Fined £500,000 for death of Magdalena Fink

 Inside Housing - News - London borough fined for ‘unnecessary’ fire death of resident

Internet version of INSIDE HOUSING 

NEWS 09/05/2023  3:45PM  [Tuesday 9 May 2023] BY PETER APPS

                                                                       ..............................

Ive been watching the 7s video of the fire inside 31 Daleham Gardens Camden New Journal: Film taken inside Daleham Gardens fire building - YouTube 

and I can't pin point on the floor plans where this fire is. 

16 May 2023

This is Peter Apps whose name is on the INSIDE HOUSING piece about camden council 

Was at Westminster Mags this morning to see Camden Council sentenced £500k for a shocking case involving the death of a 35yo woman in a fire in November 2017. Report and some observations below:https://t.co/2JQ5NZgttH

— Peter Apps (@PeteApps) May 9, 2023

20 May 2023

19 May 2023  https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/2023/may/london-fire-brigade-welcomes-action-by-camden-council-to-improve-fire-safety-following-tragic-death-of-resident/

9 March 2024

19 August 2021 Fires in Camden Dwellings posting

27 May 2024

LACORS - Fire Safety Guidance (hastings.gov.uk)  LACORS aka Local Authority Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services  Local Authority Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services 

Some excerpts from the Guidance below: 

5. What is a fire risk assessment?

" 5.3 The aims of the fire risk assessment are:

 • to identify the fire hazards; 

• to reduce the risk of those hazards causing harm to as low as reasonably practicable; and 

• to decide what physical fire precautions and management arrangements are necessary to ensure the safety of people in the premises if a fire does start.

 5.4 The terms ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’ should be understood in the context of this guidance: 

• hazard: anything that has the potential to cause harm 

• risk: the chance of that harm occurring.

 

7. Introduction

 7.3 This risk-based approach is enshrined in current fire safety legislation, in particular the housing health and safety rating system and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (see Appendix 1, paragraphs A.7 and A.51). 

 7.4 However, some basic fundamental principles apply to fire safety generally, and these must be applied flexibly to meet the needs of a particular property. These principles are outlined in this chapter and are brought to life in the case studies in Part D.

10. Habitable basements

"10.1 Consideration needs to be given to the fire risk presented to occupiers of any storey below the main entry/exit level of the house and the risk that storey poses to the remainder of the house. 

10.2 Ideally, the fire separation between the basement and the ground floor (including the staircase soffit and spandrel) should be 30 minutes fire resisting, and a 30-minute fire resisting door should be fitted at the head of the basement stairs. "

10.5 The standard of fire resistance of individual room partitions and of doors to rooms should be the same as for the remainder of the house" 

19. Fire separation and compartmentation

Documentary Nightmare Neighbour Next Door

Twitter hashtag    #councilhousebritain  3 Sept 2020

COUNCIL HOUSE BRITAIN: PRIME-TIME DOCUMENTARY ON SOUTHWARK COUNCIL HOMES AIRS THIS WEEK

OSH SALISBURY (02 September, 2020) HOUSING

The six-part series starts on Thursday at 9pm

https://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/council-house-britain-prime-time-documentary-on-southwark-council-homes-airs-this-week/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't know much about the above and haven't watched the TV program, but have seen some of the Twitter comments under the #councilhousebritain hashtag. 

It just so happens that yesterday [Thursday 3 Sept 2020] the tenant who lives above me had a early morning visitor to her flat, who visited again today with a man holding a tripod and expensive looking camera. 

The woman and man with big camera where hanging about outside and at one point the camera was pointed at the front door of the property I live in. Curious, I went downstairs, with my video on, to find out what was going on, the cameraman didnt say anything but the woman knew my name straight off, and said that tenant upstairs had contacted her. 

Ah I thought, and mentioned that I have recordings/evidence of tenant being verbally abusing to me, not long after I came out of hospital following having a heart attack, I also have audio recording of tenant out her window shouting and swearing at the neighbours next door, so I'll send her the recordings. The woman was pleasant enough.

Not long after I went back in, tenant above came down and she and the woman and cameraman went off somewhere - turns out it wasn't far - as i could hear the tenant, they moved further away though. 

I contacted the complaints handling people at Camden Council [longstanding and ongoing complaint] and informed them of the tenant and TV people and that I would be sending in further evidence to both the council and the TV people. 

I think this is just another attempt to intimidate and cause me distress. I have made another report to the Met police. This will be my third. 

update

The cameraman was hanging about outside the house again, minus the woman -  pointing his camera at my cycle and the front door, he was starting to creep me out and distress me so I went downstairs equipped with my video on, and panic alarm. I went out to him with my panic alarm - tenant above seems to like having an audience so I thought why not get the attention of half the street, passers by etc, maybe even the police will show up. 

Tenant was upstairs hiding and wouldn't come out and stand in front of the big camera, so I'm thinking whats the point of him being there, apparently its procedure - he did go eventually after a chat on the phone to someone he works with. He videoed me and I videoed him and I told him I don't have anything to loose, she does I don't care if the whole street hears me. 

The name is Avalon Factual, for channel 5 - they are currently making a factual documentary series about neighbour issues. The thing is I don't think the tenant is intelligent enough to come up with this herself and has had some prodding from others. 

update
the woman, cameraman and tenant [Petra Hind] just snuck out again, from flat upstairs - they snuck back in and then out - wtf is this seriously? if i see them again im going to do my panic alarm again. 

Sun 6 Sept 2020
A few photo's i took:
Petra Hind tenant who contacted Avalon 

assist producer and cameraman when they came out of property 

Monday 7 Sept 2020
I've checked my emails and I don't see anything from the assist producer - i thought maybe at least she'd have sent me an acknowledgement email, but nothing. 

The carry on y/d with the sneaking about, in and out, back and forth by the tenant in flat above me and the man and woman from Avalon, reminded me of the tragic Brenda Layland case HERE - Martin Brunt from sky news, then Sky had the nerve to offer condolenses to BL's family - i would have told them where to stick it. 

Tues 8 Sept 2020

The woman assist producer has emailed me, which i appreciate - i will email her back. 


Wed 9 Sept 2020

The last few days i've been experiencing pains around my heart, left lung area - I think its the stress of what the tenant above recently did re Avalon Factual and them hanging about outside etc.

I've also felt unwell inside and had sweats. I have been advised to seek medical help re see the GP sort of thing but will wait and she how I feel this evening.

I have an appointment to speak with Cardiologist at beginning of Nov 2020.

What Petra Hind [tenant in flat above me] did has caused me a lot of unnecessary stress and upset, all because she wants me evicted - regardless of how her actions impact of my already poor health and wel-being. Now I have to spend some more time and effort in dealing with the assist producer - when all i want to do is lay down and rest as the fatique had crept up on me again.

update
The skunk I can smell when I come out of the flat door: must be my 'holier than thou' upstairs neighbour, because it ain't me.

update
It is my understanding that if someone becomes stressed, distressed, is being  attacked in some way this ignites the fight or flight response, which entails the heart beating faster, to pump blood/oxygen around the body.

if the heart is damaged like in my case [but I don't know what the damage is as yet] this puts too much pressure on the already damaged heart - am on meds to keep heart and blood pressure lower, and meds to thin the blood.

"Hurry up and die" 

Tues 15 Sept 2020
Tenant upstairs has been slamming her flat door and main door harder than usual when going out and in - possibly to annoy me. The noise from the slamming of doors scared my cat, who ran off from where he was sleeping and has hidden under the bed.

Wednesday 23 Sept 2020

I received an email reply from the assistant producer of Avalon [see below]

I have also received via the post the allegations Petra Hind  in flat above me has made against me. 

The producer is Mona Hamed and the documentary is called The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door [series 8] 

*looks around* surely the nightmare neighbour isn't supposed to be me ????? 

More later .......

I'm trying hard to be very calm about this and not get upset but i'm starting to get stabbing pains again around the left side of my heart which has the artery that has the metal stent in. I also have some damage to the right side of my heart which didn't have any work done to it - im not sure what exactly the problem is until I speak with the Cardiologist Consultant from the RFH in first week of Nov 2020 - my first out-patient appointment since leaving hospital on 21 March 2020.  

I just thought I'd add the following links about the Jeremy Kyle show [ITV] being axed due to a guest killing himself. 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/itv-boss-claims-jeremy-kyle-22360591

https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/broadcasting-news/2020/07/jeremy-kyle-show-guest-died-morphine-overdose

update

https://www.exerciseregister.org/    Petra Hind is apparently an Exercise Professional [see below] I can't see her name on the register HERE but I might be doing it wrong

Add caption

update 29 Sept 2020

apparently the new membership is called the  The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity [CIMSPA]  https://www.cimspa.co.uk/ . When I put her name in HERE  it didn't come up. 

update 24 Sept 2020

A reminder of the verbal abuse I received from PH inside the property at Falkland  Road, NW5. Camden Council is the landlord:

This is a recording I took of  of PH, who was downstairs, the date 27 March 2020 a week after I came out of hospital after suffering from a heart attack. 

1. https://youtu.be/WF2hZRDeBsY   27 March 2020 

2. https://youtu.be/76nfdbprjzk      29 April 2020 - PH had come down from her flat and kicked my flat door, which i didn't manage to record - she then went back into her flat and was shouting abuse and threats at me, which I managed to record. 

14 April 2021

Avalon Factual have started with me again via email and a letter through the post - i replied to the email, i reported Avalon to the police and I did this HERE with the letter. 

Avalon person has sent me another email which i have now opened [i didnt think i could at first as i felt sick]. Avalon obviously in my view, put TV ratings above everything else. 

AVALON TELEVISION LIMITED  HERE Company number 02856604 Incorporated 24 Sept 1993. Nature of business 90030 - Artistic creation. 

AVALON FACTUAL LIMITED HERE  Company number 07923558 Incorporated 25 Jan 2012. Nature of business 59113 - Television programme production activities.

 Previous company names

 AVALON FACTUAL HOLDINGS LIMITED 25 Jan 2012 - 4 July 2017

Wednes 16 June 2021 seems that every time ive had a sleep and get up in the afternoon and come into my living room and sit at my table near the open window, I can hear tenant in flat C talking at her window above me. I can hear her now, I could hear her y/day. Last night just before 11pm she shut her flat door loudly. Sunday she was on her patio for hours - its above my bathroom/loo and kitchen - seemed that nearly every time I went into my kitchen i would hear a banging/thumping noise above me. Its very strange like she knows my movements in my flat - of course she doesn't though but this is how they behave to try and un-nerve people, especially people who they know aren't well. 

Ive even just heard her loud footsteps as she moved away from the window. it feels like im being gas-lighted. She does the pretend classes as well, where I can hear her speaking/shouting as if she's giving instructions - one can hear her from outside as well. 

update

i went back next door to lie down again as still felt very tired - it was very quiet - no noise out the back - and - tenant above moved from front room to bedroom and I could hear her talking - i had to turn on my radio and listen to some music as I was also trying to meditate - i still have a long way to go though with the meditation in blocking out external intrusive noises. These last 4/5 years Ive just been able to keep my head above water really, a master i'm not but i keep trying and will have to for as long as im still alive on this planet, I guess. 

I went into kitchen and no sooner had i done that and banging/scrapping noise from patio above - do i laugh or cry - ok i will laugh because ive done enough crying these last years to last an eternity. 

Wed 23 June 2021 ever since the letter from housing officer about the bookcase in communal hallway the tenant in flat C has been trying to provoke me [i believe]as  she has been slamming her flat door and the main door every time she goes out. It sounds loud to me and is annoying and distresses me and i am now seeing it as a continuation of her and vacant tenants harassment of me.  I am really struggling with not going out to her but what would happen I don't know. I have though shouted out today and asked her to stop slamming her door blah blah. 

I have warned the tenant that is she does it again I will again contact the police. 

I'm not bothering with the housing officers - they only make matter worse in my view: useless in helping me but a lot of help to the 2 tenants who want to cause me distress. 

Wed 14 July 2021

Monday 19 July 2021

I think something was supposed to have happened last week [i didn't see it but was informed by the 'delightful' Sarah Rest despite not heard a thing from anyone about it other than SR] - that has no affect/effect upon me whatsoever, what could it be Avalon Factual?   Sarah Rest 

Monday 30 August 2021

These last 3 days and nights have been  peaceful here, hardly a peep from tenant upstairs I wondered at one point whether tenant was in but sometimes i could hear the water from toilet flush going down drain so figured she was. She can be very quiet when she wants to, like a mouse, i'd barely hear her or even her visitors. 

 I wonder what has caused this nearly 3 day of quietness and can only think that tenant intends to be very noisy in the coming days to make up for it as proved by the loud banging of door downstairs recently, just to let me know she is back.  Business as usual now. 

23 Sept 2021

The tenant upstairs started with the shouting and name calling again earlier on today. 

I hadn't long come back from the hospital when she came in and slammed the front door, I turned my radio up and she started stomping on her kitchen floor which is above my living room - she did this again and I turned the music down and could hear her shouting stuff, then she was shouting out her living room window which is above my living room as well. She wanted everyone to hear her. I managed to record some of what she said, such as im a leech, low-life [again] sort of thing.  I think from she says that she looks down her noise at me because I'm not working, that i'm unwell. Its upsets me when she does it then I have to try and make light of it otherwise, well i dont know. 

She has gone off out now slamming her flat door and the front door so hard the building shakes and my cat gets spooked. 

https://youtu.be/KG5IsYRzE1Y

19 Oct 2021

Flat C above went out around 11.20am and as I was expecting she slammed her flat door which is opposite mine. 

Yesterday I called the police as she had started with the name calling, stomping about and slaming the door and it was really stressing me out and I thought at one point that I would either hurt myself or hurt her. I haven't had much good sleep and have a cold, - I emailed the housing officer but I dont have any faith in her ability to deal with this situation in a fair manner, what with my experience of her already. 

I recorded some of it HERE

update

flat C came in around 12.05pm and slammed her door very loudly.

How it works is that its okay for her to react in a way that I don't like and find distressing but if I react in a way she doesnt like, I get called all sorts etc and because Im the scum lowlife nutter who doesnt work I have no or little protection  against disability  discrimination by camden council tenants or by the landlords housing officers, no reasonable adjustments made, not even acknowledment of conditions I have. 

update 

its 2.30pm and flat C has gone out again and slammed her door and the front door again. Seems that this is going to keep up for some time. 

Legal Issues/Cases of Interest

Work in progress

The below 2 posts are joined

1. Friday 10  June 2016 posting I did on this blog: London Council  Overcharged Tenants for Water HERE 
2. Thursday 15 June 2017 posting I did on this blog : Legal Action Threat for Water Charge Arrears HERE 

Below cases are joined starting in descending order with:

• 21 November 2019 costs review HERE of summary costs awarded against A Kuznetsov, assessed to the sum of £11,614.20.

• 1st May 2019 Alexander Kuznetsov  V   The London Borough of Camden HERE - application dismissed, for reasons given. Application for a Judicial Review [JR] of decision of London Borough of Camden - that he is not qualified for allocation of housing under part 6 of the Housing Act 1996   
• There's also THIS from early 2016 to do with Leaseholder Services Charges 

MccAmmon-Mckenzie, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Southwark [2004] EWHC 612 (Admin) (09 March 2004) 

Unsuitable housing 

AA v London Borough of Southwark 14 Oct 2014 

this one to do with housing officers illegally evicting and disposing of possessions

Jones v London Borough of Southwark 4 March 2016

this one is to do with the water over charging 

London Borough of Southwark, R (on the application of) v London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority & Anor | [2016] EWHC 1701 (Admin) | England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) 

To do with a fire [3 July 2009] in a block of council flats which killed 6 people and harmed many others 

Kuzjeva & Anor, R (on the application of) v London Borough Of Southwark [2001] EWCA Civ 1829 (21 November, 2001) (bailii.org)

legal and costs build-up 

Bempoa, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Southwark [2002] EWHC 153 (Admin) (14th February, 2002) (bailii.org)

contempt of court - housing department

House of Lords/ now known as UK Supreme Court

London Borough of Southwark and Another v. Mills and Others Baxter v. Mayor etc of the London Borough of Camden [1999] UKHL 40; [1999] 4 All ER 449; [1999] 3 WLR 939 (21st October, 1999) (bailii.org)  cited grounds Quiet Enjoyment and Nuisance failed - no sound-proofing within dwellings - landlord not liable. 'Buyer Beware'          

Begum v London Borough of Tower Hamlets [2003] UKHL 5 (13 February 2003) (bailii.org)London Borough of Merton Council v Nuffield Health [2023] UKSC 18 (07 June 2023

London Borough of Merton Council v Nuffield Health [2023] UKSC 18 (07 June 2023)

http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2023/18.html Rates relief [or not] for registered charity/private business  re gym membership prices excluded those of modest means 

Jones v Birmingham City Council & Anor (Rev1) [2023] UKSC 27 (19 July 2023) (bailii.org) 

"Whether Part 4 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 is incompatible with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights."  

civil or criminal standard of proof for injunctions

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham v Clarke & Anor [2000] EWCA Civ 3032 (20 November 2000) (bailii.org) appeal against dismissal of possession order

Lamb v Camden LBC [1981] EWCA Civ 7 (18 March 1981) (bailii.org)

Subsidence of house due to deep trench dug outside house/broke water pipes by council - house unsafe to live in was left empty and squatters got in and did damage - bill sent to Camden Council - council admitted nuisance liability    "The damages were left to an official referee"

AC and GC (Capacity: Hoarding: Best Interests) [2022] EWCOP 39 (15 August 2022)

"The proceedings in respect of AC were issued in 2020 as an application for an order that she be moved from her home, where she was living with GC, to a respite placement to allow for issues of hoarding and cleanliness of the property to be addressed and the property made safe." 

England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) Decisions

Timson, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary 0f State for Work and Pensions [2022] EWHC 2392 (Admin) (23 September 2022)

" that the Defendant's written guidance to decision-makers in relation to TPDs is unlawful because, by implication and omission, it has the effect that, read as a whole, the guidance presents a misleading picture of the true legal position to decision-makers, in that it does not make clear that claimants should be offered the opportunity to make representations and/or provide relevant information to the decision-maker before the TPD decision is taken" 

Director of Public Prosecutions v Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court [2022] EWHC 3207 (Admin) (16 December 2022)     
" 1 The Interested Parties were charged with offences of aggravated trespass arising out of their protest against construction of the HS2 railway. 

The charges alleged that they had disrupted or obstructed "HS2 construction". 

District Judge Williams acceded to a submission of no case to answer. 

She did so because the construction contractor was not on site, the only lawful activity that was taking place on the site was the eviction of the protestors, but the charge of disrupting or obstructing "HS2 construction" did not, in her judgment, encompass the eviction operation. 

She refused to state a case in respect of her decision because she considered that the application to state a case was frivolous or vexatious." 

" Outcome

For the reasons given above, the DPP's claim for judicial review on each of the three grounds of challenge succeeds."  

Protection from Eviction Act 1977 HERE 

Wu v Chelmsford City Council [2023] EWCA

                             llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

The below is a Warrant to Enter Premises under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 

 

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

 

 

CRAIG HILL AGAINST ANGUS COUNCIL [2023] SC FOR 6 (03 February 2023)

http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotSC/2023/2023_SC_FOR_6.html   [28 April 2022] 

Tenant claims to have had an accident due to lighting in communal area of block he lived in being faulty 

APPEAL BY CRAIG HILL v ANGUS COUNCIL [2023] Scot SAC Civ 15 (12/01/2023)

http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotSAC/Civ/2023/15.html

12 Jan 2023 

 

 

 

  Mohammed, R (on the application of) v Local Safeguarding Children's Board For Islington & Anor [2014] EWHC 3966 (Admin) (27 November 2014) http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2014/3966.html

A housing related case and the tragic death of 7 y/o child who had autism 

Mitchell v. Glasgow City Council [2005] ScotCS CSOH_84 (30 June 2005)  

http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotCS/2005/2005CSOH84.html

  Mitchell & Anor (APS) v Glasgow City Council [2008] ScotCS CSIH_19 (29 February 2008)  http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotCS/2008/CSIH_19.html

 

UO v London Borough of Redbridge [2023] 

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2023/1355.html

                                     /////////////////////////////

Legal Status of Written Guidance by a Government Secretary-of State/Cabinet Member [Guidance that isn't an Order, or Secondary Legislation such as Regulations. 

Understanding Legislation

When is guidance ‘statutory’ and does it matter? (localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk)

update 13/nov/24

https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/procurement-and-contracts/308-procurement-features/59027-procurement-act-government-guidance-perhaps-not-a-reliable-method-of-interpretation-of-the-law

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Montano, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Lambeth [2024] EWHC 249 (Admin) (08 February 2024)    Housing Allocation Scheme - backdating application date 

" In its Summary Grounds, the Defendant categorically asserted that it was a "hard fact" that there was no discretion to change the date of registration.

The declaration which I will make is as follows: "The Defendant does have a discretion to backdate the registration date of an applicant's application under the Housing Allocation Scheme for the reasons given in the judgment at paragraphs 67-72. The Defendant acted unlawfully by failing to consider exercising their discretion in response to the Claimant's request."

SK, R (On the Application Of) v Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead [2024] EWHC 158 (Admin) (31 January 2024   failure of statutory duty to carry out housing needs assessment 

" Judicial review is allowed on Grounds 1 and 2. The issue of relief on Ground 2 is adjourned, to a date to be fixed, as set out in paragraph 53 above." 

FG, R (On the Application Of) v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea [2024] EWHC

 780 (Admin) (09 April 2024) (bailii.org) 

Housing - noise and smell

Rayne, R (On the Application Of) v Leeds District Magistrates Court [2021] EWHC 1964 (Admin) (13 July 2021) (bailii.org)

Application of Premises Closure Order 

Use of closure notices and orders (localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk)

ZR v London Borough of Haringey & Anor [2024] EWHC 1476 (Admin) (14 June 2024) (bailii.org)

ZR entered the UK as an asylum seeker and was given refugee status. 

Whether priority housing challenge/ 

Change of practice by Home Office

http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKUT/LC/2024/202.html

Shorr & Anor v London Borough of Camden (HOUSING - FINANCIAL PENALTY - unlicensed HMO owned by spouses but let and generally managed by wife 

– 4 penalties imposed on each spouse for failure to license and other management offences

 – whether LH authority policy interpreted correctly

 – totality principle – treatment of joint owners

 – ss. 72, 249A, 263 Housing Act 2004 – Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regs 2006 – appeal allowed in part

Camden Housing Repairs Service: in-house

work in progress

Previous relevant blog posts:
Systems thinking in Local Government HERE
Housing Management Performance HERE


London borough of Camden Council 

Housing Scrutiny Committee
Tuesday 30 June 2020 6.30pm  

Agenda item 9. A Proposal for Increased Direct Provision of Repairs Services 

Report of the Cabinet Member for Better Homes 

"In Camden, we believe in the power of public services to improve people’s lives. Camden 2025 sets out a vision for the future of the borough, where everyone contributes to a safe, fair, creative and active community. Delivering this vision through our Camden Plan includes the development of local public services and insourcing work where this represents value for money to the Council and its residents.

Camden 2025 made a commitment to putting our communities and their needs at the heart of everything we do. Council services are critical to achieving this objective and contribute to our shared vision for a fairer, more inclusive borough.

The Council has a large housing stock which has remained in direct Council management throughout. 

The Council brought the repairs service for the Holborn area in-house in April 2019, and the Council launched the new in-house facilities management service in January 2020. Following a successful pilot, works to empty homes are being brought in house with supply chain support from June 2020.

Looking forward, the Council is seeking to deliver all repairs work directly and continue to build on the strengths of its in-house team to provide a comprehensive and high-quality service to its residents and building users.

Since 2013, major repairs have been delivered through an outsourced borough-wide contract and this report proposes that the work is insourced and brought under the control of the repairs team with support as required from a specialist supply chain. Over time the in house team will increase the proportion of work that is directly delivered, taking into account its capacity and other requirements such as leaseholder recharging and obtaining value for money.

This report is coming to Cabinet to agree this approach and support the management and delivery of major repairs by Council staff with supply chain support. This approach provides the Council with the flexibility it needs as it develops its in-house team and the Council will also to seek to procure the supply chain in the local economy where this is possible. 

The proposed approach also allows the Council to flexibly use in-house and contracted resources on other Council properties including schools and corporate buildings. 

The total value of the work over the five-year period is £165.8m, with supply chain contracts over this time being £62.1m, with twelve contracts proposed to be let (moving from a single contract for this work currently). The value of the supply chain contracts is proposed to decrease year-on-year."

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Better Homes, which was introduced by the Director of Property Management. 

Officers and the Cabinet Member then gave the following responses to key questions:-

·         The proposals sought to increase the work provided by the in-house team by approximately £2-3M each year for the next 5 years, eventually giving the in-house team a turnover of £25M per year. The report proposed a staged approach to increasing the capacity of the in-house provision, which could undertake major repairs with support from the supply chain as required. This mixed approach to service provision, would provide the right balance of in-house and external provision going forward.

·         The in-house team were seeking to remove management contractor layer (thus reducing costs), provide tenants with an improved customer experience, improve the co-ordination of repairs works, and create an apprenticeship scheme for people to learn appropriate skills and provide future employees.

·       Officers within the service were focussed on improving overall service performance, and they would provide members with information on the current baseline satisfaction data and performance targets going forward. 

           ACTION BY: Director of Property Management (AH) 

·         

     The proposed in-house service was not seeking to undertake specialist services like asbestos removal or scaffolding, as they had high overheads attached and it would be difficult to achieve an economy of scale.

·         Officers would provide Members with further information regarding the training that would be provided to staff in relation to the way all staff within the service would be engaging with people with disabilities, especially the deaf community. ACTION BY: Director of Property Management (SR) 

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

_____________________________

Cabinet Meeting 7pm 1 July 2020

Agenda item 12 A Proposal for Increased Direct Provision of Repairs Services

Report of the Cabinet Member for Better Homes

Decision:

RESOLVED –

(i)           THAT the approach to increase our in-house delivery of repairs to Council homes, with the value of in-house work being delivered over the five year period being approximately £100m, be approved;

(ii)          THAT, subject to consultation and engagement as detailed in the report, the flexible and progressive increase of in-house services through supply chain contracts be supported, and the strategy for the procurement of twelve contracts, each for a period of five years (with a break clause after three years), be approved, noting that the combined value of the procurement is £62.1m over the contract period; and

(iii)         THAT authority be delegated to the Executive Director Supporting Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Better Homes, to, having considered the outcome of consultation and engagement and having considered any equalities implications, award the 12 supply chain contracts.

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I haven't yet gone through the attached reports yet. I've only read whats written on the Council web-pages re public meetings of the council. I haven't been following what the council have been getting up to, particularly in the area of housing management; tenancy services provision;  council tenant groups etc etc-  via such thing as the minutes etc that are put up on Camden Councils public website homepage HERE

I don't enjoy having to come back to a place I thought I had left behind, a place I didn't like, an environment I thought was bordering on mafia like in how some groups and their people behave.

Its now nearly the end of July 2020, and for over 2 years now I have been trying to manage a not very nice situation I've found myself in, in my home living environment re the property I live in and my Landlord Camden Council. I being a long term secure tenant.

Despite rumours, I have never been evicted by any landlord. This is one  of the lies spread around the tenant participation scene about me, theres been others lies I know of and probably some I don't know off. Its a cesspit in my view and it wasn't for me, I found it harmful, toxic but for some people the seem to thrive in it, aspire to be somebody within it - of influence, authority, etc etc.