District Management Committees - Revisited.

Notes from DMC meetings through the years  : 
NB the DMC's where at one time until around 2001, sub-committees of the councils then Housing Committee. They had council tenant reps as chairs and registered members.

When the new statutory governance arrangements came in re The Local Government Act 2000- Part 2 s HERE   the dmc's where no longer council bodies, but the council allowed them to carry on - with the same name but as tenant bodies mainly as consultative groups, who like to claim they are advisory bodies to the council, which is debatable.

The council also allowed the tenant groups to allocate 2 pots of money from the Housing Revenue Account - to themselves to spend on good, works and services on behalf of the council.

 This set up continues today without their ever being any proper review of the dmc's.

" 6. DMC COMMENTS

It was noted that all five DMCs considered the motion from the Camden Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations concerning the withdrawal of budget from the Community Involvement Team. The motion was passed by Hampstead, Holborn, Kentish Town and Gospel Oak DMCs, but had not been supported by Camden Town DMC.

 http://democracy.camden.gov.uk/Data/District%20Management%20Committee%20-%20Gospel%20Oak/20010109/Agenda/$Minutes.doc.pdf 

9 JANUARY 2001 

11. DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES BUDGETS

Consideration was given to a report of

the Director of Housing as attached at

APPENDIX E

The proposal to devolve budgets to DMCs was considered a good idea. Members felt that the local community often had a better idea about where money could and should be spent

 http://democracy.camden.gov.uk/Data/District%20Management%20Committee%20-%20Holborn/20010227/Agenda/$Minutes.doc.pdf

 27 FEBRUARY 2001 

13. CAMDEN TOWN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BUDGET

Sharon Calvey (District Manager) tabled an updated Budget Report, together with an information pack asking TA Representatives to fill out the request form with their bids. This would then be submitted to the DMC on 12 September 2001 for ratification.

18. ORAL REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE

The DMC received and welcomed an oral report from the Chair of the Housing Committee

1. Councillor Brian Weekes (Chair of the Housing Committee) stated that a special meeting would be held on 14 June 2001 to discuss

“ How to improve the recruitment of TA’s”.

2. Reorganisation of Camden Council in September

-

Councillor Weekes stated that Camden was behind schedule with regard to Democratic Renewal because they had resisted the  change for a long time. However, he said that when the changeover came into effect September, the law has required that decisions taken by the Executive Committee, should be made in public, which would give people the opportunity to comment and participate in the decision making process.

3 DMC’s

- would continue but in a different format.

More duties would be delegated to the districts. Consultation would be taking place on how the DMC’s would best operate.

Councillor Weekes stated that the changeover would be a whole new process, and would therefore not be entirely adequate at first. However, there would be plenty of opportunity to review and change what was necessary.

 http://democracy.camden.gov.uk/Data/District%20Management%20Committee%20-%20Camden%20Town/20010530/Agenda/$Minutes.doc.pdf

30 May 2001

Noise Nuisance Camden Council

Camden Councils advice on Noise [nuisance] for tenants
HERE

And some guidance for tenants on how to reduce the noise they may make. 

I am still getting a lot of noise disturbance from flat above me, still at night/early morning and it still causes me a lot of distress. Some things are better than they where but thats only due to me literally having to do battle with the tenant who if contacted by housing doesn't take much notice. I have approached tenant in the past about the noise but she doesn't seem to understand the affect it has on me or seems to even care. tenant still continues to bang things about, stomp about and of course I have to hear the loud noises tenant makes when having an orgasm when with one of her 'boys'.  

 I know that some noise is unavoidable and I accept that but what I don't accept is that even at night tenant still bangs things about and still walks very heavily about her flat. Tenant can't get out of bed at night without the stomping about. I don't accept having to and I mean having to as one can't not hear, her orgasms.

I don't understand it myself how someone can make so much noise unless its deliberately done to cause me distress and annoyance.  

 

Update 22 March 2019

Tenant was making a right racket earlier on in the day with the banging about but has quietened down this evening other than the 'accidental' dropping of heavy objects on floors of kitchen and living room. A handtrick for the bedroom, maybe- when Im having a lie down or trying to sleep? letting the toilet seat bang down, moving about of heavy things? and what is it with the toilet and water pressure [pipes run up through my living room and along ceiling and make a racket at times and I can't seem to get it sorted] and the banging about that is connected to it? 

update 23 March 2019

related to this is the present situation with the communal hallway not having any lighting [3 weeks now approx] due to the light bulbs downstairs and upstairs having blown and none of the tenants wanting to report it to landlord or replace the bulbs.

update 15 July 2019

Slamming shut the front door: its a nuisance here as well. At times though the front door expands and the door does need to be closed with more effort causing more noise but usually the door can be closed without much noise. 

still no lighting in the communal area. someone from the council said they would send someone round about it but ive not heard anything but oddly enough report a non existent water leak and people in the council seem quite willing to go along with it.

Mon 12 Oct 2020

Tenant above has been making a lot of noise these last few days ie heavy footsteps and banging of heavy things - the usual banging of her flat door which is opposite mine continues and slamming the main front door when she comes and goes. 

22 Sept 2022

Reading through this post I realised I should explain a bit more about the entries above to do with no lighting in the communal area due to light bulbs [blowing/not working] 

In regards to the communal stairs and landing areas that come up to where flats B and C are [mine and tenant upstairs who makes lots of noise], there where 2 dangling light sockets in the ceiling, which when one of the light bulbs blow, I was 99% the one who changed it for a new one. 

I got fed up with doing this so I stopped and waited to see how long if ever, C would do it which resulted in the communal stairs usually not having lighting [ though I think mostly the downstairs area had lighting. 

As it was flat C who usually had visitors at night I figured she would at least put a light bulb in for their safety [at least] but only once did this happen and she got the visitor to put the light bulb in. 

Hampstead Satanic Hoax

Anyone familiar with this HERE 

Police investigations launched into Hampstead Satanic child abuse ‘fantasy’ from March 2015 and have been following the case will know that a woman named Sabine McNeill is currently on trial on various charges to do with the case. I can't remember all of them, breaching a Restraining Order [Binding Over] a few times is included.


Though Ms McNeill is currently in prison [when not brought to the court for the trial]  she lived in Camden, near Finchley Road tube station. She was, maybe still is, involved with a group calling themselves the Association of McKenzie Friends who have become quite [in]famous in recent years namely to do with the Holly Grieg case and then the Hampstead case.

She says she worked for CERN and is into software design. She is then [im guessing] very intelligent - in some ways but seeming not so bright in others, as is I suspect the case with most/many very intelligent people. I've been down the 'not so bright' path myself and take no satisfaction in her being in the situation she finds herself in, particularly at her age. Maybe taking up knitting would be a less troublesome hobby? But maybe the lady would be bored doing something like that and needed a bit of danger, and intrigue in her life.

Anyway the Hoaxstead Research site I have linked to has been doing a daily write up of the proceedings [sounds exhausting]. Interesting stuff. The satanic hoax hunters seem a force to reckon with. 

Maybe there is a lesson to learn here: about getting too involved in other peoples horror stories, as I also have experience of.  

Sometimes the force of the pull is so great you can't fight it. You can be pulled in, ground down, then spat out. A hard lesson to learn.

You don't know what you are dealing with until its too late and you are hooked. Not that I'm saying one shouldn't try and help someone, others in need of help, just be careful and learn from others mistakes, and your own ones.
 
update 19 Dec 2018
I don't know if any of the reported cases to do with Camden based teachers had anything to do with the above case. A case reported in Jan 2014 HERE
" Ian Clarke, 56, of Fortess Road, Kentish Town, hoarded hundreds of films and images of the sickening abuse of children as young as one."

In an earlier case 27 Sept 2012, HERE a teacher pleads guilty to sexually abusing a child but isn't named, to protect the child. 

Townhall employee found guilty

Aug 2016 post about this HERE 

the below is taken from http://camdennewjournal.com/article/camden-council-worker-made-list-of-277-vulnerable-pensioners-for-fraudsters

Camden council worker made list of 277 vulnerable pensioners for fraudsters

Social services records used to make list of targets whose bank accounts were drained 01 December, 2017 — By William McLennan 

A TOWN Hall employee trawled through sensitive council records to make a list of 277 elderly residents which was passed to fraudsters who then tricked the pensioners out of thousands of pounds.

Charlie Heath admitted using his position to access the names and addresses of pensioners, but told Blackfriars Crown Court on Tuesday that he was acting on the orders of a criminal gang who had threatened him and his family.

The 23-year-old denied all fraud charges and said that, moments after printing off the list on May 23 last year, he had a crisis of conscience and threw it in a confidential waste bin at the council’s King’s Cross HQ. A jury rejected his claims and yesterday (Thursday) found him guilty.

The court heard that the list was discovered by police on June 1 in what was described as a “fraudster’s kit”, alongside the passport, bank cards and bank statements of a 79-year-old woman who had been conned earlier that day.

Mr Heath, who no longer works for Camden Council, told the jury that, after months of intimidating phone calls, he began to compile the list in March when the threats escalated.

He said: “They started to approach me outside of my work. They said they knew where my sister had worked. “I couldn’t leave my house. Every time I did people would follow me. I was scared to leave my house.”

He said he did not report it to authorities because he had “lost all faith” in police after they failed to prosecute a man who stabbed him in November 2015.

Mr Heath told the jury that he decided to give in to the gang’s demands after they attempted to break into his King’s Cross home on May 20 last year.

He said: “I couldn’t see my family hurt like that. On the Monday I went to work as normal and printed off these names. I then just left them and put them in the confidential waste bin.”

Asked about his last-minute change of heart, he said: “As soon as it left the printer I thought about the repercussions and I put it in the confidential waste bin.

“I was scared of the repercussions of what these people could do to these elderly people. I would rather get a kicking than someone else get hurt because of myself. I felt disgusted about it. At the last hurdle I decided it was wrong and threw it away.”

He added: “I have no idea how a list of names got from the confidential waste bin into someone else’s hands.”

The court heard that nine days later police officers travelling with sirens on through Forest Gate noticed a group of men running from a parked car. They pursued the men, arresting 20- year-old Shaheedul Abedin at the scene.

After carrying out a search, they found a brown envelope, discarded under a car, which contained the list of names and the passport, bank cards and statements of a pensioner who had been conned earlier that day by a man posing as a policemen investigating fraud.

She was also tricked into handing over £200 in cash. Everyone on the list was aged 78 or 79, the court heard.

Officers forensically analysed the list and found the fingerprints of Mr Heath’s neighbour, 22-year-old Sayim Ahmed, who was cleared of any involvement in fraud by the jury.

They also found prints belonging to Mr Abedin, of Tower Hamlets, and 20-year-old Kawsar Ahmed, of Lewisham. They were both found guilty of being in possession of an article for use in fraud. They denied the charges, but declined to give evidence to the court.

The court heard that Mr Heath worked as a data “archiver” assigned to the children’s social services department and had “no reason to access adult records”.

But when the list was discovered, a review of computer systems showed he had been able to access thousands of vulnerable adults’ details over a period of two months.

He will be sentenced later this month.

update
27 Dec 2017
Camden Council worker jailed HERE

Housing Repairs Fraud Probe

 Wonder whats happened with the below reported case?

Back in June 2015 the local rag reported that:
A FRAUD probe is under way in the Town Hall housing repairs department and a manager has been suspended. The Town Hall has confirmed the investigation but said they will not comment as the allegations are still being looked into. A council spokeswoman added: “We are currently carrying out an investigation, so we can’t comment at this point.” HERE

Then in Jan 2016 a further report by the CNJ HERE
POLICE have been called in at the Town Hall over fraud allegations in its housing repairs department.

The New Journal has learned that a member of staff has been suspended for up to eight months while an internal investigation has gone on.

The council is taking a lockdown approach on information relating to the case. Its press office confirmed that Camden is “assisting police with enquiries”, although a spokeswoman said she could “not comment” further on the nature of the investigation or its scale.

Insiders are now questioning why the allegations have taken so long to be investigated and why the staff member remains suspended without pay – even though no formal disciplinary proceedings have taken place. 
Some with knowledge of the case are concerned that the official has not had a fair chance to answer the claims. 

There are also questions about whether the investigation will reach up to the top of the council hierarchy.

“What lies behind the feet-dragging is anyone’s guess,” said a source. 

The council has been surveilling how repair work is booked and paid for, it has been claimed by insiders.

The Met said it could not comment on the investigation at this stage.

The council spokeswoman added: “Our repairs service is highly rated by residents and we expect the highest level of customer service and professional conduct from all of our staff.”

 --------------------------------------------------------------
An update of the above from Nov 2016 HERE  about the prosecution of a supervisor.

Showers and shower pumps.

First it was reported that a Manager had been suspended.

Then 'insiders' questioning why its taken so long for the case to be investigated - questions about how high up the investigation will reach. 

Then in the report of 16 Nov 2016 above, a named Supervisor was charged.

20 June 2017 Grenfell Tower

I was going to post a news story from the mainstream newspapers about this but stuff about what happened is changing daily and couldn't keep up. the following is from a website a local tenants group set up a few years ago and which is still active https://grenfellactiongroup.wordpress.com/2017/06/19/grenfell-tower-the-kctmo-culture-of-negligence/

Grenfell Tower – The KCTMO Culture Of Negligence

 "The many who lost their lives in this catastrophe were our friends and neighbours. We tried to speak for them in life and we will continue to speak for them now. We share the pain of the homeless, the injured and the bereaved to whom we offer our heartfelt sympathy, condolences and solidarity. We also share the sense of anger and injustice that has troubled this community for years. That is why we started this blog and that is why we will continue as we started, speaking truth to power whether or not they choose to listen."  Continue reading HERE 

Since hearing of what happened, seeing pictures etc I can't find the right words to say anything other than how utterly tragic, sad and painful for many that something like this could happen. It shouldn't have.

Understandably  many are angry and upset, wanting truthful answers and justice for those who died in the fire and others how have been directly harmed by this. The emergency services have been as reported, outstanding. Its been a highly emotional and upsetting week for all included. Sending Love and Healing to all. 

https://www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/

Legal Action Threat for Water Charge Arrears

this post is joined with my post of Friday 10 June 2016 London Council Overcharged Tenants for Water

Land-lord Camden council has sent me a letter [received 15 June 2017] saying they will start legal action against me if I don't pay the arrears of the water charges I stopped paying around Dec 2016.

I think I have a good enough reason for stopping paying the water charges and continuing to not pay it until the landlord gives me and other tenants back the money they owe us because of overcharging us. Plus I think they need to set a new and lawful charge [ if they haven't done so already but they haven't said so].

The water charge isn't the rent, its a seperate charge to the rent yet they call it rent. Its a service charge.

I have ten days from date of letter [9 June 2017]. It says to call them if I have financial or other difficulties. I contacted them a while ago and explained why I haven't paid the charge. They didn't reply but sent the threatening letter instead. Business as usual for the housing department.

Plus all these years I have had to put up with the noise here and the landlord won't do anything about it that I'm aware of,  and estate officier comes to my flat makes 'promises' then goes away and I don't hear anything about it from her again. She could see what a state I was in. Was it just lies to try and butter me up?

Though I feel anxious at the thought of having to go to court and the risk it entails I need to hold my nerve on this.

I await the court case.

23 Aug 2017
Latest letter dated 15 August 2017 is NOTICE OF SEEKING POSSESSION [not to begin before 24 Sept 2017] which I sent them an email in reply to and am waiting for an email reply back. This letter came very shortly after a message from someone in the council left on my home phone answering machine. They haven't been helpful at all to me with the difficulties i'm having, which doesn't come as a surprise.

They will refer my case to the councils legal team if I don't coff up the claimed arrears.

This issue isn't only about me its about all unmetered camden council tenants as well as other london boroughs tenants.

As well as me having difficulties with the water charge payments I also have difficulties with communicating verbally with camden council and find it a lot easier to do so in writing. I would prefer to avoid court but rent support won't reply to emails.


25 August 2017
Came across the following from  http://www.dpglaw.co.uk/hundreds-thousands-overcharged-water/

"A High Court ruling has established that hundreds of thousands of tenants have been overcharged for water and sewerage. Lawyers say that affected tenants will be entitled to refunds running to hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

As reported by the BBC, the test case was brought by Kim Jones, a tenant of Southwark Council.

Along with 37,000 other tenants in Southwark, Ms Jones’ tenancy agreement required to pay charges for water and sewerage to her landlord. The amount Ms Jones was required to pay her landlord was significantly more than the amount the landlord was required to pay Thames Water.

The High Court ruled that this was unlawful because it breached the Water Resale Orders, which prohibit water and sewerage from being resold at a profit.

Whilst initially criticising the decision, Southwark Council has now announced that it will not appeal and will being repaying to tenants some of the unlawful charges.
Ms Jones’ solicitor, Gareth Mitchell, of Deighton Pierce Glynn, said:
“Thames Water has confirmed that it has similar arrangements with 69 local authorities and housing associations throughout its area covering 375,000 households. For households in occupation since 2001, they will have been overcharged around £700 to £1,000.

Southwark Council’s announcement that it will only make a partial refund to the 37,000 tenants affected within its borough is unacceptable. These are low income tenants for whom this is a significant amount of money. For many years, Southwark concealed from its tenants the true nature of its relationship with Thames Water. It is not only morally unacceptable for Southwark Council to retain these unlawful charges, the legal basis for their approach is doubtful and further litigation is very likely if they do not relent.

As for the other local authorities and housing associations affected by this issue, we are expecting them to make contact with their tenants over the coming weeks and to indicate what arrangements they will be making to repay the unlawful charges.

However, the impact of the judgment does not stop there.

The judge also decided that between April 2002 and April 2010 Thames Water should have billed the owners of rented accommodation for water and sewerage, rather than tenants. Whereas Thames Water’s evidence in the High Court was that throughout this period it had billed and recovered charges from tenants, rather than landlords.

Thames Water has not yet announced what arrangements it will be making to reimburse these tenants, all of whom were incorrectly charged hundreds of pounds each year during the 2002 to 2010 period.”

BBC London TV news report on 25 April 2016 (lead item) see: here. 

DPG’s Gareth Mitchell was also interviewed about the case on Vanessa Feltz’s breakfast show on 25 April 2016 at 07:35hrs (35 mins in); with Southwark council’s response at 08.21hrs (1 hour 21 mins in): here.
An article about the implications of the case will appear in the May 2016 edition of Legal Action.


8 Sept 2017
Rent officer has passed me onto the councils Financial Inclusion officers who sent me a letter and who I emailed and await their reply.

The Notice they sent to me is a sham.


4 Nov 2017
No word yet from the Financial Inclusion officers I sent an email to about the letter they sent to me.


7 Nov 2017
Someone from the Rent service phoned me yesterday and I explained a bit why I was with- holding the water charge and that I had replied via email to every letter I received but haven't had any email replies back.  I don't know what happens next will wait and see.


11 Feb 2018
Not heard anything about this since 7 Nov 2017. 

related to this: Housing repairs department - don't get me started on the shenanigans going on there.


30 May 2018 
Letter received and phone call from rent officer - 'am i going to start paying [my landlord camden council] the water charge' 'no, no' i says. I will though as suggested contact thames water and ask about a water metre and paying them directly for my water and get back to rent officer.

I'd rather pay  the water company and their shareholders than Camden 'council' and their ...... well whats the right word?

3 July 2018 
I haven't been able to contact Thames Water as suggested by the landlords agent, and which I agreed to. I tried really I did I just been pre-occupied with other stuff I'm trying to manage and its draining.  2 further phone calls Ive not replied to as I've lost the will 'to live' in regards to this. Take to me court if you must and we can argue it out there.

20 August 2018
Apparently I'm supposed to be receiving  an explanation [or proof or something] from the councils legal or finance department [I forget which what with others things still ongoing] as to why  the court judgement doesn't apply to Camden council - not heard anything yet.

1 Jan 2019
Another recent letter from  the  housing rent service within the 'supporting communities' directorate about alleged 'rent arrears'. They are going around in circles and don't know what to do i think. 

8 April 2021  

Camden council landlord has pulled a 'sneaky underhanded' move on me by contacting the DWP and getting them to start making weekly deduction from my  ESA payments. I'm not sure this is even legal/lawful so will have to look into it. 

After all they they have put me through and they pull this stunt, how very typical. 

21 April 2021

Ive found the actual court case where the overcharging by London councils [as landlords]  was decided 

Jones v London Borough of Southwark [2016] EWHC 457 (Ch) (04 March 2016) (bailii.org)

Its the appeal court - this means that the ruling should in practice [i think] apply to all London councils who where joined with the scheme. I have asked Camden council via my then ward housing manager about the overcharging - Nov 2016 saw the councils position as such:

 "We are still reviewing the situation ..... all water charges where set by Thames Water." 

Camden says its collects the charges on behalf of Thames Water - payments made to Camden Council are put back into providing services sort of thing. 

Thats the last I heard on the matter. If you scroll up this post you will see the entry dated 25 Aug 2017, taken from Kim Jones v Southwark -100,000s overcharged for water in London (dpglaw.co.uk) 

states that: 

" Whilst initially criticising the decision, Southwark Council has now announced that it will not appeal and will being repaying to tenants some of the unlawful charges.

Ms Jones’ solicitor, Gareth Mitchell, of Deighton Pierce Glynn, said:
“Thames Water has confirmed that it has similar arrangements with 69 local authorities and housing associations throughout its area covering 375,000 households. For households in occupation since 2001, they will have been overcharged around £700 to £1,000."

on 28 Oct 2020  Inside Housing  reports that   Court dismisses London council’s appeal over water charges ruling

Link to judgement

The Mayor & Burgesses of the Royal Borough of Kingston-Upon-Thames v Moss [2020] EWCA Civ 1381 (27 October 2020) (bailii.org)  

Friday 17 September 2021

I'm going through some of the minutes/documents from the 5 DMC's meetings that are up on camden councils website - to see if I can find any comments made by council about the water charge and I came across the below dated 6 dec 2017 

" The Housing Revenue Account Financial Advisor outlined the background to the water charges issues, emphasising that Southwark Council had been found in court to be acting as water reseller and therefore obliged to pass on any savings in the cost of water.

Camden had a different contract with Thames Water, receiving an administration fee for collecting water rates from tenants with no suggestion that tenants were being charged more as a result of this arrangement.

Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member for Better Homes, advised that the Council’s position could only be tested if someone decided to challenge it in court. DMC members remarked that making a legal challenge was financial onerous, but important for testing that the Council’s position was correct."  [my emphasis] 

31 march 2023

https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2022/2392.html  

1. " In these proceedings, the Claimant challenges the lawfulness of the Defendant's written guidance to officials ("decision-makers") who are responsible for deciding whether it is in a benefit claimant's interests to have deductions made from their subsistence benefit in order to pay sums which are owed by those claimants to utility companies. The deductions are known as Third Party Deductions ("TPDs"). The Claimant contends that the Defendant's policy approach to TPDs in respect of fuel and water debts, as set out in the written guidance, generates decisions, such as those made in her case, in an unlawful way."

I think the above can/does also apply to local councils [as landlords] and so-called rent arrears [that arent rent arrears but service charges as in water overcharging]. The DWP don't contact the person whose benefit the local council etc want money from, to ask any questions get the persons view on the mater sort of thing. 

CycleGate

 Around 9 months ago the below cycles appeared on the scene - visitors to the property occupied by myself and 2 other tenants, but owned by Camden council.

They where left there for hours and kept causing an obstruction. 




5 April 2016

15 April 2016

19 May 2016

This was becoming a regular thing.

A few other times and in Aug 2016 I decided to put up a polite notice in the hallway where the cycles where being put : Please don't leave cycles in the communal hallway that obstructs residents coming in and out of the property. Thank you

When tenant came in one day - there was some mouthing off about the notice and then later on the notice was gone. Then I put it up again and then it gone again.

I left it at that.

30 Aug 2016

7 Sept 2016
the above

happened again - ive lost the pic




10 Sept 2016

25 Sept 2016  - big bags sneaking in 

26 Sept 2016 - chained to my cycle and when I rang doorbell and called up for it to be removed I was ignored. I didn't need to use cycle at the time otherwise I would have had to call the police to come assist me.

2 Oct 2016 - chained to my cycle again. again I rang on bell and called up for it to me removed but no answer. Again I didn't need to use it at the time but (same as above).

2 oct 2016 - polite notice to not chain things to cycle that obstructs it from being used

6 Oct 2016 cycle isn't chained to my cycle this time but look at how the wheel is positioned. Was there for hours.

17 Oct 2016

It started of as 2 different cycles, one all black, one with a red strip on saddle. The all black one keeps coming back and keeps being left where it is causing an obstruction and annoyance.

Wonder how visitor would feel if someone kept coming to where he lived and kept being disrespectful? I suspect there would be a lot trouble.

I did speak to the owner of this cycle once - to thank him for not putting it where it was causing an obstruction - i wasn't taking the P - he had parked it up against the wall in front garden and though it could have been causing an obstruction as it was put in front of the electric gas meters, its not that often that the meters need to be got to. I happened to see him (he was with tenant) coming back into the property and when I thanked him he grunted at me and tenant said "I wouldn't speak to her".

Its not that there isn't anywhere for visitors to the property to chain cycles - there is a metal sign pole across the road (no sign on it that says you can't chain cycles to it) that could be used, as many people do myself included, but for some reason  this and other visitors aren't encouraged by tenant to use it.

This HERE is the tenancy agreement all tenants in the property (and most council tenants) have with the landlord Camden council. The landlord is aware of the breaches of tenancy agreement.

30 Nov 2016
Cycle wasn't seen for a few weeks then in 2 week period cycle (looks like a different  cycle) has been parked there 3 times for hours. Can't close the gate.

Vulnerable people targeted in Town Hall scam

taken from the local rag Camden New Journal HERE

Four arrests after private details of vulnerable residents are 'stolen' from Camden Council.


Published: 25 August, 2016
EXCLUSIVE by RICHARD OSLEY

FOUR people have been arrested after the private details of some of Camden’s most vulnerable residents were “stolen” from Town Hall computer systems – raising fears that personal information has already been passed to cold-call scammers, the New Journal has learned.

Detectives were called in by Camden Council after the names, dates of birth and addresses of elderly residents were allegedly plundered from confidential databases.

One line of inquiry for investigators is that information taken by an insider working for the council was passed to accomplices on the
outside looking for prime targets who would be most vulnerable to door-to-door con tricks and telephone scams ultimately aimed at obtaining bank details.

A member of council staff is understood to have been removed from a position as the probe continues. Town Hall chiefs have made a series of home visits to elderly residents to apologise for the data breach and to advise on how they can now protect themselves.

They are telling residents to check the credentials of people who call at the door unannounced and to be wary of so-called “vishing”, or voice phishing, rackets in which bogus callers insist bank information must be provided.

Martin Pratt, executive director of supporting people directorate, has written to residents explaining the council’s response. He has told those affected: “I am deeply sorry that your personal information was stolen from us and I want to assure you that we have taken steps to ensure that this does not happen again.”

The Information Commissioner, the independent watchdog that investigates data breaches of private information, has been alerted by the council.

In his letter – seen by the New Journal – Mr Pratt added: “We are strengthening our systems to protect the information held on our systems... However, the police have told us that a number of people across London have recently been contacted by ‘scammers’ who try to steal money from them.

“They use stolen information to make contact with people and then try to get hold of bank account and PIN number details.

“People have also been called by someone pretending to be a police officer. The fake police officer calls and asks the person to go immediately to their bank to withdraw money and then hand it over to another fake police officer who will call at their home address. The police or your bank will never call you and ask for your PIN number or bank account details. They will never send someone to your home to pick up your bank cards or your money.”

While arrests have been made, so far nobody has been charged.

A council spokesman said: “We are supporting police as they investigate and we have taken urgent steps to warn vulnerable residents of the dangers of scammers. This includes providing direct support to those whose information has been taken. A criminal investigation is under way and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

SCAM ADVICE
In the wake of the alleged theft of data from council systems, Camden residents worried they may be affected by bogus calls are advised to:

l Never give bank account details to someone you don’t know;
l Never give out any personal information, such as bank and credit card details, or copies of documents such as a passport or driving licence, unless you know who you are dealing with and why they need it; and
l Never email your financial information, even if you know the person you are emailing.

                                   

                        -------------------------------------
https://camdencouncilrottenlandlord.blogspot.com/2017/12/

Voter Registration Fraud Risks

I'd forgotten about this one. The scope for voter registration fraud is immense i think. Its from April 2015.


http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/16/do-i-need-my-national-insurance-number-to-register-to-vote


It is not essential to provide your national insurance (NI) number when registering to vote.

If you don’t know your NI number – which can usually be found on payslips or official letters about benefits, tax or pensions – you can just say soby giving a simple explanation.

It is then up to your local council to verify your identity.

Although online registration closes for the majority of voters on 7 June, local electoral registration offices have longer to verify your identity.

Whatever you do make sure you register to vote. You can think about who to vote for later.

“Under the new online registration system it’s just one of the ways you can have your identity verified,” says Oliver Sidorczuk, director of Bite the Ballot. “If you fill in the application, without your national insurance number, it’s your local council’s duty to verify you.”

According to the Cabinet Office, electoral registration officials will then contact you if they are unable to verify the application using other local data sources.

Such sources include cross-referencing your information with data from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Student Loans Company.

If they cannot verify you, the local electoral registration office will contact you to request further identification. (my emphasis)

This will likely be a photograph of your passport, or driving licence.

“Most progressive councils should, and I would suggest must, allow you to email in smartphone photos of your passport and driving licence,” (my emphasis) says Sidorczuk.

 Less than 25% of the population know their NI number, estimates Ben Page, head of polling organisation Ipsos Mori. If you are one of them, all you have to do when filling in the online form is explain why don’t know it. You can simply write: “I don’t know where it is.”


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


what to say?

Bite The Ballot HERE

Public Interest Report - Derby City Council

Derby City Council
Report of Grant Thornton UK LLP: Audit of Accounts 2013/14 and 2014/15
Governance Issues HERE

Bribery at the Town Hall

http://www.camdennewjournal.com/bribe-camden-council#.V2L80Z3321M.twitter

'Bribe' allegation at Town Hall has been substantiated, say council investigators

Published: 16 June, 2016
By RICHARD OSLEY

CAMDEN Council says a “bribery” allegation relating to the work of one of its own members of staff has been “substantiated”.

The case was revealed after a colleague reportedly blew the whistle at the Town Hall.

Information on an internal investigation was sent to councillors this week, although the full details of the case are understood to have been reserved for a small number of people at the council.

A report on fraud-busting is now due to be discussed at the Town Hall this evening (Thursday) by members of Camden’s cross-party Audit Committee. It reveals that there had been an allegation that an “employee is being bribed, ie that he has been ordering and receiving goods from a contractor in exchange for favourable treatment”.

The file goes on to simply state: “Allegation substantiated.” It says that the human resources department is “currently conducting disciplinary action”. It is understood police will not be involved. The allegation relates to a breach of staff rules rather than criminal behaviour.

Camden’s communications department said last night (Wednesday) that it could not comment on specific details of the case.

It is the most striking in a list of reports which came through to a confidential whistle­blowing hotline set up for staff to privately report suspicious behaviour. Several of the allegations received through this method have not been substantiated, including a claim that a member of staff was involved in funding terrorism and that another was illegally sub-letting their own council home.

Allegations still under investigation include reports of cash theft from a library, however.

Internal fraud-busters are also reporting to the committee that over the past year Camden has found substance in 18 allegations against its staff for “fraud or malpractice”.

The outcomes of the cases included 12 dismissals, two resignations and a written warning. The numbers of staff involved are, however, a tiny minority of the council workforce as a whole.

Meanwhile, Camden is set to take further action against staff found to be misusing a loan system supposed to be in place to help them buy travel season tickets. The money cannot be used for other purposes and the council said that “it is anticipated that disciplinary action will be taken against employees who failed to comply with the scheme”.

A council spokesman said: “We conduct a series of internal audits each year to ensure our staff comply with our policies and procedures.”
                                       -------------
Bribery Act 2010 HERE 

Update 19 June 2016
The council report about the above and other such things is  an officer report to the Audit and Corporate Governance committee HERE agenda item 13 - Annual Counter Fraud Report 2015 -2016 HERE

London Council Overcharged Tenants for Water

this post is joined with my post of  Thursday, 15 June 2017 Legal Action Threat for Water Charge Arrears

The below excerpts only came to light recently via the localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk  website HERE of a ruling in March 2016.

Council to refund tenants £28.6m after High Court water overcharging ruling 
 Thursday, 09 June 2016 07:00


The London Borough of Southwark has decided to repay 48,000 current and former tenants £28.6m following a High Court ruling earlier this year that it had overcharged for water and sewerage for 12 years.

In March this year Mr Justice Newey ruled that:

1. Unless and until a 2013 Deed (stating that the council was not a water reseller under the relevant regulations) took effect, the relationship between Thames Water and Southwark was not one of principal and agent but involved Southwark buying water and sewerage services from Thames Water and re-selling them to its tenants;

2. As a result, the Water Resale Order 2006 applied and served to limit what tenants could be charged; and

3. The amounts that Southwark charged the claimant, Kim Jones, (and other tenants with unmetered water supplies) exceeded the "maximum charge" allowed under the 2006 Order.

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

 “However, there are approximately 330,000 other tenants in the Thames Water region entitled to claim refunds. Any tenant in the Thames Water region who is liable to pay a water charge to a local authority landlord or to a housing association landlord is likely to be able to make a claim. Tenants in this positon should seek legal advice as soon as possible.”

 

Kentish Town Neighbourhood Plan Referendum 9 June 2016

There's a vote on 9 June 2016 for eligible residents of Kentish Town to vote (or not) yes or no to the Kentish Town Forum (designated group) HERE putting forward a Plan for the ward/neighbourhood.

I wish them good luck as they have put in a lot of effort into getting things set up etc.

I do intend to vote as its not for a candidate but an issue (can't bring myself to vote for candidates anymore) but i've not made my mind up whether to vote yes or no.

I must admit I am wary of all these platforms for people to get involved in running things, I guess due too my experience of council tenant participation with the landlord and how some groups behave and dominant things and all the shenanigans that surround it.

Personally speaking I am for less people (but the right people) being involved in running things and if I am accused of being  anti-democratic by some than so be it, its my view and different views are allowed even in the 'communist republic' of Camden where capitalism thrives but say something controversial and its like its the end of the world - for some.

There are good and bad on all sides, but please no more of the 'bad' ones.

I will decide on the day.

Update 10 June 2016
Apparently most residents who voted said yes to the Plan.

Yes 1717 = 90.9 %
No 158 = 8.3%

Turnout -  13.75%.

I voted yes - thought I'd give it a go to see how the KT Forum and the Plan works in practice (not that I thought anything rested on my vote, but I figured it would be passed)
 
 

Camden Housing Resident Scrutiny Group

The group of council tenants called the Camden Housing Resident Scrutiny Group[CHRSG] are meeting this evening HERE at the town hall, but haven't put the minutes of their 15 March 2016  meeting up on the councils website.

 Meetings
12 Nov 2013 here  

14 Jan 2014 here   presentation on 6 week new tenancy visits
11 March 2014 here  presentation on the initial STAR survey results
13 May 2014 here   presentation on complaints.  72% of complaints the Council received related to HASC and most of these related to repairs and improvements.
10 June 2014 here
8 July 2014 here   the cost of the group was mentioned with officers saying it would be difficult to provide accurate data until the end of the 2014-15 financial year.
12 Aug 2014 here self-assessment forms circulated. members advised to complete and return by the end of the week. Sept for assessment interviews. Members to return their signed Code of Conduct forms by the end of the week. Introduction to the council complaints process
9 Sept 2014 here  further information about complaints. Communications strategy.
14 Oct 2014 here   extent of the groups influence
11 Nov 2014 here  info on complaints.  request to have further training on the councils finances
9 Dec 2014 here information from the last STAR survey. complaints info

13 Jan 2015 here   election of chair and vice-chair .  finance training.
10 Feb 2015 here leaseholders forum. more complaints info
10 March 2015 here 
14 April 2015 here  review of groups documents and ways of working. complaints report.
19 May 2015 here repairs 
9 June 2015 here better homes presentation. Review of Camden Housing Resident Scrutiny Group. The issue of member’s conduct outside of group activities was felt by many members to be beyond the remit of the group and its Code of Conduct.
14 July 2015 here complaints report.  references to members’ behaviour outside of the group’s activities will be removed from the group’s Code of Conduct. better homes.
11 Aug 2015 here complaints report.  better homes. a member shouldn't use the name of the group when pursuing foi
8 Sept 2015 here freedom of information applications. better homes. discussions were also had around conduct in meetings.
13 Oct 2015 here Andrew Pierce (casp member) discussed with the group feedback about CHRSG from casp
10 Nov 2015 here better homes. tenant survey. 
 8 Dec 2015 here feedback on the Croydon Learning Exchange Event. better homes external works. tenant surveys. group review.

12 Jan 2016 here   Election of chair and vice-Chair. better homes. Recruitment Plan 2016
9 Feb 2016 here Overview of anti-social behaviour
15 March 2016 here Code of Conduct. Noise nuisance. better homes.
12 April 2016 here (march minutes not included) 
Mention of members of group being unpaid volunteers. 

10 May 2016 here


Update 18 April 2016 
In regards to the minutes: I'm sure some of this years minutes put up have been amended as I remember reading where the mention of members or a member not to tell others what to do was minuted or words to that effect and the last minutes where one of the groups members threatened staff re to make a complaint but can't find them now.

Any relation to why March's minutes haven't been put up on councils website?

I wonder who the person/s are who tell others what to and who issue threats. Thats a hard one to guess .......

Update 11 July 2016
The group are meeting tomorrow 12 July 2016 HERE  but they haven't put the agenda or minutes of their 14 June 2016 meeting HERE 
up on the councils website. 


Update 12 August 2016
Another meeting ( 9 Aug 2016) HERE but no documents or agenda. Something amiss going on but not being made public i suspect.

some notes 

Despite the CHRSG terms of reference/constitution stating the membership of the group shall consist of 15 members all of whom shall be Camden tenants or leaseholders comprising

• 5 representatives from the District Management Committee (1 per district)

• 1 representative from the Camden Leaseholders Forum

• 1 representative from the Camden Association of Street Properties

• 8 independent members

casp has managed to get 2 casp reps on the panel. One I assume was put up directly by casp, the other by the Gospel Oak dmc who should have put up someone else but didn't and who shouldn't have got past the interview panel [imo] but did. 

How do casp keep getting away with breaking the rules, general taking the pee, throwing their weight around?

I suspect the answer to that is with a lot of help from various council people and other tenant reps who collude with them or who look the other way.

Also, it appears that in collusion with Camden council casp set up a 'gardening project' using public money from tenant rents/charges via various dmc's -  to provide free gardening maintenance to council street property tenants. Tenants on estates have to pay for gardening maintenance as a service charge.

Perhaps the CHRSG would look into such issues?

Admitting when you get something wrong

Realised I got the Building Regulations thing wrong. Have been ranting about Camden council as land-lord not putting the required by Building Regulations sound proofing in when the property was converted in late 1970's when they weren't required by law to do so.

The regulations HERE didn't apply to inner London - only part of country they didn't apply to - which in itself I think is wrong but that's another matter.

Anyway, could give excuses as to my confusion over the BR's but won't.

The sun is shining today and for that I am grateful.