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Camden News - by RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 16 October 2008

Housing plea hits minister’s in-tray

DEAR Margaret, please, please, please help us repair Camden’s council homes.
This is the substance of a letter sent to housing minister Margaret Beckett from the Town Hall’s top brass in the first fortnight in her new job.
Liberal Democrat council boss Councillor Keith Moffitt and his Conservative deputy, Councillor Andrew Marshall, want talks with Ms Beckett about solving a dilemma which has haunted the Town Hall for almost five years.
In their letter, they admit they are not even fans of their own policy of selling off council properties to raise funds but are pressing ahead because they are so short of cash.
“We don’t want to do this and neither do our residents,” the two council chiefs said.
The government has taken a hardline approach towards Camden since 2003 when residents voted against its policy of taking management of homes out of council control.
A series of housing ministers, including Keith Hill, David Miliband and Yvette Cooper, have failed to break the deadlock.
Labour members and housing campaigners want the council to halt a systematic programme of sales.

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