Hyde Group to merge with L+Q and East Thames Housing Associations

Our landlords, the Hyde Group, have announced that they are in merger talks with L+Q and East Thames Housing Associations. We only know what is on Hyde’s website. But information on their proposals can be found at https://www.hyde-housing.co.uk/news-events/news/corporate-and-financial/lq-the-hyde-group-and-east-thames-to-merge/ and https://www.hyde-housing.co.uk/merger-talks-with-lq-and-east-thames/ When we know more, we’ll let you know. Update! At the last TA meeting on 27 April residents expressed concern about remarks made by the CEO of the Hyde Group in press reports about the merger. The motion we agreed is here, as is Hyde’s reply. Residents have been invited to comment on the merger – see here – and the TRA Chair, Joan Twelves, has submitted several questions in a personal capacity – see here. Hyde’s further responses to our comments and questions can now be found here and here.   Update 2! The merger is no longer going ahead. More information on Hyde’s website https://www.hyde-housing.co.uk/news-events/news/corporate-and-financial/lq-and-the-hyde-group-have-mutually-agreed-to-end-plans-to-merge/    

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Legal Advice Surgery at Stockwell

In partnership with Prime Solicitors, the Stockwell Community Centre will offer free monthly legal advice surgeries to Hyde residents and local people. Surgeries will be held on the last Monday of every month with the exception of bank holidays where the surgery will take place the Monday prior. Occurs monthly on the last Monday of every month at 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. For more information or to make an appointment, please contact the Stockwell Centre on 020 7346 6576 or by return email at stockwellcentre@hyde-housing.co.uk. Discussions and appointment details will be treated as strictly private and confidential. Drop In provision may be available on the day if not all appointment slots are filled by Monday. Please call ahead to check. KPE residents welcome!  

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Voting time! EU Referendum! Make sure your voice is heard!

The referendum on the European Union is on Thursday 23 June. This referendum is massively important. It affects every aspect of our lives – and, more importantly, our children’s lives.     Residents of Kennington Park Estate vote at Henry Fawcett Primary School in Bowling Green Street. Voting hours are from 7am to 10pm. You should have received a Poll Card, but you do not need to take it with you in order to vote. If you have not received one you can check whether you are eligible to vote on 020 7926 2254, email electoralservices@lambeth.gov.uk. We will be asked: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”     Who can vote in the referendum? British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens over 18 on 23 June 2016 who are resident in the UK, along with UK nationals living abroad who have been on the electoral…

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Are you all registered to vote?

Is everyone in your household on the electoral register?   London will be electing a new Mayor on 5 May 2016 and we will all get a chance to vote on remaining in or leaving the European Union on 23 June. Make sure you can vote! The rules have changed so each person has to register individually. You can check whether you or members of your household are on Lambeth’s register by phoning 020 7926 2254 or emailing electoralservices@lambeth.gov.uk. To register go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.  You will need your National Insurance Number. It only takes five minutes. To vote in the Mayor of London and Assembly Members elections you must be registered to vote by midnight Monday 18 April. If you haven’t applied by then, you won’t be able to vote.   DON’T LOSE YOUR VOICE! DON’T LOSE YOUR VOTE!

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Our Rents for 2016-17

  UPDATE 14 April 2016 – KPE RESIDENTS – MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR SERVICE CHARGE, RENT AND DIRECT DEBIT NOTIFICATIONS CAREFULLY. WE HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF ERRORS! Contact your TA reps (see contact details in the right-hand column) if you need help in understanding these bills.  ****************************************************   Tenants will have received a notice from our landlord, Hyde, this week notifying us of the amount of rent due from 4 April 2016. The TA considers this notice misleading, to say the least, as it gives the impression that tenants will have to pay less than we currently pay. This is very unlikely to be the case because we pay service charges on top of our rents. Last year some residents saw their service charges nearly double and the TA has no expectation that they won’t be increased again this coming year. Indeed, most residents have already been informed (in the…

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The Housing and Planning Bill – Planning Changes

The plans set out by the government in the Housing and Planning Bill are shocking, and Joan has covered the threats wonderfully in her blog. The Bill includes changes to the Town Planning system that purport to increase the opportunity for development on brownfield land.  But what about the definition of brownfield land?  In my mind, I see a flat, empty disused site with nothing in it, that could possibly use some development, so that sort of sounds ok… Let’s check that definition, in the Department for Communities and Local Governments’ Technical Consultation document: “Brownfield or previously developed land is defined in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Sites on brownfield registers will be required to meet this definition of previously developed land. This is a very broad definition and, apart from the exclusions, covers all land in England where there are or have been buildings or other development.…

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The Estate We’re In

Barratt Homes’ regeneration (e.g. demolition) of a 1960s council estate in West Hendon is captured in this documentary, although Barratt refused to participate. Definitely worth a watch. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t0ydd/the-estate-were-in

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