• I’M delighted Rebecca Shirazi of Hampstead and Kilburn Labour has clarified that I’m neo-liberal with a political agenda, (Looking at outsourcing of estate cleaning services is but a small step…, August 23) – good to know!

Focusing again on Camden’s defective management of residential buildings (see my previous letters; Direct Labour is not the magic answer, August 16 – Fire safety questions need answers from Camden Council, July 19, and After Chalcots, here are questions to Camden Council, July 5), perhaps Ms Shirazi can answer the following questions (unanswered by officers and councillors)?

First, why was fire safety in the internal areas at Chalcots so unkempt and degraded that the towers were unfit to occupy? Evacuation was not down to the over-cladding.

Second, why has Camden got a backlog of non-implemented fire safety works in their housing stock, including significant items from risk assessments dated 2012?

Third, why have concerted attempts by tenants’ and residents’ associations (TRAs) to get fire safety works implemented been frustrated over several years?

I’m a resident in a 15-storey tower block owned by Camden, and a committee member of its TRA. Here it has taken us three years of effort (with welcome support from Labour Cllr Larraine Revah) to get Camden to deal with fire risks itemised by fire engineers six years ago.

There has been procrastination on safety and mismanagement of housing by the council. On the comparison of performance of public and private sectors, I say: those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

RICHARD FERRARO FRIBA
NW3