London Community Hub have gone into abeyance, so we will look backwards at cautionary tales.


What Happens When a Co-op is taken over by a Housing Association ?
• What can and has gone wrong ?
• Success stories and where the relationship has gone well ?
• Could the situation be reversed ?


THE EXECUTIVE IS ORGANISING A FURTHER SPEAKER AS YET UNCONFIRMED DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE MEETING



SATURDAY 18th February 2017 FROM 10:30 - 1:00pm
CALLY RESOURCE CENTRE, 140 COPENHAGEN ST, LONDON N1 0ST

The Centre is off the Caledonian Road. Stations - Caledonian Road and Barnsbury (North London Line) Kings Cross/St Pancras (Main Line & Tube) Caledonian Road (Tube) Bus: 17, 91, 259, 274

  1. THE HOUSING AND PLANNING ACT 2017 Where Now ?
    The meeting will discuss which elements of the housing and planning act remain and how they will affect different forms of housing co-op.
  2. DEVELOPING NEW COOP HOUSING
    a) Talking to the GLA and Mayor's Office - We have been working with the Co-op Party to talk to the Mayor's office about what they want from us and what our 'ask' of them should be. Here we will report back and take questions.
    b) Should co-ops be using their resources to develop housing ?
    A key issue to know is how many co-ops would like to see a return on their cash in the bank and if they would wish to invest in new housing for themselves or within the movement.
  3. REPORTS BACK FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS
    a) Shortlife Housing - How can it compete with 'Guardian' groups.
    b) HAMC - factors affecting management co-ops in housing assocs
    c) Report back from the all day joint conference in September


ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 10:30 Sat. 4th June 2016


Followed by a Discussion Forum - attendance is free.


CALLY RESOURCE CENTRE, 140 COPENHAGEN STREET, LONDON N1 0ST

The Centre is off the Caledonian Road.

Stations – Caledonian Road and Barnsbury (North London Line) Kings Cross/St Pancras (Main Line & Tube) Caledonian Road (Tube)

Bus – 17, 91, 259, 274


Agenda

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Minutes of the last AGM
  3. Matters arising from the minutes
  4. Annual Officers’ Reports on the Federation’s activities over the last year
    a Chair
    b Secretary
    c Treasurer
  5. Recommendations from the Executive
    a Subscription levels
  6. Election of the Executive Committee - 15 places available.

  7. Annual Accounts – 2015 - Copies will be available to members in advance through e-mail application to londonfed@gmail.com, at the meeting or online on the website.
  8. Appointment of Auditors for the coming year
    LFHC proposes to again have an independent examination rather than a full audit.



If you would like to be considered for election to the Executive Committee please send your details to Hilary Ellwood at the Federation office, 8 Waldegrave Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 8GT by 3pm on Wednesday 1st June (londonfed@gmail.com or 020 3166 2621)


DISCUSSION SESSION 11:00 – 1:00pm with speakers

1. Housing and Planning Bill – The Bill has been returned from the House of Lords. This section will be an update on the provisions and current position.

2. What should Co-operatives do about the 1% rent reduction expectation to ensure their future financial sustainability?
The meeting will aim to reach a consensus on the approach from London Co-ops.

3. How do we share our documents and resources efficiently?
Greg Robbins and Phillip Wright (LCHG) will suggest ways in which useful documents can be shared between Co-ops.

 


HOUSING AND PLANNING BILL UPDATE 13th February 2016


The possible impact on TMOs - presentation by Greg Robbins

 

2nd DAY CONFERENCE ON HOUSING COOP DEVELOPMENT 24th October 2015

Andy Bates from Leathermarket JMB explained how they had reached planning permission stage to develop new properties on their estate. This presentation.


The GLA were not able to attend, but they sent this briefing note.


Although the community right to build is closed to new bids, there is support available through "Build Your Home the London Way" - see this advice.


Afsheen Kabir Rashid from Repowering London gave this presentation on how communities are supported to take control of their own energy supplies.

Alex Hartley from SELCE gave this presentation on their work and how co-ops can invest.

Rob Morris from CLFS explained how they were refurbishing houses requiring refits to small co-ops. His presentation will be uploaded when it is available.


AGM PAPERS - 27th JUNE 2015
Annual Report (Including Accounts)
The exec had adopted a Code of Conduct which was presented.

Clive Frazer presented his vision for a London Co-op Councillors' Network.


SATURDAY 6TH JUNE 2015
There were presentations on asset management and planning for the future
Blase Lambert presented on risk management and what should be in a business plan.
Sue Philpott presented on asset management


AGM Documents 2014:
2014 Annual Report and 2013 Accouunts
A Special General Meeting was held on Saturday 1st February 2014 to discuss how LFHC might work more closely with CCH following the review of its services. There will be further discussion once CCH has completed its review and has a more concrete proposal.

Following the special general meeting in February the LFHC wrote to CCH with
suggestions for how LFHC could work effectively with CCH and discussions are continuing.


The proposal that was sent to LFHC in December is here.
Nic Bliss, CCH Chair, gave this presentation.
Greg Robbins, LFHC Secretary, gave this response.
There were questions and a generla discussion.


SATURDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2013
Mick O’Sullivan
Chair of the London Federation of Housing Co-ops and a co-operative councillor with responsibility for housing in Islington, Mick will keep order on the day.

Tom Lloyd Smith, GLA
Tom is the Area Manager of the Housing and Land Directorate for the Greater London Authority. His team work with community groups who wish to develop new housing, as well as fulfilling the role that the Homes and Communities Agency has outside London.
Elinor Savage presented on the day. Download the presentation.

Andy Bates, Leathermarket JMB
Andy is the manager of Leathermarket JMB which manages 1,500 homes in Borough and Bermondsey. Leathermarket has an ongoing community right to build project with the support of the GLA.

Blase Lambert, CCH
Blase is the Treasurer of the Confederation of Co-operative Housing. CCH is working with the mutual housing group to develop a national fund to lend to housing co-ops for development.

Nic Bliss, CCH
Nic is the Chair of CCH and, along with Blase, will be discussing what CCH can offer to its members. Consultation.

Chris Murrell, Water Tower Co-op
A member of the LFHC executive committee and long term member of the Water Tower Co-op (nearly 30 years) Chris will talk about how west London pooled resources to build properties and reduce mortgage payments and how those arrangements stood the test of time.

Agamemnon Otero, Brixton Energy Co-op
Brixton Energy is a not-for-profit co-operative based in south London. We create cooperatively owned renewable energy projects whose financial revenues stay within the local community.
Download the presentation.

Mike Davis, PETRA
Mike is Chair of Parkhill Estate TRA Tenant Management Organisation and they have used their surplus to reduce the cost of energy bills by improving identifying key areas where energy is lost following a thermal survey, then improving insulation and identifying key areas where lower energy solutions could be used, saving both individual residents and the co-op money.

Greg Robbins, LFHC
Greg Robbins is Treasurer of Dennis CLH Co-op and Secretary of LFHC. In the workshop he will explain the work that is being done to develop new initiatives in co-operative housing (the ‘Blue Sky Group) and will generally be making sure the whole day runs to plan.



SATURDAY 10th NOVEMBER 2012
Forum on How to improve our offer to members Part 1:
Addressing Fuel Poverty and Reducing Household Energy Costs
Do you find that there is a cold draft through your house in Winter or that your fuel bills are going up even though you are sure that you have turned your heating down?
This free Forum will address these points with the latest research plus information from suppliers, with the emphasis on affordability.

JOHN BEDFORD from Accord Housing Group
John Bedford has overseen practical research into retrofitting old properties in the Midlands to make them both warm and energy efficient and quantify the results. He will present the results, explaining what works gave the best results and value for money. He will also address any pitfalls in projects. www.accordgroup.org.uk/indesign
Download presentation.


MIHAJLO RALJIC – Sun and Alternative Technology (SAT)
SAT sell and install solar panel systems. Mihajlo Raljic will talk about the solar panel project he carried out with a housing co-op in Reading and about how health and safety issues were addressed. Mihaljo will explain the costs and benefits of installing solar panels and when they are cost-effective. www.sunsat.co.uk
Download Presentation


FRANK MCELROY - Ecoliving
Ecoliving install a wide range of systems for renewable and low impact heating and energy supply solutions, from wind and solar power through to heat recovery and underfloor heating systems. He will help co-ops explore which technologies will provide practical results for our members today. www.ecolivinguk.com
Download Presentation


MICK O’SULLIVAN – Chair of LFHC
Mick will present information on how co-ops and other residents’ groups can improve their offering to members including ideas on how to invest effectively, how to buy into energy provider schemes to provide fuel savings for their members and provide a benefit to their organisation, and how to use other lost cost initiatives to improve our members lives.
Download Presentation


SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2011
THE BASICS EVERY ORGANISATION SHOULD KNOW
Setting rent levels Management allowances
Annual Budgets Longer term financial planning
Asset management Treasury Management
Procurement Governance and reporting

Led by John Holdsworth and Greg Robbins
Refresh your knowledge and/or assist other residents!!!!
Download Presentation


1. RISK MANAGEMENT FOR CO-OPERATIVE ORGANISATIONS
Led by John Holdsworth www.coophomes.coop
for Ownership and Shortlife Co-operatives

2. MANAGEMENT ALLOWANCES
Led by Greg Robbins www.wesupporthousing.co.uk
for Tenant Management Organisations
Download Presentation

Download Handout