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| NEWS | BY RICHARD OSLEY |
 Petition |
Ex-civil servant Robert Henderson, who lives in Levita House in Chalton Street, Somers Town, is to meet the auditor on April 30 following an exchange of emails discussing the Town Hall’s handling of its plan to join Whitehall’s Arms-Length Management Organisation (Almo) scheme. The project was aborted after tenants emphatically voted against the Almo, which would have seen Camden’s council homes run by a new board of tenants, appointees and councillors, earlier this year. Mr Henderson said: “Camden really did over-egg the pudding. Their material was almost entirely unbalanced. Camden bombarded tenants and leaseholders with glossy, colour-print material. The material was produced in much more expensive form than was necessary. People could have been given all the information in far less mailings.” Camden spent around £500,000 on its consultation programme, the most expensive Almo survey in the country. Mr Henderson said that the auditor’s review should go ahead despite a High Court probe ruling Camden had not been unfair in firing out a steady stream of Almo leaflets and claimed that the Town Hall’s decision to hire a firm of consultants to help tenants had also been a waste of cash. He added: “Unfortunately the government has taken away the power to surcharge councillors but depending on the result it could put a question mark over their careers.” Housing chiefs have defended their pre-ballot Almo material and after the referendum Camden leader Councillor Dame Jane Roberts said that they had fairly outlined the options to voters. Petitions continue to pour into CNJ offices ANGRY tenants and leaseholders are refusing to the let the pressure on beleaguered minister Keith Hill MP slip as completed petitions demanding cash for council homes continue to pour into the New Journal’s offices. A widespread programme of badly-needed repairs and housing upgrades has been frozen because Whitehall is holding back £283 million earmarked for Camden last year. The Labour government is refusing to hand over the cash because residents voted against its prized plan for council housing, the controversial Arms-Length Management Organisation (Almo). Tenants and leaseholders have also rejected PFI and stock transfer. The New Journal has joined the campaign, backed by politicians from all parties, tenants and leaseholders demanding the £283 million is provided in direct investment. Collection of petitions will end next month and the New Journal urges readers to get their completed forms in as soon as possible. Click here for the online printable version. . |
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