Lambeth Council’s move to re-take direct control of its homes in the borough is welcomed by the Green Party, but Greens call for guarantees there will be no job losses in the progress.
Lambeth Town Hall, photograph courtesy of Steve Cadman.
The Green Party has welcomed the announcement by Lambeth Council to re-take direct control of its homes in the borough by dissolving the Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) Lambeth Living, but warned there is no guarantee that the terrible treatment of tenants will end.
The Green Party is also calling for a cast iron guarantee that there would be no job losses, as well as a review of the benefits of ending the contracting out of privatised services such as repairs.
The announcement that Lambeth Living would be dissolved was made today. It comes after a stream of complaints from tenants about money being wasted on mismanagement and poor repairs. Last week Green Party leader Natalie Bennett visited Cressingham Gardens in Tulse Hill to highlight the issues of poor management there, and the Council’s proposals to demolish the housing rather than repair it properly.
Jonathan Bartley, Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Streatham said: “The ALMO model was established by New Labour, and in the case of Lambeth Living has failed to improve the quality of housing services for residents – whilst contractors and consultants have profited.
“There is no guarantee that the consistently poor treatment of tenants will end. But the Council should guarantee no job losses when taking housing management staff back in house, and should now review the benefits of bringing privatised services such as repairs back in house.”