LABOUR GROUP MUST CEASE THIS SHAMEFUL FLIRTATION

Flawed TAROE  is now the walking dead

Labour Campaign for Council Housing is having  something of a revival at the moment but like many other similar groups faces a daunting challenge. An  unmoving Thatcher-obsessed government is determined not to give an inch on more council housing.

But  the Labour campaign group deserves full marks for trying, particularly with its efforts to  broaden its campaign. It wants to include such groups as  Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation, publisher of this blog..

 And the federation is happy to give the Labour campaign group  what support it can.

 But this broader campaign should not include groups that are hypocritical, are not what they seem, and might also be described as the the walking dead.

 Such a group is TAROE, the Tenants and Residents` Organisations of England which the Federation has consistently opposed for several years.

 TAROE took part in a recent parliamentary committee discussion about the Decent Home Standard of  social housing.

Shamefully, it is commended for this participation in  the latest press statement from the Labour campaign group.

 The Federation has this to say about the press statement and the Labour campaign group`s flirtation with TAROE:

 “If this group wishes to continue  praising  TAROE it should first read the last few posts on this blog.

“These posts  paint a true picture of TAROE which not so long ago was pronounced dead – it ceased functioning because it ran out of cash.

 “ It has had a  revival helped by an attractive young blonde woman support worked brought in to help. But it will take more  than a blonde support worker to revive what in effect is a flawed organisation.

 “TAROE is dead. And it should remain dead.”

Pictured:Labour`s Aneurin Bevan, father of the NHS, and slums of yesterday.

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

 

£20 INVESTMENT..... THE BIGGEST IN HISTORY

Tory social housing record `is good` - MP

An MP is defending the government`s social housing record following criticism in this blog.

“Quality and standards are being raised and  the £20 billion investment in housing is the biggest investment in new homes in England`s history” says Mr John Stevenson, Conservative MP for Carlisle(pictured) in an email to the blog.

Here is Mr Stevenson`s email:

“Social housing stock across England fell by almost half a million homes between 1997 and 2010 making it harder for many families to access social housing. I am pleased that over 1.8 million new homes have been delivered in the last decade, including 500,000 homes for social rent.

“More remains to be done which is why I am glad that the Spending Review announced nearly £20 billion of investment in housing, the single biggest investment in new homes in England`s history.

“The current Affordable Homes Programme is expected to deliver

250,000 new affordable homes by March 2023- an extension of one

 

 year to provide housing associations and councils more certainty

due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak’

“Half of the homes delivered under the programme will be for reduced rent, including social rent. In the last Budget, the new Affordale Homes Programme was expanded to £11.5 billion for 2021-22 through to 2025-26 to deliver 180,000 homes with a further £700 million allocated for the current programme.

“However, funding alone will not solve the problem, which is why I am pleased that the commitments set out in the Charter for Social Housing Residents  raise the standard for social housing to meet the needs and aspirations of residents around the country.

“Regarding the Social Housing White Paper mentioned in your blog, there can be no compromise on building and fire safety. That is why legislation will be brought in to strengthen the Regulator of Social Housiong, help ensure that health and safety requirements are met and improve the  use of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as well as electrical safety.

“Everyone wants and deserves a decent place to live and it is good to see that quality and standards are being raised”.

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