‘Why must the poorest people pay the most for basic services?’

Published: 20 August, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

ISLINGTON’N new Fairness Commission – set up by the Labour council to look into ­cases of inequality – is to investigate claims that residents are being ­“double charged” for services on the borough’s estates.

An anomaly is said to have resulted in tenants and leaseholders paying twice for the removal of bulk refuse and street lighting – first in their council tax and then in their rent or (in the case of leaseholders) in their service charges.

Evidence is being provided to the commission, which meets again next month, by Justine Gordon-Smith, housing activist and former chairwoman of the ­Holland Walk Area Housing Panel.

Ms Gordon-Smith said she complained about the issue to Homes for Islington (HfI) – the borough’s housing agency – but “got nowhere” and is now hoping that the commission will take up the case.

She argues that residents are forced to pay for the removal of their own bulk rubbish, and also that which is dumped on estates by outsiders. 

At the same time residents pay for 68 per cent of street lighting on the estates, even though they are often used by the public as walkways.

Ms Gordon-Smith said: “This is a system that came about with the formation of the Almo [arm’s length management organisation resp­onsible for upkeep of the estates] where residents  were in effect double charged for services they were already paying for via council tax.

“I feel very strongly that this policy has to be stopped. “It is unacceptable that some of the poorest residents, living on estates begging for vital repairs, should be required to pay more than any other group in the borough for ser­vices.”

Ms Gordon-Smith also complains that tenants pay for policing through their council tax and then again for anti-social behaviour officers through rent or service charges. 

“Anti-social behaviour officers don’t have any real power,” she added. “I don’t see why we need them. If anything serious happens you always turn to the police.”

Ms Gordon-Smith has the support of Dr Brian Potter, chairman of Islington’s tenant and leaseholder group, who believes there is a case to answer. 

“The previous Lib Dem council realised people were being double charged for many years and did nothing about it,” Mr Potter said.

Executive member for housing, Labour councillor James Murray, welcomed the fact that the commission would be investigating the issue. “There may well be anomalies that need to be examined,” he said. “We may have to introduce new guidelines about what can and can’t be charged for.”

• The Islington Fairness Commission is chaired by leading expert in social inequality and health Professor Richard Wilkinson.

The commission meets in public to hear evidence from the community and debate issues such as health, housing, family, community, social care, education, skills and training, employment, crime and safety, democracy, sustain­ability, environment and economy.

It will produce a final report of its findings in April 2011. This will in turn be used to help shape policy and practice for both the council and partners.

The next meeting is on Tuesday September 7, 7.30-10pm at Andover Estate Community Centre, Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park.