Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Shaping the Area Assembly Meetings in 2010
As a result of previous discussions on this site, I wrote to Gina Adamou, the Chair of our area assembly, to ask some questions about the way the Harringay & St Ann's Area Assembly works and how we can influence that.
I posted her comprehensive and useful response on the HoL Wiki.
In that response, in answer to my question about how we can influence the agenda and the mechanism for that, Gina wrote the following:
At the first area assembly of the year, residents are invited to propose specific issues for inclusion within their area assembly.
The mechanism needs to be flexible in order to ensure there are opportunities for urgent or emerging issues to be included as appropriate.
Residents can make contact through the neighbourhood teams to express areas of concern to consider for assembly inclusion and of course direct to their Area Assembly Chair.
So here we are, almost at the first meeting of the year. Do we want any control over the year's agenda?
Here's what they're serving up for the first course (February's agenda):
- Personalisation of Adult Social Care
- PHASCA will be giving a presentation about their Summer Scheme and some of the other projects they deliver
- Street drinking prohibited zones in St Ann's
- Safer Neighbourhood Teams - up dates
- Cabinet Question Time
- HMO - update
- Green Lanes Strategy Group - update
- Soap Box
Is that about right? Like it? Want more of the same? Fancy a different sort of agenda? Or don't you give a toss?
Feel free to use this discussion as a kind of scratch-pad to kick around ideas, but if you want to influence the agenda for the rest of the year then roll-up, roll-up and get on down to al the fun of the Area Assembly fair.
Wouldn't it be nice to imagine a year of productive assembly meeting in which we the residents had as much (if not more) say then the local politicians and council officers. Whose meetings are the after all?
Tags for Forum Posts: area assembly, area forum
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Hey I'm only going off what I read on here. Remember this discussion?
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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I'm a bit disappointed that despite securing an agreement at the last AA to invite residents to consult about re-shaping the AA meetings two weeks ago and my chasing up action but email, we've heard nothing.
Should we wait by the front door, curlers in the hair tapping our feet, or should we chase them down the street with a rolling pin?
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Okay, the clock's stopping just short of three weeks after the assembly. This morning I received a note from Gina and an email from Dasos (Neighbourhood Manager) to arrange to meeting. It wasn't clear if anyone else has been invited so I've suggested that the invitation is widened somewhat beyond me if it hasn't already been!
Will keep you informed on what's happening.
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Permalink Reply by PeterPiper on
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Yes, I certainly hope that the invitation is extended to more residents than just your good self Hugh. Isn't it all about "you talk, we listen"? I guess we will all wait & see what comes in the (E)mail?
But the clock still seems to be ticking up there on the front page?
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I've done what I can Peter. The invitations are not in my gift.
As to the clock, I was going to take it down, then, given the delay so far, I thought to leave it till at least the meeting is arranged.
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Below is the key part of the minutes from the meeting chaired by Gina Adamou this week, set up in response to our request for a review of the way the area assembly works. It's a start.
Agenda Structure
- Review method of agenda planning ( should be bottom up and more transparent)
- Identify shared strategic issues between the two wards
- Relevant issues pertaining to each ward
- Balance of time allocated to each ward
- Review “Cabinet Question Time”
- Review “Soap Box Item”
- Better management of Council Items
- Effective Feedback
Participation and Meeting Framework
- Effective participation of all ward councillors
- Accountability of Cabinet members, ward councillors and officers
- Use different methods/tools of participation and engagement
- Review publicity and communications
- Encourage more community/voluntary groups to attend
The Chair agreed to raise with the appropriate cabinet members regarding the issue of who chairs the area assembly (residents / any ward cllr) in future and the management of Council items and the methods used by the Council to carry our public consultation.
It was also agreed that following the May elections the Neighbourhood Manager will arrange to meet with all the ward Councillors to begin to plan the next area assembly which is scheduled for June/July recognising that due to the limited timescales this meeting would be the first opportunity of discussing these changes with the community.
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