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Silence at the top
• AS chairman of Islington Leaseholders’ Association, I am not at all surprised, but certainly utterly disgusted, by the total lack of response in the Tribune from our extremely well-paid councillors (Bills reveal how builders’ charges outstrip inflation, October 2).
I foolishly assumed that at least Lib Dem council leader Councillor Terry Stacy would respond on behalf of the council, possibly, with intelligent suggestions as to how best to investigate, not just future but also past, contractual allocations?
Surely, they cannot all be on holiday/indisposed, or totally indifferent to the plight of fellow residents, all of whom are potential voters – or can they?
Shortly after the Office of Fair Trading’s original announcement that it was investigating cover pricing in building contracts, I provided Islington’s legal department with a document issued by the council showing five “bids”, which ranged from £470,000 to £1,560,000 for the same maintenance contract.
At the subsequent Homes for Islington (HfI) full board meeting, I asked the council’s representative to identify what action they had taken to address the matter. Their answer: “We wrote to our contractors and asked them if they had been involved in any of these illegal processes” – and surprise, surprise, they replied “No”.
It is to be hoped that any future investigations regarding contract allocations will be carried out in a far more stringent manner, with the full participation of those most affected – the residents.
Dr BS Potter
Chairman, Islington Leaseholders’ Association
Chairman, Federation of Islington Tenants’ Associations
• HOMES for Islington seems to be accountable to no one but itself, while our councillors have awarded themselves outrageous salaries while delegating responsibility for our properties to a quango.
I wonder if the council has challenged the invoices issued by the recently convicted contractors, invoices paid for, don’t forget, by Islington residents.
Tenants on our estate do not get much of a choice regarding kitchens and bathrooms, if choice is the right word? More like Hobson’s choice. With the prices being charged for “improvements”, they deserve much better.
Edward Murphy
Aberdeen Park, N5
• ON reading the Office of Fair Trading’s report on contract rigging by Kier, Islington’s main contractor, it is no wonder leaseholders are being overcharged for repairs and maintenance.
Add to this, the unfair policy of HfI, which takes away the right of leaseholders to challenge overpriced bills. These policies could lead to many people having their homes repossessed.
Islington Council is fully responsible for the actions of HfI, as its employer, and should not bury its head in the sand amid the growing number of complaints by tenants’ groups. Councillors should stand up and be counted. Let’s make Islington a great place to live, and not use residents as a political football by taking away the fabric of family life – the home.
P Leamy
Bingfield Street, N1 |
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