PROFIT AND THE RUSH TO PRIVATISATION

      Nostalgic calls  for another 1948  

moment

The year 1948 saw the start of the NHS and campaigners seeking reform and proper funding for the  country`s closely-linked  social services are now looking back nostalgically to that year for inspiration.

There are now many calls for another “1948 moment”.

Other campaigners  are calling for another “1948 moment” for  quite another reason.

They recall that  the year 1948 was one when the great  post-war drive to build  social housing was really getting into its stride and the country was soon going to be proud to be building 300,000  council houses a year.

Sadly, today, that pride has vanished as the country struggles with a housing crisis. A great many of those post-war council houses  have been sold off and our politicians  have not enough faith in local authority enterprise to build more houses to to replace them.

Privatisation and the profit motive nowadays reign supreme in deciding housing policy just as they reign supreme in deciding  the policy for social services.

But the battle for more social housing is not yet lost just as the battle for social housing reform is gathering momentum.

The Times newspaper like other media  frequently has debates about these…housing`s “1948  moment”  and social services` “ 1948 moment”.

One Times reader , Philip Chadwick of Southsea Hampshire  in a recent letter to editor  explains why the “1948 moment” is so important.

 He writes: "One way to reduce the cost of social care is to remove the profit motive.

“Not so long ago, councils provided and ran care homes. The rush to privatisation triggered the escalation in costs. If councils again ran care homes, residents would pay only for their care and not for directors’ salaries and company dividends.

 “Staff could expect better than zero-hours contracts and the minimum wage, thus boosting standards and recruitment. Some services should be provided by the state: care of the elderly is one of them.”

Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation publishes this blog. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 52227

HOW TO FUND TENANTS` GROUPS

 

 

Big bosses` cash and the problem of hypocrisy

A serious problem  about democracy and human rights has been identified by this  blog, according to leading  local government expert and consultant, Mr. Adrian  Waite(below). 

The problem is how to fund tenants` groups so they can be democratic and retain their independence.One form of funding - by the giant Riverside Housing Association and other big organisations- was  attacked  as hypocrisy and flawed in the previous post on this blog. 

Other forms of funding are examined by Mr Waite in  a message to the blog.

Mr Waite`s conclusions follow news that the flawed and hypocritical organisation Taroe (Tenants` and Residents Association of England) is having a bit of a near-death revival after surviving for many years on  big bosses`  funding.

Taroe has been consistently attacked for having a foot in all the camps. Critics never knew if Taroe was on the  side of the tenants or on the side of the big bosses

 Taroe which is based at Runcorn was urged to  disband, if it hasn`t already done so, with  a good riddance message from CarlisleTenants` and Residents` Federation ,the publishers of the blog.

Mr Waite in his message to the  blog says this:

“I think you have identified a serious problem.

“Tenants’ groups need funding. If this funding is provided by the landlord, then the landlord will expect the tenants’ group to be useful for them in various ways:

• As a forum where tenants can engage with the landlord. Fine.
• So the landlord can say they support and engage with tenants but it is just a box ticking exercise. Not so good.
• So the tenants’ organisation can be a mouthpiece and apologist for the landlord, helping to silence any dis-satisfied tenants. Not good.

“However, if tenants have to fund their own group they will lack resources. They may also be accused of being unrepresentative, disruptive or political.

“My solution would be for tenants’ groups to be funded by the government rather than by the landlords with a clear remit to be representative and independent. This would not be perfect but would be an improvement on current arrangements.

“I would also like to see all housing associations be accountable to their tenants rather than to small groups of shareholders or trustees.”

Mr Waite  is  head of  Appleby-based  AWICS, a management consultancy and training company and was previously chairman of Impact Housing Associaiton.

Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation publishes this blog. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 522277