Sunday, October 11, 2009

Housing Matters 11 October 2009

Click on link here to view The Guardian Video posted by its ace London blogger Dave Hill on Tory Housing policy in Hammersmith & Fulham. I personally don’t have a problem with believing that nearly all Tories genuinely think they are doing the right (pardon the pun) thing in housing policy. But what they are doing in practice in Hammersmith & Fulham is the wrong thing, for the wrong reasons and will result in the worse possible outcome. Which I think this video makes clear in a non-partisan way.

Inside Housing reports here that “Quiet Man” Iain Duncan Smith MP former leader of the Conservatives has been appointed by David Cameron as a key figure in any future Tory government social policy programme. Iain of course is head of the Centre for Social Justice which brought out a report in favour of tenancies for work and ending lifelong security of tenure for tenants.

The Fed (National Housing Federation – the corporate Housing Association’s trade union) attack here the plans announced by Conservative Shadow housing minister at conference to introduce a right to move, end new build targets and green grants. I guess the Fed think these are just headline seeking gimmicks not thought out sustainable policies.

Aftermath of Camberwell Larkanal Fire (6 dead) – Inside Housing report that in the 3 months before the fire Southwark council carried out 54 Fire risk assessments (FRA) of its tower blocks but in the 2 weeks after the fire they carried out 120! The point missing is that there should have been suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessments in place for all of the blocks (200 odd). The Fire Brigade have already issued notices against the Council for failing to carry out FRA in a number of blocks.

I am also willing to make a somewhat educated guess that at the time of the fire there was no suitable or sufficient risk assessments in place (maybe on a office shelf) for any Southwark Council Housing staff (nor any of their contractors) from the risk of fire while they are at work in these blocks. H&SAW Act 1974/MHASAWR 1999 et al.

John's Iron Law about all Housing Organisations: If they don't look after the safety of the staff then they won't either be any good at looking after the safety of their residents.

(this is my weekly round up of Public housing news - let me know if I miss anything)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmmm and wasn't it Yvette Cooper and Ruth Kelly who said they were proactively looking at ending life tenancies too????

John Gray said...

Hi Anon

I don't think so - Wrong women -Caroline Flynn was supposed to be "thinking" about it but I don't think she said anything while as minister.Parts of the CIOH policy wonks were thought to be trying to set this agenda but kicking grannies out of their homes has never been a likely Labour Policy. IMO.