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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 18 April 2008

Quitting: Chris Clark, co-opted associate director of Homes for Islington

Housing boss: ‘I’ve had enough’

Volunteer claims promises of improvements to curb anti-social behaviour were broken

A LEADING volunteer has resigned from Islington’s council housing organisation in protest at the “anarchic and cavalier” system of improvements to combat anti-social behaviour on estates.
Chris Clark, 51, has quit as co-opted associate director of Homes for Islington – the housing agency of Islington Council – after what he claims were four “frustrating” years.
He estimates he has done 2,000 hours of unpaid work since 2005 with very little to show in terms of all-round improvements for tenants.
Mr Clark, from Gulland Walk, Canonbury, has also resigned as delegate to the area housing panel and chairman of his own Marquess estate’s tenants and residents association.
He explained that he was particularly unhappy about the lack of investment on the Marquess estate in Canonbury, one of the most deprived areas in the borough.
Mr Clark, who is disabled, will be making a complaint to the Audit Commission. He added: “We put projects forward to improve security on the Marquess but nothing ever came of them.”
He said that two security gates and a fence were promised to quell the tide of anti-social behaviour, but were never installed.
“The security gates were voted for unanimously in January 2007,” he added. “I know it’s the same on other estates. And when they do carry out projects they are always overpriced and the officers never take any notice of our views.”
He has asked for external investigation into the “anarchic and cavalier” way a Tenants Compact fund – which provides £1.5 million for new work on estates – is distributed by the area housing panel.
Copies of his resignation letter have been sent to HfI chief executive Eamon McGoldrick, Lib Dem council leader Councillor James Kempton, Federation of Islington Tenants Associations chairman Brian Potter and Islington Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry.
Eamon McGoldrick chief executive with Homes for Islington, said he was sorry that Mr Clark had decided to resign from his positions.
He added: “As far as funds are concerned all tenant resident groups can make submission for grants for environmental improvements on estates – but it is individual area housing panels which actually make the decisions on where the money is spent.
“Although Mr Clark submitted his proposals they have not been successful. That is not an HfI decision, it is the individual panel’s decision to decide what the priorities are.
“I can understand Mr Clark being a bit uncomfortable with the process but it is democratic system,” he said.

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