Islington Tribune - News: Apology

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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 12 October 2007

Apology to tenants over repairs

TENANTS have won an apology for shoddy repairs carried out to council homes.
The apology comes less than a week after the Tribune reported how former builder Eugen Hockenjos refused to allow Partners for Improvements in Islington’s repairs team to work in his home following the discovery of more than 180 faults.
At a full council meeting on Tuesday, Labour councillors Paul Smith and James Murray called for an apology to residents for the inconvenience caused and demanded the council notes the delays and shoddy work.
But Lib Dem councillor Terry Stacy successfully pushed through an amendment, which did include an apology but also noted that the Private Finance Initiative deal with Partners for Improvement in Islington, a private company, had “improved many properties up to an exceptional standard after years of neglect”.
The council is to ask Homes for Islington to improve the way it oversees work carried out by contractors.
Islington South and Finsbury Labour MP Emily Thornberry said she had surveyed residents about the service from Partners for Improvement in Islington. Out of 300 responses, more than 70 per cent judged the overall service as “terrible” or “unacceptable”.
Ms Thornberry said: “I am glad the council has apologised for all the shoddy work and delays that my constituents have had to suffer.
“I will continue to keep an eye on what’s going on, but I hope that now the council will do their job better, monitor Partners properly and make sure residents get a decent service.”

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