tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158177192024-03-12T20:36:52.356-07:00homes not housesHousing news updates Glasgow and aroundUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-33768922184109137582007-07-05T02:09:00.000-07:002007-07-05T02:09:12.307-07:00Independent Working Class Association - national website<a href="http://www.iwca.info/cgi-bin/iwcanews.pl?record=7">Independent <br /><br />‘We are NOT all Thatcher's children’ – The housing crisis proves it. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-53479744588369388432007-07-05T02:04:00.000-07:002007-07-05T02:04:39.230-07:00Independent Working Class Association - national website<a href="http://www.iwca.info/cgi-bin/iwcanews.pl?record=11">Independent Working Class Association - national website</a>: "Yet Another Sub-Contracting Scandal Uncovered" (South)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-79995242530236113872007-06-29T13:35:00.000-07:002007-06-29T13:35:31.503-07:00Campaigners Save Greenfield Site (from The Herald )<a href="http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1509978.0.campaigners_save_greenfield_site.php">Campaigners Save Greenfield Site (from The Herald )<br /><span id="forMacIE">Protesters are celebrating after a local authority's plans to sell-off a greenfield site were halted by the council's new administration.</span><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-85776061898320752832007-04-30T02:41:00.000-07:002007-04-30T02:46:30.214-07:00ACCOUTANCY TRICKS IN CALCULATING SOCIAL HOUSING NEED<code>THE DISSAPEARING HOMELESS <br><br> The Scottish Tenants’ Organisation asks all candidates and parties to look again at how the Scottish Executive and local councils calculate housing need. They argue that the current method allows councils with growing housing waiting lists and homelessness to claim that they have surplus housing, leading to untold misery for thousands of families.<span class="fullpost">In particular, they are asking that politicians look again at the assumptions that they call ‘social housing’ should only be made available as a last resort (with the presumption that everyone else should rely on the market even if it leaves them just above benefit levels) and the completely arbitrary decision that councils should only have to meet 1/10 of the backlog of housing need each year. <br><br> _Background for editors_ <br><br> In planning their housing policy, local councils make use of the Local Housing Need and Affordability Model for Scotland, drawn up by academics at Heriott Watt University for the Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland. This includes a daunting number of tables and equations, which can be expected to put most people off looking beyond the headline figures. But it is not necessary to work through these – or even to question whether it is possible to predict incomes or house prices or household numbers fifteen years ahead – to have serious concerns about this model. <br><br> In fact the two basic assumptions that underlie all the figures should raise the alarm for anyone who is hoping to be allotted social housing (council or housing association). Social housing need is made up for the most part of the needs of new households plus the existing backlog. (There are also some people moving from owner occupation and variations due to migration.) (page 11 table 2.2) In estimating the need from new households, the model assumes that there will be no need to provide social housing for any family who can afford to buy or rent in the private market, and that this may reasonably involve a mortgage of 3 ½ times the household salary, or rents of up to 30% of income, and a /residual income after housing costs only just above benefit level./ (p 87) Social housing in these assumptions is reduced to a safety net service for those who absolutely cannot afford any other option – a very far cry from its post-war role as a source of good quality housing, and a tenure of choice. <br><br> The other basic assumption concerns the backlog of people inadequately housed. While those families who make up the ‘backlog’ might be forgiven for thinking that they should be recognised as having an immediate housing need, the model allows this need to be met in annual instalments of 10%. The authors explain that they are following government guidelines that say that local authorities should not plan to exhaust the backlog. The government recommend a maximum quota of 20% per annum, and in choosing to reduce this further the authors hope that families will be pushed to find other sources of housing. (p 89) <br><br> So, to take the example of Dundee, although the report acknowledges that the city has a backlog need for 6061 homes (p 117) – almost half due to overcrowding and sharing – this is translated into a backlog quota of 605 homes a year (p 11), which – with the restrictions on social housing eligibility – can be more than met by current turnover. That allows the report to claim Dundee has a net _surplus_ of social housing relets of 700 homes a year (pp 11 and 8), and the council to conclude that there is no need to increase its production of new social housing from 200 homes a year (note AN 90-2007 to Housing Committee Agenda for 19^th March 2007) – less than the number of homes currently being lost to the public sector under the Right to Buy. <br><br> (For Glasgow the figures are: backlog 29,603 – annual surplus, 4,590, Edinburgh has a backlog of 23,626 and an acknowledged need of 2,480 homes a year.) <br><br> The /Local housing need and affordability model for //Scotland// – Update (2005 based) /was published in November 2006 and can be downloaded from the Communities Scotland Website <br><br> For more details contact Dr Sarah Glynn 01382 774370 <br><br> or call The Scottish Tenants Organisation on 01698 281 488 0r 07976 718 111. <br><br> </span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-3752928532131450402007-04-29T01:59:00.001-07:002007-04-29T02:02:26.801-07:00Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee<a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/historic/x-social/or-99/so99-1001.htm">Scottish Parliament Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee<br />Official Report Meeting 10, 1999 (archive)</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-49749859313883422562007-04-29T01:59:00.000-07:002007-04-29T02:01:46.550-07:00Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee<a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/historic/x-social/or-99/so99-1001.htm">Scottish Parliament Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee<br />Official Report Meeting 10, 1999</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-45420248580682799452007-04-13T01:06:00.000-07:002007-04-13T01:07:31.913-07:00Plans unveiled for Red Road’s £20m homes<a href="http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1323556.0.0.php#comments_form">Evening Times: News</a>PLANS have been unveiled for nearly 240 homes to rehouse people after Glasgow's notorious Red Road tower blocks come down. As usual read the comments.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-54810898941095255412007-02-06T21:53:00.000-08:002007-02-06T16:00:23.274-08:00HOUSING CONFERENCE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH 2007<div> <div class="RTE"> <h3 style="margin: 12pt 0cm 3pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u><span lang="EN-GB">Housing Conference </span></u><u><span lang="EN-GB">Saturday, February 10<sup>th</sup> 2007</span></u><u><span lang="EN-GB"></span></u></span></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Scottish Monitoring Group on Housing & Homelessness</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.monitoringscottishhousing.org.uk/"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#800080;">www.monitoringscottishhousing.org.uk</span></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">9:30</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Registration (and workshop sign-up)</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">10:00</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"> <span> </span>Convenor’s Opening remarks/housekeeping etc - Andrew Fraser</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">10:05</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Welcome to Pollokshaws –<i> </i>Cllr. Stephen Curran</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">10:10</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Messages of Support,<span> </span>Introduction to speakers - </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">10:15</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Colin Deans, former board member GHA & GHAM.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span><span> </span>“Couldnae run a Menogè”</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">10:25</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Mike Dailly, Principal Solicitor, Govan Law Centre.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>“GHA - A Legal Report Card”</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">10:35</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Dr. Stirling Howieson, </span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">University</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"> of </span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">Strathclyde</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“How our homes are making us ill”</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"></span><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">10:55</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Coffee/tea/comfort break</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"></span><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">11:10</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"> <span> </span>Workshops:- </span></span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">Real Tenant Participation/Empowerment” (Sam Harper+)</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';"></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">Second Stage Transfers” (Jimmy Black + Cllr Keith Baldesarra)</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';"></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">Homelessness (Maggie Brunjes of GHN+ Mike Dailly)</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';"></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">Accessible Housing (Cllr Billy McAllister+Frank ??)</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';"></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">Racism in Housing (Dave Le Sage+Mehri McAvoy)</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';"></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">Fuel Poverty V affordable warm healthy homes” (Grant Thoms + Neil Philips)</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';"></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">Langlands Principles of Governance” (Colin Deans + Rose Bowie)</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';"></span></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">Freedom of Information”. </span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';"></span></span></li></span></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"></span><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">12:30</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Break for lunch (soup and sandwiches avail here at nominal cost)</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">1:25</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span><span> </span>Workshops:- as morning</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">2:40</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Coffee/tea/comfort break</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">2:50</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span><span> </span>Plenary session –Convenor: Bernard Ponsonby, Political Editor, Scottish Television.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>Feedback from workshop rapporteurs, Policy statements from </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>Conservatives (<i>a parliamentary candidate,name TBA</i>)</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>Greens - Patrick Harvie MSP</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>Labour - Des McNulty MSP, Deputy Minister, Communities</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>Liberal Democrats - Isabel Nelson</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>SNP - Sandra White MSP</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>SSP - Cllr. Keith Baldesarra</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>Solidarity - Graham Campbell</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span><span> </span>Question and Answers session – Panel of politicians & rapporteurs</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"></span><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB">4:40</span><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span> </span><span> </span>Summation of conference and closing remarks </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"></span><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It is hoped there will be exhibits from Unison, PAIH, EAPN, FEANTSA, CECODHAS, GHN, GLC and others, literature stalls, a bookseller and <b>YOU!</b></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"></span></b> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;">There is no participation fee for the conference (which includes tea, coffee and biscuits) but we suggest a donation of £2 from unwaged or £5 from waged.</span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: tahoma,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: 'BernhardMod BT';" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;">A simple healthy lunch will be offered at cost.<span> </span></span></span></b></span></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-84091312984071309062007-02-06T01:56:00.000-08:002007-02-06T02:01:36.441-08:00We wus conned - As we said all along - Ministers 'knew of GHA split cost'Ministers were last night accused of "kidding people on" over the cost of breaking up Scotland's biggest social landlord. Nationalist MSP Alex Neil claimed the Scottish Executive had long known of a financial black hole at the heart of their plans for Glasgow Housing Association (GHA). The association, according to long-standing plans, is supposed to be split up into smaller, more accountable units under a pledge made to tenants five years ago. However, GHA's outgoing chief executive has always insisted that his body didn't have the funding needed to do so. The Herald last year revealed consultants had measured the gap at up to £500m. The executive in October last year acknowledged a funding gap, although not the figure claimed by GHA, and committed itself to forge ahead with second-stage transfers (SST). Malcolm Chisholm, then Communities Minister, said that new public money could be put into the process, if needed.<br /><br />Mr Neil, however, has unearthed executive paperwork that shows officials were told of the problems long before October. He said: "The Scottish Executive has known for the last five years that there has been a huge black hole about how to fund second-stage transfers. Despite repeated denials, they have now, belatedly, come round to admitting the scale of the problem._ "Why they have tried to kid people on for the last five years I do not know, but it is coming back to bite them, big-style." "Whoever forms the administration in May is going to face a fundamental dilemma of whether they commit to fund SST or whether they abandon it altogether. It's going to be a Hobson's Choice." [ I seem to remember Tenants being facred with a Hobson’s Choice namely; vote for transfer it’s the only way you’ll get investment in you housing. They lied there are lied compounded on lies! Within their own terms they lied. We were told to buy into a load of lies. This is all much more expensive than the public sector alternative and being so prone to market fluctuations is too risky a bet for people’s lives.] Mr Neil has used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain copies of advice received by the executive by consultants. Experts from Pricewaterhouse Coopers in October 2005, a year before Mr Chisholm signalled more money could be made available, warned that SST would "generate costs" and suggested some of these might be met from within GHA's own budget, perhaps its fund for redundancies. But experts also warned the executive to be careful over making additional demands on an already stretched GHA business plan. Four years earlier, consultants working for Glasgow City Council measured the shortfall at around £300m. Their findings, Mr Neil said, were shared with the executive. [ I seem to remember Tenants being facred with a Hobson’s Choice namely; vote for transfer it’s the only way you’ll get investment in you housing. They lied there are lied compounded on lies! Within their own terms they lied. We were told to buy into a load of lies. This is all much more expensive than the public sector alternative and being so prone to market fluctuations is too risky a bet for people’s lives.]<br /><br />The executive, meanwhile, yesterday stressed the PwC document was one of many drawn up over the years for various parties to the drawn-out debate over SST.<br /><br />Officials believe a "joint team" - set up under a progress group chaired by former Housing Minister Johann Lamont has got to the bottom of the issue, recognising that there is a difference between the price GHA wants for its stock and the amount successor organisations are prepared to pay for it. The shortfall, however, will depend on how many units GHA is split into.<br /><br />A spokesman said: "Ministers have always recognised that there were significant financial complexities involved in moving to SST, and all the analysis by all parties over the past couple of years bears that out.<br /><br /> "Thanks to the hard work of the Joint Team and the Progress Group, there is now a clear path<br /><br />"We are not interested in going over sterile arguments of the past. We want to work with everybody to fund solutions that will further benefit tenants "It is nonsense to suggest that the executive has misled anyone."<br /><br />10:17pm *Monday 5th February *2007 *Evening Times*Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-25628538059985734052007-02-05T05:34:00.000-08:002007-02-05T06:50:28.846-08:00Residents in the news - Struggles and victoriesHello and welcome to another Glasgow Residents Network Update. This month we have a few communications from different residents groups and campaigns and a lot of reports of activity to pass on, as well as our regular reports from the print media. Next month we will be featuring websites for Glasgow city residents associations - fire them in! Send us the URLs today.<br /><br />Contribute to this bulletin . Here is <a href="http://www.citystrolls.com/z-temp/resident-news.htm">Residents in the news - Struggles and victories</a><br /><br />Part of a residents group? Then send us information about events, meetings, campaigns, information, leaflets, you name it! This is our city - we need to talk to one another, and let all our communities know what each other is up to. Better still why not get involved with the Glasgow Residents Network. To find out more or to find out how to get involved email Nick at<br />this email address, or email Iain on agahst2003@hotmail.com<br /><br />[Don't forget to send us any newspaper coverage of residents struggles, or<br />information on any meetings being held!]<br /><br />Spread the word! Forward this bulletin to anyone you think might be<br />interested. Together we're stronger!<br /><br />Messages From Residents Associations Maxwell Residents Association Survey <a href="http://glasgowresidents.wordpress.com/files/2007/02/microsoft-word-survey-report.pdf">report</a> In the summer of 2006 the Maxwell Residents' Association carried out a survey of the residents in and around the Maxwell Grove/Gardens area. The purpose of the survey was to gauge what issues in terms of housing and our local environment are of concern to local residents and those areas where residents are satisfied. This is their full report. As yet GHA and Communities Scotland have yet to action anything as a result of the survey. We've uploaded it so that people can see for themselves. <a href="http://glasgowresidents.wordpress.com/2007/02/05/open-letter-from-cedar-tenants-association/">Open Letter From Cedar Tenants Association</a> -- Upcoming Glasgow Residents Events Scottish Monitoring Group On Housing & Homelessness, 2nd Conference Saturday 10th February 2007, 10am till 5pm, Pollokshaws Burgh Hall (Opposite entrance to the Burrell Collection) Plenary sessions, workshops:- Real Tenant Participation/Empowerment; Second Stage Transfers; Homelessness; Accessible Housing; Racism in Housing; Fuel Poverty; Langlands Principles of Governance; Freedom of Information. Who should attend?:- housing specialists, academics, RtB owners and especially TENANTS Further information: www.monitoringscottishhousing.org.uk Glasgow Homeowners Group Meeting Every Thursday, 7pm, Central Hotel Group meeting to co-ordinate action across the city against charges faced by right to buy owners factored by the GHA. The meetings are aimed at homeowners, but tenants are welcome<br /><br />Join the Network Today!<br /><br />To post to this group, send email to glasgowresidents@googlegroups.com<br /><br />For more options, visit this group <a href="http://groups.google.co.uk/group/glasgowresidents?hl=en">at </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-62641954901032106172007-02-01T02:45:00.001-08:002007-02-01T02:45:51.921-08:00Housing chiefs want tenants’ feedback Evening Times 31/1/07HOUSING bosses are asking tenants to share their views to help the service run smoothly.<br />East Renfrewshire Council wants feedback on repairs, estate management and homelessness from every tenant - not just those of tenant associations.<br />And to make it easier the council has organised a special phone number and e-mail address.<br />Councillor Alan Lafferty said: "We want the housing service to be open and responsive to meet the needs of local people, so<br /> we're asking tenants to share their views with the service on a range of issues throughout the year."<br />Tenants can take part by calling Sandra Scott on 0141 577 3715 or by e-mailing sandra.scott@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk<br />10:31am todayUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-69829970966690156482007-02-01T02:43:00.000-08:002007-02-01T02:44:32.598-08:00Cornwall fails to consult tenants on takeover plan<code>By Martin Hilditch<br />Published: 26 January 2007 Inside Housing<br />Tenants of a flagship arm’s-length management organisation are taking legal advice after its future was thrown into doubt by a ‘hostile takeover’ bid for its parent council. <br /><span class="fullpost">Carrick District Council would be scrapped under a proposal by Cornwall County Council to become a unitary authority. <br />The move has created major uncertainty for Carrick Housing, one of only three ALMOs involved in a high-profile government pilot examining the feasibility of breaking away from the complex housing finance system. <br />With just over a month to go until Carrick Council is due to report back to the Treasury, the bid is making it difficult to work out what effect coming out of the finance system would have on the ALMO. <br />The pilot’s findings are meant to help the Treasury decide whether ‘opting out’ would be a viable option for similarly sized organisations. <br />Carrick Housing tenants said they were furious that they had not been consulted about the potential impact of the move by the county council. <br />Grenville Chappel, chair of the Carrick District Forum of Tenants, said Cornwall County Council had failed to appreciate the implications for the future of the ALMO. <br />In a letter circulated to those district councillors who also sit on the county council, he said: ‘We are extremely <br />concerned that proposals have been developed and are planned to be submitted to the government that would bring about specific changes for council tenants without the tenants themselves actually being consulted.’ <br />The takeover proposal was prompted by guidance from the Communities and Local Government department which said county councils should draw up plans to ensure districts worked more closely together. <br />Marianne Hood, a consultant hired by Carrick tenants, said that there could be problems in other areas where district councils had retained ownership of stock. <br />‘The whole thrust of the local government white paper is about empowering local communities. Unless <br />[the CLG] sorts this out it completely contradicts it,’ she said. <br />‘Unfortunately in the CLG paper there was no reminder that if there were district councils with retained stock then tenants should be consulted before decisions [to become unitary authorities] were formed.’ <br />A spokesperson for the CLG confirmed stock-owning councils would have to talk to tenants before changes to management could proceed. ‘Tenants should be fully consulted about changes to the management of their homes as set out in section 105 of the Housing Act 1985,’ he said.<br /></span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-64612836738548856172007-02-01T02:41:00.000-08:002007-02-01T02:42:23.305-08:00Housing Stock Transfer News Monday, January 15th, 2007<code>COUNCILLORS IN CRAWLEY have voted to cancel a stock transfer ballot after opinion surveys showed overwhelming opposition among tenants.<span class="fullpost">of a Conservative councillor to the Liberal Democrats over the issue. The ballot had been due in the Spring. <br />Posted in Stock transfer | Comment here »<br />Taunton ‘no’, Sheffield estates ‘yes’<br />Thursday, December 21st, 2006 <br />TENANTS IN TAUNTON have voted overwhelmingly against stock transfer. In a ballot result announced by Taunton Deane Borough Council this week, 69% of tenants voted against a switch to Deane Housing and 31% in favour on a 69% turnout.<br />However, tenants of five estates in Sheffield have voted in favour of transferring their 3,000 homes to Pennine Housing, Acis Group and Manchester Methodist Housing Association. The votes in favour of transfer in the three ballots ranged from 73% to 88%. <br /></span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-31741693284570653342007-01-24T13:52:00.000-08:002007-01-24T13:53:34.644-08:00Proof – GHA Ltd OVERCHARGING RIGHT TO BUY HOME ‘OWNERS’<code>Glasgow Housing Association Ltd is overcharging home owners. 13,387 homes under GHA Ltd management have had cladding work done.<span class="fullpost">Home owners are currently being charged VAT at 17.5% on top of the price for the job when they should be getting charged VAT at 5% for such work. <br />The Rendering and Cladding Association say that reduced VAT applies to what they call ‘retro jobs’ this is confirmed by the Governments own Revenue and Customs say that this is the case and further corroboration should it be needed comes from a Government Notice dated August 2006 which would have been sent to many bodies including the GHA Ltd.<br /> NB……i.e. a reduced rate of VAT to 5% for the supply and installation of energy<br /><br />If this is accurate GHA Ltd could possibly have overcharged owners, a collective total of, as much as £10 million mmmmm. <br /><br />Is journalism dead or can you check his out for youself?<br /><br />DTI - Wallis to Williams<br /> <br />This general principle is correct, as it leads to different charges in different locations, ... It should remove VAT on retro-fit energy saving measures. ...<br />www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review/consultation-submissions/april/individuals-and <br /><br /> <br />File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML<br />a reduced rate of VAT to 5% for the supply and installation of energy ... Insulated Render & Cladding Association Ltd. Dr Lynn Jones MP. Kent Energy Centre ...<br />www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/C00/44/houseeneffic_sumresp03.pdf - Similar pages <br />[PDF] <br />H.M. TREASURY AND DEFRA CONSULTATION: “ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS TO ...<br /> <br />File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML<br />a reduced rate of VAT to 5% for the supply and installation of energy ... Insulated Render &<br /> Cladding Association. Lighting Association ...<br />www.ukace.org/pubs/consult/Treasury%20&%20Defra%20Economic%20Instruments%20to%<br />20Improve%20Household%2... - Similar pages <br /></span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-79369928545457176362007-01-24T13:50:00.000-08:002007-01-24T13:51:49.184-08:00GHA LAUNCHES NEXT STAGE OF CONSULTATION ON RENT STRUCTURE REVIEW<code>Every GHA tenant in Glasgow will get the chance to have their say on the principles of a new and fairer rent structure for the association.<br />The three-month citywide consultation exercise follows three separate independent reports to:<br /><span class="fullpost">· Compare GHA rents with those of other social landlords in the city <br />· Assess affordability <br />· Seek tenants' views about rent structures. Speaking at the launch, GHA's Director of Housing Services, Mary Crearie, said: "The current rent structure has not been reviewed for around 25 years and recent research (see Notes to Editors) shows that it does not reflect current quality, amenity or value." "The purpose of this exercise is to produce a fairer and more transparent rent structure for GHA stock. It does not aim to increase rents overall but to produce a more equitable distribution of rents across the stock.<br /><br />"GHA stands by its promise, made at stock transfer, that the annual rent increase for all sitting tenants will not exceed the rate of inflation until March 2008 and will not increase by more than inflation plus one per cent at least until March 2011. "We are also sticking to another promise made at the same time that we would review the rent structure we inherited from Glasgow City Council and introduce a fairer rent structure for new tenants by 2008."<br /><br /> The consultation document indicates the general principles that should apply to GHA's new rent structure. These are:<br />· Consistency and fairness - ensuring that tenants living in similar properties and receiving similar services should pay similar rent and that rent levels should reflect the type, quality and amenity of the house and services provided <br />· Transparency and acceptability - the basis for rent setting should be easily explained and acceptable to stakeholders <br />· Straightforward and practical - able to reflect changes in stock and housing market conditions and policy priorities. In order to ascertain the views of tenants across the city on the principles of the new rent structure, GHA will send out a questionnaire to all tenants, hold a series of local events and consult with the GHA Tenants Panel. Other groups being invited to take part in the consultation include Local Housing Organisations, Registered Tenants Organisations, GHA staff and voluntary groups and organisations such as Age Concern, Shelter and CAB. Those taking part in the consultation will be asked a range of questions, including whether the age, size, type, location, condition and number of rooms in a property should be taken into account when setting rent levels. <br /><br />The GHA Board will discuss the results of this consultation later this year and any final proposals for a new rent structure will be subject to further consultation with tenants and other stakeholders before being introduced. ends <br /><br />Notes to Editor <br /><br />More than 3,000 people took part in the earlier independent research which helped formulate the principles for the new rent structure. <br />Rental Comparability Study <br />The Rental Comparability Study involved a survey of all Registered Social Landords (housing associations) and in-depth research in 12 case study landlords, as well as interviews with staff and tenants. It concluded that GHA's current rent structure lacks coherency and fairness and is not transparent to staff or tenants. The study found that: <br />· At April 2005, the average basic rent for GHA stock was £54 per week compared with £45 for other Registered Social Landlords <br />· Rents for flats are generally lower than rents for houses, but GHA multi-storey rents are higher than average <br />· GHA rents are competitive with the cost of purchase for first-time buyers <br />· GHA rents are substantially lower than the costs of renting in the private rented sector, where the average is around £93 per week<br />Affordability Study <br />The Affordability Study analysed data on tenants' income and circumstances using information from the GHA Tenant Satisfaction Survey, the Scottish Household Survey and the 2001 Census and Scottish Continuous Recording (SCORE) data collected by GHA from new tenants. It concluded that GHA rents are at the margins of affordability - particularly for larger properties. It found that: · Only 15% of GHA households contain someone in work <br />· A quarter of GHA tenants do not receive Housing Benefit <br />· The average income for a GHA tenant is £154 per week<br /><br />Tenants' Views<br />This study aimed to assess tenants' views of GHA rents and possible rent structures. This study was based on a face to face survey with a sample of over 2,600 tenants and six focus groups with LHO committee members and members of registered tenants groups. It found that:<br />· Half of all tenants think that the GHA full monthly rent is good value for money and a quarter (23%) think it is poor value for money <br />· Just under half (44%) of tenants think that GHA rents are affordable to those in work while 27% think they are not affordable <br />· Tenants thought that condition of the property, area, size and property type were the most important factors to be taken into account when setting rents <br />· Tenants felt that multi-storeys should have the lowest rents and semi-detached houses the highest.<br />'Towards Fairer Rents - Key findings from the GHA studies of Affordability, Comparability and Tenants' Views on Rents' is available here.<br />For further information contact:<br />Lynne McEwan<br />Media and Public Relations Manager<br />Glasgow Housing Association<br />Tel. 0141 274 6725<br />email: lynne.mcewan@gha.org.uk<br /></span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-73760021901729384132007-01-24T13:48:00.000-08:002007-01-24T13:50:37.307-08:00GHA STARTS £83 MILLION OF OVER CLADDING WORKS<code>Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is about to embark on its next major stage of home improvement works to deliver warm, dry homes to thousands of tenants – overcladding multi storey flats at a cost of £83 million.<span class="fullpost">GHA’s first overcladding of a multi-storey block is about to take place at Curle Street in Yoker and is expected to take around eight months to complete.<br /><br />Overcladding not only improves the appearance of the building but also provides extra insulation, which in turn helps cut residents’ heating bills.<br /><br />The over cladding programme will target a total of 55 high rise blocks and 41 mini-multis (eight storey buildings) across the city within the next four years.<br />The high-rise blocks benefiting from the programme include 18 in the south of the city, (covering Gorbals, Pollokshaws, Mosspark and Cardonald), 12 in the north and east (covering Sandyhills and Springburn) and 25 in the west (covering Townhead and Knightswood). A further 30 mini-multis are being targeted in the south (covering Craigden, Cardonald, Hillpark and Pollokshields) and 11 in the west (covering Knightswood and Balmore)<br /><br />The work in Yoker is costing around £1.3 million. Preparation work at the multi-storey block there, which houses 120 properties started in July 2006 and mast climbers have now been erected. The actual overcladding work begins in mid October and is expected to be complete in April next year. In addition, the installation of new double-glazed windows and a new roof is underway at the moment. Residents will also benefit from new roof safety lighting and perimeter lighting, the renewal of entrance canopies and the provision of replacement communal television aerial system. Further site starts are imminent as part of the overcladding programme and will continue in the Sandyhills area, which is costing GHA around £3.8 million. Mast climbers will be erected there from 11th September onwards with the actual over cladding work expected to begin a few weeks later. <br /> <br />GHA’s Director of Investment and Regeneration, David Hastings said: “GHA made a promise to tenants at the time of stock transfer that we would provide warm, dry homes and the major overcladding work now getting underway will ensure that’s what they get. “This major programme of works is costing GHA £83 million and will dramatically change the face of many high rise blocks and mini-multis in the city over the next four years. <br /><br />“This level of investment demonstrates to tenants living in those properties that GHA does invest in multi-storey blocks and we believe many do have a long-term future.”<br /><br />Beth Willis-New is the tenant Chairperson of Whiteinch & Scotstoun Housing Association Local Housing Organisation (LHO). She explained: "We have been working at Whiteinch LHO for some time now to bring the GHA investment programme to the area for the benefit of local tenants and we are pleased that not only have some works already been done or are now underway, but more are being planned and worked up. <br /><br />“Included in this is the project at 64 Curle Street which should see a variety of benefits for residents of the block. Tenants have complained in the past about the inadequacy of the steel-framed and single-glazed windows, which led to heating and condensation problems. So not only is this being remedied with the installation of new double-glazed windows but the overcladding system will also improve thermal insulation, making flats easier and cheaper to heat. “We also believe that the whole look of the property will be greatly enhanced and, to top it all off, we are currently discussing a lighting project for the top of the building to create an attractive impression during the hours of darkness!" <br /> <br />ends <br />NOTES TO EDITORS:<br /><br />CONTACT:<br />Jaelithe Leigh-Brown<br />Press Officer<br />Glasgow Housing Association<br />Tel. 0141 274 5708<br />email: jaelithe.leigh-brown@gha.org.uk<br /><br /></span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-49965808340072508802007-01-24T13:46:00.000-08:002007-01-24T13:47:48.429-08:00COUNCIL EXTENDS HOME BUYING CURBS<code>A local authority has been given the go-ahead to extend the suspension of the right-to-buy policy in its area. In May, Fife Council suspended the right of tenants in St Andrews and East Neuk to buy their council homes. Now the Scottish Executive has agreed to "pressurised area status" covering 13 places in west Fife. The aim is to protect housing stock and it is believed to be first time a Scottish council has made a second bid to suspend the right-to-buy. <span class="fullpost">Tenants in Aberdour, Charlestown, Crossford, Culross, Dalgety Bay, Halbeath, Kingseat, Limekilns, North Queensferry, Rosyth, Saline, Torryburn and Townhill will have their right to buy their council properties suspended for the next five years. <br /> <br /> Fife Council is the first authority to make a second application to suspend the right to buy - this time in the west of its area <br />Des McNulty <br />Deputy Communities Minister <br />However, this applies only to tenancies which began after 30 September, 2002. <br />Fife Council said about 237 tenants would be affected by the suspension, which was announced by Deputy Communities Minister Des McNulty. <br />He said: "Fife Council is the first authority to make a second application to suspend the right to buy - this time in the west of its area. <br />"Once again, it has presented a convincing case, and has provided compelling evidence of substantial pressures on affordable housing in the designated areas." <br />Affordable homes <br />Councillor Alex Sawers, Fife Council's housing spokesman, said the announcement was good news for the area. <br />He said: "We're trying everything we can to make more affordable properties available for those most in need. <br />"This year alone over £21m is being spent on creating more affordable homes for people. <br />"Keeping valuable council housing stock is also a step in the right direction as well as releasing council land for affordable housing means that we are making some inroads to tackling this issue." <br />Five councils in Scotland have successfully applied for the right to buy to be suspended, while an application by a sixth authority, Perth and Kinross Council, is being considered. <br />Story from BBC NEWS:<br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6262937.stm<br /><br />Published: 2007/01/15 12:47:54 GMT<br /><br />© BBC MMVII<br /></span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-43174535407914789712007-01-24T13:39:00.000-08:002007-01-24T13:46:01.233-08:00HOUSING TRANSFERS - WHAT A SORRY MESS<code>Press release<br />Scottish Tenants organisation In Edinburgh, Stirling, Renfrewshire and the Highlands Tenants have said NO to it That’s why we say with our new campaign<br />Scotland for Council Housing<br /><span class="fullpost">On 15th February 2007 the Scottish Tenants Organisation will be meeting with invited MSPs at the Scottish Parliament to breath new life into the case for a sustainable Public Housing policy. It is clear that the current form of ‘regeneration’ ‘aint workin’. We would be interested in asking Ms R. Brankin the latest Communities minister if she will honour Malcolm Chisholm’s promise that that The Scottish Executive will support Councils where stock transfer has been rejected <br /><br />“We look forward to taking up with her the points we raise in our new campaign .” [see below}<br /><br />Now that the dust has settled on Mlcolm Chisholm’s departure we at the STO must look forward in the hope of achieving the degree of dialogue with new Communities Minister That has so far eluded us. Before we say our final adieu to Mr Chisholm it should be acknowledged that his departure had little to do with “his principled stance on nuclear weapons” the ostensible reason for his departure from the Communities portfolio being that he did not vote with Jack McConnell on the issue. <br /><br /> The principle over loyalty reason does not stand up to historical scrutiny; It is widely believed that the real unpublished reason for Malcolm Chisholm’s feigned glorious exit was a smokescreen to mask the fact that he was sacrificed due to the very public contradictory utterances from the Chair of the Glasgow Housing Association Ltd and himself over an asserted short fall in the funds of GHA Ltd and a failure to keep Michael Lennon CEO of the massive housing body to his job description. These two key names aboard the Scottish executives ‘flagship’ policy to encourage the pathological pursuit of profit and power for private developers and landlords, getting the tax payer to foot part of the bill and calling it regeneration but it was all in danger of becoming just a bit messy. Malcolm Chisholm and Michaell Lennon had to go overboard.<br /><br />Despite Ms Brankin’s less than encouraging reception from leading reports in the Glasgow press the STO intends to do what we can to ensure that the new post holder like her predecessors lives in interesting and eventful times until the Scottish election and after. Encouraged by recent ballot success, we look forward to taking up with her the points we raise in our new campaign <br /><br />Scottish Tenants Organisation campaign entitled ` Scotland for Council Housing`<br /><br />The first shots in the latest phase of the battle over Council housing were fired at a meeting last December 9th, 2006 in Stirling, held jointly between the Scottish Tenants Organisation and local campaigners from the four Council areas where tenants have recently rejected stock transfer, namely, Edinburgh, Stirling, Renfrewshire and the Highlands.<br /><br />The meeting launched a campaign entitled ` Scotland for Council Housing` which makes three basic demands on behalf of tenants. The campaign wants Council housing debt written off, direct investment for Council housing, with immediate help for the four no vote areas, and no land sell offs.<br /><br />S.T.O. Convenor John Carracher stated “ The campaign has initially set it`s sights on politicians in the run up to the Hollyrood E44lections with the view of having housing further up the political agenda. We want first of all to know what financial help will be offered to Councils whose tenants have voted against privatisation and have written to Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm seeking an urgent meeting to put this question on tenants behalf”.<br /><br />“We also want to know why housing debt write off is only on offer to Councils which give away their housing to a private landlord”<br /><br />John said further “ The campaign will put politicians on the spot over the lack of a coherent housing strategy in Scotland given all the problems with rising numbers of homelessness, escalating housing costs and the great land give away”. “ The notion of `affordability` also needs to be defined”. “The campaign will be seeking support from tenants, Trade Unions, Councils, Political Parties and others to bring about genuine change in housing policy”<br /><br />Release Ends<br /><br />Editors Notes<br /><br />1 Before he left as Comunities Minister, Malcolm Chisholm has stated that The Scottish Executive will support Councils where stock transfer has been rejected. Clarification is needed on what that support entails and we will be seeking a meeting with Rhona Brankin about this.<br /> <br />2 Housing Associations are classified by the Scottish Parliament as private landlords <br />( Scottish Parliament Information Centre briefing 04/70 ) They are classified similarly by the UK Treasury.<br /><br />3 The government claims that the transfer of council housing to the private sector is necessary to reduce public borrowing. But as the recent Audit Scotland report `Council housing transfers` points out, debt repayment ( debt write off ) is not a cost to government-“there is no net effect ( cost or benefit) for the Exchequer or the taxpayer when the Treasury provides grant aid to allow repayment of a council`s PWLB loan debt. These are transfers within government” Debt write off can be applied to Councils, provided that time- limited constraints are added to prevent further borrowing immediately afterwards. Therefore the “official” reason for stock transfer does not apply.<br /><br />4 The Scottish Tenants Organisation ( STO) is the national independent tenants`representative body. It is composed of tenants and residents associations and individual tenants, and any tenant living in Scotland can join. It was formed at the end of the First World War, out of the tenants struggles during the Glasgow Rent Strikes.<br /><br />For further information about STO and/or its policies contact:<br /><br />John Carracher, Convenor - 01698-281488<br />Jenni Marrow, Secretary - 0131-476-2359<br />Iain Mac Innes, Vice-Chair – 07976 718 111<br /></span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-88020581573101867612007-01-24T13:36:00.000-08:002007-01-24T13:45:16.124-08:00GLASGOW SAVE OUR HOMES CAMPAIGN SECOND STAGE TRANSFER AND THE FREE MARKET A SHORT BRIEFING PAPER<code>Second Stage Transfer (SST*) has been trumpeted as Community Ownership which would be the means to deliver decent social housing in Glasgow. In addition we are in formed that all Glasgow Tenants want SST to deliver us from the evils of the Glasgow Housing association Ltd (GHA Ltd). It is utter humbug. <span class="fullpost">Second Stage Transfer (SST) is NOT Community Ownership as any Local Housing Organisations that would take over ownership of housing stock have Codes of Conduct that Tenant Members of their Board have to sign which prevents them from talking to any other tenants about the business of the new landlord: so much for Community Ownership. In addition with Local Housing Organisations(LHOs**) taking over stock there would be amalgamations, mergers and outright takeovers by predatory Housing Associations such as Sanctuary, Homes or Places for People. These three English based Housing Associations have 129,000 properties between them charging market rents south of the border. <br /><br />Second Stage Transfer would be nothing more than generating a Free Market in Social Housing which would result in accelerating Demolitions with land sell offs for Private Housing developments as the Private Banking Consortium of HBOS,RBS and Nationwide would be at the heart of driving this process forward. Secondly at the current time GHA Ltd is carrying out a Rent Restructuring Review stating that it favours differentiating rents. This process would be accelerated with the further break-up of Housing Stock with differentiating Market Rents being charged to the detriment of tenants. This is especially the case with new labour’s plans to replace Housing benefit with a Local Housing Allowance. <br /><br />GHA Ltd recently carried out a survey of tenants and only 5% understood what SST* was. In addition Penilee LHO** carried out a Private Survey of its 2,000 Tenants which revealed that the majority of tenants did NOT support SST. Real Community Ownership requires that GHA ltd Housing is brought back under the ownership of Glasgow City Council with Tenants being offered the opportunity to take over the Management of Housing stock in their local area through the form of Tenant management Cooperatives (TMCs)where tenants are in genuine control and are protected from predatory Free Market Forces with the protective umbrella of Glasgow City Council. <br /><br />The Glasgow Save Our Homes campaign and Glasgow Residents Network will oppose SST in 2007 and we look forward to support from the Scottish Tenants Organisation (STO) in line with its principled policy of opposing Stock Transfer. It is vital that any Conference on Scottish Housing must support genuine Community ownership through housing being returned to Glasgow City Council and oppose SST at all times. ~ Tel: 07976718111 ~ <br /></span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-82157296173661950842007-01-24T13:14:00.000-08:002007-01-24T13:16:05.895-08:00100 RESIDENTS TOLD TO RIP OUT PORCHES OR FACE COURT<code>FURIOUS residents are vowing to defy demands for them to tear down additions to their homes.<br />More than 100 owners and tenants at flats in Bernard Street in Bridgeton have created porches on the common landing outside their homes.<span class="fullpost">Where the landing only provides access to their property, people have installed windows and doors, effectively extending their homes.<br /><br />According to residents and the local councillor the porches or "decks" provide extra security and keep homes warm in winter.<br /><br />But Glasgow Housing Association says the structures are a fire hazard which will hold up its £3million investment plan and must be knocked down - or residents could face legal action.<br /><br />However, more than 100 locals are challenging the order.<br /><br />Angry residents recently held a protest meeting which was also attended by the police and fire services. GHA representatives were invited but did not attend, claiming they did not receive enough notice.<br /><br />Pensioners John and Marie Henderson have lived in their home since it was built in 1976.<br /><br />John, 65, created his deck more than 20 years ago and has since spent hundreds of pounds on new UPVC windows.<br /><br />The retired whisky bond worker, who bought the house in 1992, said: "Having a second door is an extra layer of security. It also keeps the house warm."<br /><br />He added: "My deck was here way before GHA arrived on the scene.<br /><br />"The tone of the letter it sent was threatening and it didn't enter into any consultation. If GHA thinks we're all just going to knock down part of our homes, it has another thing coming."<br /><br />Strathclyde Police has backed the residents. A force spokeswoman said: "From our point of view these structures provide extra security to homes."<br /><br />But Glasgow Housing Association insisted the porches or decks must come down and refused to rule out legal action.<br /><br />A spokeswoman said: "Consultants found a number of unauthorised structures erected in the shared entrances, which will prevent us from carrying out major investment works effectively.<br /><br />"They advised that the structures erected by some residents are a fire hazard and will reduce any survival chances.<br /><br />"Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service has also advised GHA that these unauthorised structures may constitute a fire hazard."<br /><br />She added: "We want to resolve this issue as soon as possible but if there is no agreement we cannot rule out legal action."<br /><br />Bridgeton and Dalmarnock Councillor George Redmond vowed to stand by the residents.<br /><br />He said: "The situation is a shambles. The letter sent by GHA is nothing more than a scare tactic. It doesn't have respect for the residents."<br /><br />A Strathclyde Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "Although the porches may not represent a fire risk, they do represent an additional barrier for firefighters gaining access to flats."<br /><br />Evening Times 8:58am Monday 15th January 2007<br /><br /></span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-58818409595292509042006-12-24T07:35:00.000-08:002007-01-24T12:48:02.378-08:00Scottish Monitoring Group on Housing and Homelessness ... Watching the ExecutivesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-1166742008722564362006-12-21T14:57:00.000-08:002006-12-22T07:36:15.559-08:00Scottish tenants demand inquiry into GHA<code>Following the resignation of Michael Lennon, chief executive of Glasgow housing association (GHA), the Scottish Tenants Organisation is seeking an independent inquiry into the setting up and management of GHA.<span class="fullpost"><br />John Carracher, convenor of the Scottish Tenants Organisation, said: “From the very beginning, the transfer of Glasgow’s council housing stock and the subsequent re-structuring has been farce. Before the transfer ballot tenants were not given clear, understandable information, or sufficient time to understand the implications of such a huge and complicated transfer.<br /><br /> “Tenants were selected to sit on forums to decide the future of Glasgow’s public housing, and were confronted with complicated plans and financial projections. Tenants complained that they couldn’t understand the business plan for the proposed housing association. The pressure to ‘deliver a Yes vote’ was THE most important driver of the process, not whether tenants fully understood the consequences of their vote.” <span style="font-style:italic;">Property People<br /></span><br /> Within recent weeks it has been revealed that financial calculations for the costs of secondary stock transfer to smaller housing associations had not been included in the original business plan. When interviewed on BBC TV, Malcolm Chisholm, Minister for Communities, was unable to comment on the outcome of a demand for an additional £500 million for secondary transfer. He was also unwilling to comment on Michael Lennon’s 23 per cent salary increase award. Recently, two surveys have been carried out, one by GHA and one by Penilee LHO. The GHA survey showed that only five per cent of tenants understood the issue of secondary transfer; the Penilee survey showed that the majority of tenants didn`t see the need for secondary transfer, since they are already getting their improvements done.<br /><br /> Carracher said: “This transfer was flawed from the very beginning. It has become a costly gigantic game of monopoly, with handouts from the Scottish Executive. This transfer was never about tenants - the people who the Scottish Executive claim are ‘at the heart of the process’. It was always about privatisation, and multi-million pound finances, and tenants are being damaged in the process. The Scottish Tenants Organisation will be writing to Mr. Chisholm to ask for a halt to all further plans, developments and demolitions until an independent inquiry has been held. We will also be contacting all MSPs to ask for their support for this.” 18.12.06 <span style="font-style:italic;">Property People</span> </span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-25336008880156245432006-12-20T15:27:00.000-08:002006-12-21T15:57:52.773-08:00MICHAEL LENNON TO STEP DOWN FROM GHA IN NEW YEAR<code>Michael Lennon, Chief Executive of Glasgow Housing Association will be leaving GHA on January 31, 2007, after almost four years in post.<span class="fullpost">The Board agreed with Michael that this is a logical point for him to stand down. He expressed a wish to move on once the GHA had achieved a number of milestones. His efforts and contribution have been hugely valued but his desire to leave, to return to Australia with his family, forced GHA to take stock and consider whether this might be an appropriate time for change in leadership.<br /><br />GHA Tenant Chair, Sandra Forsythe, said: "The Board and the tenants of GHA are well aware of the massive contribution Michael has made to GHA and to social housing in Glasgow. Michael has been an outstanding Chief Executive and the Board will miss his huge commitment to GHA's work on delivering for tenants."<br /><br />Michael said: "It has been a privilege to work with GHA and its partners, especially its board, staff and tenants who have been supported me over the past few years. I am delighted that the GHA team has achieved such huge results since stock transfer in March 2003 and I wish the association, and the LHO network, every success in the future."<br /><br />GHA is at the end of the first main phase of the GHA project and is ahead of target on promises made to the tenants of Glasgow when they voted for stock transfer. Its core investment programme is running ahead of schedule and by year end it will have invested almost £450m in tenants' properties. Early in 07, it will disaggregate its central services and back room functions by moving over 200 staff out to front-line services within the LHO network.<br /><br />Therefore, the Board has accepted that it is both an appropriate time and in the best interests of both parties for Michael's contract to end now. In reaching the decision, the Board was mindful that once a senior member of staff indicates that he or she wants to leave, it can be difficult for that person to sustain momentum.<br /><br />The Board now has the opportunity to consider the kind of leader GHA needs from here on. Plans to recruit a new Chief Executive are underway and an interim Acting Chief Executive will be appointed early in 2007.<br /><br />Donna Stevenson, Director of Strategic Services, who was due to step down in March, will extend her contract to oversee the next crucial period of the Community Ownership Intentions process.<br /><br />www.gha.org.uk</span></code>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-1166653669068172272006-12-20T14:27:00.000-08:002006-12-20T14:27:49.136-08:00Watchdog raises questions over �442m efficiency savings - The Herald<a href="http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/77119.html">Watchdog raises questions over �442m efficiency savings - The Herald</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15817719.post-1165874951043859472006-12-11T14:07:00.000-08:002006-12-11T14:17:01.530-08:00Glasgow Residents Network SocialResidents Network Social - drinks, socialising, and a chance to meet other<br />residents groups from across the city Saturday 16th, December... Glasgow Residents Network Social - Come Along After Your Christmas Shopping...[BYOB] - 5:45 pm onwards, the Quakers Friends Meeting House, Elmbank Crescent. Come along and meet others involved in the residents movement! Anyone who can bake cakes or bring along sandwiches would be graciously received...<br />-- <br /><a href="http://www.glasgowresidents.wordpress.com">www.glasgowresidents.wordpress.com</a><br />Glasgow's Residents MovementUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0