News from KPE TA – July 2014
Repairs – our heads, their brick walls!
Since the start of the new repairs contract with Mears at the end of October last year, the Tenants’ Association has been very active in challenging Hyde Head Office on behalf of our tenants. The contractor (Mears) appears to tenants to have failed to perform to the contract from the beginning and continues to perform poorly. We have been assured that the most senior staff at Head Office are dealing with the problem, holding top level meetings every week. This is what we have been told for over six months now. The best brains at Hyde Head Office have been defeated by one repair contractor and HSH residents have suffered the consequences.
‘Bear with us’ Hyde’s publicity machine has begged us. ‘The necessary steps are being taken!’ we have been told. ‘Bear with us a while longer’. That was six weeks ago. Teething problems, glitches, challenges, technical difficulties, are the explanations and excuses we have been given. (And they called the first day of the new contract the go live date. We can probably think of a more accurate description of what happened to the repairs system on that date.)
We have been told that an excellent, if not an exemplary procurement process was used to award this contract to Mears. We pointed out that there had been unflattering reports in the press about Mears and it was no secret that awarding a repairs contract to Mears might well be risky and ill advised. However, it seems that common sense is redundant and carries no weight in the face of ‘an exemplary process’.
We have also been informed, very late in the day, that the computer system for repairs reporting was not ready when the new contract started. This is why the staff at local level have experienced problems reporting repairs and tracking progress on behalf of tenants. So Hyde has scrapped the new system and reverted to the old one. (Progress is a wonderful thing!)
When we draw these failings to the attention of managers we are often told no one else is complaining. This time, we know, and they know that so many residents are complaining the noise is deafening. For example, repairs to the home of elderly residents at KPE. Disruption and disrepair for months even though the situation had been reported time and time again, leaving vulnerable residents with unusable rooms. Evidence suggests that Hyde Head Office does not appear to know if the repairs work has been completed or not.
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Parking Enforcement – what a l-o-n-g drawn out process!
It is hard to believe, but KPETA reps have been pressing HSH managers on this for such a long time. It is also hard to believe that it is nearly two years since the new law prohibiting clamping came into force. The TA was well aware the change of law was to be implemented in October 2012 and at every meeting with HSH managers, before and after October 2012, the TA enquired about plans for parking enforcement on the Estate when clamping was no longer allowed. It took until mid-2013 before HSH started the process of consultation on new parking arrangements. Even with much pressure and urging by the TA, it then took until January 2014 before consultation meetings were held with residents to discuss possible options. An estate-wide vote was held in February/March this year and it took until June before HSH had the courtesy to inform KPE residents of the result of the ballot. And that was only after much exhortation from the TA.
Throughout this time, TA reps tried to stay involved in the detailed work of reviewing the information to be issued to residents in an attempt to ensure it was clear and accurate. The TA was careful to ensure that our contribution to this work was constructive and completed without delay. However, residents know quite well how long this has all taken. Too long, much too long.
At the time of going to press, HSH has still not given a precise date by which the new parking warden patrol enforcement arrangements will be in place. It has been proposed by HSH that full implementation will be achieved by the end of July. We look forward to it – and have marked the date in our diaries – but we would still like to know how could it possibly take nearly two years to consult on and implement something as straightforward as a new parking enforcement system? Other Housing Associations and local estates have managed it? Why can’t Hyde?
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Magee Street Housing Office – Message of Support
As residents will be aware, the Housing Office has been closed for repairs following fire damage. The TA has not been informed of the details of the cause of the fire; however, it is, of course, an issue of the most serious concern. There is no question that fire is extremely dangerous in any context and inconceivable in the context of buildings with residents asleep in them. We wish to ensure the staff who work in our housing office know they have our full support at this time.
We look forward to the Office reopening very shortly.
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Surrey County Cricket Club: The Oval
SCCC has announced plans to erect an office and restaurant building on the site of the previously proposed hotel. It appears to be slightly smaller than the hotel, not quite as high and not extending as far round the Oval as the hotel. It should have a slightly more attractive appearance than the structures on that side of the Oval currently but it will be one solid building nearly as high as Lockwood House and just the other side of the road from Lockwood. So possibly better than the hotel, but still a big building facing the sitting room windows of Lockwood House residents.
At a meeting with the CE of the Club in June, he also announced that they intend to redevelop the Lock and May stands and this will mean a substantial increase in the height of the back of the new stand facing Lockwood and Lohmann Houses. If planning permission is granted, SCCC intends to start on site in autumn 2015. Residents may wish to comment on the planning application when it is submitted to the Council in the next few weeks.
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