The deputations and petitions that have been received for presentation to the Council Meeting are set out in the attached agenda item 5.  Any further requests received before the deadline of Thursday 9^th October will be circulated separately to Members.

DEPUTATIONS

 

5.1.1       Deputation: Leaseholder Services

 

Mr. Andrew Coles addressed the meeting in support of the deputation.

 

DECISION

 

That the deputation be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on outstanding matters within 28 days.

 

(Action by:  Paul Evans, Interim Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)

 

Change to order of business agreed

 

11.3         Motion submitted by Councillor Tim Archer regarding Leaseholder Services

 

An amendment moved by Cllr Marc Francis and seconded by Cllr Lutfur Rahman was agreed.  The substantive motion as amended was then agreed as follows:-

 

DECISION

 

This Council supports the principle of leaseholders only being charged for services they actually receive.

 

It further notes the need to drive up the performance of Arms Length Management under Tower Hamlets Homes to be confident of achieving a two-star rating from the Audit Commission when it is inspected;

 

It also notes the continuing dissatisfaction of some leaseholders with the overall service they receive, particularly in respect of:

 

• Information and consultation on both major works and annual service charges
• The overall level of both major works and annual charges, particularly the management and administration element
• The value for money that these charges represent and the quality of services that leaseholders are asked to pay for

 

This Council welcomes the constructive role Tower Hamlets Leaseholders Association has played in representing the interests of individual leaseholders in dispute with LB Tower Hamlets and in helping to shape council policy.

 

Furthermore, this council welcomes the following recent developments:

 

• The decision to issue a £50 rebate on the administration charge for 2006/07, and repeat this £50 rebate in the 2007/08 “actuals”
• The Scrutiny Review of Leasehold Services, including its key recommendation of the need for greater transparency and accountability in the calculation and apportionment of charges
• The Leasehold Valuation Tribunal’s judgements on Lister House, the 2006/07 “estimates” and the Aurora House test case
• The early signs of improvement in the day-to-day caretaking, management and maintenance since the establishment Tower Hamlets Homes.

 

Nevertheless, believes that further measures are needed to ensure sustained improvements in performance, greater value for money and improve satisfaction amongst leaseholders.  And therefore resolves to request the Cabinet to:

 

• Commission an independent audit of the processes used by Tower Hamlets Homes to determine the leasehold service charge “actuals” for 2007/08 to ensure these are accurately calculated in accordance with best practice
• Instruct the Lead Councillor for Housing and Development to urgently draw up the remit for this audit following consultation with Tower Hamlets Leaseholders Association, Opposition Parties and other representative bodies
• Ensures that this review is carried out in accordance with the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Regeneration Act 1993 in respect of management audits
• Require this audit to be completed in time to inform the 2009/10 “estimates” and the 2008/09 “actuals”.

 

 

PETITIONS

 

5.2.1       Petition re: Muslim graveyard

 

Mr. Rabbi Ashfak Hussain addressed the meeting in support of the petition.

 

DECISION

 

That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

 

(Action by:  Paul Evans, Interim Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)

 

5.2.2       Petition re: the banning of a book from marketing in Tower Hamlets and lobbying for a UK-wide ban

 

Mr. Rabbi Ashfak Hussain addressed the meeting in support of the petition.

 

DECISION

 

That the petition be referred to the Assistant Chief Executive for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

 

(Action by: Lutfur Ali, Assistant Chief Executive)

 

5.2.3       Petition re: The Tower Hamlets Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre in St. Margaret’s House

 

Mr. Tony Uwadiale addressed the meeting in support of the petition.

 

DECISION

 

That the petition be referred to the Corproate Director, Adult Health and Wellbeing for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

 

(Action by: John Goldup, Corporate Director, Adult Health and Wellbeing)

 

 

Urgent Motion – Island Homes

 

Councillor Peter Golds moved, Councillor Timothy Archer seconded and the meeting agreed the suspension of Procedure Rule 13.1 to enable an urgent motion on the above matter to be considered at the meeting. 

 

Councillor Timothy Archer then moved, Councillor Peter Golds seconded and the meeting agreed under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 to vary the order of business to enable the urgent motion in respect of Island Homes to be discussed as the next item of business.

 

Councillor Peter Golds moved and Councillor Timothy Archer seconded the urgent motion in relation to Island Homes as circulated to the meeting. 

 

An amendment moved by Councillor Marc Francis and seconded by Councillor Lutfur Rahman was agreed.  The substantive motion as amended was then agreed as follows:-

 

DECISION  

 

1.         This Council notes:

 

(a) that on 5th December 2005, four Council estates on the Isle of Dogs transferred over to Toynbee Island Homes, a new Housing Association created for the purpose of this transfer, under the Council's "Housing Choice" policy;

 

(b) that the terms of the transfer were set out by the Council in an offer document, and included:

 

i) a promise that Toynbee Island Homes Housing Association (later renamed "Island Homes") would be resident-led and have a majority of residents on the Board;

 

ii) a promise that management agreements would be signed between Island Homes and the resident organisations on each of the four estates which would govern service delivery on each estate;

 

iii) a promise that services would be delivered locally by three offices based in the Island Homes estates;

 

(c) that the terms of transfer as set out in the Council's offer document were the basis on which tenants voted in favour of transfer, on the basis of which the transfer went ahead, and the basis on which leaseholders, in an indicative vote, indicated their wish to see the transfer go ahead.

 

2.         This Council further notes:

 

(a) the deputation from Island Homes residents to this Council at its meeting on 25th June which described how ONE Housing Group took over the role of "parent body" of Island Homes and in that role sacked the Board of Island Homes in April 2008 and unilaterally appointed an Interim Board which instituted changes in governance and service delivery which the Board of Island Homes had declined to implement itself;

 

(b) that the Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration, in replying to that deputation, stated that the Council was committed to seeing that the terms of the offer document, and in particular the condition that Island Homes Housing Association be resident-led with a majority of residents on the Board, were restored.

 

3.         This Council further notes that the Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration attended a meeting of Island Homes residents on 30th September and repeated that commitment he gave before the meeting of the Council. He reported that despite representations he had made to ONE Housing Group to restore the conditions promised in the offer document, ONE Housing Group had not bowed to his representations and had not agreed to do this. He heard the fears of Island Homes residents that unless progress was made very quickly, the Interim Board appointed by ONE Housing Group would make such far-reaching changes that it would be extremely difficult to restore the conditions promised by this Council in the offer document.

 

4.         This Council further notes that during the period of office of the Interim Board of Island Homes, three senior members of staff who transferred over from the Council have been suspended without substantive disciplinary charge by ONE Housing Group and one such member of staff has left for employment elsewhere, and that these officers have over a century of unblemished and lauded service for the Council and are extremely popular with residents.

 

5.         This Council notes that on Friday, 10th October UNISON was invited to meet ONE Housing Group to hear that ONE Housing Group has announced the start of a 28 day consultation period with trade unions in respect of its plans to integrate services at a Customer Contact Centre at Mile End which would become the main means for residents to contact Island Homes. This would involve closing all but one office on the Island Homes estates. It will also involve staff moving, changing jobs and potential redundancies. ONE Housing Group has not announced any plans to consult residents about these plans which would further breach the promises made by this Council in the offer document. These plans would be virtually impossible to undo if the conditions in the offer document are to be restored.

 

6.         This Council believes that:

 

(a) the promises set out in the offer document should be upheld;

 

(b) if this Council cannot manage to keep its promises, it will have let down the residents on the Isle of Dogs who believed the Council would keep its promises and voted for their estates to be transferred on that basis;

 

(c) if the promises in the offer document are not upheld, the Housing Choice programme undertaken by this Council will be revealed to have been a nonsense.

 

7.         This Council requests:

 

(a) the Lead Member for Housing and Development to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the promises made to Island Homes residents by Toynbee Housing Association via the Offer Document are fulfilled, including those relating to service delivery as well as governance by considering:

 

(i) making formal written representations to ONE Housing Group;

 

(ii) pursuing legal action to enforce the transfer agreement;

 

(iii) making representations to the Housing Corporation, the Department for Communities and Local Government;

 

(iv) drawing this matter to the attention of the newly-appointed Housing Minister, Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP;

 

(b) the Lead Member to report back to councillors within one month of the passing of this resolution on the progress of this matter.

 

DEPUTATIONS

 

5.1.1       Leaseholder Services

 

At the invitation of the Mayor, Mr. Andrew Coles addressed the meeting about leaseholder services and charges.

 

After Mr Coles had addressed the meeting, Councillor Tim Archer MOVED and Councillor Peter Golds SECONDED – “That under Rule 14.1.3 (to change the order of business in the agenda), agenda item 11.3 (motion on leaseholder services) be moved forward to follow immediately the deputation from the Tower Hamlets Leaseholders Association.”

 

The procedural motion to change the order of business was put to the vote and was agreed with no Member voting against.

 

Mr. Coles then responded to questions from Members of the Council.

 

Councillor Marc Francis, Lead Member for Housing and Development, then responded to the matters raised by the deputation.     

 

RESOLVED

 

That the deputation be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on outstanding matters within 28 days.

 

 

Change to order of business

 

11.3         Motion submitted by Councillor Tim Archer regarding Leaseholder Services

 

Councillor Tim Archer MOVED and Councillor Peter Golds, SECONDED the motion as set out at agenda item 11.3.

 

Councillor Marc Francis MOVED and Councillor Lutfur Rahman SECONDED an amendment to the motion as follows:-

 

‘Delete from “This Council notes ….” To “… firm of auditors.” and replace with the following text

 

“This Council supports the principle of leaseholders only being charged for services they actually receive.

 

It further notes the need to drive up the performance of Arms Length Management under Tower Hamlets Homes to be confident of achieving a two-star rating from the Audit Commission when it is inspected;

 

It also notes the continuing dissatisfaction of some leaseholders with the overall service they receive, particularly in respect of:

 

• Information and consultation on both major works and annual service charges
• The overall level of both major works and annual charges, particularly the management and administration element
• The value for money that these charges represent and the quality of services that leaseholders are asked to pay for

 

This Council welcomes the constructive role Tower Hamlets Leaseholders Association has played in representing the interests of individual leaseholders in dispute with LB Tower Hamlets and in helping to shape council policy.

 

Furthermore, this council welcomes the following recent developments:

 

• The decision to issue a £50 rebate on the administration charge for 2006/07, and repeat this £50 rebate in the 2007/08 “actuals”
• The Scrutiny Review of Leasehold Services, including its key recommendation of the need for greater transparency and accountability in the calculation and apportionment of charges
• The Leasehold Valuation Tribunal’s judgements on Lister House, the 2006/07 “estimates” and the Aurora House test case
• The early signs of improvement in the day-to-day caretaking, management and maintenance since the establishment Tower Hamlets Homes.

 

Nevertheless, believes that further measures are needed to ensure sustained improvements in performance, greater value for money and improve satisfaction amongst leaseholders.  And therefore resolves that Cabinet:

 

• Commission an independent audit of the processes used by Tower Hamlets Homes to determine the leasehold service charge “actuals” for 2007/08 to ensure these are accurately calculated in accordance with best practice
• Instruct the Lead Councillor for Housing and Development to urgently draw up the remit for this audit following consultation with Tower Hamlets Leaseholders Association, Opposition Parties and other representative bodies
• Ensures that this review is carried out in accordance with the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Regeneration Act 1993 in respect of management audits
• Require this audit to be completed in time to inform the 2009/10 “estimates” and the 2008/09 “actuals”.’

 

 

The Service Head, Democratic Services informed the Council that the matters set out in the amendment were Executive Functions under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000 and that should the Council wish to agree the amendment, the sentence immediately before the final bullet points should be amended to read ‘And therefore resolves to request the Cabinet to:-‘

 

After discussion, the amendment was put to the vote and was agreed with no Member voting against. 

 

The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote and was agreed with no Member voting against.  Accordingly it was:-

 

RESOLVED

 

This Council supports the principle of leaseholders only being charged for services they actually receive.

 

It further notes the need to drive up the performance of Arms Length Management under Tower Hamlets Homes to be confident of achieving a two-star rating from the Audit Commission when it is inspected;

 

It also notes the continuing dissatisfaction of some leaseholders with the overall service they receive, particularly in respect of:

 

• Information and consultation on both major works and annual service charges
• The overall level of both major works and annual charges, particularly the management and administration element
• The value for money that these charges represent and the quality of services that leaseholders are asked to pay for

 

This Council welcomes the constructive role Tower Hamlets Leaseholders Association has played in representing the interests of individual leaseholders in dispute with LB Tower Hamlets and in helping to shape council policy.

 

Furthermore, this council welcomes the following recent developments:

 

• The decision to issue a £50 rebate on the administration charge for 2006/07, and repeat this £50 rebate in the 2007/08 “actuals”
• The Scrutiny Review of Leasehold Services, including its key recommendation of the need for greater transparency and accountability in the calculation and apportionment of charges
• The Leasehold Valuation Tribunal’s judgements on Lister House, the 2006/07 “estimates” and the Aurora House test case
• The early signs of improvement in the day-to-day caretaking, management and maintenance since the establishment Tower Hamlets Homes.

 

Nevertheless, believes that further measures are needed to ensure sustained improvements in performance, greater value for money and improve satisfaction amongst leaseholders.  And therefore resolves to request the Cabinet to:

 

• Commission an independent audit of the processes used by Tower Hamlets Homes to determine the leasehold service charge “actuals” for 2007/08 to ensure these are accurately calculated in accordance with best practice
• Instruct the Lead Councillor for Housing and Development to urgently draw up the remit for this audit following consultation with Tower Hamlets Leaseholders Association, Opposition Parties and other representative bodies
• Ensures that this review is carried out in accordance with the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Regeneration Act 1993 in respect of management audits
• Require this audit to be completed in time to inform the 2009/10 “estimates” and the 2008/09 “actuals”.

 

 

At this point (8.36 p.m.) the meeting was adjourned to enable a number of members of the public to leave the gallery.

 

The meeting resumed at 8.48 p.m. and the Service Head, Democratic Services informed Members that the revised projected end time for the meeting was now 10.45 p.m.

 

 

PETITIONS

 

5.2.1       Muslim graveyard

 

At the invitation of the Mayor, Mr. Rabbi Ashfak Hussain addressed the meeting in support of the petition concerning a Muslim graveyard.  He re-iterated the points raised in the written petition and asked when the burial space would be provided. 

 

Mr. Hussain responded to questions by Members of the Council. 

 

Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Lead Member for Regeneration, Localisation and Community Partnerships responded to the matters raised in Mr. Hussain’s petition. 

 

During Councillor Ohid Ahmed’s response, Councillor Ahmed Hussain sought to move to a vote on the petition.   The Service Head, Democratic Services advised that the procedure rules did not provide for the Council to vote on a petition. 

 

Councillor Ahmed Hussain then MOVED and Councillor Peter Golds SECONDED – “That under procedural rule 14.1.14, rule 13.1 be suspended to enable an urgent motion to be put on the matters set out in the petition 5.2.1.”    

 

The procedural motion was put to the vote and was defeated.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

 

 

5.2.2       Banning of a book from marketing in Tower Hamlets and lobbying for a UK-wide ban

 

At the invitation of the Mayor, Mr. Rabbi Ashfak Hussain addressed the meeting in support of the petition, which called for the book ‘Kalapanir Hatchani – Biletey Bangaleer Itihash’ to be not shelved in any Idea Store or bookshop in the borough and for the Council to lobby the Government for the book to be removed from circulation in the UK.  

 

Mr. Hussain responded to questions by Members. 

 

Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Lead Member for Regeneration, Localisation and Community Partnerships responded to the matters raised in Mr. Hussain’s petition.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the petition be referred to the Assistant Chief Executive for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

 

 

5.2.3       The Tower Hamlets Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre in St. Margaret’s House

 

At the invitation of the Mayor, Mr. Tony Uwadiale addressed the meeting in support of the petition.  A user of the Centre also addressed the meeting about the importance of the support that it gave to sickle cell suffers.

 

Mr. Uwadiale responded to questions by Members of the Council.

 

Councillor Dr. Anwara Ali, Lead Member, Health and Wellbeing, responded to the matters raised in Mr. Uwadiale’s petition.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the petition be referred to the Corproate Director, Adult Health and Wellbeing for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

 

Change to the order of Business

 

Urgent Motion – Island Homes

 

Councillor Peter Golds MOVED and Councillor Timothy Archer SECONDED “That under procedural rule 14.1.14, rule 13.1 be suspended to enable an urgent motion on Island Homes to be considered at the meeting.”

 

The procedural motion was put to the vote and was unanimously agreed.

 

Councillor Timothy Archer then MOVED and Councillor Peter Golds SECONDED, “That under Procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to enable the urgent motion in respect of Island Homes to be discussed as the next item of business.”

 

The procedural motion was put to the vote and was unanimously agreed.

 

Councillor Stephanie Eaton, Councillor Shahed Ali, Councillor Mohammed Shahed Ali and Councillor Oliur Rahmen each declared a personal interest in the urgent motion as leaseholders/tenants respectively of Toynbee/Island Homes.  Councillor Shirley Houghton also declared a personal interest in the urgent motion as a Member of the Barkantine Management Board. 

 

Councillor Peter Golds MOVED and Councillor Timothy Archer SECONDED the urgent motion as follows:-

 

“1.        This Council notes:

 

(a)   that on 5th December 2005, four Council estates on the Isle of Dogs transferred over to Toynbee Island Homes, a new Housing Association created for the purpose of this transfer, under the Council's "Housing Choice" policy;

 

(b) that the terms of the transfer were set out by the Council in an offer document, and included:

 

i) a promise that Toynbee Island Homes Housing Association (later renamed "Island Homes") would be resident-led and have a majority of residents on the Board;

 

ii) a promise that management agreements would be signed between Island Homes and the resident organisations on each of the four estates which would govern service delivery on each estate;

 

iii) a promise that services would be delivered locally by three offices based in the Island Homes estates;

 

(c) that the terms of transfer as set out in the Council's offer document were the basis on which tenants voted in favour of transfer, on the basis of which the transfer went ahead, and the basis on which leaseholders, in an indicative vote, indicated their wish to see the transfer go ahead.

 

2.         This Council further notes:

 

(a)    the deputation from Island Homes residents to this Council at its meeting on 25th June which described how ONE Housing Group took over the role of "parent body" of Island Homes and in that role sacked the Board of Island Homes in April 2008 and unilaterally appointed an Interim Board which instituted changes in governance and service delivery which the Board of Island Homes had declined to implement itself;

 

(b)    that the Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration, in replying to that deputation, stated that the Council was committed to seeing that the terms of the offer document, and in particular the condition that Island Homes Housing Association be resident-led with a majority of residents on the Board, were restored.

 

3.         This Council further notes that the Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration attended a meeting of Island Homes residents on 30th September and repeated that commitment he gave before the meeting of the Council. He reported that despite representations he had made to ONE Housing Group to restore the conditions promised in the offer document, ONE Housing Group had not bowed to his representations and had not agreed to do this. He heard the fears of Island Homes residents that unless progress was made very quickly, the Interim Board appointed by ONE Housing Group would make such far-reaching changes that it would be extremely difficult to restore the conditions promised by this Council in the offer document.

 

4.         This Council further notes that during the period of office of the Interim Board of Island Homes, three senior members of staff who transferred over from the Council have been suspended without substantive disciplinary charge by ONE Housing Group and one such member of staff has left for employment elsewhere, and that these officers have over a century of unblemished and lauded service for the Council and are extremely popular with residents.

 

5.         This Council notes that on Friday, 10th October UNISON was invited to meet ONE Housing Group to hear that ONE Housing Group has announced the start of a 28 day consultation period with trade unions in respect of its plans to integrate services at a Customer Contact Centre at Mile End which would become the main means for residents to contact Island Homes. This would involve closing all but one office on the Island Homes estates. It will also involve staff moving, changing jobs and potential redundancies. ONE Housing Group has not announced any plans to consult residents about these plans which would further breach the promises made by this Council in the offer document. These plans would be virtually impossible to undo if the conditions in the offer document are to be restored.

 

6.    This Council believes that:

 

(a)   the promises set out in the offer document should be upheld;

 

(b)    if this Council cannot manage to keep its promises, it will have let down the residents on the Isle of Dogs who believed the Council would keep its promises and voted for their estates to be transferred on that basis;

 

(c)    if the promises in the offer document are not upheld, the Housing Choice programme undertaken by this Council will be revealed to have been a nonsense.

 

7.         This Council requests:

 

(a)        the Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration to undertake at this meeting to make representations on behalf of this Council to ONE Housing Group, requesting that they do not go ahead with establishing a call centre and that they put any plans for major change on hold while a solution which restores the conditions in the offer documents is worked out by the relevant parties, namely the Council, ONE Housing Group, the residents and the staff;

 

(b)        the Leader to use his best endeavours to ensure that ONE Housing Group do not pursue their plans and that such a satisfactory conclusion is reached;

 

(c)         the Cabinet to take reports on the progress of this matter at each meeting;

 

(d)        the Cabinet to consider all strategies necessary to achieve this outcome, including:

 

i)                    legal action;

ii)                  making urgent representations to relevant bodies such as the Minister and the housing Corporation to obtain their assistance in achieving the desired outcome;

iii)                publicising our grave displeasure over the conduct of ONE Housing in the local, regional, national and professional/specialist press.

(e)        the Leader to report on progress on the above in a weekly written bulletin to all Members of this Council until a satisfactory outcome has been achieved.”

 

 

An amendment was then MOVED by Councillor Marc Francis and SECONDED by Councillor Lutfur Rahman as follows:-

 

‘To delete from “(7) This Council requests …” to “… a satisfactory outcome has been achieved.”  and replace with the following text

 

7.         This Council requests:

 

(a)    the Lead Member for Housing and Development to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the promises made to Island Homes residents by Toynbee Housing Association via the Offer Document are fulfilled, including those relating to service delivery as well as governance by considering:

 

(i) making formal written representations to ONE Housing Group;

 

(ii) pursuing legal action to enforce the transfer agreement;

 

(iii) making representations to the Housing Corporation, the Department for Communities and Local Government;

 

(iv) drawing this matter to the attention of the newly-appointed Housing Minister, Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP;

 

(b)    the Lead Member to report back to councillors within one month of the passing of this resolution on the progress of this matter.”

 

 

Following discussion, Councillor Joshua Peck MOVED and Councillor Sirajul Islam SECONDED, “That in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.1.10, the question be now put.”

 

The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.

 

The amendment moved by Councilor Marc Francis and seconded by Councillor Lutfur Rahman was then put to the vote and was agreed with no Member voting against.  

 

The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote and was agreed with no Member voting against.  Accordingly it was:-

 

 RESOLVED  

 

1.         This Council notes:

 

(a)    that on 5th December 2005, four Council estates on the Isle of Dogs transferred over to Toynbee Island Homes, a new Housing Association created for the purpose of this transfer, under the Council's "Housing Choice" policy;

 

(b)    that the terms of the transfer were set out by the Council in an offer document, and included:

 

i) a promise that Toynbee Island Homes Housing Association (later renamed "Island Homes") would be resident-led and have a majority of residents on the Board;

 

ii) a promise that management agreements would be signed between  Island Homes and the resident organisations on each of the four estates which would govern service delivery on each estate;

 

iii) a promise that services would be delivered locally by three offices   based in the Island Homes estates;

 

(c)    that the terms of transfer as set out in the Council's offer document were the basis on which tenants voted in favour of transfer, on the basis of which the transfer went ahead, and the basis on which leaseholders, in an indicative vote, indicated their wish to see the transfer go ahead.

 

2.         This Council further notes:

 

(a)    the deputation from Island Homes residents to this Council at its meeting on 25th June which described how ONE Housing Group took over the role of "parent body" of Island Homes and in that role sacked the Board of Island Homes in April 2008 and unilaterally appointed an Interim Board which instituted changes in governance and service delivery which the Board of Island Homes had declined to implement itself;

 

(b)    that the Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration, in replying to that deputation, stated that the Council was committed to seeing that the terms of the offer document, and in particular the condition that Island Homes Housing Association be resident-led with a majority of residents on the Board, were restored.

 

3.      This Council further notes that the Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration attended a meeting of Island Homes residents on 30th September and repeated that commitment he gave before the meeting of the Council. He reported that despite representations he had made to ONE Housing Group to restore the conditions promised in the offer document, ONE Housing Group had not bowed to his representations and had not agreed to do this. He heard the fears of Island Homes residents that unless progress was made very quickly, the Interim Board appointed by ONE Housing Group would make such far-reaching changes that it would be extremely difficult to restore the conditions promised by this Council in the offer document.

 

4.      This Council further notes that during the period of office of the Interim Board of Island Homes, three senior members of staff who transferred over from the Council have been suspended without substantive disciplinary charge by ONE Housing Group and one such member of staff has left for employment elsewhere, and that these officers have over a century of unblemished and lauded service for the Council and are extremely popular with residents.

 

5.      This Council notes that on Friday, 10th October UNISON was invited to meet ONE Housing Group to hear that ONE Housing Group has announced the start of a 28 day consultation period with trade unions in respect of its plans to integrate services at a Customer Contact Centre at Mile End which would become the main means for residents to contact Island Homes. This would involve closing all but one office on the Island Homes estates. It will also involve staff moving, changing jobs and potential redundancies. ONE Housing Group has not announced any plans to consult residents about these plans which would further breach the promises made by this Council in the offer document. These plans would be virtually impossible to undo if the conditions in the offer document are to be restored.

 

6.      This Council believes that:

 

(a)    the promises set out in the offer document should be upheld;

 

(b)    if this Council cannot manage to keep its promises, it will have let down the residents on the Isle of Dogs who believed the Council would keep its promises and voted for their estates to be transferred on that basis;

 

(c)    if the promises in the offer document are not upheld, the Housing Choice  programme undertaken by this Council will be revealed to have been a nonsense.

 

7.      This Council requests:

 

(a)    the Lead Member for Housing and Development to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the promises made to Island Homes residents by Toynbee Housing Association via the Offer Document are fulfilled, including those relating to service delivery as well as governance by considering:

 

(i) making formal written representations to ONE Housing Group;

 

(ii) pursuing legal action to enforce the transfer agreement;

 

(iii) making representations to the Housing Corporation, the Department for Communities and Local Government;

 

(iv) drawing this matter to the attention of the newly-appointed Housing Minister, Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP;

 

(b)    the Lead Member to report back to councillors within one month of the passing of this resolution on the progress of this matter.