`A PARTICULAR THORNY ISSUE`

Riverside in new `fat cat` pay rise row  

 The boss`s pay at Riverside Association rose by a massive 9.9 per cent  during the past year, according to an annual survey published this week by the influential social housing magazine, Inside Housing.

Chief Executive Carol Matthews picked up £264,392. The 9.9 per cent increase by the Liverpool-based association is more than five times the average increase of 1.8 per cent for the 155 U.K. housing associations surveyed.

The 1.8 per cent  increase was more than the increase a year ago. “This year’s results are likely to be a particularly thorny issue coming amid huge inflation, the cost of living and energy crises, and debates on capping or freezing social housing rents to protect tenants" ,says Inside Housing.

The campaigning group, Carlisle Tenants` and Residents`Federation  criticised the massive pay rise for Ms. Matthews.

 A spokesman said: This is not the first time that Riverside has led the way in over – the - top rises for its bosses. And it is not the first time that we have  pointed out that Riverside continues with these fat cat rises because it can continue with them.... it is accountable only to itself”

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

`TACKLING HOMES CRISIS IS ESSENTIAL TO GROWTH`

 

Welcome for Labour`s council house pledge

As the government continues to be mired in the chaos of its own making, the country is focussing on what Labour has to offer.

 One significant new  policy of that party is that council housing is  likely to make  a return if the party is returned at the next election. 

 

 

 The news has been welcomed by Carlisle Tenants` and Residents `Federation, publisher of this blog and leading campaigner against  the bossy and inefficient Liverpool company, Riverside Housing Association which for the last 20 years has owned the 6,000 former Carlisle council homes

Lisa Nandy(pictured),shadow minister for levelling up, housing and communities told the Labour  Conference in Liverpool this week that if the party is elected to government, it will ensure that social housing overtakes the private rented sector,by building a “new generation of council housing”. 

The pledge will mean that , the country would need to deliver more than 400,000 social houses

In her speech, Ms Nandy said that tackling the housing crisis is central to growth. She set out plans to “rebuild our council housing stock and bring homes back into the ownership of local councils and communities”, and to “tilt the balance of power” back to those who rent their homes. 

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

`I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH`

 

When Penrith held a `mini royal election`

The death of the Queen gives us an opportunity to look back to the start of her reign and  an election in  Penrith around the year 1952 -  an election that had an uncanny similarity to the  Queen`s accession in that year.

The Penrith election also threw up much debated issues  that followed the accession. The election  was very minor indeed compared to the royal accession. But in its small way  the Penrith election was notable and caused a great deal of debate in the town..

Penrith town centre

The election was for a new “leader” for  Penrith … a new chairman of the town`s Urban District Council which was the local authority running  the town at that time.

For the first time in its history, the council chose a woman chairman. There was also another first time: the council chose a Labour chairman.

These two “first times” pleased  the majority of people, particularly  the choice of a woman .It was seen as not so very unusual alongside the  royal  accession of a woman which took place about the same time..

 The new chairman was a Mrs Elizabeth Watson who was a very popular and well-respected  councillor.

Also equally popular and respected was her husband, George. Like most people at the time, he was very curious about how the new Queen`s husband would fit in with the day to day running of the monarchy and  how the new Queen would fit in with her role as a wife and mother.

These “unresolved problems” for the royal couple were also widely debated by the public . So, the curiosity of the new chairman`s husband  was very understandable

No double he gave  these “problems” a lot of thought.Probably more thought than most people.

Because what he did say was this:”Now that I am the husband of  a woman  council chairman, I know exactly what it is like to be the Duke of Edinburgh”

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