Hounslow Citizens Advice Bureau AGM

This week I joined many of our CAB's staff, volunteers and trustees at their AGM where we heard just how busy the CAB service is now, and what the future holds for local people.  Hounslow's CAB, along with all CAB's is going through an unprecedented growth in "business".  Ours is one of the few CAB's that has seen its Council grant increase to meet the challenge, but even so it struggles to keep on top of the problems.

Our 3 bureau at Chiswick Hounslow and Feltham saw over 8000 new clients last year, with 24,000 queries.  The top 3 presenting issues are Benefits & Tax Credits 31%, Debt (25%) followed by Housing (11%).  However many people have more than one interrelated problem they are seeking to solve.  On top of that, an increasing number of clients have mental or physical disabilities, an/or stoical and language isolation. 

Many common themes come up again and again in the casework including DWP repeatedly making wrong assessments or wrongly applying the law, and people with mental health problems struggling to manage finances and claim appropriate benefits, even contemplating suicide as the only way out of their debt problems.

The AGM heard from Christie Silk, of the CAB National office, explaining how the further changes to the Welfare Benefits system will mean two million people in this country will be worse off.   The people with most to fear are severely disabled people living alone, families with high childcare costs, and lone parents with disabled children (a very high proportion of disabled children live with a lone parent).

The AGM was a meeting of mixed emotions for me: anger at what the Government policies are doing to low paid and disabled people in this country, admiration for the work of the CAB staff and volunteers, and determination to do what I can to ensure the limited Council resources are used in the best way to reduce the impact on residents of Hounslow. 

Housing: Fraud Success and Tackling Voids

The current edition of Hounslow Homes News that goes to Council tenants and leaseholders in the borough has two welcome pieces of news.

Over the last two years since the Tenancy Fraud Initiative was launched, 96 Council Homes have been recovered by Hounslow Homes, 18 through the courts and 78 where tenants handed the keys back once proceedings to terminate the tenancy have been started.

It's a good result, and shows that the additional investment in staff to take action has more than paid its way by freeing up more much-needed homes to those in housing need.  Information about suspected fraudulent tenancies come from a variety of sources, but neighbours raising concerns can be key to an investigation being initiated.


Secondly, it's good to see the Void times finally starting to improve.  Lead members, myself and then Steve Curran, have been pushing Hounslow Homes and the Council teams to work more closely together to get systems in place to cut down the time taken to re-let homes.  It's not rocket science, but needed some "lean" thinking to get the avoidable glitches out of the system, and I'm glad that work is now seeing results.

Speech On Housing delivered to Labour Party Conference

I am Ruth Cadbury – Association of Labour Councillors , the first ALC delegation at conference following  the rule change last year
–speaking in support of Composite 5 on Housing.
Conference - Many people see my name and ask if I am related to the well known Quaker and Chocolate family

Yes I am, and that is why housing is in my DNA.
At the turn of the 20th century, at a time before local government had a role in delivering housing, my forbearers recognised  the vital need to address the appalling slum conditions prevalent in Birmingham. As employers they created Bournville , a community for working people and their families, of good quality, affordable housing
 - a historic example, one might say of One Nation, in practice

Not long after that, local government took on the role of delivering affordable, quality housing by building, enabling, and regulating;
And today Labour Councils are leading the way in addressing both the overall shortage of homes, and the desperate shortage of affordable homes.

First let me nail the myth that the planning system is holding back the overall supply of housing– no it isn’t.  Local authorities have approved 400,000 new homes, and building hasn’t started on half of those plots –why? -   because the banks aren’t lending.

Now to what Labour Councils, are doing in their communities to deliver good quality  homes with rents that people can afford.

Conference Five times as many council and housing association homes for affordable rent, are being built in Labour authorities, than in Tory ones.

here are just a handful of examples of the work of Labour Councils large and small

- My own Council – Hounslow will have delivered 2500 new affordable homes in the 4 years to 2014, including 124 COUNCIL houses,   of which 18 are zero carbon homes.
Blackpool  – will deliver100 new affordable homes per year
and Liverpool's current programme is 3500
 - Stevenange is building level 6 zero carbon Council houses as part of their significant council housing programme

And Labour Councils are using a range of powers and partnerships to leverage in funding for new homes - Manchester is using the pension fund and Council land to invest in 240 new homes.
Glasgow, Oldham and Hastings are stimulating the private sector to build homes by launching mortgage scheme that enable first-time buyers to access up to 95% mortgages.

And to develop skills and future employment  my authority,  like others, requires construction training to be provided in all new development projects
And Labour Councils are playing an active role in improving the growing private rented sector;
-Oxford  and Newham have introduced licensing schemes of private sector landlords to drive up standards for tenants and drive out the rogue landlords.

But  Conference  - Labour Councils cannot address the mountain of outstanding housing need alone – we need a Labour Government
– a Labour Government that will use the £4bn 4G dividend to build 100,000 affordable homes,
- and a government whose economic policies gets banks lending,
builders developing,
buyers borrowing
and construction workers building the new homes that this country so desperately needs

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF THIS COUNCILLOR

– A particularly busy and interesting week, which merits it’s own blog entry. Look out for future updates.

• ·         Hounslow Tenants & Residents Association Conference
• ·         Dangerous Crossings on the A4
• ·         Team GB Parade
• ·         St John’s Community Centre Roof
• ·         Chiswick High Road
• ·         Heathrow
• ·         River in Brentford
• ·         Benefits Crisis

About 200 people attended the HFTRA conference, many of whom work tirelessly day-in-day out to make life better for their neighbours.  Most are Council tenants or leaseholders, with Hounslow Homes - our Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) managing their homes and estates.  However, it was good to also meet tenants of Housing Associations including a lady from Green Lawn Lanes in Brentford.   Not all estates have active associations, but there were residents at the event who came to learn how they could set one up on their patch.

The dangerous crossings on the A4 have been an issue for ward Councillors for 5 years.  Early on Monday morning  I met up with London Assembly member Murad Qureshi at the Clayponds Lane Crossing whilst children were heading for school.  At the end of last term I had collected over 300 signatures from local parents demanding action from TfL, and this week Murad handed it to the Mayor. 

As the borough’s lead on Olympic preparation, and having played a small part on behalf of London Local Authorities in the lead up to the bid and early preparation for the Games, I was honoured to be given a ticket for the end-of-the-Mall gig at the end of the Team GB Parade on Monday.  I was seated in a stand directly across the Mall from the dignitaries – which included Tony Blair, Tessa Jowell and Ken Livingstone - who were instrumental in the UK putting together a serious bid for the 2012 Games, yet whose contribution was not recognised in the PM’s nor the Mayor’s speeches on Monday.

Once the floats had passed we were allowed to the end of the Mall overlooking the stage on the Victoria Memorial, with Buckingham Palace in the background, for the speeches and then the Pet Shop Boys.  Heading back across St James Park for the tube, we were treated to a low-key amble-past of the athletes as they headed up Birdcage Walk – with no crowds and direct contact with them.  Sadly I didn’t catch Mo Farah, to give him Hounslow’s congratulations!  So much has been said and written about what the Games did for London and the UK so all I will add is that I hope that we can ensure there is a legacy in Hounslow – the new athletics facilities in Osterley, and more people also cycling, rowing and playing tennis, as well as taking part in a host of other sports and activities.

Before I left the Civic Centre on Tuesday I signed the order to repair the roof at St John’s Community Centre in Isleworth.  This has been a long-running issue for the volunteers who run the centre, who ensure there it is available for a variety of community activities all day, every day.  The reasonable rents they charge keep the charges low enough for users, which is sufficient to cover the week to week costs.  But for years the volunteer committee have had to battle with increasingly large quantities of rain pouring in to the former school building, putting off hirers and having to rent indoor pumps to siphon off the water.  The centre was also on a long-list of community buildings in 2010/11 that were considered might have to close as part of the cuts the Council needed to make in revenue funding.  However, due to the dedication and hard work of the Committee members who run the hall, the building receives no Council subsidy for its normal annual running costs.– but did need funds to fix the roof .  Anyway, the issue was in my In-tray when I took over Cabinet responsibility for Assets in May this year, and as soon as committee members showed me round the centre, I ensured we had funds in the capital budget to cover the repair costs and instructed officers to go out to tender.   The quotes for the work came in below the level at which we would have needed to go out for full EU tender which means that now the contract for the work is signed, the builders will be on site within 3 weeks, and hopefully the work will be complete before the worst of the weather in the New Year.

 Heathrow continues to dominate the headlines; I will write a separate blog article about the current issues, but suffice to say, BAA’s crude attempts to define the debate as “without Runway 3, UK plc. goes down the pan” has little economic basis particularly on a national stage apart from BAA’s own commercial interests.  It does not address the real capacity issues now or in the future, nor address the real noise and air quality challenges we have right now, right here in Hounslow.  I was able to attend a really useful meeting in the House of Commons of people representing residents in West London and beyond -  MPs, Councillors and members of the House of Lords from all 3 main parties, as well as Council officers –  ably co-ordinated by John Stewart of HACAN .  It even featured in the Evening Standard.  Boris Johnson wasn’t there but his Estuary Airport idea was attacked, as it would require the closure of Heathrow – with inevitable devastating consequences for the West London economy.  It’s all about balance – but as I say – another day.

I joined Seema Malhotra MP for some doorstep canvassing in Feltham West ward and as ever was enthused by the result we got.  People are worried about jobs, and the more local stuff such as litter and parking.

Sunny Saturday turned out to be spent round the River in Brentford.  With Cllr Steve Curran, I went to Town Wharf to meet the residents who live on narrow boats in this hidden and untouched old wharf off the Thames end of the River Brent.  They are worried that their unique and low-impact way of life, is under threat from the future development of the High Street.  They have a lease but being boat-dwellers they have little security of tenure.  We will have to consider how we can protect this as the plans for the redevelopment of the South side of Brentford High Street progress,

I walked from Town Wharf across Johnson’s Island which has artists studios (Open Day next weekend I gather), to the bottom lock on the Brent and up onto Brentford Dock.  I ran into an old friend and together we watched the Great River Race, hundreds of human-propelled boats of all shapes and sizes coming up the Thames from Dockland to Richmond.  An amazing sight and another example of extreme human endeavour. 

I can’t complete this blog without covering the benefits crisis; brought about by the Government’s attacks on those on the lowest incomes paying the price for their defict strategy.  I was made aware of two particularly sad cases this week .  Whilst I know there is a climate of public opinion that abhors “scroungers”, the Welfare State has always been a safety net and many of the current changes particularly to Housing Benefit have been made with no consideration of the high rent levels in London.   I lead on “Financial Inclusion” issues on Hounslow’s Cabinet, and we are seeing more people facing homelessness through no fault of their own – as housing benefit no longer helps with rent for people’s whose weekly wage is less than their rent, or who are required to pay a penalty for remaining in the family home once the children have moved.  Hounslow will do whatever is within our legal and financial powers to support people facing the effects of the welfare benefit cuts– but it feels to me, and front-line staff, that we will have an unstoppable deluge of people who can no longer keep themselves and their families housed and fed.

A4 Traffic Update

Well we're getting a little bit of acknolwedgement form TfL;  we have secured some limited improvements to traffic flows both along the A4 eastbound through Brentford and along Chiswick High Road. But yesterday (Tuesday), the traffic was still a nightmare.  I could see, as I have an app on my phone that shows by red, amber and green the state of the traffic, at any place at any time. 

 

We feel TfL should loosen their grip still further in these areas and could also allow some local 'tweaks' without compromising their overall objectives for the movement of Olympic vehicles, so we are continuing to press for further changes, on the A4, Chiswick High Road and the Kew Bridge Road/Kew Bridge junction.

 

While I'm on - the M4 closure - in case you saw signs advising of an M4 closure , it is only a temporary closure between midnight and 5.00 a.m last night. The Boston Manor Viaduct section is still subject to a 7.5T weight restriction, but Olympic coaches (the vehicles not the trainers!) are exempt from this restriction provided that the travel no closer together than 200 metres. The closurelat night was to allow the installation of additional markers on lamp columns to assist drivers in keeping to this 200 metre headway.  

 

What the Times said when the Torch Relay went through Hounslow town centre

Don't take my word for it. This is what jornalist Martin Fletcher says in today's national Times newspaper! Here is the full article.

Yesterday (24th Juy)  Hounslow was a place transformed — multicultural Britain at its richest and most vibrant
It is just one small flame, but it surely has magical powers. Yesterday, after processing around affluent Kingston, through the splendour of Kew Gardens, and past the riverside mansions of Richmond, the Olympic Torch reached Hounslow, a dreary expanse of westernmost London distinguished primarily by its utter lack of distinction.
You drive past Hounslow as you head out of London on the A4. You roar over its drab homes, bucket shops and cheap Asian restaurants as you land at Heathrow. In normal circumstances there would be no reason to visit, but yesterday it was a place transformed — multicultural Britain at its richest and most vibrant.
Thousands turned out to greet the Torch. Elderly Sikhs with beards and turbans, women in hijabs and young Rastas waved flags with fervour. They cheered as the Torch was born up the High Street by Sister Mary Joy, a nun who was Britain’s first firewoman and founded the Wormwood Scrubs riding centre for disabled and disadvantaged children. They whooped and screamed as she passed the Torch to the diminutive figure of Sai Singam, 12, chosen for his exemplary behaviour at school.
They were entertained by dhol drummers from Punjab, bhangra dancers and belly dancers, and Bollywood singers. They sashayed together in the sun-drenched street. They hoisted their children onto the shoulders of policemen and tried on their helmets.
For a few hours at least all differences fell away and the people of Hounslow were as one in their exuberance.
“There’s every race and nationality here, and we’re enjoying it together,” said Lester Sarmiento, 30, a Filipino barman watching with his four-year-old son. “It pulls the community together. Today everyone is smiling,” said Anthony Del Bono, an Italian-American from Brooklyn. “It reminds me of a Caribbean carnival,” said Carl McCarthy, 42, who came to Britain from Jamaica five years ago.
“The Torch is a massive opportunity for the nation to come together and show appreciation and national pride. We’re not just here to watch, but to say thank you,” said Murari Sharma, 70, a retired teacher who came to Britain from India as a student 45 years ago. “This is my country now, and the best thing about this nation is its tolerance.”
The Torch came and went in 20 minutes, but 20 years hence people will still recall the day that Hounslow was gilded by its flame.
 

Nightmare on Chiswick High Road - Hounslow is pressurinsing TfL

Well,  we all thought the Games Lanes would be a problem, but it's the light sequenceing, especiially on Chiswick High Road that is causing a nightmare for the town this week.  Here is our officer, Nick Woods's response to a local resident who complained:
thank you for this. I have yet again raised with Transport for London the appalling conditions along the High Road. Whilst, after a meeting in London last Friday afternoon, we seem to have achieved a general improvement across other parts of the Borough (helped, of course, by the school holidays) the same cannot be said of Chiswick. I can perhaps understand that there was some nervousness about this morning with the Games Lanes 'going live' along the A4 but, at lunchtime today, the A4/M4 was flowing freely whereas Chiswick High Road had traffic queuing solidly westbound from the boundary with Hammersmith and Fulham to the Heathfield Terrace junction.

 

As you may know, TfL's aim is to reduce general traffic flows along the Olympic Route Network (ORN) which includes the A4 through Chiswick and rather than just holding traffic at the immediate junctions onto the A4, they are trying to 'spread the load' to prevent absolute gridlock at the A4 junctions. But I believe they have tightened the screw far too much along the High Road and are actually causing gridlock in the Town Centre.

 

As you may know flows along the M4/A4 into London this morning were not brilliant, not helped, I understand, by an accident in the rush hour, but the route seems to be operating well off peak. TfL may well argue that this is because their measures are working. However, I firmly believe that their measures are too extreme and some relief is essential.

 

In terms of the Games Lanes along the A4, I have consistently argued for about the last 5 years, that they were unnecessary. Whilst I accept that you cannot have an athlete who has trained for years, be late travelling from his/her accommodation for his/her event at, say, Wembley Arena, I fail to see the same need to get that athlete or indeed an Olympic official to his/her accommodation in a fixed time from Heathrow and this is what the A4 Games lanes are intended to achieve. However, this was a battle I was never going to win and it appears that the Games Lanes are a requirement of any bid to host the Games. I also argued that for 'the greenest Games' there should be much more use of coaches, minibuses or, at the very least, electric vehicles for the Olympic fleet and, whilst there are some, I believe there should have been far more.

 

But returning to the High Road, I shall continue on the case and hopefully we shall shortly see some relaxation.

We are continuing to push TfL - they have to balance the needs of the Games with that of day-to-day living and working in London.