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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 13 February 2009

Dr Brian Potter

Closure looms for ‘thorn in the side’ tenants’ group

Loss of independence will leave ‘fox to look after chickens’

A CONTROVERSIAL bid will be made on Monday to scrap Islington’s independent campaigning tenants’ organisation after almost 30 years.
Homes for Islington (HfI) – the borough’s housing agency – will recommend to its board that the Federation of Islington Tenants’ Associations (FITA) should be “absorbed” within its own organisation.
Three full-time jobs will go and, with the closure of an office, HfI says it will save up to £100,000 annually.
Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn has criticised this “disturbing” decision to “de-recognise” FITA. He said it was essential that tenants and residents had an independent voice.
Leading Holloway tenants’ organiser Thomas Cooper likened the move to allowing “the fox to look after the chickens”.
HfI claims the tenants’ federation is mainly middle-aged, unrepresentative and does little to reach black and minority ethnic groups.
FITA chairman Dr Brian Potter, who faces losing his non-paid job after five years, is appalled by the move.
He said: “We’ve been a thorn in their side and they don’t like it, but closing us down is highly undemocratic.
“We have plenty of young, black and minority groups represented within the federation. HfI is being completely disingenuous.”
Dr Potter will lead protesters at the public board meeting at 6.30pm on Monday at HfI’s HQ in Highbury, where the recommendation will be hotly debated.
Dr Potter added: “We provide a service for 40,000 council properties, which works out at £2.50 per property per year. We also look after the interests of leaseholders.
“How on earth is HfI going to represent both Islington Council and the tenants?”
Labour councillor Mick O’Sullivan, chairman of the London Federation of Housing Co-ops, said it was always “bad news” when an independent tenants’ group was absorbed into the organisation it was monitoring.
HfI said in a statement: “We are committed to ensuring all tenants have access to a well-supported and active tenants and residents association (TRA).
“Fifty per cent of tenants have no TRA representation and only 38 per cent of currently recognised TRAs claim their support grants and are active.
“We need to improve the level of involvement of younger tenants and the black and minority ethnic community.”

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