Forum Topic

Is there any point of a constitution?

Dear All,I want to know is what's the point in a constitution if you don't stick by whats written in it.I am talking about a residents Association on Ivybridge called NITA.For many years they have called themselves the resident's voice but according to friends of mine on the estate the resident's don't care about the group and say they certainly don't speak for them, I feel if there was a independent election for a resident's group and who was on it then NITA and the members on it now would be no more.Over the past several years they have taken credit for others works inc work done by one of the founders of the residents group Mr Tom Reeder who has now sadly passed away.Mr Reeder lived on Ivybridge and set up the 1st resident's group and worked hard getting the H20 bus service and the Zebra crossing for Tesco.But now he isn't here NITA try to say they did all this!!NITA has a Constitution which was drafted up by HEFTRA and Hounslow Homes but it isn't worth the paper it is written on (accd to a friend of mine on the group)It states in there constitution that anyone living on Ivybridge can be a member as long as you don't belong to a political group.For years they have refused to except help or work together with our elected ward Councilors but they have a member on there group who is standing as a candidate for Labour in next years local election's so is this fair?Also if you support or Vote for the Isleworth Community Group you cant be on NITA.It also states that NITA will work and support any small group's on Ivybridge but refuse to work alongside IVYTAG or the Nepalese group.It states in there constitution that if a member is asked to leave a meeting they will be asked to face the Chair,Vice chair,Secretary to explain there action's before a decision is made whether or not they still remain a member this certainly didn't happen in Mr Anderson and Mr Burrell's situation just receiving a letter saying they were no longer members and no explanation why?When contacted NITA refused to reply.Also they state you have to be a resident of Ivybridge but they have a member on the committee who lives in Brentford.All my friends on Ivybridge say that NITA is really run by Hounslow Home's.Resident's need a resident association who they trust and it should be resident's elected by resident's not by Hounslow Homes I feel The residents on Ivybridge are not getting a fair deal by NITA or Hounslow Homes.I know many Resident's who have had problems and gone to the elected ward Councilor or another group on Ivybridge but as soon as the Councilor or this other group go to Hounslow Homes they refuse to help the resident because they refuse to listen or work with The Elected ward Councilor or this other Group, I feel this is unfair and discrimination.Is this fair and right?Mr J StanleyBut

Jason Stanley ● 7232d2 Comments

JasonI totally agree with your comments I would love to know who your friend is on NITA!!It is however good to know that there is someone on the group that don't agree with the tactics they have on there maybe they would like to come over to our group?I want to say that you are correct about Mr Burrell and myself getting removed falsely and wrongly of the residents group.Some years ago when Mr Burrell was on NITA he tried to get the committee to involve the elected ward councilors in helping us but each time it was blocked by the members and in particular by a member who was also a member of the Labour party.Then Hounslow Homes decided to set up a group called the Estate Management Board (EMB) which would be made up off Block reps who would be a resident of that block.Mr burrell was block rep as Was I and we both on that committee and he became chair.But because he did not like the fact it was becoming political and it was being taken over by a certain political group and by Hounslow Homes and that they kept shutting the ward Councilors out he stood up and said something not only did he get thrown off the resident's group but the EMB collapsed.I believe at the time Councilor Andrews wrote to NITA on behalf of Mr Burrell to ask why he had been thrown of NITA and why he was not invited to a hearing, NITA ignored the letter!As to me when I saw that Hounslow Homes were trying to run things and there was alot off backstabbing and the chair would attend meeting without informing the other members also that she was receiving mail in her address which should off gone through the office I got opened for NITA and she tried to get rid off Babysitting allowances for members so a certain member would have to resign, when I said something about it I received a letter saying I was not to attend the next NITA meeting as they needed to discuss my letter off resignation.After the meeting I was told via letter from the Chair who I thought was a friend and she was like a mum to me as she stood by me when I went through a bad divorce when I had no one else, that I was no longer a member as I resigned from the group via letter and email to the Chair and Secretary.This was all made up lies, I did write a letter but stating I no longer wanted to be office manager (As I was doing it all on my own-no one helped) but would remain as a member as to the emails these never existed.On contacting members inc the Chair of NITA about these made up Lies I was ignored!I was told by a member at the time who left due to this incident that 2 people tried to stand up for me at the meeting but they got out voted.I felt let down by the members as I did so much work for NITA more then the rest off them and I got treated like this but this is common practice if you don't fit in you are out.Also if you don't vote for a particular Party you cant be a member and when your a member you get told you are not allowed to have anything to do with the Ward Councilors.There is nothing in there constitution to say you cant go on to the committee if you have resigned before as if there was there would be several members who wouldn't be on there now.It is true that you are supposed to be invited to a meeting with the Chair,Vice,treasurer and Secretary to hear what you have done and to be able to put your say across but they did not follow there constitution with Mr Burrell and Myself.hen I took over as Chair Of IVYTAG last year I wrote to NITA and Hounslow Homes to a meeting to bury the past and for us all to get on and work together for the good off Ivybridge.A meeting was set up Attended by the Vice Chair,Cllr Andrews, myself and 2 reps from Hounslow Homes.We were told by HH that NITA would not attend and don't want o work together, we told HH we just want to be recognized by HH as a Monitoring group and we were not a residents Association and We wanted what the same as HH and NITA the best for Ivybridge so why not all be friends and get on and work together.A few weeks later HH emailed us saying they could not work with us due to the fact they could only recognize one Residents Group On Ivybridge.This is total rubbish as Firstly we are not a residents Group and why cant a council work with all groups?Recently NITA member's have been trying to take credit for other works like a school crossing,A New Park and the 267 and H20 bus.The facts are as to the H20 bus service this was got by a resident off Ivybridge called Mr Tom Reeder.The 267 bus service was first brought up some years ago when local resident and Best friend off Mr Reeder "John Branch" collected hundreds off signatures to improve the service.As to the crossing again some years ago Mr Branch collected hundreds off Signatures and got the support of the ward councilors but Hounslow Homes Ignored the petition, IVYTAG then decided to get one done then we read a certain member of NITA and a Labour member said he got it which is very untrue.It is sad that everyone just cant get on and work together and it is sad that Ivybridge as a residents association which is very political and run by the council and not the residents..there needs to be a change on Ivybridge as the estate is getting bad again recently we found out the concierge service is gone and might not be back leaving residents in fear of security,there s already crime going on in the blocks inc drug taking/dealing.Residents want to know why the residents group NITA did not warn them about this and stop it happening.I feel a change is needed and soon as this cant carry on.Simon Anderson

Simon Anderson ● 7231d

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