Date: 1 September 2026
Chair: Nadine
Present: Ainsley (Lambeth), Teniola (Lambeth), Hazel, Treasurer, Nadine, Chair, John, Co-Treasurer. Residents including Ann, Michelle, Millie, Diane. Jean from St Matthew’s Estate.
Food waste bins & consultation process
Residents were upset that the food waste bins were introduced without any prior consultation. One attendee summed it up: "the left hand isn't looking at the right."
There's confusion about who decided to roll this out and why residents weren't informed in advance about how it would work before being told to start using it.
Resident survey
Lambeth representatives raised the resident survey which only received 34 responses
Attendees noted many residents don't use computers or online tools, so paper letters should be distributed as well to reach them.
It was suggested that individual, personal responses (rather than one generic combined response) would carry more weight and give better insight into how people actually feel.
Lambeth to re-send the form on paper
TfL bus 415 consultation
TfL has launched a consultation on withdrawing the 415 bus route, leaving only the 2 and 432 running. Residents are concerned this will significantly affect transport options.
Plan: ask residents to send in their individual responses (even ones they've already sent personally) and the TRA will compile them into one combined submission.
Target deadline: by the 15th of the month, after which all collected input will be combined and submitted.
TRA will also email the ~100 people on the estate's mailing list to ask for input, and share through WhatsApp groups.
Fireworks / anti-social behaviour & security
Concerns were raised about ongoing fireworks incidents on the estate, including one where a car was targeted by someone who appeared to be a young man no longer in school.
Discussion of whether the estate's security cameras are actually working, some may not be. If working, camera footage from a known date/time could help identify culprits.
Police have been asked to do extra patrols, though timing is unclear. There is a panel meeting on August 13 at Brixton (where local councillors are present) where residents can raise concerns directly with police.
A suggestion was floated to use a community fair to engage/redirect younger children (around ages 11–13) who might be drawn into this behavior, as a positive distraction.
It was noted repair/maintenance teams had marked some fencing/areas for repair but nothing has actually been done ("marked but not sealed").
Leaseholder service charges (raised by a leaseholder)
One leaseholder raised concerns about a large increase in their service charge (around 50% increase, partly attributed to scaffolding costs), calling the increase unexpected and poorly forecasted.
They proposed others can join an existing WhatsApp group for leaseholders to discuss and potentially file a formal complaint, noting some residents are leaving the estate because it's becoming unaffordable.
Weekly coffee morning
Agreed to start a weekly coffee morning on Thursdays, 10am–12pm (with setup starting around 9:30am and wrap-up by 12:30pm due to the play scheme's schedule).
Starting date agreed: Thursday, October 22.
Need volunteers to: open up, prepare the kitchen/chairs, welcome attendees, and handle publicity (poster + word of mouth/WhatsApp).
India agreed to create a poster; the group discussed messaging — avoid making it sound like formal "mentoring," and instead frame it as a friendly "meet your neighbours" event
A funding application has been written by India for this/older-adults' event (coffee, chat, community food).
Residents noted money not necessary for much (just for energy, electric and tea, biscuits)
Winter Festival & Christmas events
A "Winter Festival" (rebranded from "Christmas Fair") is planned for December 19, including a raffle, food, and entertainment.
A Christmas meal is planned for December 23: children (play scheme/after-school) in the morning, adults from about 2:30–6pm, with a hot meal, celebrating the end of term. Entertainment (possibly drumming) is hoped for but not confirmed due to budget.
The Christmas Kids Club has been cut to only 2 days (instead of a full week) because the funder (Hoff) could not commit to more days this year, despite funding 4 weeks over the summer.
The TRA may need to cover the gap itself. Partnering with "High Trees" was discussed but dismissed due to past unreliable partnerships, the group prefers running it independently on their own fixed date (Dec 23), though others are welcome to align with that date if they want to join.
Kitchen use for a private event
A resident asked about hiring/using the community kitchen to cook food for a private event (she can't cook at home due to her child's needs).
Outstanding questions: whether she needs a food safety certificate (she has one person with a certificate on her team) and public liability insurance.
Weekly free food distribution
A local woman has been informally distributing surplus fresh food (fruit, veg) from supermarkets on Sunday evenings, currently outside Lansdown House in a passageway, serving roughly 30 families, up from about half a dozen when it started.
The group discussed moving it into the community hall, since the current setup is a bit unstructured and only runs about 30–45 minutes.
Concerns were raised about having proper volunteer oversight (not just leaving tables unattended) and the opening/closing responsibility on Sundays.
Decision: run it as a trial in the hall until Christmas, with volunteers taking responsibility for managing, and reassess after that.
Monthly crafts event
A monthly event (crochet, crafts, free food) is being organized by a long-standing community figure (14 years running this type of event).
Proposed date: Sunday, October 25, running from about 2–5pm (allowing for setup from around 11am, after church services finish, since many attendees go to church first).
Free to attend; donations go toward covering some of the hall hire/logistics costs.
A broader policy question was raised: the hall can't commit to hosting free community events indefinitely without any revenue, since there are real costs. At least a week's notice is needed before booking an event.
The group agreed they need to balance wanting more community activities with the need to generate some income to sustain the hall and free after school club
Actions
Collect responses to the TfL consultation on bus 415 and submit a combined response, due Oct 15.
Email/Whatsapp TfL consultation on bus 415.
Follow up with resident about using kitchen and check regulations
Create a poster for the weekly coffee morning, share it via email and Whatsapp
Volunteers to set up coffee morning with caretaker
Check the calendar for Sunday, Nov 25, for upcoming events such as crafts event
Volunteers to take on the food project on Sunday at the hall