Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Published: 15 May 2008
An urgency in the fight to secure decent homes
• EARLIER this month ex-mayor Ken Livingstone made a bold pledge to supply the investment to refurbish our homes and stop the sell-offs at auction to developers. Now the mayoral election is over, and we have a new mayor, it is crucial that this dialogue is developed further, especially as the new Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and we quote from his website, “has begun his mayoralty in a spirit of openness and co-operation by convening a meeting with London’s borough councils to develop new ways of working together”. We understand Councillor Keith Moffitt, leader of Camden Council, attended the function last Friday. Alan Walters call in last week’s New Journal (We need joint approach to Johnson over housing, May 8) for a joint approach to the new mayor asking him to continue this discussion and fund the improvements we need to our homes is a good way forward and is a move which should be genuinely supported by Camden Council and councillors from all political parties – it certainly makes sense! The association has been informed in writing that Camden Council intends to “aggressively” pursue any avenues for decent homes funding and this position appears to be supported, at least in principle, by Camden’s executive member for housing. In December 2007 the association appealed to both Camden Council and Camden’s executive that there should be no sale of empty Camden homes and the arguments put forward to support this position were defended on the strongest moral and social grounds, but to no avail. Councillor Chris Naylor now informs your readers that it looks as though Camden has reached its desired target by selling only 24 empty units rather than the 50 originally authorised (We shall be pressing for decent homes funding, May 1). It would also appear that the situation is to be reviewed shortly, certainly before Camden pushes ahead once more and sells up to 500 properties in order to reach their overall target funding. Can we suggest that any public meeting with the new mayor takes place as soon as possible, certainly before the outcome of any review is decided on by Camden Council, in the hope that this shameful situation can be brought to an end as quickly as possible! We also call on all interested tenants’ groups and individuals to support that this public meeting be called in Camden as soon as possible! Mike Cookson Taylor Secretary, Camden Association of Street Properties
