View from the Inside

Thinking of putting yourself up for election to the Community Board or joining the EDMC? I've been an EDMC member for a number of years and a member of the Canalside Community Board since it was formed more than 2 years ago. Here's what it's like from where I sit. As it happens, all resident members of the Community Board are also EDMC members, but you don't have to be one to be the other. The EDMC meetings are residents' meetings, but a member of Canalside staff usually attends for part of the meeting for consultation. There's always tea and biscuits, even though you could do with something stronger sometimes! The meetings are fairly informal and usually good-humoured. There isn't a great deal of work involved between meetings, but you do need to prepare by reading the papers sent out with the agenda (usually takes less than an hour). You can also get involved with estate inspections and other daytime activities, depending on your own circumstances. I talk to neighbours and other residents between meetings, but I don't go knocking on doors to do that. Usually, people stop you in the street or if they live in the same block they may knock on your door, to find out about things or tell you about something. I add the views I get like this to my own, because of course, I live here too! The Community Board is a bit more work and you wear a slightly different hat, because you are involved in business decisions as well as taking into account residents' interests. Meetings are quite disciplined, because there is a lot of business to cover, although they can still be fun at times. Good buffet food is provided, so if you have to come straight from work you can still eat well, as long as you don't mind talking with your mouth full! You get some really interesting insight into the wider aspects of the regeneration programme and meet some of the people who make it all happen behind the scenes. You see how much it all costs, how all the problems are managed and most importantly you have the chance to influence what happens. You have to put a bit of time aside (typically 2 - 3 hours every month) to prepare for Board meetings, as there can be quite a few papers to read. Both the Board and the EDMC need committed residents for their knowledge, which they get both from talking to other residents and from the fact that they all live here themselves. You have to be able to consider both individual views and the wider issues for residents and the community. Obviously, there are all sorts of viewpoints amongst Canalside residents and because you can't keep all the people happy all the time, you don't always get thanked for what you do! That's not to say that getting involved is a thankless task - far from it. It is both interesting rewarding - most of the time!

Jerry Piper

Parking Controls

Canalside's policy on parking was discussed with the EDMC before it was implemented last year. It will soon be due for a review and so the EDMC needs your views about how it's working, what needs to be changed, what else needs to be done and so on. Does the visitor permit system satisfy your needs? How do the parking enforcement contractors do their job? What problems, if any, does the policy give you as a resident? What can be done to improve parking controls? Please let us have your feedback - call Nusret Sen, the Tenant Support Worker on the number above, drop us a line or speak to an EDMC member. If we don't hear anything, we'll assume everything's OK!

Why Not Join Up?

18 June will see the EDMC Annual General Meeting (AGM). Again, this is a time for elections, this time for the EDMC itself. We need residents with a contribution to make to become members. A Turkish translator is available at meetings. Any tenant or leaseholder of Whitmore, Haggerston (East) or Bryant Court (37-78) is eligible to be elected as a member at the AGM. In fact, you don't even have to wait for 18 June - just come along to two consecutive EDMC meetings and you can be elected onto the committee. The EDMC deals with Canalside on the following matters:

Canalside policies
How our homes are managed
Plans for new and improved homes
Regeneration activities

Meetings are on the 3rd Monday of every month at 7.00pm at 9, Horner House, Whitmore.

Election Time

Do you want to get more involved in resident consultation with Canalside about the redevelopment of our homes? Maybe you've thought you might but just haven't got round to doing anything about it. If you think you've got something to contribute, read on.

Elections will be held during May for the Canalside Community Board. There are seven places on the Board for residents, all of whom have equal status with other board members and take full part in the decision making process. Existing resident members may stand for election for one further two-year term, but the Board is two short right now and not all existing members may stand again. The Board is therefore looking for some more residents to put themselves forward.

The Community Board comprises resident members from Whitmore and Haggerston (East), together with members from Metropolitan and Community Housing Associations (Canalside's parent associations) and Hackney Council. The Board meets once a month on a Tuesday evening.

If you are interested, please give Robin Hawkes (board secretary) a call on 7254 7073 for more information. Any resident board member will also be happy to talk to you about what the role means and the work involved. Robin would be particularly keen to hear from people from ethnic minority groups, who are currently under-represented on the Board. If English isn't your first language, no problem, as a translator can be provided if required.