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Homes sell-off compromises campaign for central funding
• IT is now quite clear from looking at various reports that Camden Council intends pushing ahead with the sale of yet more street properties in order to fund its Investing in Camden’s Homes programme.
Tenants living in these properties have always made their views known on the issue of stock transfer and selling off properties. Camden does not have a clear mandate to push ahead with the sale of these properties.
This view was again put forward by Camden Association of Street Properties during a deputation to Camden’s executive on July 23 but unfortunately to no avail.
Has Camden calculated the cost of keeping yet more families in temporary and bed and breakfast accommodation while they wait, some for years, to be offered a permanent family home? It could be quite sensibly argued that such funds might be used to refurbish some of the homes Camden seems only too eager to sell.
The new administration, like previous administrations, has been constrained by a ridiculous central government policy. However, Camden Council by the decisions it has taken (selling vital housing stock) has opted to place itself and its tenants in a position of compromise rather than actively lobbying central government in a united fashion to secure vital funding for our homes.
The association, as well as other tenants, also wrote to newly-elected London Mayor Boris Johnson asking him to explore the possibility of funding promised by the previous mayoral administration being used for work on homes in Camden. Despite assurances from the council that the option would be “aggressively” pursued, tenants still wait to hear the formal outcome of these discussions.
The association believes the genuine will to get these various processes moving has just not been in place.
While it is admirable to continue a healthy debate in the letters pages, might we now suggest that a meeting should be held with Councillor Chris Naylor, executive member for housing, interested councillors and tenants in order to take this process forward. We need to act now.
Nothing will be achieved unless some sort of constructive dialogue commences, a dialogue involving councillors and tenants, and with no time to waste.
DAVID RODGERS
Chair, Camden Association of Street Properties
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