Caretaking to be privatised by Tory/Lib Dems

Camden Unison last week gave a vote of no confidence in housing chief Cllr. Chris Naylor after his plans to axe council tenants caretaking were revealed. Caretakers, many of whom live in the blocks they clean, are the ‘ears and ears’ of estates – providing a vital link between tenants (sometimes vulnerable ones) and the council. Camden housing staff have warned of council plans to reduce Camden’s service, in order to save money.

In today's CNJ Naylor tries, strangley, to blame "the government" for his own plans - but the new "Housing Management Improvement Plan" is totally his idea and his creature.
Plans include:
- A centralised (i.e. not district-based) call centre for rent queries
- Proposals to privatise the caretaking service and get rid of residential caretakers
- Less housing staff, with bigger patches, to provide the service

The plans have not been set out in full, but drip-fed from the council in order to avoid a full debate.

At the next Full Council meeting on Moday Labour will be promoting a motion against privatising caretaking – a test for Coalition councillors who profess to represent council tenants in areas with large estates like Kilburn, Cantelowes, Kentish Town, Gospel Oak, Haverstock, Camden Town with Primrose Hill and Highgate.

Privatisation of services hurt elderly

Gospel Oak community activist Sally Gimson warns of the Tory/Lib Dem threat to services to the elderly under the Town Hall's 'Better and Cheaper' agenda, see here.

Frank Barnes school closure protest

Shocking Camden Lib Dem plans, drawn up over the last 18 months, to demolish Frank Barnes School for the Deaf have sparked a wave of protest culminating in a March on the Town Hall tomorrow, see here for the full story.

The school sits on a plot of land wanted by the Town Hall for its new Academy, despite other sites being available.The fight for the school has been carried with great tact by the parents and governors, not wanting to make it a political knockabout.

Earlier this month they succeeded in getting the Lib Dems to u-turn on their proposals, but only after a massive effort. However, promises made by the Camden Lib Dems are rarely worth the paper they are printed on, so they need to be held to account.

They have already ignored the voices of thousands of parents on the school consultation, putting political legacy over local needs.

That's why the Labour opposition aims set up an unprecendented joint scrutiny to safeguard the future of Frank Barnes children.

Camden Gazette story