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Was buying a mistake?
• LAST week I met representatives from Homes for Islington (HfI) at Councillor Terry Stacy’s suggestion, to discuss my major works bill for £17,302. They appeared to agree that the works are overpriced and could be carried out more cheaply in the private sector, and that the awarding of contracts is not transparent, with the result that cover pricing is common. They also accepted that buying an ex-council property in Islington is basically a mistake.
I now call upon Cllr Stacy as leader of the council to make a public statement about our major works bills, stating whether he agrees that the works could be carried out more cheaply in the private sector, whether he accepts that it is a mistake to buy an ex-council property, and responding fully to leaseholders’ entirely legitimate concerns about cover pricing. I would also ask him to explain to leaseholders why there is no sinking fund in place to cover major works, as would be normal practice in the private sector.
I challenge him to meet leaseholders to hear their concerns. The borough he leads has issued life-ruining bills to ordinary working people. He urgently needs to explain himself to them and to hear their anger, however uncomfortable that may be.
Fiona Rintoul
Highbury New Park, N5 |
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