How will the Trust work?


How will the Trust work?

Lambeth will provide the Trust with a long lease for all the homes, public realm and non-residential uses excluding the theatre. The Trust will receive the rents from the homes and the non-residential uses and will pay Lambeth a ground rent.

*Lambeth Council may decide to lease the land to a sub company (Special Purpose Vehicle) who will then provide the lease to the Trust.

** Proposed lease term

What will be the Trust’s objectives?

The community and Lambeth Council will together decide the Trust’s objectives.

Click here to see the Trust’s objectives

How can we ensure the Trust delivers the objectives?

The Trust will have the following measures to ensure it delivers its objectives:

  1. The Trust’s constitution: This can only be changed with a vote by over 75% of the members & the agreement of Lambeth Council.
  2. The Trust’s board and membership: see details below.
  3. Framework agreement: This will be between Lambeth Council and the Trust. It will:
    1. Lock the objectives: including affordable homes.
    2. Lock the assets: So they cannot be sold.
    3. Give Lambeth Council operational oversight: Performance and financial reporting plus 2 seats on the board.
  4. Planning obligation: These can include the requirement for the land to owned and managed by a charitable trust.
  5. Business plan: The way the Trust is operated and the rents it charges are key to it delivering the objectives. Business plans will require approval by the board. In the assurance stage, they will also require Lambeth Council’s approval.
  6. Lease for the land: Providing Lambeth with the ‘step-in’ rights if the Trust does not adhere to its responsibilities.

Brixton Green will publish the documents above as and when the drafts are ready.

The Trust’s board

The board must include the expertise needed to manage an asset of this size, while ensuring it represents the community and remains publicly accountable.

  • Residents to have the ability to hold the Trust to account for service standards and to modify, within the agreed service framework. They will have three positions on the board to represent each of the following tenures:
    • Social rents
    • Intermediate rents
    • Market rents
  • Non-Residential tenants to have the ability to hold the Trust to account for service standards and to modify, within the agreed service framework.
  • Wider community area: The community and Lambeth Council are yet to decide on the agreed area for the Wider community. The area based on feedback to date is:

Automatic membership: Households and non-residential organizations will become members via their tenancy and lease/service agreements. All members of the wider community (that meet the criteria) will automatically have a vote and can stand for election.

Membership classes: The membership classes will include: residents, non-residential occupiers, Lambeth and the wider community. These will be used to ensure there is the appropriate balance between the voting power of each of the groups.

Appointed trustees:

  • Independent chair (paid role): The board will appoint an experienced independent chair.
  • Experts (paid role): The board will appoint at least two experts in areas such as finance and housing management.
  • Lambeth to have two seats on the board as part of the operational oversight.

Operations manager: To support the Board and attend Board meetings as Chief Officer of the charity.

Why only one vote per household?

This avoid dominance of the board by a particular household or family.

How will the Trust be publicly accountable?

As set out above the Trust will be directly accountable to the residents, non-residential occupiers and the wider community in the immediate area. In addition, Lambeth Council will have operational oversight and an elected Council member on the board.

The Trust’s functions

Accountability and good governance Building social capital and social value
·         Publicly accountable board with expert independent oversight

·         Membership awareness and reporting

·         Membership training:

o   Residents

o   Wider community

o   Non-residential occupiers

 ·         Operating the Hub, aligning with wider Health & Wellbeing agendas

·         Operating local lettings plan for housing and non-residential uses, in accordance with social value criteria
Housing and Non-Residential uses Management Facilities management
·         Rent arrears collection

·         Anti-Social Behaviour

·         Lettings

·         Estate Services

·         Tenancy Management

·         Non-residential lease management

·         Resident Involvement

 ·         Responsive repairs

·         Routine maintenance

·         Cleaning communal areas

·         Void re-servicing

·         Cyclical works

How can we ensure the Trust delivers good quality service?

  • The Trust will be accountable to the residents.
  • The Trust will engage experienced staff and organizations to deliver the services.
  • The Trust’ board will appoint expert trustees, with experience in the areas required to ensure it delivers good quality service.
  • Lambeth Council will have operational oversight of the Trust.
  • The community will work with Lambeth’s housing and asset management officers to set the Service Specification for the housing and commercial space, including key performance indicators and the remedy if the KPIs are not met.
  • The community and Lambeth Council will work together to set up the Trust. Ensuring it is built on the best knowledge currently available.
How will it be paid for?