How safe are our homes?

If you want to understand the long term strategy and thinking from the Conservative Council on Social Housing I would draw your attention to

"The Greenhalgh Vision of the Future" & the policy paper mentioned.

"Stephen Greenhalgh's social housing revolution" - Guardian Online.

HANDS OFF Our Queen Caroline Homes.

The residents of Queen Caroline Homes have set up a campaigning website, http://handsoffqc.blogspot.com/, further to the youtube post below.

Some of us remember the antic's of Westminster Council under Dame Shirley Porter some years ago. With the Leader of the Council wanting to reduce the number of Social Housing Lets in the Borough this is the "tip" of the iceberg.

All residents in council rented accommodation should be worried about where this will go? Could it be your home eventually? I urge you to support our fellow tenants at this time.

Have a council home? for how long more?

From Stephen Cowan.

See this youtube video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tV7oK0Olvk

Communal areas & Decent Homes.

I have heard a rumour that the communal area were being cleaned rather than being re-decorated. I phoned the Decent Homes team today and they confirm that the communal areas will be re-decorated and I notice our windows in the hall have been painted today.

Where do I put my recycling?

So with the Smart Bank outside full to overflowing, not emptied this week and full of orange bags, building materials & food rubbish where am I to put my recycling?

This bin is supposed to be for the use of all of us in this block.

I repeat again that it seems ok for council tenants to live in the midst of a rubbish tip, yes the council know about this and are impotent. They boast of "recycling made easier" on their website, for whom? those with orange bags of course.

This happens when the bin is left open. I asked 9 months ago for a key when this happens so I could place my rubbish in the bin. I sent a reminder a month ago. After being promised a key hey guess what? yes you are right! Still waiting.

External Works .... sorry but we missed ...

Those of you who have balcony's will have been asked to clear them so they can be "overhauled". We have a problem with the "down pipe" that comes from the roof through all the balcony's from the roof, in that is leaks. Apparently it also leaks on other balcony's as well.

When were asked the builders if they were going to fix this before laying the new flooring for the balcony. I was told that not only was this a common problem but that maintenance of the "down pipe's" was not included in the schedule of external repairs to be undertaken. In fact I believe that the council and builders are having to discuss the cost of this necessary work.

So new balcony floors are laid only to be spoilt by leaking down pipes!

Given the lack of up to date information given to council tenants on what is happening with this already overdue project. It is clear that our council is ill prepared to manage such huge undertakings a major infrastructure projects.

I cannot understand why such a key element as drainage was missed from the schedule of external works.