Biographies

These biographies are based on the election held in 2015 for the 3 years to 2018.

To contact any of the members listed (e.g. one of those representing your area) simply send an email to camden@leaseholdersforum.org.uk and include in the title the name of the person that would you like to receive your email.

Camden Town: Isabella Luger, Sarah Astor, Wolfram Westendorf
Gospel Oak: Karl Vaughan, Philip Dunne, Shafeeq Siddiqui
Hampstead: Chris Tarpey, Mary Lyons, Rosalie Miles, Stuart March, Zulakha “Cindy” Mughal
Holborn: Peter Wright (Chair), Richard Walker, Todd Buchanan
Kentish Town: Shravan Sood
Co-Opted: Aldires Bugia (Co-Opted, Deputy Chair), Carol Delany and Terry Rowland
Member Statements

Aldires Bugia (Co-Opted, Deputy Chair)
I am a first class community worker with drive, determination and dedication to all areas of community work that I am involved in. I’ve been particularly active in campaigning for leaseholder and tenants’ rights in the Walker House estate (Somers Town). I help everyone within the borough of Camden and do not make any difference between tenants or leaseholders.
Chris Tarpey (Hampstead)
I’m an accountant by trade and have been a leaseholder for 10 years, a member of our TLA, and the Hampstead DMC, as well as the Chalcotts Refurbishment Steering committee for (nearly) all that time.

I have also been a member of the Compact Monitoring Board, the District Monitoring Panel, and Swiss Cottage Community Centre committee. On all six I was an officer, up to vice-chair. I was one of the team that fought the LVT case in 2014, that gave a £100 pa reduction in service charges for 4,800 leaseholders.

I want to help Camden find solutions to our problems.
Isabella Luger (Camden Town)
I have been a leaseholder for over 10 years hence I have in depth experience of the problems/situations a leaseholder is faced with. I would consider it great achievement if I could contribute to help to create a more direct therefore more efficient communication route between the Council and leaseholder. Currently it is taking me a lot of effort and time to even resolve the simplest of issues with the Council.

I am an architect from profession therefore I have great understanding of how buildings are put together, the legal side of building contracts, Building Regulation and Planning Law these are skills/knowledge which I can bring to the table.
Karl Vaughan (Gospel Oak)
I am currently a Forum representative and have been for the last 15 years. The only person on the current Forum serving Camden’s leaseholders longer than myself is the Chairman Dr Peter Wright.
I am very familiar with Leaseholder issues, court cases, and a myriad of other problems concerning home ownership.
Mary Lyons (Hampstead)
I was born and grew up in the borough of Camden and became a leaseholder in 1997. I have been attending most meetings of the Leaseholders Forum for the past four years as an observer, during which time I’ve learnt a great deal about how the borough operates and the needs and interests of various leaseholders, as well as meeting members of the Forum. I would like to become a member of the Leaseholders Forum because I would like the opportunity to speak at meetings and be more actively involved in the Forum and the issues that arise that affect leaseholders in Camden.
Peter Wright (Holborn, Chair)
I am the only remaining original Forum member from its foundation. I therefore have a good knowledge of what it has done, and how it has done it, for new members. I believe strongly in
-Seeking new members every three years;
-That each Forum should set its agenda, reflecting what leaseholders want; and
-Then pursue those objectives in the best way to achieve them.

For myself, I want to see responsive, high quality and cost-effective services delivered sensitively to leaseholders and tenants, and the best possible deal for leaseholders living in a community which is being dislocated by re-development.
Philip Dunne (Gospel Oak)
I previously attended Camden Leaseholders Forums and found them very useful, I made a number of suggestions and believe in being active at meetings. I was able to resolve a number of issues regarding my service charge, and believe that I could off a valuable contribution to the forum. I work for a property management company, which deals with both freeholds and leaseholders, setting service charges, as well as paying them, so I have the unique perspective of someone who looks at both sides of issues, and finds amicable resolutions to both parties where possible.
Richard Walker (Holborn)
I am standing with the hope of influencing the Leaseholders’ Forum to look at issues that do not just affect people attending meetings, but to focus on the issues that affect the wider leaseholder community. To this end, I think that the Constitution and Code of Conduct need an overhaul to prevent time wasting with irrelevant issues.
Rosalie Miles (Hampstead)
I am currently a Hampstead Committee member on the Leaseholders Forum panel and I have been attending the Leaseholders Forum for many years.

My experience with Camden Council over the years, attending many meetings, especially with the Leaseholders’ Forum, has given me an insight as to the workings of Camden! I shall continue to contribute for the benefit of leaseholders and help Camden Council in any decisions that might be pending.
Sarah Astor (Camden Town)
I am motivated to obtain the best possible deal for Leaseholders through thoughtful discussion and careful negotiation. My experience as a Trustee for several charities over the past 30 years would help me to participate effectively in Forum meetings.

I have lived in Camden since 1986 in various properties. Being a leaseholder since 2012 has been an unnecessarily difficult experience. I have encountered considerable disregard for my leaseholder’s rights. I am currently being instructed to pay for major works which are not performed at competitive market prices nor in a timely manner.
Shafeeq Siddiqui (Gospel Oak)
I am presently a Forum Member and Spokesperson on Regeneration issues of Gospel Oak that is undergoing Regeneration.

I led a Delegation to the Cabinet for Reviewing the leaseholders’ options on council purchases of our leases. Along with support from the Chair and other Members of the Forum, Julian Fulbrook (former Camden cabinet member for Housing) offered options of co-ownership/equity; this is now a better option for leaseholders who wish to stay in the area.
Shravan Sood (Kentish Town)
I am a long-time resident of London Borough of Camden (25 years) and a buy-to-let investor, including in a property in Camden Town of which Camden Council is Freeholder. I feel that the views of landlords such as myself (as opposed to residents in Camden-owned properties) are not adequately represented. I am former Managing Director of a leading international bank (now retired). I believe that I have the necessary energy and skills to vociferously represent the interests of my fellow constituents with a view to making the Council more responsive to our needs.
Stuart March (Hampstead)
I am a retired loss assessor and a member of the Forum since September 2012. My assessing experience enables me to accurately comment upon proposed works and costings. In the case of my own block, Fitzjohns Mansions, my intervention has resulted in both reduction of estimates, ultimate costs and in two instances even the extent of the proposed works where I have been able to prove them to be overstated, overspecified and not necessary. I feel I have further to contribute to the Forum.
Todd Buchanan (Holborn)
I am a chartered surveyor and the current estate manager for a landed estate in west London with responsibility for a number of freehold properties subject to leaseholds. I obviously have a vested interest in ensuring leaseholders and the wider community’s interests are supported. To this end, I am able to contribute my professional experience to this voluntary organisation. In particular I have experience of challenging service charge budgets and liaising with leaseholders.

I am the Secretary of the Red Lion TRA and seek to break down the artificial divide between tenants and leaseholders that Camden itself fosters.
Wolfram Westendorf (Camden Town)
As leaseholder in Camden I am interested to ensure that Camden provides value for money to us and treats leaseholders fairly as this appears not always to be the case. There are many changes planned or under way in Camden which can impact our life and properties. Camden has the tendency to lip service residents’ engagement but ultimately do what they want to do. As member of the Leaseholders’ Forum I want to engage in a true dialogue with Camden, positively influence decisions and make our voice heard.
Zulakha “Cindy” Mughal (Hampstead)
I have lots of experience working with Camden Council, having bought my flat 15 years ago and lived in Camden for 30 years. I am chair of Bridge House RTA, also working on behalf of tenants in my block.

Recent wins include forcing Camden to abandon their plans to reduce the amount of car parking available to leaseholders (as their policy did not consider that there might be any exceptional circumstances). I hope to bring to the Forum expertise of regularly pursuing unfair repairs charges, having had significant experience in this area! Being on the Forum will get Camden to improve their working practices for us all.

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About Camden Leaseholders' Forum

This is the official Camden Leaseholders' Forum account. Why not come along to one of our meetings to see us in the flesh? Alternatively email camden@leaseholdersforum.org.uk if you want to get in contact or, best yet, post to the Discussion Board and then you will not only hear from us, but also you fellow residents too, who have their own stories to tell and answers to give...