Tower Hamlets Leaseholder's Association

Here's someone in the House of Commons that is actually listening and making progress.

In spite of 'focus groups', 'engagement officers', 'Repair letters 1,2,3,15,27 etc etc.', Open Door', 'Leaseholder news' and all the other pieces of spin designed to try and convince the Audit Commission that they 'engage', THH aren't listening.

According to them, they are focusing on (according to them) 'Relentless Collection', That is wasting money or (in the case of energy) wasting money and making up figures and then bullying their leaseholders, who include the elderly, those of limited means and the vulnerable.

It doesn't enter into their small heads that, via productivity, efficiency, transparency, modern techniques and general competence (look up that word, guys) they could cut these bills by about half.

To show you that we're equal-opportunity reporters, here's a story about East End Homes:

We had lovely polished concrete floors all through the block. EEH, without consultation, poured a strong chemical over them and after many man hours of scrubbing managed to take off 95% of the surface of the stairs and landings leaving an unsightly, impractical mess.

We put in a formal complaint and they eventually admitted in writing that they had made a mistake and that the stairs were damaged and have agreed that they would rectify it. They have now found that it will cost about £8000 to put right and have suddenly changed their mind and are coming up with ridiculous excuses as to why they shouldn't reinstate the situation.

Please send any stories and incidents via the contact form and we'll publish a selection of them. If, by chance, you're happy with something, send that too! Unlike East End Lies, we actually believe in reality and balance.

Well, on our estate, the price of a parking gate key has risen from £12 to £45, with no explanation or justification.

It's difficult to say that THH is a non-profit, obviously, various people and contractors are doing pretty well out of it. The only people that aren't are the leaseholders who are financing most of this excess...

We have engagement officers, focus groups, too many newsletters and useless pieces of paper, board member leaseholders, getting-involved register, 'consultations' and endless meetings. Our cup is overflowing, or is it?

First of all, let's note that the newsletters etc. are one-way 'communication' containing THH spin with a rosy tinted view of themselves. There's no space for comments by us (apart from the fictional satisfied customer in one of the last ones, let's see who it is?) and no space for anything realistic. Indeed, close inspection, reveals only grinning aspirational photographs unconnected with THH.

Second let's take the 'optional' consultation and engagement. First of all, we wouldn't need 'engagement' officers, if there was any genuine good-faith. Genuine and persistent engagement would follow and remain. These actions are designed to fill attendance sheets with signatures and produce minutes which are then discarded. They don't change anything at all. As if!

This happened in Kent. We must make sure it does not happen in Tower Hamlets

An elderly widow has died after being forced to take out a second mortgage when her council told her to make her home more energy-efficient.

Dorothy Hacking's family deemed the local authority's actions "disgusting" after she was told to pay for stone-cladding repairs to make sure her former council flat in Ramsgate, Kent, complied with laws on CO2 emissions.

The deaf and partially-sighted grandmother died in hospital on Friday after being overcome by stress due to Thanet District Council's demands, her daughter Rosemary said.

Mrs Brown, 53, told the Thanet Gazette: "It is disgusting she was faced with this fear when the council insisted on doing work over which she had no control."

She said her bedridden mother was "financially stretched to the limits" after receiving the £16,000 bill.

For those who did not attend the Council Meeting this is the East London Advertiser's Report
http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/content/towerhamlets/advertiser/ne...