Councillors argue against plans to scrap Southend housing organisation (From Southend Standard)
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Councillors argued against scrapping South Essex Homes
5:10pm Friday 19th October 2012 in Southend By Emma Thomas
COUNCILLORS argued against plans to scrap the council’s housing manager.
South Essex Homes looks after Southend Council’s 6,000 homes but in the face of Government cuts, council officers said bringing the service back in-house could save cash.
A report presented to a special meeting of the community services and culture scrutiny meeting said if it was scrapped it could free up millions of pounds to be spent on other schemes including building new council housing.
However councillors spoke against getting rid of the organisation altogether and praised its work over the last seven years. They raised concerns that standards would slip.
David Norman (Lab, Victoria) has been a board member of South Essex Homes for the last seven years.
He said: “I think it is clear from the discussion we all recognise housing is one of the most important issues facing the council.
“I spoke and voted against setting up the organisation but I have got to say my experience did change my view over the years. As a councillor representing the ward with the largest number of council properties I saw how bad the service was prior to the setting up of South Essex Homes. Our record of dealing with our tenants prior to 2005 was abysmal.
“I would be totally opposed to the total dismantling of South Essex Homes.”
A review of South Essex Homes, which was set up in October 2005, was started earlier this year as the council struggles to save more than £30million over the next three years.
By getting rid of South Essex Homes officers say the council could save up to £886,000 a year just by sharing backroom services, such as payroll and IT support.
Martin Terry (Ind, Westborough) said it was right the council looked at ways to save money.
He said: “I feel we should go back and do a lot more work. I agree totally the residents should be consulted. We can’t see any drop in service - whatever we do.”
A decision on the future of South Essex Homes will not be made until a meeting later this year.
Comments(9)
Joe Wildman
says...
6:36pm Fri 19 Oct 12
jayman wrote:What I read was that there were people from all partys on the board is this not right as it is what was printed in the Echo the other day.
of course councillors don't want to control housing. its would be too much hard work.. The only level of responsibility our councillors are used to is deciding on what colour pot plants the council should buy to furnish obscure and unwanted capital spends. no councillor should be sitting on the board of south Essex homes, its a conflict of interest! the board should be reporting to the council.. why has this got 'tory' smeared all over it. i suppose i because the echo have highlighted perhaps the only non-Tory who may be in tricky position over making a impartial decision. i my view the council should be managing its housing stock. it is the 'function' of the council to be accountable to the community it serves. Not palming off responsibility to inefficient entities that serve only themselves..
marshman
says...
6:55pm Fri 19 Oct 12
I couldn't for the life of me work out why the council wanted to get rid of South Essex Homes after going to all the trouble of setting them up.
Turns out it's got nothing to do with efficient management of the housing stock, the well being of the tenants or even the working terms and conditions of South Essex Homes management team. The council quite simply wants control of the housing groups 'back room services' so they can get rid of their own.
So in the end it's all about a tory council wanting to sack some plebs and double up on in-house service provision to preserve the excessive fat-cat salaries.
Makes sense to me now.
jolllyboy
says...
9:06pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Long arm never works - look at the mess the NHS is in having fragmented it and now even privatise parts of hospitals too.
Seasider90
says...
11:08pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Shoebury_Cyclist
says...
12:13pm Sat 20 Oct 12
Joe Wildman wrote:Never believe anything written in a British news paper.
jayman wrote:What I read was that there were people from all partys on the board is this not right as it is what was printed in the Echo the other day.
of course councillors don't want to control housing. its would be too much hard work.. The only level of responsibility our councillors are used to is deciding on what colour pot plants the council should buy to furnish obscure and unwanted capital spends. no councillor should be sitting on the board of south Essex homes, its a conflict of interest! the board should be reporting to the council.. why has this got 'tory' smeared all over it. i suppose i because the echo have highlighted perhaps the only non-Tory who may be in tricky position over making a impartial decision. i my view the council should be managing its housing stock. it is the 'function' of the council to be accountable to the community it serves. Not palming off responsibility to inefficient entities that serve only themselves..
x2k
says...
1:56pm Sat 20 Oct 12
--
I can see massive saving there alone by moving it back to within the council!
davedobbin
says...
6:22pm Sat 20 Oct 12
southend brummie
says...
8:53pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Just ask the tenants. Let them decide.
jayman says...
5:59pm Fri 19 Oct 12
its would be too much hard work.. The only level of responsibility our councillors are used to is deciding on what colour pot plants the council should buy to furnish obscure and unwanted capital spends.
no councillor should be sitting on the board of south Essex homes, its a conflict of interest! the board should be reporting to the council..
why has this got 'tory' smeared all over it. i suppose i because the echo have highlighted perhaps the only non-Tory who may be in tricky position over making a impartial decision.
i my view the council should be managing its housing stock. it is the 'function' of the council to be accountable to the community it serves. Not palming off responsibility to inefficient entities that serve only themselves..