Serco Now dumping outside our block & they collect the refuse

As you may know I have had many issues over recycling but specifically the fly tipping of Orange bags as well as other rubbish outside out block.

I am waiting now for the council to properly provide this service to estate residents before I return to recycling.

I stopped because some month ago Serco the councils refuse collection service removed two black bags of mine from the bin and left them outside. The caretaker called as he was surprised they were from me. But there was a third bag from another resident. An investigation by the competent recycling team concluded that Serco will not take black bags.

I had asked for a key for the recycling bin to place my bags in it as the 'slot' is ok if you only recycle pizza boxes. The bin was replace. But a YEAR on and several emails and promises and I have yet to see a key.

Now it seems that Secro are dumping there own rubbish outside the block. Ironically, though you can see the green bags marked "SERCO". When they emptied the bins both domestic and recycling waste - THEY LEFT THERE OWN BAGS - BEEN THERE 2 WEEKS NOW!!!!!

You draw your own conclusions but clearly the message I get is that the council is no longer interested in recycling for council estate residents - just everybody else.

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

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.

Estate visits and notice boards.

Did you know that the estate visits are still ongoing?

Did you know we have a new estate officer?

Have you noticed the new extremely large notice boards placed at the entrance of every block?

In the spirit of ongoing better communication between H&F Homes and the residents. The information on Estate Visits has been removed from buildings several months ago.

The notice boards contain no information on anything. How much did these cost? As they are not being used is this not a waste of money?

Yes we have a new Estate Officer, second one in as many months.

The only reason I found out Estate Visits were still continuing is I happened accross a group of people looking at the estate buildings and asked.

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.

4 stars for Council but still 3 stars for housing..

The Audit commission reported today on the Performance of Councils. Hammersmith & Fulham scored 4 out of 4 overall this year.

However, for the third year running. The performance of Housing has been 3 out 4.

Many of the Performance Indicators are "Between Thresholds" with "Urgent repairs in time" & "Satisfaction of local authority tenants with overall service of landlord by All tenants" reported at being "below the lower threshold".

A case of the "devil is in the detail".

Chief Executive of H&F Homes resigns

There have been reports. In the press and on the websites Inside Housing and Cllr. Stephen Cowan's blog. That the Audit Commission. Has given the housing department of the council a very bad review.

Prompting the resignation "by mutual consent" of the Chief Executive of H&F Homes.

We are supposed to be represented on the H&F Board

We are supposed to be represented by a tenant from our area on the Board of H&F Homes.

I believe our representative is one Janet Gaston. No doubt she does a good job.

But surely the whole point of having representation. Is that you can raise concerns/issues with your representative.

However there is no way to get hold of her via email and her address is not published.

So please leave a comment if like me you feel unrepresented as a tenant.