A day of surprises
Received a surprise letter today confirming my appointment as an associate Director on the Homes for Islington (HFI) Performance Management Committee on behalf of Partners.It's all about performance, best practice and value for HFI services - serious stuff. Having been recommended for the post, went along to a meeting Monday - loads of reading - a packed agenda. Most of the other Directors and Associates I've met before so it wasn't like going into a room full of strangers.
Known to be somebody who says it as it is, calling a spade a spade - added my quota to the meeting. Seems somebody liked my approach.
Not much to actually report back to Partners - a little about PFI leaseholder issues but what made me smile was the matter of enforcing tenancy conditions with dogs as the priority. Tenants are allowed one dog, two with permission but in the past the regulations haven't been enforced with the result some residents have several and others even illegally breeding them. Two of the councillors were most vocal about the situation which is considered now getting out of hand. How they are going to implement the regulations uniform across the borough is yet to be confirmed - bureaucracy and red tape not withstanding eventually there will be an action plan.
Another issue that has resurfaced this week - the back left side boundary adjoining wall which is gradually falling apart and listing dangerously towards this property - after every rain more cracks appear - the middle section has completely separated from the two end wall sections. From next door the wall can been seen to be bending over in a kind of curve. In March 2007 suits came to inspect it then the matter went dead.
2009 one of new tenants next door is concerned as well - the company which owns that property has agreed to go halves with the cost of pulling it down and rebuilding. Now another survey appointment has been made. Was told that with so many walls in the queue it is turn by turn. Though if everything is agreed could be just 6 weeks after inspection before the work starts.
We live to see - the wall obviously dangerous something has to be done about it. I'm more concerned how they will go about it and the garden.
posted by Suz @ 9:21 pm
8 Comments:
At August 07, 2009 11:33 am,
a multiple pet owner said…
you certainly do appear to have an extraordinary interest and seem to be very knowlegable about details surrounding the ownership of dogs within partners properties suz.Whilst I wouldnt lay any claim to being an authority on the suject myself,I don't believe that there is any such thing as illegal dog breeding within the home,not sure about the laws myself but I am aware that unless people are breeding for any sinister purpose such as arranged dog fighting or simply to make money by overbreeding a bitch, litters are absolutely permitted to produced within a family envoirnment.Never having had the inclination to attempt to breed any of our own dogs (too messy and noisy!prefer to leave it to the people who know what they are doing) I really have'nt looked as closely into the matter as you obviously have but I think that you will find that most of what I have said here is fairly accurate.Regarding the subject of illegal breeding I believe you will find that the R.S.P.C.A and other similar organisations are the people who are dealing with this problem (my guess is that this is because they have just a tad more knowledge of the ins and outs of the problem than your average forum member!)Can I just conclude by telling you once again that dogs that are already living within a family and have been approved by Partners and the boroughs dog warden (as thankfully ours have on more than one occasion)will not be included in any existing or indeed new laws that may come about.this said I really do'nt think that there is much point in your "harping on" about dogs any on your blog much longer as it is all beginning to become a tiny bit boring,not sure who you are aiming this bitterness and vitriol at but I suspect that whoever they are they must be laughing up their sleeves at the efforts you seem to be cotninually making to intimidate with your scaremongering.I strongly suspect that your obvious personality disorder is worsening!P.S congratulations you are getting your wall fixed!
At August 07, 2009 12:56 pm,
Suz said…
As I responded to a previous comment in another post things are about to change.
It seems to be a hot topic at all meetings I've attend recently taking priority over other issues. I don't write the stuff or the produce the reports that's up to the senior officials - there are people far more vocal about Pets than myself - junior staff will have to follow the instructions when decisions are finalised that's the name of the game. The next issue of the Partners Gazette will have big spread about it.
Your comment about bitterness and vitriol is bullshit. I'm only commently on what happens at meetings and when the dog issue has been done to death it will be on to something else
As for illegal breed dogs - this seems to have been taken over by the Mets new enforcement team - was watching a programme on TV about it this week. Felt so sorry for the family/owners when they took the dogs away
At August 07, 2009 2:21 pm,
get a life local said…
But a real dog lover wouldnt let their pets be taken away! i for one know that i have pleanty of family members who would be more than willing to take one of my dogs in should i ever have to get rid of one of them which wont as i have already been told that my dogs are allowed to stay with me no matter what new rules are brought in! you are really trying to get at someone with these posts about dogs! but i dont think it is going to work! i have it written on paper that i am allowed to keep my 3 dogs and i hope whoever it is that you are trying to get at does too!!!
At August 07, 2009 6:12 pm,
Anonymous said…
Boundary wall ... I bet you're going to have a long wait.
It's outside the PFI contract, as you probably know, which means that this type of repair is a straight cut to profits, which means it's a long wait.
There are two boundary walls within 30 yards of where I live which are shored up by scaffolding less they collapse. They've been that way for the last year. The costs of repair alone on just one is £30,000.
The current government is pulling back on spending on housing, irrespective of what they say publicly. The next lot will simply pull the whole lot.
Is one of your neighbours on income support? Legal aid will fund a disrepair claim.
Partners will only jump when that threat is there.
At August 08, 2009 7:49 am,
Anonymous said…
being generally too busy to comment on a blog I normally just read have a little chuckle and leave it at that.In this instance though I'm curious as to what made you smile when you heard that dogs were to be discussed at said meeting,when all's said and done such issues can be a serious thing would'nt have thought there would be anything to smile about here.
At August 08, 2009 9:19 am,
Suz said…
To anonymous about walls
The issue of property boundary walls is just being looked into by the Residents Forum. Have been told to expect an article in the next edition of Partners Gazette. There is a variance in the specs for PFI1 & PFI2 which many residents are not aware of.
In PFI1 the walls are included in the contract but in PFI2 is the responsibility of HFI via Partners
Stats as to how many walls have been or are in the process of being repaired in both PFI's will be collated.
The two walls you are referring to - are they PFI1 or 2 properties? If you email me the addresses (address link top right of my blog) I will look into it - be assured you will get some positive feedback. If as you claim they have been left with scaffolding support for so long there has to be a reason. After all there is a running cost element in keeping the scaffolding in place. Usually it is a case of who contributes to the cost of the repairs. If leaseholders live in the property it becomes complicated.
As to the boundary wall in this property - something will be done!!!
Your comment about income support - don't think it applies to any of the residents in these properties - need to know more it - could be useful in helping others - the forum handles many residents problems.
To anonymous about my smiling.
All meetings are serious doesn't mean one can't smile. To have the issue of dogs continually on the Parners residents forum agenda is one thing but to go a HFI meeting to find the same topic listed I just found it amusing specially as so many high profile directors were most vocal about the issue insisting something has to be done quickly. Can expect the same topic will continue at meetings until firm action is implemented.
At August 08, 2009 2:52 pm,
Anonymous said…
Suz,
I was anonymous - that's Mike, on the violent persons register.
The address of one is 41/42 Milner Square. It comes under PFI 1.
I think you'll find that under PFI 1, retaining walls - or walls extraneous to the main structure, such as retaining walls to gardens on basements - are out of the contract and therefore to be separately negotiated. It would be odd if you had information that was anything different since I have been through the issue in some detail with the leasehold manager, Claire Thorogood.
The involvement of leaseholders complicate the remedy but not overly so.
A big advantage for leaseholders is that they can choose to nominate their own contractor which takes them out of the Partners' monopoly contract. They cut their potential bills by 50% at a stroke.
(I'll send you a picture of the structure if you like)
At August 09, 2009 8:51 am,
Anonymous said…
BULLSHIT? Suz you really should show a little DIGNITY when trying so hard to hold on to your CREDIBILITY.If you continue to express yourself in this way readers will begin to think that you have become one of the (much maligned by you}"Common and Gobby Brigade"
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