10 July 2007
Given the following facts:
(a) you are the Commissioner for Housing; and (b) your talent for high quality management is unsurpassed; and (c) your repeatedly extended deadlines for the completion of the Broom and Poplar flats "improvement" works remain unfulfilled as yet; and (d) your People 1st colleague Mr James Craig's assertion on 29 January, 2007 that all works will be completed by the end of the week,
(a) you are the Commissioner for Housing; and
(b) your talent for high quality management is unsurpassed; and
(c) your repeatedly extended deadlines for the completion of the Broom and Poplar flats "improvement" works remain unfulfilled as yet; and
(d) your People 1st colleague Mr James Craig's assertion on 29 January, 2007 that all works will be completed by the end of the week,
and contrary to your public claims in this Chamber that residents have already been compensated more than a year ago, whereas they have been offered £400 for disturbance some considerable time ago and quiet emphatically not compensation, what will you now consider as an appropriate recompense for the significant stress, anxiety, nuisance and sheer unmitigated incompetence that has manifested itself in your name?
I acted swiftly to make a disturbance payment of £400 per household when it became apparent that the work would be protracted. I also ensured that redecoration vouchers were issued where required and, in the case of elderly or disabled people needing decoration, arranged for decorations to be carried out. In further recognition of the disturbance to residents, I asked for additional works to be included so that the blocks meet "decent homes" standard. This will ensure that residents are not disturbed by further works in the foreseeable future.
The contribution from leaseholders was also waived.
It is difficult to provide additional resources to tenants or leaseholders without eating into the capital monies for other housing projects, thereby denying other people improvements. On balance I believe this is a fair and equitable settlement, especially as leaseholders and tenants now have a fully modernised and improved home in an attractive block of flats.
