It’s time to rock boat

Published: 9 April, 2010

• I WAS extremely amused to read that the Labour, Conservative and Green parties have suddenly decided that Homes for Islington (HfI) is now considered to be extremely expensive, and therefore an unnecessary waste of Islington Council’s resources – and it only took them four years to reach this momentous conclusion (Labour could scrap HfI, April 2).
Over the last four years as chairman of Islington Leaseholders’ Association and the Federation of Islington Tenants’ Associations (FITA), I have been continually bombarded by complaints of gross overcharging and poor-quality workmanship resulting from work contracted out under HfI’s Decent Homes programme. Although I have consistently raised these issues with HfI’s board and councillors, it was all to no avail, since it appears no one wanted to rock the boat.
Well, it’s election time again, and our prospective politicians have realised our votes do count; therefore, they are now prepared to stand up and be counted. Why? Perhaps because even the lowest-paid councillor in Islington receives £10,000 a year if elected, and we are supporting 48 of them.
I find it inconceivable that none of our councillors has noticed that since HfI, actively encouraged by the council, de-funded FITA after 28 years of serving residents, all effective consultation and opposition to HfI’s policies have been effectively eliminated.
I challenge all parties to state unambiguously their precise intentions with regard to HfI’s future and agree publicly to immediately refinance not just FITA but all tenants’ organisations.
DR BS POTTER
Prospective candidate, St Mary’s Ward

• YOU report that a number of Labour councillors have indicated their intention to “close down Homes for Islington and take back ‘in-house’ Islington’s housing stock” following leaseholders’ complaints about huge bills charged for unnecessary and overpriced work, appalling workmanship, inadequate billing information, lack of monitoring of contractors, ignoring adherence to “Best Value for Money” statutory regulations and inefficient replies to invoice queries. Many of these points were recognised and upheld in the last Audit Office report.
A major consideration is the huge cost of privatisation in a recession – in its 2008-9 budget the council paid £54.5million to HfI, mainly funded by “income from communal and residential sales”. Selling Islington’s assets (the family silver) to fund a “private company” does not indicate good value for money. Privatisation of Islington’s housing management was unpopular from the start. Councillors should be held accountable and return the housing services to their direct control immediately to avoid any further waste of public money.
HELEN CAGNONI
Independent candidate, Clerkenwell

• I BELIEVE that a good number of readers, the ones affected by the poor performance of Homes for Islington, will be interested to know where the parties on the council, Lib Dems, Labour and the Greens, stand regarding the continued use of HfI following the council elections.
Please read the literature and ask questions of candidates, including the independents, to find out their intentions regarding the use of HfI.
EDWARD MURPHY
Aberdeen Park, N5

• I WOULD like to thank Justine Gordon-Smith for the hard work she put in as chair of Holland Walk Area Housing Panel over the last three years. I know how hard this job can be from personal experience, having been a panel chair for a number of years.
However, Justine simply did not get her facts straight in her letter (Tick-box culture, March 19).
Currently, three board directors regularly attend area housing panels and between 2004 and 2009 two others did as well. Additionally, each panel has an associate director, chosen by the panel from its own membership, to sit on the board’s performance management committee and advise on key local issues.
In terms of consultation, it’s worth pointing out that Homes for Islington’s 2009 Audit Commission inspection report stated that the way we consult with residents was a significantly “strong” area of service. This included how consultation happens at area panels.
As a resident I will always champion further and better ways of consulting with our customers, and I would agree we should always strive to do better.
THERESA COYLE
Chair, Homes for Islington board