Why I quit panel game

Published: 7 May, 2010

• THERESA Coyle (April 9) thanks me for my hard work as chair of Holland Walk Area Panel, yet goes on to claim that I didn’t get my facts straight in relation to my comments about the reasons I resigned.
I have been a tenant rep, a leaseholder rep and then chair of the panel for almost three years. In total, I have spent 11 years living in housing managed by either Islington Council directly or later Homes for Islington (HfI).
I resolutely believe that HfI is only interested in working constructively with residents who support its agenda and that the area housing panels are not currently genuine forums for consultation because ultimately everything with HfI is “a board decision”. 
In contrast, when housing was directly managed by the council at least our ward councillors could sometimes influence decisions not felt by residents to be in their best interests.
I hope it was clear in my original letter that I was expressing my opinion based on my experience as chair and the reasons why I felt spending my time attending was no longer justifiable to me.
JUSTINE GORDON-SMITH
Ilex House, N4