Pendle Council Housing going to Housing Assoc!!

[Mitch]

Hey up, we're about to get Calico'ed in Pendle. Urr might I suggest that the BRIBE from central government is pretty clear below in Nelson Leader Article.

What I want to know from the Burnley experience, if there are any Calico tenants out there - just how much has your rent increased since your property was transferred from Burnley Borough Council to Burnley & Padiham Community Housing/now business oriented Calico/with it's property shops and homes 4 u services

"Housing transfer has major benefits

Council tenants will have final say but ... ALL of the 3,500 council houses in Pendle could be transferred to a new housing association under plans announced this week – but tenants will make the final decision.

If the changes go ahead, the council will get all of its housing debts paid off by the Government, there will be a one-off grant of up to £15 million, and housing funding could reach £45 million over the next five years.
But if tenants say no, and opt to stay with the council, officials have warned that their houses could slip into further disrepair, with only £10 million to spend over five years, and no extra cash from the Government.
Pendle Council's Executive Director (services) Mr John Kirk said: "The playing field is not just sloping, it's almost like the North face of the Eiger. All the benefits are for transfer and there are potential penalties for staying with the council." Newsletters have gone out to all Pendle's council tenants, and they will be balloted by postal vote next year. If they vote for the transfer they will get:
l A new, local, not-for-profit housing association, provisionally called Housing Pendle, which will collect rent and carry out repair and improvement work. Employees currently in the council's housing department will be automatically transferred to the new company.
l A management board running Housing Pendle, made up of one third tenants, one third councillors and one third independent experts, regulated by the government's Housing Corporation.
l Repair and improvement of homes to a standard tenants want, with more say in how their homes are run, although all their present rights, including right-to-buy, will be protected. Housing Transfer manager Mr Patrick Collins said: "In the future the council will be unable to maintain the homes, certainly not to the standard people are looking for."
Although councillors and tenants said that they felt the government was trying to force them to take the new scheme, and there were concerns that rents could rise by a few pounds per week, they were happy overall with the plans.
Mrs Catherine Capstick, of Mansfield Crescent, Brierfield, said: "I would be more than willing to pay an extra £10 a week for a nice kitchen or bathroom and for the house to be maintained nicely."
If the tenants vote for the new proposals, the transfer is set to go ahead late next year.
Officials said that the plans were in no way akin to privatisation of the housing market, and that tenants should beware of bogus information and rumours about them."
19 August 2005
Nelson Leader

[michele cryer]

A sort of Catch-22 situation for us council residents, eh Mitch?

[Mr Pendle]

Quote....

Officials said that the plans were in no way akin to privatisation of the housing market, and that tenants should beware of bogus information and rumours about them."

Mr Pendle (non-official) says...
During its 'Stock Option Appraisal', Pendle Council only managed to engage with 19% of it's tenants (hardly a majority).

In anticipation of its transfer. Pendle Council also formed its own working group called 'the Stock Options Working Group' to oversee the evaluation.

Well well, if the transfer of stock is not privatisation then what is it??
Let's see..

• Firstly, the chosen company (called an Arms Length Management Organsisation), is nominated (proposed and selected) by the council.
  
• Secondly, the stock is then transferred to a registered social landlord (lets hope he is social or he'll be out on his arse).
  
• And FINALLY,,, wait for it...
  A 'Private Finance Initiative' will be used to secure additional funding for the service.
  

Is it just coincidence or does ALMO rhyme with CALICO?

Where's the Money coming from?

An interesting question on my mind is "aren't local councils actually governed by central Government"?

In this case I'm not convinced. I'm always wary, especially when the word 'funding' is used to describe a large amount of 'forecast' monies over a period of time.

Have these 19% of tennants complained that their properties are sub-standard? Are government imposing a 'decent homes standard' on tennants in the sake of a more sinister outcome?

Government have guaranteed the transfer will have taken place by 2010, the Councils cannot gurantee to reach such a decent homes standard by then.

Offloading the burden
The major concerns for any Council tennant is WHY are these changes taking place, and HOW will they affect me or my family?

Read for yourself...
www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/downloadable/odpm_house_031711.pdf


What do you think?

I'm interested in what readers think on this issue.

• Why does Central government think local councils can't meet the decent homes criteria by 2010?
  
• Where is the money coming from to 'fund' the project, and wouldn't this money be better spent elsewhere?
  

On its website, Pendle Council make several claims that the transfer will be 'Value for money'. Two words I hate to see together since they rarely stand up to their proposal. Here's the link...
www.pendle.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=16&pageNumber=1

It seems that Pendle Borough Council have yet again set aside labour and resources in ready for the transfer, even though the ultimate decision will be by the tennants. I suppose it gives the beurocrats down the Town Hall something to occupy their minds, even though that 'revenue' will be wasted if the tennants refuse to go ahead with the transfer.

People through history have seen to be are opposed to change. Change is sometimes seen as a threat to their normal social existance and the fear of the train going off the tracks is always there.

It's the outcome of this 'change' that cannot be predicted yet only envisaged. It's unlikely that all tennants will weigh up the pro's and con's of a system such complex that possibly the tennant will assume a lethargy and submissive stance that allows the change to take place.

Tennants Associations need to be on the ball here, questions need answering. Local Council monkey do what central government monkey suggests since in the long-term its 'value for money'...

or is it?

let me know what you think....

[Michele]

Hi again Mr Pendle, and thanks for this extensive post, with such good links too...

It saddens me to be a Council House Tenant at this time...I'm against any sort of Privatisation of housing stock, to the point that I vehemently disagree with tenants buying their own Council Houses...therefore, I feel hurt that our council has taken the steps that it has in order to secure the transfer of its Council Properties.

I feel as if they have used emotional blackmail and presented tenants with a Catch 22 situation, either you relinquish your values and accept privatisation of council houses and therefore have your housing brought up to standard, or let them rot! Not much there to persuade anybody to disagree with transferring the stock is there?

I must admit that I have just thrown away any paperwork that the council has sent me regarding the above, as I felt it was a foregone conclusion that the houses would eventually be sold off, regardless of how many votes are put to the tenants...pessimistic I know, but I have enough to worry about in my life without adding to it with something which I feel is inevitable.

Some may ask why I don't move out of my council property, if I feel so strongly about this...unfortunately I am on Benefits...Income Support, and therefore do not have the cash to purchase a property of my own...

Never mind...life goes on...

[michele cryer]

Ooops...seems I'm a guest poster today...thought I was automatically logged on! Technology I say!!!

[Mr Pendle]

Michele said:

I must admit that I have just thrown away any paperwork that the council has sent me regarding the above, as I felt it was a foregone conclusion that the houses would eventually be sold off, regardless of how many votes are put to the tenants...pessimistic I know, but I have enough to worry about in my life without adding to it with something which I feel is inevitable.

Thanks for that Michele, it's only a foregone conclusion when the Council have a majority balloted decision from tennants and... ...

• Transfer cannot go ahead if the majority of tenants are opposed to it.

If the decision is indecisive, then the Council will ballot tennants again to get an overall decision.

It seems to me that the Council have not received the response they wanted from tennants and it's likely many tennants have thrown away the ballot papers or not received them.

Currently, the Government caps the amount councils can spend on services (services used by Councils such as modernising council properties). Also, at the moment part of the rent paid by tennants is used to pay for housing benefit, so not all the money is available to bring homes up to the so called 'decent homes standard'.

The following document (see link below) shows tennants rights under the existing system and under the new proposed system. Let me know what you think after reading this document.

www.pendle.gov.uk/downloads/Stock_Transfer_-_What_it_Actually_Means.pdf

[Mitch]

Hi Mr Pendle & Michele,

Hope you don't mind me butting into this really interesting discussion - it set me to thinking about so many things so couldn't help myself.

Anywise, I agree with you Mr Pendle - this central government deadline for 2010 to reach what they have called 'Decent Homes Standard' is deliberate pushing of local government into a corner to 'contract out' all housing into private hands - they've no choice as they won't have the funds to reach those standards.

Jeez, looking at this newsletter up on Pendle Borough Council's website here, that was delivered to many Pendle homes recently:

www.pendle.gov.uk/downloads/Pendle_TNL1_-_for_website.pdf

the crass way they are trying to portray the transfer as the only way to go for tenants is pathetic. They haven't managed to get any really positive comments from the two tenants on the front page though!

Putting housing into private company hands is a disaster. I spent some time as a temporary admin person at Burnley & Padiham Community Housing (now a limited company Calico! - http://www.calicohousing.co.uk) in 2000, when they had just taking over Burnley council houses. The tactics were the same by Burnley Borough Council for transfer -making numerous promises about improvements resulting from transfer. What I'd be interested to know is what Burnley tenants think now, five years on about these promises? When they first started Burnley & Padiham Community Housing had many more tenants on their board, now as Calico they only have two representatives from Residents Associations out of 10 board members. The majority appear to be councillors and finance types/some even have worked for BPCH in the past. The first thing BPCH did was downsize the workforce in housing when they took over!

Hyndburn tenants have just voted for transfer of their housing into private hands!

From your list changes Mr Pendle when housing goes into private hands - I can't see any benefit from transfer to private hands - rather longterm disaster. Fancy billing it as a positive that private companies are allowed to borrow tons of money for improvements from banks/building societies - which they'll recoup in rents. But what if tenants in the future struggle to pay rents - then they'll do what they been doing with a vengence in Rossendale - get heavy handed and imploy unscrupulous rent collection companies using bully boy tactics to collect rents off tenants who may be sick or suffering mental health issues. Mental health is a massive issue in Nelson. Also, they'll rocket the rents up in the future, there can be no doubt about it.

Sorry again to butt in, but very much looking forward to further comments from yourself Mr Pendle and Michele on this, and what we can do about it.

best wishes. Mitch

[michele cryer]

Hiya Mitch, and Mr Pendle...thanks for your speedy replies to my moans and groans last night...fraid this whole issue brings me down so much!!

Well, as you both point out, the local council is trying to make the transfer of housing stock appear such an attractive deal that you would be foolish to reject it...also, thanks for pointing out the little bit about the current rents funding Housing Benefit...I'm sure some of our more right wing council house tenants would favour THAT no longer being the case...mind you, I wonder just how many of the remaining council tenants are like myself and still in receipt of housing benefit?

I think I ought to now be more assertive in my stance against the transfer of the housing stock and not be blinded by the Pendle Borough Council BULLSHIT!! Thanks for opening up my eyes...

You know, this may seem harsh, but I recall being told that council housing was developed for less privileged (note to self, look that damned word up in the dictionary for the correct spelling!! LOL) families, in order for them to have decent accommodation, and so, often, the beast (stalinist?) inside me reflects on how we should make the rules for who lives in them more strict...but then my lovely, reasonable, diplomatic Libran spirit returns and says..'No! you can't force people out of their homes!'...I just wish we didn't make it so easy for people to purchase them...

[Mitch]

Perhaps after defyID public meeting, we could look at seeing if residents round our area Michele are interested in challenging Pendle Council on the transfer.

We could do a leaflet door to door round our way, and perhaps organise another public meeting? Pendle Council has certainly had very little response from local residents so far from there attempts to misrepresent the transfer as something all positive. Anywise, one for the future maybe.

tara Mitch

[michele cryer]

Sounds like a good idea Mitch...I've received an invitation to a Coffee/Cake/chat and Presentation meeting, this Friday, 21st October, at 4.30pm, Railway St. Community Centre, to meet the Housing Transfer Team...

Suppose I'd better show up, and see what they're trying to 'sell' us!!

[Mitch]

And defo go for free cake and coffee!! (get us a piece a cake will yous!) ;D

It'll be interesting dude - you'll probs find out quite a lot. If you feel upto it - well worth going I'd say. Kaz might be up for free cake too!!! ;D

But you do loads - so see hows you feel.

tara Mitchelline xx

[michele cryer]

Hiya Mitch...yeah, I'm definitely up to trying it out...Kaz might not be able to cos of having her kids with her, but said that might be an excuse to wind them up more!!

Just wonder if I could really fend off any of their arguments in favour of the xfer, if I was alone...I need to print off some of the stuff from this thread I feel...arm myself!!!

[Mitch]

Hey up, this is what residents at Middlesbrough had to say in their campaign - I found their site really informative:
www.homeregeneration.com

THE DISASTER PLAN – A RESPONSE


This plan will rip the heart out of the centre of Middlesbrough. Where in the plan is there a mention of affordable houses to replace lost homes?

What part of this is in common with sustainable communities? Most people in my street have lived there for at least 20 years!

I suspect that all along there has been a hidden agenda.

Look to the streets to be pulled down and those that will survive and you can clearly make out the real intention:

Access roads to a new shopping area that will extend the length Linthorpe Rd.

The streets immediately behind, the new walking st of Linthorpe Rd , will be demolished to make way for deliver vehicle access:Amber, Pelham and Tennyson Streets.

Portman and Pearl will have to go to make way for car parks.

Perhaps even more unfortunate Falkland, Finsbury and Kingston removed from the landscape to make way for approach roads.

What is this to do with ‘putting people first’? Certainly a few power brokers and their associates have put themselves FIRST.

40 streets – thousands of homes and families – the community – BETRAYED!!!

We the residents will fight on.
Also there's loads on that link 'fight for homes' that woodbine gave us on the other thread, with links to other campaigns - well worth a good read of that.

Apart from anything else, I'd got to meet other residents, have a natter and see how they feel about it all. Perhaps Bob will be there??

catch ya later. Mitch x

[michele cryer]

Hiya Mitch, unfortunately I never made it to this important meeting...I was up to me eyeballs in emails and visitors and phone calls...planning meetings, sending out agendas and just generally igniting into what could easily have become a major eruption!!! So I forgot all about it, till my last email was finished at 18.30pm.

Never mind...I'm sure there'll be other opportunities to meet and vocalise...

Btw, Karen had a caller at her house the other morning...a chap doing a 'general survey' about Pendle, and the amenities, the areas in which individuals live and their experiences of neighbourhood nuisances etc...I was earwigging in the other room, and had to snigger at one or two of the questions he posed, and at how Karen had to make up answers on the spot!

Pity she didn't find out which organisation he was working for...