Responses to Queries Raised At – North East Local Housing Forum

Date: Thursday 22rd July 2020

No:	Queries:	Answers:
1	what as happened to the trsig grants we applied for?	Old pre-Covid GIG applications should be resent in accordance with the relaunched GIG programme.
2	is there a way to flag new council houses on the home search website for people to bid for it	Southwark’s Homesearch bidding scheme runs from weekly from Thursday – Sunday. Vacant available properties will be listed on the website during the bidding cycle. Each property will have specific details which could include whether the property is a new build, location and amenities.
3	What is council doing regarding Anti social Behaviour attitude in the estate? Especially at Astley & Cooper’s TRA need to be look into regarding anti social	This has been looked into by SASBU.
4	Hi I am a Southwark resident but I was sent on a temporary accommodation in New Addington (Croydon) I am now very far from my network: work children school. I had to transfer them to the local school. we are now been moved twice in te same area. it is now 2 years that we are living here. why Southwark council does not not take into consideration its residents networks before allocating houses.	Southwark operates the allocation of temporary accommodation placements in accordance with the Lettings Framework. Link listed below: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/finding-a-new-home/about-the-housing-solutions-service We will always examine the individual needs of households, however due to the housing crisis, Southwark is not always able to place households immediately within the borough. Therefore we have to place homeless households in neighbouring boroughs while still enabling the ability to bid on the Homesearch scheme.
5	What’s Council doing for family with overcrowded home	The shortage of housing supply and increase in housing demand has meant that many residents are waiting longer periods on the waiting list. Southwark continues to offer advice to all households which will includes the option of renting accommodation in the private sector. Depending upon the circumstances, we will also provide assistance to secure accommodation. Further information can be found on our website: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/finding-a-new-home/looking-for-a-home
6	and why are we using very expensive consultants that produce Reports that are not worth the paper they’re written on we are spending far too much money on consultants	The professional technical services advisors appointed for this contract were selected after a thorough selection process including cost and quality analysis. Design and supervision works are done internally where sufficient staff are in post.
7	to be quite honest it doesn’t make no difference what we say some major work so don’t take any notice of us as you know at the moment we are going to have planned major works on the Canada estate as I keep saying to you all the reports from the consultants are not worth the paper they’re written on and no one is taking any notice about the damp is coming in our flats the low rise how do you expect to start in October I had an email sent to me saying that you had done a lot of extensive survey is I’ve asked to see these extensive survey is never seen one of them the only surveys I have seen all the ones that you bought to a meeting which well to be quite honest a joke and a very costly joke the problem is you never take any notice of what tenant say and in the past there’s never been anyone to look after the work and what about The VO orders that add money to the major works as I said to you do you her day I have all the paperwork from 20 years ago when it was last done and that goes to show you how bad it was	The Council feel the surveys undertaken were appropriate for the works. Some pilot works will be undertaken to ensure the right measures are taken.
8	Would like to put my name down on this for major works	Noted
9	but will you take notice of the tenants n major works as we are the ones who know the problems in our flats And not take the word of overpriced consultants?	The Council has a full consultation process in hand ‘Putting Residents First’ which is currently being reviewed as reported to the last Forum. Residents’ input is greatly appreciated and valued on all projects as residents are very often most aware of issues in their own homes and the review will hopefully suggest ways to encourage more residents to be involved in the project and at an early stage.