Dear Mr Williams,

Thank you for sending me the below information. Unfortunately you again sent it directly to my email address and not through the 'whatdotheyknow' site from where the request was made.

Dear Ms Morgan

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - Kentish Town District Management committee

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request received on 02 August 2008. Your request has now been considered under the light of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. You requested information on:

1. From the various 'pots' of money allocated to the Kentish Town District Management Committee, what is the amount available for council street property tenants in the district to access?

The budgets available for council street property residents to apply for funding through Kentish Town DMC for 2008/09 are:

a) Revenue Budget - £45,770. To date, £19,290 has been allocated with £24,460 remaining.
b) Capital Budget – £100,000. This has all been allocated for the financial year.
c) Financial Support to Tenants and Residents Associations Budget - £2,300. To date, £1439.23 has been allocated with £860.77 remaining.

2. How can council street property tenants access these funds?
a) Revenue Budget – council street property Tenants and Residents Associations (TRAs) can only apply if they are registered with the Council. Jean McMahon or Norma Zeni from the District Housing Office should be contacted on 020 7974 6826 to submit bids for funding.

b) Capital Budget – council street property Tenants and Residents Associations can only apply if they are registered with the Council. TRAs considering making bids should discuss them with their patch manager. Generally, bids should be submitted to the District Manager by the end of June.

c) Financial Support to Tenants and Residents Associations Budget - council street property Tenants and Residents Associations can only apply if they are registered with the Council. A completed claim form, together with receipts and itemised bills, must be submitted when making a claim. Claims should be made to the District Manager on a monthly basis.

3. What can council street property tenants use these funds for?
a) Revenue Budget:
This allocation should be used for expenditure falling within the following criteria:

i) Minor improvements works to properties and estates (properties would include street properties here but is concerned with communal areas rather than works to individual homes)

ii) Alterations to tenants rooms, facilities and additional basic equipment
iii) Encouragement of social and community facilities at halls and community centres principally available for the benefit of the Council’s tenants

b) Capital Budget:
This allocation should be used for expenditure falling within the following criteria:

i) The money can only be spent on Council owned stock
ii) The works must be “capital in nature” i.e. each scheme should exceed £10,000 and add value to the stock
iii) Unallocated resources may be distributed to other DMCs

In addition, priority should be given to small-scale innovative schemes, which would successfully tackle a range of problems. These are:

i) Restricting non-resident’s access to neighbourhoods
ii) Reducing the number of dark spots to prevent anti-social behaviour such as drug taking, drug dealing, prostitution and theft

iii) Increased planting of ‘hostile’ plants to create environmentally attractive barriers
iv) Removal of redundant seating and planting to deter loitering
v) Additional dog patrols
vi) Applying basic security measures across more of the housing stock such as window locks, secure front doors and locks, door chains and spy holes

vii) Concentrating some resources on areas with the worst crime and nuisance statistics
viii) Increasing the use of CCTV but only where provision of monitoring the system is included

c) Financial Support to Tenants and Residents Associations Budget:
The Council reimburses tenant and leaseholder representatives for essential expenses incurred during the course of their duties. This allocation for financial assistance to Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations should be used for expenditure falling within the following criteria:

i) Travel expenses
ii) Childcare/carer expenses
iii) Other expenses, including photocopying (although this should normally be carried out at the DHO or the Camden Federation of Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations). Chairs and Secretaries of DMC’s can claim for other items, e.g. stamps, envelopes and telephone calls relating to their duties

iv) Hiring of meeting rooms.

Please note the information is still covered by copyright legislation. You are not authorised to re-use this information for commercial or research purposes as defined by the Re-Use of Public Sector Regulations 2005. Please do not use any contact details provided for direct mail purposes. If you do wish to re-use this information please contact the Freedom of Information Team, First Floor, 3-5 Cressy Road, London NW3 2ND, who will assess your request.

If you are dissatisfied with this response and wish to appeal, please write to Peter Swingler, Freedom of Information Appeals Panel, Central Complaints Unit, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE and your complaint will be dealt with through our Internal Review procedure.

If you are still not satisfied following the Internal Review, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner. He can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Yours sincerely

Peter Williams
Freedom of Information & Data Protection Officer
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
Housing Complaints Team

Housing Department
London Borough of Camden
Phone: 02079744372
Fax: 02079746472
E-mail: peter.williams@camden.gov.uk
Web: www.camden.gov.uk
Bidborough House
20 Mabledon Place
London
WC1H 9BF