From - www.telfordcouncilwatch.org.uk
The Wind of Change
Social Housing is on the agenda as a priority, but it has taken two years of pushing to do it.
Numerous letters, emails and discussions with Members of Parliament and Councillors, most of which were ignored, even by the Councillor responsible for housing and is or was listed as a Director of the WHT.
It has to be said the Wrekin Housing Trust certainly snapped up a bargain when they bought approximately 13,000 houses from Telford and Wrekin Council, they then employed a strategy of selling stock at an alarming rate and now hold a stock of approximately 10,000.
Whilst the Wrekin Housing Trust continue to sell, which adds to the housing burden, they have to be questioned and made to answer as to why they sell so many so often and why do they build out of the borough. It is suggested that they are now investing in news builds within the area of the potteries.
Hardly fair to the residents of Telford and Wrekin is it?
The following link highlights a residents struggle, unfortunately, this kind of story is becoming accepted as the rule, rather than the exception,
As identified in the Shropshire Star of 3rd September 2008 the waiting list has almost doubled. Here the Wrekin Housing Trust are playing a game of smoke and mirrors, blaming the increase on rising house prices, failing to mention the policy to sell, if a property requires £8000 or more work to be carried out on it. The WHT need to accept that their sales policy plays a great part in the increased housing need.
In order for the WHT to provide the best for the residents, there has to be a need for all to buy into the idea, here is a piece from an internal email of the WHT, sent from a Director of the Trust to a staff member, I was copied in
“Thanks xxxx, nice reply.
Not sure if Debbie mentioned to you but I have been contacted by the telford council watch group. I am going to do a reply later today and will copy you in. It will have to be very non committal”
Here is a clear indication of the Trust Director, giving praise on what was a “fob off” displaying the secretive institutionalised attitude they have.
Residents have many genuine concerns that need addressing as a matter of urgency and a policy of honesty from ALL Social Landlords needs to be endorsed.
I do have a question for Nathan Rous who wrote a piece about Campaign Groups and how he would support a Campaign group about Campaign Groups.
This is one Campaign Group that played a part in kick starting the Sutton Hill Regeneration, the Housing Summit, would you now come forward and say, they can work when done correctly?
Below is the email that prompted a response from MP David Wright, ultimately leading to the Housing Summit.
After having given MP David Wright a hard time on a number of occasions, I will now publicly praise him for his approach to myself, the time he afforded myself and the way in which he handling this.
I personally believe it took a real man to do what he did and I will say to everyone that he was extremely positive about pushing this forward and has already made considerable in roads with regards the Housing Summit.
Whilst this could’ve been done sometime ago, maybe it’s fortunate it didn’t as housing is right at the top of the government’s agenda.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said about MP Mark Pritchard, who does not respond to his Constituency, but it must be hard when your visiting McCain and the Dalai Lama.
Below is a copy of the email sent out to many including MP Mark Pritchard, MP Caroline Flint and a number of borough Councillors.
Housing Summit
As you will be aware, the last 18 months or so have seen the Social Housing waiting list in the Borough of Telford and Wrekin increase from 5000 to 11,000.
As you know, the issue of Social Housing is somewhat complexed and with a growing population the future housing needs are only going to increase.
The issues facing the Borough of Telford and Wrekin and the need for Social Housing are further compounded by issues such
* An ageing population
* Increased needs by young people aged 16 to 25 years
* The Sales of current housing stock
* Housing not being replaced after sales are completed
* A growing population linked with the dash for City Status
* An unfair Choice on Choose Your Home ie – All houses available in the all bands section are allocated to those in the Urgent band thus negating the need for this banding.
And many more issues besides.
Having assisted a number of residents gain a home of their own or even simply emergency accommodation, I am alarmed at the clear discrimination faced by those residents who are disabled and find themselves a victim of Disability Discrimination through no fault of their own, but more because they were honest and declared a disability in the belief they would be treated fairly.
An able bodied resident can apply for up to three house per week therefore have a opportunity to apply for 150 houses annually. When compared to that of a disabled resident the discrimination becomes clear as their annual choice is restricted to about six per annum. Although they can apply, they will not receive equal consideration because of their disability.
The argument for this policy seems to revolve around the issue of adaptions. The needed adaptions for many disabled residents could be easily catered for as they are aids that can be easily transferred from one property to another without any cost to the Social Housing Landlord.
Other issues further compound the problems as residents can be injected into the housing waiting list from outside agencies, giving the impression of queue jumping, therefore it is not uncommon to find a single person in for example a three bed property or a partially adapted house, suitable for disabled residents being allocated to able bodied residents.
The social housing waiting list consists of a wide range of residents going back as long as 1992, by any standards, this is not acceptable.
Whilst the whole issue is complex, what I do firmly believe is “doing nothing” is no longer an option. It is not about now, next week or even next year, It is about our children, grandchildren and beyond.
It only takes an adverse twist of fate and anyone of us could find ourselves on the street and in the need of Social Housing.
As the moves towards a Housing Summit appear to have come to grinding halt, myself and other residents are going to arrange a Housing Summit and will forward invitations forward to yourselves accordingly.
I respectfully ask that you put your weight behind it, raise the genuine concerns of residents, put politics to one side and start the wheels of motion towards constructive change which an extremely important Social Issue effecting many in our communities.
I will arrange a venue, an agenda, invitations and a warm welcome. I hope you will take part.
The wind of change is blowing gently in favour of the resident, I for one intend to turn it into a full scale hurricane.
www.tefordcouncilwatch.org.uk
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