The Council Cabinet is told of rising confidence among council tenants in Peter Landman’s council round-up

Runners at Royal Docks — Credit – Royal Docks

Council leaders have been told that the confidence of residents in council property is on the rise after last year’s criticism of the Council’s housing record by the housing regulator.

According to a new survey reported to September’s Council Cabinet meeting, tenant satisfaction ratings are up to 71 percent this year, rising well above the score of 59 percent last year on the government’s tenant satisfaction scale.

At the same time the number of non emergency repairs in council properties completed on time has risen to 84 percent, up from 67 percent last year.

The news is an indicator of a turnaround that is taking place since the Council was given the lowest grading after an inspection by the government housing regulator.

Meanwhile, a separate strategy for involving housing residents has been set up, after public consultation, to bring tenant participation up to the social housing regulators standard.

In place of focusing mainly on formal tenant associations the strategy includes Estate Action Days, Local Advice Champions and there are plans to set up Leaseholder Groups.

New homes strategy in place
In her report to the Cabinet on the affordable housing programme, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz outlined the change of direction, from new builds on small sites, to big estate regeneration schemes, and acquisitions of freehold properties for leasing out; with Populo, the Council’s wholly-owned housing company moving from construction work to tenancy management.

The two main regeneration schemes currently underway are Carpenters Estate in Stratford and the Silvertown Development. The report gives schedules on all the small sites picked out with details of stages of construction, and gives detail of nine properties where costs have been exceeded. The Cabinet agreed to an extra £16.6 million pounds to cover the cost increases and an extra £6,3 million to contingency.

The main sources of funding for these works are the housing revenue account and grants from the Greater London Authority.

Walking and cycling bridge at Royal Docks
The Council considered a review of the plan for a walking and cycling bridge at the Royal Docks. An Overview and Scrutiny committee report, prepared by councillors independent of cabinet decisions, called for the report to be reconsidered with several recommendations objecting to the funding arrangements.

As a result, Cabinet agreed to obtain £6.9 million from S106 planning, to gain money from the neighbouring Royal Wharf development, and to seek further ways to lessen council capital expenditure. For more information contact the Mayor on mayor@newham.gov.uk

New consultation on Calverton
Discussing the plan to close Calverton School, Cabinet members were told that pupil numbers have dropped to 217 from a capacity of more than 400 with consequent loss of government funding.

As result of the first stage consultation, staff and parents came up with the alternative of a one-form entry school with a special needs centre.

Meanwhile, the education planning officer has conducted a local population trend analysis, which indicates that there might be even fewer children to join the school in the near future.

So the Council decided to start the formal Stage 2 consultation. The Council has pledged to work with parents, carers and teachers to ensure smooth transition for all the children to other schools.

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