Forum Topic

Todays Chronicle

Great article on Pg20 today I don't know who the Old Man in the Photo is Though..lolI see hounslow Homes state the boards are there for Resident Info but they refuse to allow Cllr Andrews to put up a leaflet informing Residents about his surgeries which he does for the Residents.Also they refuse another Resident Group from advertising in them!!

Simon Anderson ● 6711d7 Comments

Article in FULLESTATE NOTICE BOARDS ARE BEING MISSUESEDPolitical Fly-posting rowBy Joe JacksonHousing bosses are under fire following claims that a noticeboard for residents is being used for political fly-posting.Labour Party leaflets criticising Hounslow Council's Tory/Community Group Administration have appeared on the boards around the Ivybridge Estate in Isleworth.Lead member for housing Councillor Phil Andrews has accused Hounslow Homes-which is responsible for the estate-of reacting too slowly to tackle the problem."These leaflets should have been removed very quickly and not still have been there days later" he said."under the new administration it is obvious that this situation and all that is represents, must change"The Notice boards are kept behind locked glass cabinets and are not generally accessible to residents, ward councillors or members of the cabinet.Cllr Andrews, who is leader of the Community Group, believes the posters were put up by members of the New Ivybridge Residents Association (NIRA)."There are certain Labour Party leaflet distributors who are issued with keys in their capacity as "tenants" "leaders" for Hounslow Homes" he said.Cllr Andrews was denied use of the boards to advertise his ward surgeries by Hounslow Homes on the grounds it would be "inappropriate" to provide publicity space to a political party or politician.Tina Howe, chairman of NIRA, dismissed the accusations."The posters have nothing to do with us at all" she said."My photo was on the back of one leaflet but we did not hand them out or put them up"A spokeswoman for Hounslow Homes claimed action had now been taken."Notice Boards should be used for residents messages only. The politically motivated posters will be removed and the notice boards will be monitored to ensure that these messages do not appear again" she said.The offending literature criticised the Community Group for siding with the Tories on proposals for the abolition of six community teachers in the borough.The Leaflets were recently handed out at Ivybridge Primary School and on the Ivybridge Estate by Local Labour Party Activists.

Simon Anderson ● 6710d

Phili certainly agree with your posting and i hope the New Executive will push this as its unfair residents are not in the full knowledge of every support avenue they can use and lets be honest Councillors get paid to work for the residents and i am 100% positive that The Exec will deal with this issue as I've seen that you all do put the residents first at last after 35yrs.

Simon Anderson ● 6711d

I hope so Paul as Residents Should have a right to Know that their Local Councillors hold Surgeries every month to help them.Residents deserve a right to know about all avenues that they can use if they have a problem and that includes Councillor Surgeries surely?and lets not forget its the Residents who voted the ICG Councillors in to where they are today to help them

Simon Anderson ● 6711d

SimonI would agree that there seems to be a difference of opinion as to what constitutes "residents".  Under the old administration the term tended to apply only to "representatives" of the community appointed by themselves or under their corporate protection, usually members of their own party or others prepared to do their bidding.We in the new administration speak of "residents" in the broader sense, to incorporate everybody who lives in the borough irrespective of political view or affiliation.  It will take a while for the new concept to permeate through, but there are already positive signs that it is beginning to happen.  We should not treat Hounslow Homes and the old administration as a monolith - there is goodwill to be found even in the most unlikely of places if one delves deeply enough.

Phil Andrews ● 6711d

I cannot disagree with any of your posting Simon and when I have posed your points in the past I have been constantly fobbed off.Perhaps the new leadership at HH will be more accomadating?

Paul Fisher ● 6711d

PhilI was shocked to read that Hounslow Homes can say that the Boards are for residents when they refuse our local councillors to advertise your Surgeries in them, the surgeries are there for residents to help them with issues they need help with surely residents have a right to know about these surgeries that's not class as political it would be up to the resident if they want to see you or not.Also they even refuse a certain resident group for placing posters up regarding issues they are dealing with etcDoes Hounslow Homes think we are stupid?  The Boards belong to residents and they should have a right to know about all Groups that work for them, issues concerning the estate and also know that there Local Councillors run a surgery for them?

Simon Anderson ● 6711d

SimonI saw the article.  Good in parts, although I ought to point out that I was actually misquoted.  I don't know, as yet, who put the posters up.  I did tell the reporter that keys are issued to Hounslow Homes staff and to NITA, some of whose key personnel are Labour Party members or supporters.  I did not say that NITA members put the posters into the cabinets.I have to say that I am encouraged by the way in which Hounslow Homes has responded to my request for an investigation, which contrasts sharply with the farce which occurred following the NITA AGM last June.  Hopefully this is indicative of a desire to work constructively with the new administration following the recent staff changes at the ALMO.

Phil Andrews ● 6711d