Letters to the Editor - At last, someone has said that homes body must go

Published: 23 April, 2010

• I ATTENDED the latest tenants’ and leaseholders’ meeting, where election candidates were asked: “Should Homes for Islington (HfI) stay or should it go?”
Lib Dem council leader Terry Stacy quickly reminded us that tenants had voted for an arms’-length management organisation such as HfI but failed to mention the many promises that HfI has failed to deliver on.
Then there was an outburst from the Labour leader, Catherine West, who said she was fed up with the moaning and whingeing from the very people who pay her huge salary.
She was reminded that people had housing concerns and she should take these concerns on board.
She attempted a feeble apology, but the damage had been done, and an own goal scored.
The Green Party and Conservative Party conducted themselves with dignity, and answered questions from the floor with honesty but still fudged the question of whether HfI should stay or go. But they did say that they would press for more transparency and open government within the council, and would encourage more intake from local associations.
The independent candidate made it clear he was on a mandate from various groups to disband HfI at the earliest date, if elected.
There was no fudge – just a straightforward “HfI must go, because it has passed its sell-by date”.
PJ LEAMY
Bingfield Street, N1

• IT was little wonder that Councillor Terry Stacy was booed and jeered at the Federation of Islington Tenants’ Associations (FITA) meeting. The Lib Dems have let down leaseholders by allowing HfI to foist exorbitant bills, often in an unnecessary way, on residents for poor-quality works.
I was also flabbergasted that Councillor Catherine West accused them of “moaning and whingeing”. These “moaners” and “whingers” want to get the help that they desperately need.
VICTORIA LIM
Conservative candidate,
St Mary’s ward

• NOW the manifestos are out, we can see that housing is not a priority for the three main parties.
But if people live in poor housing, they are more likely to fall sick and less likely to do well at school. So spending on health and education only makes sense if we invest in housing as well.
In Islington, the Greens would ballot tenants and leaseholders on scrapping HfI, with the council taking direct responsibility for service and repairs.
We would also fund an independent voice for tenants and leaseholders so people do not have to struggle on their own to get the help they need.  Our councillor, Katie Dawson, has been fighting to provide an office for leaseholders at the old FITA premises in Drayton Park, but so far has been blocked by HfI and the council.
EMMA DIXON
Green Party candidate, Islington North

• I REALLY must thank HfI for providing me with this opportunity to support the opinions of Justine Gordon-Smith (Tick-box culture, March 19). I have been in a unique position to observe what HfI considers to be tenant involvement and consultation. Unfortunately, over the last four years I have seen simply post-action information thinly disguised as tenant consultation.


If HfI spent less of residents’ money initiating worthless surveys on all and sundry, and instead spent the money on actually doing the work it was originally contracted to do properly perhaps then, and only then, would it deserve some small degree of praise. In the meantime – remember, it’s your money they’re wasting!

Dr BS POTTER
Independent candidate,
St Mary’s ward