A slash-and-burn policy that hits caretaking

Published: 8 April, 2010

• SINCE the Liberal Democrats and Tories took over control of Camden Council they embarked on a slash and burn agenda, removing the human face of the council away from people into call centres attempting to deliver services by remote control.
This has been the case for the housing repairs service, and now it seems caretaking is going the same way.
On my estate one of our two caretakers is expected to dust 30 window ledges, sweep clean and mop three lifts, 15 corridors, 15 sets of staircases and banisters, check and replace failed light bulbs for 60 light fittings, wash down three sets of communal refuse rooms, carry out minor repairs, remove graffiti and bulk rubbish, knock on vulnerable residents, provide cover for colleagues for holidays and sickness, attend health and safety inspections, complete monitoring forms and work reports, all in an average weekly rota of six hours.
This is the result of cutbacks through awarding a contract to Veolia for external cleaning, and it simply is not fair or just.
Are the Lib Dems and Tories hell-bent on deliberately setting-up our caretakers to fail?
What they have failed to realise is that every time they task senior management to reorganise staff and find “efficiency savings”, somehow they will justify increasing the number of senior managers and the size of their bonus payments, at the same time cutting front-line staff. They will also justify privatising services instead of dealing with mismanagement.
There are over 2,000 people employed in housing and around 24,000 tenants – that’s around 12 tenants per employee (14 if we include leaseholders). Is it really that difficult to be responsible for the management of 12 tenancies? And does this have to cost tenants £171million a year boroughwide?
What we need is an innovative approach to the way housing services are delivered – a solution which will achieve an improved service without increasing costs. That cannot be achieved by remote control. It is achievable by investing into a motivated front-line staff and by confronting mismanagement head on, and by shifting backroom pen-pushers to the front line. Also through meaningful dialogue with tenants and leaseholders.
MERIC APEK
Labour Party Candidate
Kentish Town ward