Forum Topic

Tenants have your say

It has taken a stage 1 complaint to the council in order to get an open debate for the residents of Hounslow and I have been assured that residents will be able to have a say in the process and this will be placed as an advert in HM magazine, HAFTRA and many other community forums tenants and residents groups will also be invited to make comment, it would seem that Cllr Andrews was trying to have a one sided debate when only his ICG where given an email responce address yet no other groups had been given that choice.If you or anyone else who is either a tenant or a leaseholder whose home is managed by Hounslow Homes they are welcome to attend the meeting. Further details are available from Barbara Perry (barbara.perry@hounslow.gov.uk), Yvonne Birch (yvonne.birch@hounslow.gov.uk) or Chetna Hirani (chetna.hirani@hounslow.gov.uk), or you can simply turn up on the night.

Dave Hughes ● 6878d37 Comments

HERE HERE

Simon Anderson ● 6869d

This is somthing that needs to done away with.http://www.locata.org/Six London boroughs, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow and Nine housing associations, PCHA, Catalyst Communities HA, Paradigm, Acton, Notting Hill, Shepherds Bush, Stadium, Thames Valley and Westway Housing Associations have joined forces with Locata to help people find the homes they want.Locata was designed to give you more choice about where you want to live. In the past the council decided where and when you would be offered a home, now you can choose.Existing council and housing association tenants who would like to transfer can use Locata to find a new home, as well as Home Seekers - people who are on their council's housing register.

Ian Roberts ● 6871d

Which one is the puppet? Or ventriloquist

Ian Roberts ● 6871d

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 ● 6871d

Phil,There's room for one extra in the shelter...pull up a sandbag!

Ann S. Allridge ● 6872d

Sarah,The ack ack barrage is getting louder...I have moved temporarily into the the trench dugout, and you are welcome to join me - kettle's on the primus as I write!

Ann S. Allridge ● 6872d

Then why respond?John - I must confess I was a little confused by Dave's remark about the MP.  I wasn't sure whether it was his comment or whether he had begun to quote somebody else in mid-sentence.  You've known Dave longer than I have, would you have any idea what it is that he's trying to get across?

Phil Andrews ● 6872d

That's not even worth dignifying with a response.

Vanessa Smith ● 6872d

The ravings of a fantacist should not be taken seriously or used to misrepresent the views of others. The remarks attributed to Dave Hughes above are most fascinating for his description of the local MP (for Feltham and Heston?) as useless. Perhaps he is joining the mainstream of political thought in the borough.

John Connelly ● 6872d

"It's a bit rich now to act as the defender of council housing!"It's also a bit rich for a member of the previous administration to launch a thread under the heading "Tenants have your say", when it was the systematic denial of a voice for the overwhelming majority of tenants in Isleworth which led directly to the formation of the ICG, its participation in elections and ultimately the removal of New Labour from power.This process could have been aborted at any time by the previous administration had it given any indication that it was interested in empowering tenants as opposed to politicising their organisations and ruthlessly excluding those who tried to cling on to their independence.  Instead they chose electoral wipeout in preference to compromise.There seems to be no limit to the hypocrisy of these people.

Phil Andrews ● 6872d

Seems a bit bizarre that ex Cllr Hughes should pick that particular website to express his so-far unfounded claims. After all, from what I could see of the site, it is totally opposed to ALMOs like Hounslow Homes and sees them as part of a process of privatisation (as do I). It seems to me that it was the council of which ex Cllr Hughes was a member which was the real threat to council housing by imposing Hounslow Homes upon its tenants as part of the first stage to privatisation. Over the past few years it has been the New Tory (whoops) New Labour government which has been at the forefront of privatisation - much to the detriment of services and the public interest. It's a bit rich now to act as the defender of council housing!

John Coxall ● 6872d

Crumbs, Phil!  ... INVITING Dave to make a comment?  oh, lore ...

Sarah Felstead ● 6872d

BarryEvidently he is the union rep. for "Hounslow Homes under threat".  I would be interested to know more about this organisation, who is involved with it and what its purpose is.  Could Dave kindly elaborate?

Phil Andrews ● 6872d

He’s Labours new secret weapon to discredit the new Tory administration. He’s signed himself as a union rep, what union? I’d hazard a guess “Unison” one of the worst unions on the block along with T&G & GM.The worst union ever has to be Musicians Union in my opinion.

Ian Roberts ● 6872d

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 ● 6873d

I would love to know more about this from SA which he posted..He would rather be friends with a guy who is on bail for an attack on a Traffic Warden, who gives out Electoral Rolls when he was an Agent, a guy who got booted of 2 committees for abuse towards other members, harassing a elderly disabled woman where she ended up collapsing out of her Wheelchair and Not forgetting got banned from here for Abusing people thats his choiceIn light of Andrews threats towards me attending a public meeting....

Dave Hughes ● 6873d

I dont think Hounslow is like that at all I have been at big public meetings and we have never had to throw anyone out, everyone has had a chance to say something however Phil seems to think one man in a wheelchair is a threat, now the point is he has made a public statement which implies that somehow I am out to disturb a public meeting which is untrue and I want a retraction of the statement and an apology..now if I go to this meeting my safety is at risk how do I know if he has his goon platoon ready to push me out of my wheelchair.The only concern I had was that residents are to be consulted and now it seems I have become a marked man because of an idiot Cllr.

Dave Hughes ● 6874d

Dave,I think what Phil Andrews says is entirly reasonable. If anyone tuns up at a meeting with the sole purpose of disrupting it then they should be thrown out. Surely Phils statement is statng the obvious.I attend many Council meetings,  here in Hornsby NSW, we have had to call the police to evict trouble makers.Last night memebrs of the public were shouting and screaming at Council Officers and Members. This meeting had to be cancelled.

Neil Chippendale ● 6874d

.... tin tacks in the foyer?;-)  ... goodnight.

Sarah Felstead ● 6874d

This below is a threat direct from Phil Andrews, what would you call it.Should he arrive, however, with the intention of disrupting the meeting then I intend to have arrangements in place which will result in him being strongly discouraged from pursuing this course of action.

Dave Hughes ● 6874d

What having threats put on to web-sites no I think thats Phil style which I now await a full public apology.

Dave Hughes ● 6874d

I think that the consensus is - that you are doing that yourself.

Sarah Felstead ● 6874d

Mad max in a wheel chair, I dont think so ahhhhh well it just depends on who he has waiting for me at the Civic to knock us out of the wheel chair.

Dave Hughes ● 6874d

Congratulations, Dave – you have managed to replace the frown I normally wear when reading one of your postings – with a smile.For one fleeting moment I had a vision of you with knives tied to the wheels of your chair, ploughing through the Civic centre knocking people down as you went – can’t for one minute think why I might think like that, of course.

Sarah Felstead ● 6874d

What it takes you lot to arrange to have body guards at the civic centre in order to stop me attending a public meeting as per your web-site, I am on a wheel chair what do you expect the italian job, and as for his masters voice you only have to look at his posts to see that is what he is.

Dave Hughes ● 6874d

Evidence???

Andrew Sibley ● 6874d

The behaviour of this person is very intresting he spends most of his time hiding behind other people, this person displays the habit of being a victim and always will be found hiding his deciet from public scrutiny. He really does not like having a mirrow placed before his face and will shirk from his own image. Not to worry as he is in good company with the likes of Goering, most of this behaviour does indeed come from his past as an instigator of trouble but making sure that covering his tracks he may not be found out.

Dave Hughes ● 6874d

And you have not provided any evidence to substantiate your original claim.

Andrew Sibley ● 6875d

Mind you so far you have not answerd any question put to you nor have you ceased any of the behaviour that makes you and your party worthy of any respect.

Dave Hughes ● 6876d

Maybe if we get the homeless to turn up they will be able to ask you directly why they are being treated so badly and not getting the service they need from the homeless unit.

Dave Hughes ● 6876d

Phil,The phrase "Flogging a dead horse" comes to mind...

Ann S. Allridge ● 6877d

DaveI'm sorry friend but you really need to try to equip yourself with at least a rudimentary understanding of what is going on before you issue forth on a public internet forum.The Hounslow Federation of Tenants and Residents' Associations is actively participating in the Management Review.  It has been represented at both of the working party meetings which met on the 1st and the 22nd of this month, and will be present at the remaining three.  In addition to this I will be holding a dedicated meeting with them in September, as well as having separate meetings with other interested parties such as the Leaseholder Forum and the Hounslow Homes Management Board.  This is all part of the process and dates and venues have already been agreed.The primary purpose of the Open Forum is to reach out to those tenants and leaseholders who are not involved with residents' or tenants' associations or who may feel excluded from them.  I added it to the programme of events because I want to hear from as many service users as possible, not just those who are involved with the "official" organisations.  Just what is it about all this that unnerves you and the Labour Party so much that it calls for a campaign involving questions to the Prime Minister and smear articles in the national press?

Phil Andrews ● 6877d

So thats why you failed to give out the email address to the tenants groups Phil and nobody in the council knew who the enabling team was....the same disdain that you show to others you giving to the tenants....As I said it took a stage 1 complaint to get true consultation.

Dave Hughes ● 6877d

DavidYou have spoken some nonsense in your time but this one really takes the biscuit.The Open Forum for tenants and leaseholders which will take place at the Civic Centre on Wednesday, 20th September is to be advertised in HM Magazine because I asked for it to be advertised in HM Magazine, not because of any "complaint" from yourself.Details of the meeting will also be sent by letter to all 16,000 leaseholders and tenants of Hounslow Homes throughout the borough, again at my insistence.I look forward to seeing you at the meeting Dave and you will be most welcome to contribute to the discussion provided your contributions are relevant to the subject at hand, which is the past performance of Hounslow Homes and its future as service provider for the London Borough of Hounslow.

Phil Andrews ● 6877d

Meeting is on the 20 Sept 7.00pm at the Civic.

Dave Hughes ● 6878d