Published: 29 June, 2012

• MANY residents will by now have received the latest Islington Council communication, “Your housing service needs you!”, in which, in response to the government’s recent decree regarding localism and tenant empowerment, it attempts to convince us it is genuinely intending to promote meaningful consultation.

Having attended the first two of its recent presentations, I fear that once again it is desperately trying to sell us another of its “chocolate teapot” promotions.

In an attempt to provide this farcical process with a degree of dignity and importance, council officers have euphemistically titled
the proposed main core section “The Islington Housing Executive”.

However, since this particular body is simply there to give an overview of the council’s decisions, without the power to either reverse or prevent implementation, what it represents is, in reality, a loosely disguised replication of the old arms’-length management organisation board of
directors.

Furthermore, any resident prepared to stand for election to the position of tenants’ champion or the more aptly named vice-champions will, of course, be subjected to a vetting process before being allowed to stand for election.

So, how are these representatives on the Housing Executive board to be chosen?

Simply on the number of votes gained from a general ballot of all tenures, which will, as is intended, provide a return that is seriously
flawed, due to vote “manipulation”.

Rather than all of this wasteful nonsense, all that is required is a scrutiny panel comprised of delegates from the main housing bodies,
with the power to ameliorate or even reverse council decisions, and report their findings directly back to the electorate.

DR BS POTTER
Chairman, Federation of Islington Tenants’ Associations
Chairman, Islington Leaseholders Association