What I have noticed from Decent Homes.

Over the last few months, talking to those I know on the estate. The main criticism of the Decent Homes project has been the confusion or lack of communication between the contractor & residents.

Plans seem to have been poorly drafted. Residents undertstood they would be consulted about what was going to happen in their homes. However once the builders are in. Some cases have left many angry that the works have left them with less storage space, no proper showers, external vents have been left exposed for pigeons to roost in.

One resident battled with the contractors to retain some tiles they had already installed and wanted to keep. Thankfully they won out. However this was not without the stress of fighting for it.

Yes this work will create stress and frustration as is the nature of the works. The council seems to sit back and let the contractor deal with the residents. Both unfair on these parties.

It was the council that made the caveat with residents that they would be involved in the decisons concerning their homes. For they are at the end of the day - peoples homes.

So many have told me that they will have to buy in time new kitchen cabinets as those supplied are too small. Replacing existing cupboard space with considerably less.

Would it have been cheaper for the council not to have provided cupboards and had a grant system where tenants could have gone and purchased the cabinets they need for their space requirements?

I also wonder about the elusive representative we have on the Decent Homes board. Supposedly representing tenants.

This is a large capital program and yes the works are needed but I cannot help but wonder about the amount of waste, financially, in the delivery.

Scaffolding going up - no notice given & no one knows why?

So scaffolding is going up outside our building. Thank you to the council for letting us residents know. Of course they have not.

The erection of scaffolding is a problem for resdients in that it can effect any insurance you have for the contents of your flat. If you have a break in and the insurance company do not know in advance they may not pay out it may void your policy. So I guess the council are accepting full and all liability in respect of this for any loss a resident suffers.

So I called the Decent Homes contractor, H&F Homes South who told me to speak to the Repairs Department, who told me to call H&F Homes again and ask for the Technical Department. I did ask to speak to our housing officer whoever that is at the moment and was told they wouldn't know about it anyway. The Technical Department are in a meeting. So 4 phone calls so far. I eagerly await to see if they know anything.

I would have thought our housing officer would have knowledge of major works including the erection of scaffolding. You know as it is the estate they are supposed to deal with.

So no communitcation internally and externally to us the residents.

I though "putting residents first" was the new ethos. Clearly it has yet to get off the ground.

Service Charges for Council Tenants.

Service charges for council tenants has been an issue that I have been trying to gain some clarity on for some time. Reading the last Audit Commissions report it recommends Service Charges for Tenants. It also mentioned that H&F council had been in discussion on this matter. See the previous blog entry for the report.

I submitted this question to the last council meeting -

"Question to: The Leader of the Council.

Further to my question of 27 February 2008-

QUESTION

“Does the current administration propose, during the course of its current term in office to make an additional charge to council tenants, in addition to rent, for the provision of Estate Maintenance and up keep? If so, when?”

RESPONSE:

There have been no proposals put to my Administration either by Hammersmith &
Fulham Homes or by Council Officers recommending separate service charging for
services provided to Council tenants although of course council leaseholders are already separately service charged for a range of housing and estate management services.

Current issue arising.

I note that the Audit Commission’s report of June 2007 for Hammersmith & Fulham ALMO states -
“
108 Service charges have not been introduced for tenants. Charges for communally provided services such as grounds maintenance have not been de-pooled and applied as a separate service charge. HFH and the Council have agreed a way forward for the introduction of service charges but will only do this when efficiencies are achieved in key service areas. “

So my questions are –

Why was I misled with the previous response? Given that the report is the subject of consultation with the council over a period of time.

Within what time frame do the council propose to introduce this charge?

Will rent lower as a result of the service charge being “split out” or “de-pooled”?

What is the “way forward agreed by HFH Homes & the council for the introduction of this charge”, that is what is the plan?"

The response is above.

You can make you own mind up about when service charges will be forthcomming.

Cllr Ivimy

Though there was a motion at the last council meeting calling for the resignation of Cllr Ivimy following her comments.

This didn't succeed and the current administration saved her.

Personally I feel that having made the comments the only decent thing she could have done was to resign her seat.

I have not heard nor found from hunting around the Internet any comments from Shaun Bailey on her position. He must fear that this issue will come back to haunt him in the future.

Hammersmith & Fulham Homes- 1 Star - June 2008 Audit commission report.

Well H&F Homes score 1 star again in the Audit Commission Report of 12th June 2008.

You can see the report by Clicking here.

What is of concern, and I have yet to read the report thoroughly is the recommendation on Page 11 R3 is "introducing service charges for tenants".

Also of note is that the service fails to make buildings accessible for disabled "customers" and the service doesn't meet the Commission for Racial Equality code of practice.

Tory councillor 'sorry' she blamed Indians for litter thrown out of the windows

Thanks to Stephen Cowan for this.

You can see the story at "Tory councillor 'sorry' she blamed Indians for litter thrown out of the windows" on the Daily Mail web site.

You must draw your own conclusions on this story. Personally I find it's overtones racist and would be concerned at future decisions she is involved in and more particulary the motivation. I don't care about the political affiliation she has. I do think however that any party should be very hard on any elected member who is this foolish.

If this were a council employee I am sure they would have been subject to a disciplinary process possibly loosing their job.

Maybe I should ask her to deal with the rubbish that is dumped in our estate and more often than not by private residents from the gated estate and surrounding large houses, mainly orange bags, because our homes are less important.

Maybe she would have more effect than our local housing office with the trees that over hang from the gardens from the gated estate, that drop leaves and sap on our parked cars. They have been told to cut them back but they feel they can just ignore the council.

I wonder why white middle class private residents are allowed a permanent amnesty from tidying up thier litter. You will have to draw your own conlusions on this.

Looking at the part of Fulham in which I reside. I have noticed the signs about fines for littering have gone up but the number of street side bins has decreased.

Its been a while and our Decent Homes is complete ..

Well the nightmare, that was just a kitchen to be done under the Decent Homes Project is all but done.

The workmen we dealt with, those actually doing the work, were pleasant & helpful. Pat their supervisor has been great and a pleasure to deal with. Bringing common sense to into the equation.

The Relationship Managers were also good to deal with.

We did have an issue with one person and this is from where most of our problems eminated. Oir plan done many months ago (last year in fact) and following an agreement from Balfour that it would be redone for all tenants (they forgot us). Was wrong as it hadn't factored in the fact the space would be smaller given conduits & pipes.

I thought having thoroughly agreed and understood all that was going to happen well in advance of the project would have left us with an easy time of it. Clearly wrong.

This such a shame as our bathroom, done last year was such a success.

Hope yours goes well.