News
Have your say on Lambeth Living’s improvement
Sep 9th
Lambeth Living is changing and it wants views on plans to improve housing services.
The arms length management organisation, which manages nearly 34,000 homes throughout Lambeth, is restructuring in order to improve services to tenants and leaseholders, provide financial stability and value for money, become customer focused, have a local presence and deliver sustained and rapid improvement.
The plans include an improved repairs service, key services joined-up and delivered locally, greater visibility of staff on estates, quicker turn around of empty homes, improved leaseholder services, reducing the use of temporary staff and consultants, better contracts including quality repairs, stronger tenancy enforcement and a zero tolerance approach to anti social behaviour.
The proposals, which will be discussed with staff and trade unions, see the number of posts reduce from 468 to 409, the number of directors from four to three and the number of managers from 101 to 73. However, the number of front line staff will remain at 80 per cent of the workforce – a ratio of four to one staff providing front line services. Subject to consultation, there could be between 40 and 70 redundancies.
Chief Executive of Lambeth Living Cathy Deplessis said: “We have listened to the views of tenants and leaseholders and plan to improve services, remain within budget and provide better results for residents. Central to the proposals are basing key services together locally, increasing the visibility of Lambeth Living staff ready to help and delivering an improved repairs service that’s better at prioritising, advising and getting the job right, first time.” More >
Estate contractor, Connaught goes into administration
Sep 8th
One of Lambeth Living’s main contractors who deliver services to Weir Estate, Connaught has been put into administration, putting thousands of jobs at risk and raising fears about services.
However, some subsidiaries such as Connaught Environmental who carry out communal cleaning on Weir Estate will not be affected and will continue to “trade normally”, the company has promised.
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The company, which specialises in social housing, had already said on Tuesday it was in the process of appointing administrators. The firm said it had failed to secure funding to pay £220m of debt.
The company has appointed KPMG as administrators of Connaught plc, which comprises three main operating businesses: Connaught Partnerships, Connaught Environmental and Connaught Compliance.
However, only Connaught Partnerships has been placed in administration. The other two businesses are not in administration and continue to trade as usual. More >
Lambeth Living announce redundancies
Sep 7th
Up to 70 jobs will be axed within the next three months at the organisation managing Lambeth housing.
Lambeth Living has outlined details of the “restructuring” it believes will improve services to tenants and leaseholders living in the borough’s 34,000 home social housing stock.
A third of staff face redundancy, as between 40 and 70 posts are axed from the 468 strong workforce at the arms length management organisation (almo).
Lambeth Living Chief Executive Cathy Deplessis would not reveal what posts were under threat because of a consultation taking place with affected staff, who were told about the redundancies yesterday, but could not rule out a loss of frontline staff.
Terry Gallagher, director of resources and deputy chief executive, said the restructuring was a result of “inefficiencies in our systems are own staff, tenants and leasheolders have pointed out to us”. More >
Trustees wanted for successful, local Community and Children’s Centre
Sep 1st
The Weir Link is a vibrant and highly successful Community and Children’s Centre. Established in 2008, the Centre has already been recognised as a centre of excellence and has recently been awarded a significant grant to expand its provision in the area of community health.
In addition to increasing the number of Trustees to match planned growth in the Centre’s activities, we are planning for the future succession of the Chair of Trustees.
In particular, we are seeking up to 4 individuals with the following experience, knowledge and/or professional skills:
- Community involvement and leadership
- Strategic leadership in the charity or not for profit sector
- Financial planning and stewardship
- Supporting the well-being of Children and Young people
- Community health-care provision
- Service Level Agreements and Contracts
- Business Development and Fund-raising
Previous Trustee experience is not essential – full training and support will be provided. It is important to us that the Trustee body fully represents the diversity, cultures, experience, and skills from across the borough of Lambeth. We are therefore seeking applications from local residents, parents/carers and community groups, as well those with relevant professional or voluntary experience and skills.
There is no longer a closing date, for further information and to request an application pack, contact Rachel Bellini at Abbeville Associates tel 020 7720 1830 e-mail: admin@abbevilleassociates.co.uk
Health Watchdogs, HPA Say Estate Masts Output ‘Not a Threat’
Aug 23rd
Independent health watchdog, the Health Protection Agency has ruled the output from mobile phone masts are well below international agreed limits set by International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and pose no threat to residents living on Weir Estate.
Based on a report carried out by telecommunication regulator, Ofcom of the signals being omitted from the masts in key areas around Weir Estate have confirmed that the signal is so minimal that there is no risk to resident’s health and that they are safe.
Weir Estate Residents Association sent the Ofcom findings to the Health Protection Agency, as so they can evaluate the data and provide an expert analysis. The HPA which protects the UK publics health through the provision of support and advice to the NHS, local authorities, emergency services, other Arms Length Bodies, the Department of Health and the Devolved Administrations. The Agency was established as a special health authority (SpHA) in 2003. The HPA Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards comprises the Radiation Protection Division (formerly the National Radiological Protection Board) and the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division who studied the Ofcom report. The headquarters for the Centre is based at Chilton in Oxfordshire. As part of their work they have access to radiation scientists and experts. It is these experts who have ruled that the signal poses such minimal risk that there is no threat to those living close to the masts or the general public on Weir Estate. More >
Young Offenders give Weir Railings New Coat of Paint
Aug 21st
Youth offenders serving a community punishment court order have begun giving Weir Estate’s newly repaired railings a fresh coat of paint, as part of the Lambeth Youth Offending Service (YOS) reparation program.
The youngsters aged between ten and sixteen are giving back to the community by repainting the fencing across the entire estate which got underway this month.
The program which is run by Lambeth Council serves to show young people convicted in a court the errors of their ways.
The works to refresh the metal fences will be an on-going relationship between Weir Estate Residents Association and the Youth Offending Service.
A group of up to ten youngsters are overseen by officers from Lambeth YOS. The paint and materials have been donated by major works contractor Breyer Group plc and Gunites Decorators which has enabled the project to take place.
WERA contacted the Youth Offending Service to try to brighten up the estate following works to improve resident’s homes and the exterior of the blocks.
With massive budget cuts on the horizon for both Lambeth Living and Lambeth Council, following the coalition’s spending cuts, both organisations don’t have the money available to carry out the work so WERA approached the Youth Offending Service to help rehabilitate young people through the community payback scheme.
Reparation Coordinator for Lambeth’s Youth Offending Service, Kate Mirimo explains “Lambeth Youth Offending Service are committed to ensuring young people are made aware of the consequences of their actions and that they show remorse, make amends and sign up to a plan for their restoration in the community. Working with WERA has enabled young people from our service to reflect on their actions and complete practical work which helps visibly improve their local area”.
WERA seeks Mayor and GLA Members intervention over Bus Extension Stalemate
Aug 20th
Residents on Weir Estate are calling for the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson to intervene in the delayed 255 bus route extension delays, as the proposals hit stalemate between Lambeth and Wandsworth Council’s.
At a recent association meeting, residents called for WERA to lobby the Mayor in order to get bus route implemented along Weir Road. The plans to extend the single Decker 255 bus from Streatham Hill station down to Balham Station has hit the buffers as a handful of residents in Wandsworth submitted a petition against the bus running along their road, this has been backed by Wandsworth Council who have confirmed they have passed on their objections to Transport for London.
Weir residents are furious that the extension has been delayed despite the fact the route would run along more of Lambeth’s streets than Wandsworth and that in the consultation published at the end of 2009, 68% of local people voted in favour of the extension.
WERA is now calling on the Mayor of London to step in to resolve the hold up of the plan which has been supported by the association, The Weir Link and even a builder’s merchant along the route in Wandsworth. Weir Estate has also recruited the support of Greater London Assembly member, Valerie Shawcross who will now ensure that TfL and Mayor Johnson tackle the issue.
Bus Route Extension Plans Hit Delays due to TfL Cross Borough Talks
Jul 31st
Long anticipated plans to extend a single decker bus linking Streatham and Balham shopping districts have run into delays following concerns raised by Wandsworth Council and objections from residents on one road in the area.
Residents will now have to wait even longer while talks with both Lambeth and Wandsworth Council’s are ongoing with Transport for London (TfL) who carried out a consultation throughout both council districts with a large number in favour of the extension of the 255 bus which currently terminates at Streatham Hill Station.
The extension would run along Weir Road and terminate at Balham Station under the plans. Residents on a road in Wandsworth which would also form part of the new route submitted a petition to TFL against the proposals amid safety and loss of parking fears.
TfL are currently in talks with both London Councils to see the find a solution to having the bus route implemented though there is no indication as to when this is likely to be.
In a statement TfL said ‘We are still planning to introduce the service but the scheme has been delayed, however we are working closely with both local authorities to progress the scheme to implementation. Once we can release further information, we will do.’
The new route would run from its current terminus at Streatham along Hydethorpe Road, Radbourne Road, Weir Road and Old Devonshire Road, into Balham High Street and terminate at Balham Station.
Three Way Funding Gets Weir Fencing Fixed
Jul 28th
Damaged and buckled railings on Weir Estate, are getting vital repairs and being replaced, following a three way funding agreement between Weir Estate Residents Association, Lambeth Living and the Breyer Group plc.
The works to the value of an estimated eighteen thousand pounds have got under way this week following works to resident’s homes and now the efforts to continue to improve Weir Estate have now focused on the communal area railings. Three sums of Six Thousand Pounds have been committed to the improvement works has been provided by Lambeth Living, the Arms Length Management Organisation responsible for housing in Lambeth, Breyer Group plc the contractor responsible for the major works which are now coming to an end, and Weir Estate Residents Association.
WERA Chair Dave McEvoy is delighted with the deal, saying the railings, which were put up in the mid 1970s, are in desperate need of changing following years of damage caused by careless motor vehicles crashing into them as well as rust caused by the weather “This work is about WERA and Lambeth Living’s commitment to improving the appearance of the estate so residents can take pride in the area in which they live. We have achieved this to residents homes and now we are delighted to be able to improve our communal areas too. We want Weir Estate to be the best looking estate in Lambeth, and for other resident associations to aspire to be like us. We are grateful to Lambeth Living and Breyer Group plc for supporting us in this”
The improvement work is being carried out by a sub contractor R&B overseen by Breyer Group plc. It’s expected to be complete by mid-August, by which time members of the Youth Offending Service will move onto the estate to paint the old railings as part of their community payback. This is expected to start throughout the summer holidays every Tuesday supervised by officers from the Lambeth team. For this, Breyer is also kindly donating the paint and painting materials in order for them to carry out the paint job.
Missing original metal works on the front of the estate will also be reinstated and then be painted.
Dave added “This is a real combined effort by us as the estates Association and our external partners to bring a new better look to our estate.”
Breyer’s Managing Director, Tim Breyer who has authorised the financial support of the works from Breyer has now been invited to visit Weir Estate in order to see the major improvements being made following the works carried out by his staff. Lambeth Living’s Director of Property Services has also backed the projects with their on going investment into improving the estate.
WERA Elects New Vice-Chair
Jul 18th
A new Vice Chair has been elected to the Weir Estate Residents Association’s Executive Committee. Life Long resident, Rohema Khanom was this week elected into the role by a unanimous vote of members at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) last week.
Rohema and her family have lived on Weir Estate for many years in which she has grown up in the area. This week Rohema joined the association to work with and support the current Chair as well bringing new ideas to the take the association forward.
The position of vice chair had been vacant for many years and this is one of the first times, WERA has had a full executive committee who are responsible for managing the association, its finances and decisions.
Current Chair, Dave McEvoy spoke highly of the new appointee to WERA team at the meeting and then recommended that members elected her which was overseen by new Housing Officer, Teodoro De Carvalho.
Rohema has already begun throwing herself into her new role by getting involved in key issues such as the Community Garden, Parking issues and other long term estate projects.