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The article below appears in today's issue of Inside Housing, a respected house magazine.I would ask those who, for whatever reason, have protested that Dave Hughes' rantings are not reflective of the Labour Party's view in general to take particular note:HOUNSLOW ORDERS MAKE OR BREAK ALMO ASSESSMENT By Keith Cooper Published: 01 September  2006 "Hounslow Council has embarked on a fullscale review of its high flying arm’s-length management organisation, which could lead to an extension of its powers or the dissolution of the whole organisation. "Three star ALMO Hounslow Homes is now halfway through a decade long contract, giving the west London authority the option to take advantage of a break clause in its contract. "The council’s leader and cabinet member for housing, Phil Andrews, who helped oust the former Labouradministration from power in May, has pledged to rule nothing out of the review. A source at the authority said the ALMO’s future had been guaranteed before Andrews assumed power. "‘The review gives us a perfect opportunity, unlikely to be repeated, to address all the issues surroundingHounslow Homes and its management of our estates,’ he said in a statement. "‘Hounslow Homes is ambitious to get involved in new projects and before that can happen we need to be sure that there is absolute trust between us, and that an appropriate relationship between it and the local authority as the client has been established,’ he added. "Elizabeth Hughes, a Labour group member, said she had concerns about the new administration’s commitment to the ALMO. ‘They have shown next to nothing but disdain for the ALMO.’ "The council is now run by a coalition between the Conservative and Isleworth Community Group parties. George Fry, chair of the Hounslow Federation of Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations, said he made it clear tenants supported the ALMO. ‘I met the leadership quite early on to let them understand that we are very happy with Hounslow Homes,’ he said. "‘He [Phil Andrews] has said he won’t rule anything in and won’t rule anything out. "‘I don’t think abolishing Hounslow Homes is realistic. It would be an unnecessary step and quite retrograde for a council of any colour,’ he added. "Gwyneth Taylor, policy officer for the National Federation of ALMOs, said the latest government guidance stated that authorities had to consult tenants on the future of ALMOs. "‘Bear in mind Hounslow Homes is three stars and the government’s statement about councils not being able to abolish ALMOs without consulting their tenants first,’ she said. "A spokesman for the council said: ‘The management agreement between Hounslow Council and Hounslow Homes has been running for five years. "‘The review is being conducted by a small working party chaired by a lead executive member and is taking place over four months. Its work consists of examining the history of the existing agreement and performance of Hounslow Homes, and involves looking at a range of possibilities for changing and improving the service."

Phil Andrews ● 6847d

Ex-councillor Dave Ewes has posted the following on the Defend Council Housing site at http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.ukIf any readers or users of this forum have the foggiest what he is going on about, could they please elaborate for my benefit?In the meantime, I am still awaiting a comment from the Labour Party itself as to whether or not the efforts of this high-profile party member to derail the Hounslow Homes review process enjoys its formal backing.  No response will confirm my worst fears, and will be borne in mind when the time arrives for the review to reach a conclusion:"Cllr Phil Andrews joins Tories to smash Hounslow Homes Cllr Phil Andrews is looking to work with the Tories in Hounslow to destroy Hounslow Homes a 5 Star ALMO which has kept the Council Houses in trust for the Council. He is now head of the Council for housing using an agenda of using bogus residents associations as cover for his political group the ICG he now hopes residents will give up their Homes Cllr Andrews has had a very intresting past indeed: Councillor Andrews had been a member of the National Front between 1977 and 1989, and of a fringe far-right organisation called Liberation between 1989 and 1991, before completely rejecting far-right politics and claiming to be just a independent Councillor. One of his political officers had a bit more to say on the matter on a web-site of his: If ever there was a clear cut case for privatisation this has got to be it. I honestly believe Hounslow Homes is purposely trying to show the new administration up in a bad light, using the residents that do not understand the machinations of an ALMO. As always the uneducated will more than likely blame the new councillors of being cut from the same cloth as our useless M.P. Perhaps our new leader in the council councillor Thompson should take a leaf out of Jason Staceys book? Time to get your finger out Peter before the above paragraph becomes a reality!!! If your unwilling to do it yourself you could always hand the job over to your XO's(executive officers)councillor Mark Bowen or councillor Paul Fisher for immediate action "The Residents will get a say As outlined above, an Open Forum will take place at Hounslow Civic Centre on Wednesday, 20th September at 7.00pm as part of the Hounslow Homes Management Review being chaired by Councillor Andrews. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT COME AND SAVE OUR HOMES "David Hughes Union Rep, Hounslow Homes under threat"

Phil Andrews ● 6849d