Thursday 19 February 2009

Stories of incompetence in South Lakes Housing

The more I talk to those who live in houses administered by Simon Hughes, both Sheltered and regular Council Housing, the more I come across frustration at not being able to get work done.

Some witness neighbours from hell, with nothing done about it. Action is promised but nothing happens. Others have severe insulation problems with repeated requests for work and the putting in place of free government aided schemes yet nothing is done and the tenants foot the inflated fuel bill.

Simon Hughes appears to hide behind a 'complaints procedure'. He does not wish to get involved with giving answers. Yet I cannot believe that there are any good reasons for inaction.

Situations are never black and white. Having talked directly to Mr Hughes , he comes across as a person under siege who is reluctant to be open and straightforward. He is ready to give answers if pressed but is not going to volunteer them. Yet there must be severe constraints of money being available. Surely no organisation can be completely incompetent . . . Can it?

Fortunately if you are in East Ward, you have a Labour District Councillor - Mark Wilson - who is ready to take up issues on your behalf and try to get answers. I urge you to use him - mark.wilson@southlakeland.gov.uk

If you are outside Mark Wilson's area please let me know and we can work together to at least find concrete answers or else expose incompetence if it exists. So far I wait to be impressed by any of the five conservative councillors for the town though Jamie Samson certainly makes some encouraging noises though he doesn't overstretch himself with Council appearances - when compared with Cllr Wilson.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

it's south lakes housing

Geoff Dellow said...

Thanks

Anonymous said...

If people have complaints about the repairs service then they should contact Mr Tom Lynch by phone or email t.lynch@southlakeshousing.co.uk.

There's also a tenants committee that you should try and approach with any problems,now i don't have a clue who these are but if you ring south lakes housing they may tell you.

A lot of these problems with not getting repairs done is because they've now gone on to a new way to do the repairs.A while ago you rang up and they'd sort the repair out and everyone was happy,now you ring a call center and are given a time slot.They need to go back to the old way,this worked a treat but the new way is a disgrace.What you can call an emergency repair and what they call a emergency repair is wide of the mark.You try and get a call out when your boiler breaks down,they ask if you've got a gas fire and if you've got one then it's not an emergency,even tho all your hot water is supplied by the boiler.

Anonymous said...

or if you want to take this matter direct to the top email P.Thomas@southlakeshousing.co.uk

Geoff Dellow said...

Brilliant. This is really helpful.

So people with complaints must state these clearly and write to the above. There are too many people who choose to whinge and complain and do nothing.

If, having done the above then I would expect you local councillor to act as mediator should you wish. They can put your point across more clearly and with emphasis if he/she agrees with you.

First you must do something yourself.

Can I reassure you that in my experience of raising issues I have rarely incurred trouble for myself. Some believe that by complaining the Inland Revenue/ Schools Inspector/ Child Abuse social worker will then come knocking at your door.

This does not happen.

I have however had my perfectly straightforward email to a CCC officer forwarded to the police. Something I had to clear up and had no problem doing this!

Feel free to copy me in to any complaint you make and I will follow it up should you wish (unless the floodgates open wide !).

Anonymous said...

Maybe someone can email the two above and bring this blog to there attention and see if they will reply to it.Seem's like the chief housing officer for ulverston doesn't care less about problems.Geoff as already had a meeting with him and informed him of this blog and he's choose to ignore it.