Councillors Lorna Spenceley and Su Lawton joined local residents at the second meeting for Barleycroft and Lower Meadow, at the Chinese Centre.

The first topic for discussion was the flooding action plan. Su is a member of the council's Scrutiny Panel considering the response to last year's flooding. Residents mentioned a number of areas where drainage remains a problem, including the school, and commented that the ditch recently cleared at Commonside Road and Lower Meadow has already been blocked.

The meeting also discussed grounds maintenance and waste collection issues on the two estates; and the proposals for the use of 40 Barleycroft as an information drop-in centre for housing and estate-related issues. Refurbishment works are being carried out at the moment, and a planning application for the change of use will be submitted to the council shortly.

The next meeting will take place in about six weeks.

Congratulations to CABRA on re-forming their residents' association committee at their AGM, which took place at 190 The Briars. Sally Sambridge was elected Chairman, with Pete Dobson as Vice Chairman, Amber as Secretary, and Sharon Titterton as Treasurer. Cllr Lorna Spenceley attended. The team is raring to go with plenty of ideas for activities and projects.

Further repair and refurbishment work will shortly be taking place at 190 The Briars, but the building should then be fully available for use again as the community building for Aylets Field, The Briars and Copshall Close.

Things have gone rather quiet about progress on the Maunds Hatch project in recent months. Su and Lorna are working with council officers and other partners to get the plans moving forward again, so that the local community can get the best from the building.

It looks as if it's going to take longer than expected to get the community house at 65 Berecroft up and running again after the fire earlier this year. The whole roof will need replacing; there's more damage to the loft space than was at first thought; and the building will need to be fully rewired. Because of the time taken for delivery, work on the roof will not start for at least four weeks.