Public meeting minutes: September 2026

Date: 1 September 2026
Chair: Nadine
Present: Nadine, Virginie, Hazel, India, Rebecca, Alex, Maria, Meconah, Christine, Teniola  (Lambeth), Kamla  (Lambeth), Priscilla (Lambeth)

1. Fireworks

• Fireworks caused a fire yesterday, and others were set off beside residents' cars.

• It has gone on for years, and that police attendance has little lasting effect because they run off and return.

• Guy Fawkes Night was flagged as new risk.

• Signs raised as a solution

• Fines were raised as a possible deterrent, but enforcement is difficult.

• Need to check that the estate CCTV is working and review footage from the time of yesterday's incident.

• Suggestion to speak to other TRAs to learn what they do, and to the youth involved.

• India suggested raising the issue with the new councillors as a borough-wide problem, including shops and online sellers supplying fireworks to young people.

Actions

• Email the new Safer Neighbourhood police contact, ask them to increase patrols, and invite them to the next TRA meeting.

• Ask for an interim meeting between the police and residents or TRA before Guy Fawkes.

• Notices on fireworks to be produced and put up.

2. Promoting TRA meetings

• India asked for ideas to increase attendance. Notice boards are already used, and the email list has only 70–80 people, there is a whatsapp group of 30+.

• Suggestion of sending a regular email from Lambeth - India to speak to Kamla about this 

• Poster printing and distribution has been hard to staff on a large estate. Volunteers are needed when India posts in the WhatsApp group.

3. Adventure Playground

• TRA had been considering partnering with High Trees on a community day when they reopened their adventure playground

• But reopening has been delayed because the work is unfinished.

4. Summer play scheme

• Hazel said it ran very well, with about 90 children on the register and 50–57 attending daily. About 12–13 staff were needed.

• Trips included the Science Museum and a seaside day (about 47–50 children), which was the highlight.

• The main challenges were a number of unexpectedly young children and a few difficult behaviours. There were only minor incidents. Water costs were high because of the heat.

• Hazel said she was disappointed that committee members did not visit during the scheme. Visits are welcome if arranged in advance, so staff can escort visitors (health and safety, safeguarding and DBS).

• On budget, Hazel keeps costs tight. Virginie said she has no issue with carrying money over as long as it is accounted for, but funding needs to be requested earlier, because money has been missed when requests came too late.

• There will be no October play scheme. Hazel said the next one is December, and that items need replacing before then.

• Hazel is still waiting for the after-school and play scheme reports. She wants staff to draft them, with her reviewing. India offered help.

• India has begun writing up a summary from her conversation with Gavin for funders and the website, and Hazel asked to see it before it is published.

5. Funding

• Get Involved grant: applications need to be submitted about two months ahead. October is too late, so the aim is to apply in October for December activity.

• Virginie asked that anyone leading a project provides a budget in time, as the committee cannot chase funding without the details.

6. Youth engagement

• Nadine asked whether a small focus group could be formed to find out what young people (10+, teenagers) want on the estate. We have the after school club and activities for small children but not older ones and they are looking for opportunities.

• Points raised:

  • Young people need to be approached by someone they know and trust.

  • Free food matters, and they need somewhere they can feel safe and not pressured.

  • Past projects on the estate promised trips and vouchers that did not materialise, which damaged trust.

  • Only promise what can be delivered, and be clear the project will be long-term.

• Nadine suggested a target age group of roughly 13/14–18, separate from the older group that Lee works with.

• Nadine will do a walkabout and talk to young people she knows, then report back.

• Ideas raised:

  • Restarting the youth forum

  • A spoken word/poetry/open mic night with estate residents (Rebecca's son and India's neighbour Nathan were mentioned)

  • Skills sessions such as first aid

  • A fortnightly calendar of varied activities

  • Outside providers such as the Black Prince bus and other free services

• Virginie said funding is easier for estate-based activities and food, and harder for trips.

• Any sessions must have at least one DBS-checked adult present.

• Virginie suggested High Trees may help with a defined project. Alex said they are in contact with someone called Faye who is keen to meet.

• Nadine raised a recent incident involving a young person being chased through the estate, and said the issue should be discussed with High Trees.

7. Community events

• Quiz night proposed, plus games and jumble/tabletop sales towards Christmas.

8. Block reps

• Volunteers: Rebecca, Alex, India, Desica, etc. Others are to be approached, including Kayla, who has helped before.

• Role: talk to neighbours, deliver leaflets and posters, and pass on information. 

• Anyone interested in becoming a block rep in another block should be added to the WhatsApp chat so they can be invited to meetings.

9. Christmas

• Hazel leads the adults' and children's Christmas parties, and the pantomime is handled separately.

• A Winter Fayre was proposed for one of the weeks in early December, with the parties and pantomime on separate dates. Too many events would be confusing.

• A group needs to be formed to plan events, agree roles up front and prepare a budget for funding. Hazel warned that volunteers need to understand the commitment.

• Virginie will attend the first meeting to share last year's information. The group should meet, then report back at next month's meeting.

• The Christmas group is to be open to anyone via the WhatsApp chat. Nadine's summary of who leads was unclear, so see the notes at the end.

10. Community garden

• Maria said the garden needs money for repairs and refills, and that the structure is crumbling. It is unclear whether repair is Lambeth's responsibility or must be funded by the TRA.

• Options identified:

  • Incredible Edible

  • Get Involved grant

  • The Match My Project platform, where contractors provide goods or services as part of their social value commitments

• Alex offered to email Incredible Edible information to the garden group. The gardeners will lead and the TRA will help with funding data.

• Hazel praised the garden and asked that it be supported.

• India will check whether Lambeth has any money available.

11. Food waste and compost

• Millie asked whether food bins could be introduced. The group felt this is difficult on estates because of the large communal bins.

• Alex said the polytunnel has small food caddies (no cooked food or meat) and compost bins that residents can use.

• Maria asked whether cut grass could be provided for composting. Virginie cautioned that grass clippings often contain plastic. Nadine will look into it.

• A notice for the notice boards was suggested, and India will include the garden group in the next round of notices.

12. Cleaning and estate maintenance

• Bin chambers are in a poor state, made worse by the summer heat. Residents have seen no jetting for years. Rats were reported at one block, and foxes.

• Cleaning contractors say windows were last cleaned on 30 July and provided photos. Pinnacle is to produce a cleaning schedule. Residents want a sign-in or check with the caretaker, since nobody sees the work being done.

• Only one groundsman is seen on the estate, which is not enough.

• Leaking guttering and other items from the earlier list still need chasing.

• India and Desica will collate the outstanding list and send a joint email to Lambeth. Emailing the housing officer directly has worked well before.

13. Any other business

• Dog mess: more signage is needed. Bins and the dog-poo area have been removed, and free bags are available. Enforcement is difficult. Nadine will check what is possible.

• Jubilee Hall signage: the hall is hard to find. Lambeth said budgets are tight, so the TRA will contact Significant Signs for a quote, and Rebecca will share the earlier email.

• Banner: a separate TRA banner was discussed earlier, and Nadine wants something visible from the road.

• Glows: Virginie explained that the TRA's agreement expired and the building has reverted to Lambeth. The Pantry has left. Lee and Tree Shepherd remain, possibly until December. It is no longer the TRA's responsibility. Lambeth was asked to find out its future plans.