Guest 1535- Registered: 27 May 2015
- Posts: 399
Stuart Honey: I'd like to hear the opinions of those more involved with these matters.
Me too Stuart
If only everyone could be kind and honest what a better world we would be in.
Guest 1535- Registered: 27 May 2015
- Posts: 399
I know of a case where which I beleive ,was where Mears pulled a ladies shed roof of then disappeared, that night it rained wetting all her belongings in her shed. She phoned them to why it happened they said they had to have scaffholding to do it could not carry on. So she said why tear my roof off she was told the regulations came into force after he did! Lol Anyway they covered the roof with a sheet and blocks of wood which when it rained caused pools of water this also went through the sheeting. It took over two months from tearing the roof off to putting a new one on. I beleive, she was not given any compensation for the damage to her items and stress of it all.
If only everyone could be kind and honest what a better world we would be in.
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,167
Sue Nicholas wrote:This sort of situation would not have happened when it was DDC .
I'm not so sure about that Sue! I think there's a bit of selective memory coming into play there.
The difference is that whereas only a few years ago total balls-ups and crap service were known to people's next door neighbours and a couple of blokes down the pub, now they are all over 'social media'.
In this particular case I would hope that either Sir Peter and/or the ward councillor are chasing the portfolio holder for a full explanation of what has happened.
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"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I can agree with you Bob.When I was Portfolio for housing I dreaded Thursday's as someone would go to the press and all facts were not known .I agree with you the portfolio holder should be involved.The officers at DDC would often say to me "Wish you didn't see things from bus windows "" In the old days you could speak to the maintence team direct ,I think they dreaded me walking along the corridors but I would ask for explanations and usually they were given.I knew every estate like the back of my hand and you only get knowledge by visiting not tapping at a key board.I went out with the officers and regularly toured the estates ,as I hated calling them.The tenants did not want new names so estates they are called.In my simplistic view of life you should not be able to tell who owns their house or whether they are tenants.
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Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,167
It's dead easy Sue.
EKH are answerable to DDC officers who are answerable to the elected Councillors who are answerable to the electorate.
If, at any point, the power structure breaks down and the tail starts wagging the dog, it's time to have the dog put down and a new one substituted.
(Personally I'd like to change the electorate!
)
(N.B. That was a joke)Guest 2514 likes this
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
He he.Yes and the portfolio holder should ensure that he or she is not having their tail wagged.I recall many stormy meetings with outside consultants who soon realised I was not to be toyed with .The Old HRA was always a battle ..
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Guest 1033- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 509
I think there are some rose coloured spectacles being worn here. DDC housing was total rubbish, and nearly impossible to contact or get things done. We waited over a year for one particular repair, and the so called 'inspector' wasn't seen in our street for all of that time.
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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
How long ago was this .I came off housing in 2009 ?When you think how many houses we were responsible for one or two will slip up through the net .Why would you wait all that time ?.
Guest 2514- Registered: 9 Mar 2018
- Posts: 6
"In this particular case I would hope that either Sir Peter and/or the ward councillor are chasing the portfolio holder for a full explanation of what has happened."
The Ward Councillor, as well as Peter Wallace and James Back all spent a considerable part of last Sunday afternoon holding on the phone, attempting to get the situation resolved.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,167
Ananacronym wrote:
The Ward Councillor, as well as Peter Wallace and James Back all spent a considerable part of last Sunday afternoon holding on the phone, attempting to get the situation resolved.
I would not have expected otherwise.
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"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Guest 1033- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 509
I didn't 'wait all that time', I kept on calling DDC to try and get some action, but got blanked time after time. Finally got the job done, and got a small amount of compensation for the outrageously long delay, and an apology. It was pre 2009 as it happens. Letting one or two slip through the net is a typical reaction and just what I would have expected, tantamount to saying that 'we do alright, not as good as we should do, but we're a bit busy'. Lets hope you never hear that excuse from a GP !
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Guest 2514- Registered: 9 Mar 2018
- Posts: 6
Amberleaf50 wrote:Was she not offered emergancy accomadation 'A hotel' until work done. East Kent Housing took on Mears they are responsible for the service thats being given and should work with them if problems. If this lady was in or still is in these circumstances then EKH should be putting her and her children into a safer accomadation until the work is done to standards and the property safe. A hotel is cheaper than someone's life, cost of that hotel may speed up the works if these works take longer.
Did EKH contact back and did they offer help as this was life threatening problem here with children also by the sounds of it.
No, she wasn't offered alternative accommodation , the house is now safe..awaiting repairs.. some due to start during the next week.
Guest 1535- Registered: 27 May 2015
- Posts: 399
Captain Haddock wrote:It's dead easy Sue.
EKH are answerable to DDC officers who are answerable to the elected Councillors who are answerable to the electorate.
If, at any point, the power structure breaks down and the tail starts wagging the dog, it's time to have the dog put down and a new one substituted.
(Personally I'd like to change the electorate!
)
(N.B. That was a joke)
Captin which officers in DDC are EKH answerable to ? As I have someone with horriic instances suffered at EKH staff's hands and DDC say they cant say or do anything as they are Arm's length management responsible for their own service- being housing. EKH ignoring her all her complaints some of them disturbing to say the least.
EKH have their own officers Dover located at DDC offices EKH who rent part of the building I have been told.
EKH control the housing and all complaints about the service they provide DDC have nothing to do with EKH and what they do from what I have seen and heard. So this is news to me but if you have the officers names at DDC that EKH are answerable to that would helpful. .
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If only everyone could be kind and honest what a better world we would be in.
Guest 1997- Registered: 3 Mar 2017
- Posts: 148
I don't know who it is offhand but it should be easy to find out who holds the current housing portfolio. Surely the DDC website would tell you that? Failing that, has your friend contacted his/her ward councillor?
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Guest 1535- Registered: 27 May 2015
- Posts: 399
Yes two - one got into agruments because of EKH giving false information to him, which he was misled - wont speak to her now although she said sorry to him and other tried but agreed would take an army to deal with it all.
EKH hold the whole housing in their hands DDC wont touch it, I beleive- I beleive Housing was signed over to EKH I think 2011 to manage take off hands of DDC - Although I believe DDC borrow money interest free loans, support EKH and supply offices to them at DDC- they do little more than that. Mears Vans have EKH logo on them they work in partership with repairs.
If only everyone could be kind and honest what a better world we would be in.
Guest 1535- Registered: 27 May 2015
- Posts: 399
East Kent Housing have their own website but lacking in details and very confusing at times when trying to access information
If only everyone could be kind and honest what a better world we would be in.
Guest 1535- Registered: 27 May 2015
- Posts: 399
4 councils formed an Almo East Kent Housing those councils home's are now run by that AlMO all four councils are linked. Staff are shared amongt these in EKH.
Dover
Canterbury
Thanet
Shepway
https://www.eastkenthousing.org.uk/
East Kent Housing Limited, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (registered number 07489230) whose registered office address is Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QY (the Organisation).
If only everyone could be kind and honest what a better world we would be in.
Guest 2514- Registered: 9 Mar 2018
- Posts: 6
"So this is news to me but if you have the officers names at DDC that EKH are answerable to that would helpful. ."
I believe the Portfolio for Housing is James Back
Guest 1997- Registered: 3 Mar 2017
- Posts: 148
It pains me to say it, but I'd be interested in reading our fishy friend's thoughts. As I understand it, he is an active, serving councillor. There is an implication here (perhaps it is only that) that EKH are falling far below the standards that might reasonably be expected of them. If so, then I don't see why anyone should have any compunction about taking those responsible to task.
About a decade ago I was awarded a short term (7 months as it turned out) freelance contract at Shepway District Council where I learned a lot about the administration and working practices of local government. I'm afraid that job preservation and development seemed to take priority in the decision making process, often at the expense of good service to the taxpayer.
I hope I'm wrong. My personal view is that if you're prepared to draw a salary at public expense or if you stand as a councillor for whatever reason (self-aggrandisement, a genuine desire to help, the Dunning-Kruger syndrome), then you should also be prepared to be held accountable for your actions.
Weird Granny Slater
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,087
'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus