SEPP BLATTER GETS THE NOD

Riverside

`donkeys 

get

nodding`

Sepp Blatter cannot be moved  despite the world-wide  outcry against Fifa say his supporters after his successful re-election as president of soccer`s governing body.

Nearer home here in Carlisle can the same be said about  some similar  people under attack?. 
Are these people also so secure that they cannot be moved?

These people are nominated or elected to do a job. And, like Sepp Blatter they cannot be moved.

These people are Riverside Housing Association`s nodding donkeys. More of these donkeys are coming to light following   revelations about them in the  previous post on this blog.

Sepp Blatter got the nod and kept his job. Riverside`s nodding donkeys are still nodding away.

The previous post on this blog   criticised the  four Carlisle City Council representatives on the  Riverside governing board  and called them Riverside`s nodding donkeys.

The four were criticised for consistently remaining silent  in the face of an unprecedented  number of complaints about Riverside by city taxpayers which are now piling up. And unprecedented distress at Longtown where Riverside tenants cannot afford to heat their homes.

The emergence of more nodding donkeys came  when Mr Jim Heywood, Chairman of Riverside`s Tenant Scrutiny Panel was questioned about the panel when he appeared before a committee of Carlisle councillors.

 Mr Heywood was challenged  about  his panel`s independence after he revealed that the panel also contained Riverside representatives. With these representatives on board, how can the panel be independent and hold Riverside to account?he was asked.

Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation   was also present at that city council  committee meeting. The Federation representative also wondered about this so-called independence.

He wondered if the tenants said exactly what they think of their landlord as they sit side by side with their landlord`s representatives?

Or are these  scrutiny panel tenants, just like the four silent Carlisle councillors, no more than nodding donkeys agreeing with everything and saying precisely nothing.

The Federation representative is now  attempting to find  out more and has a chance next week 
 (June 11) to put  oral questions to  another meeting of the council committee.

Two questions are allowed. The first question deals with the issue of independence. The second question deals with  complaints by tenants and leaseholders.

The questions ( the committee is the Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel) are:

QUESTION ONE

At the last meeting of the panel (April 9), the Riverside Housing Association representatives were asked about the composition of the Riverside Tenants` Scrutiny Panel. The representatives said that this panel comprised tenants and also representatives of Riverside and was considered independent of Riverside.

The view was then expressed by the council panel chairman that because of the inclusion of Riverside representatives, the Riverside tenants` panel could not claim to be independent and by implication have the  power to hold Riverside effectively to account.

Does the panel agree with the view of its chairman and if so, does the panel feel that representations should be made to Riverside about this absence of independence?

QUESTION TWO

Following serious criticisms of the working practices and of other aspects of Riverside Housing Association`s activities, made at this panel`s meetings and at other places, there has subsequently recently been a   praiseworthy involvement of the  council in attempting to address what  apparently are complaints  made by Riverside tenants and leaseholders which cannot be resolved.

For at least three years this unsatisfactory situation  has been causing real distress and hardship to Riverside  tenants and leaseholders, particularly in Longtown.

What further steps does the panel consider necessary to end this unsatisfactory situation.?



 
Community Voice Carlisle is the blog of Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation. Information  about the Federtion is available on 01228 522277 or 01228 532803.