Housing Association ‘No DSS’ housing proposal despite waiting list crisis.

 Social landlord OneManchester’s [1] controversial plans to build new housing in Hulme reveal that none of the 170 properties will be available as social homes.

The scheme called ‘Hulme Living’[2], which OneManchester hopes to begin in early 2016, will be across 2 sites in Hulme, one approximately 100 property build on Leaf Street the other Chorlton Road.

Dave Power, chief executive of OneManchester justifies the proposal, saying “…Greater Manchester desperately needs to be building at least 10,000 new homes per year in order to play its part in tackling the national housing crisis” [3].

Deyika Nzeribe, Manchester Green Party and resident of Hulme said “OneManchester is supposed to be a social landlord. Where are the social homes in this plan? Dave Power is right in saying that there is a housing crisis in Manchester but that crisis is that there are 20,000 people on the council waiting list[4], the worse in the North West of England. If not organisations like OneManchester, who is going to build the social housing we desperately need?

“If all the accommodation in these plans are for rent, why not have a mix, have 40% of the tenants in there from the housing list? THAT would be a small step but it will be in the right direction.”

Manchester Green Party Chair Steffeny McGiffen commented “With 20,000 people on the housing waiting list evidence of the lack of accommodation for people in need can be seen every day on the streets of Manchester. Those charged with the welfare of the city are failing to tackle the issue and arguably, wilfully ignoring it."

Ends

Notes

1.    One Manchester - http://www.onemanchester.co.uk/

2.    Hulme Living - http://hulmeliving.co.uk/

3.    170 new homes expected to be built in Hulme - http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/170-new-homes-expected-built-9780001

4.    Households on local authorities' housing waiting lists - http://data.gov.uk/dataset/households_on_local_authorities_housing_waiting_lists_-_excluding_households_waiting_for_transfers

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Shock Service Charges Planned by City South Manchester Housing Trust

Stunned tenants fear extra charges

Along with a letter telling of rent increases, tenants of City South Manchester Housing Trust (CSMHT) were shocked to also get letters on their "Rights and Obligations" under Service Charges.

CSMHT promised NOT to introduce services charges for the work it’s doing now, in its offer document when it took over council property. That was only 4 years ago. The document, called ‘Your Future, Your Choice’ says (on page 28):

“The rent after transfer would pay for the full range of services you now get from the City Council – managing the estates, repairing your home and maintaining the landscape.

“There would be no services charges for any of the planned improvement works described in this booklet. In the future, if you want City South Manchester to provide extra services, these would be paid for by a new service charge, but this would not happen without a full consultation with all tenants affected by the change.

“So, there would only be a new service charge for a new service, not an improved service.”

What is written in this offer document is LEGALLY BINDING as it is part of a contract between CSMHT and Manchester City Council. Page 18 of the document says,

“City South Manchester would be independent from the City Council. However, Manchester City Council would have a legally binding contract with City South Manchester, through which the City Council would make sure that the promises made in this booklet are kept.”

This means the promise not to impose this proposed service charge is legally binding.

Residents are angry that this is even being considered, despite promises made, and massively disappointed that 2 labour councillors, including Hulme’s Mary Murphy, the Vice-Chair, are on the board that have agreed it.

Leaked papers from the Trust show costs will vary between £10 and over £1000 per year, with the higher charges being aimed at tower block tenants.

Residents have called upon the Housing Trust and Councillor Mary Murphy to confirm or deny that

• A service charge for new tenants was introduced on April 1^st
• service charges for existing tenants in flats and multis will follow at a later date
• the offer document promised no services charges for current services
• the offer document is a legally binding document that was guaranteed by Manchester City Council.

Because depending on the answers given, there are implications for the Trust, the City Council and the Councillors involved.

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Manchester Cuts: A severe blow

There is no doubting the severity of the cuts announced by Manchester City Council.

While its understood that budget reductions have been imposed from the Coalition Government, the Council’s pledge to defend front line services is nonsense.

Cutting the majority of youth services and SureStarts in Manchester, then hoping the voluntary sector could take over them could make sense. Unfortunately the voluntary sector is being slashed by 22%.

In Hulme and Moss Side its expected that at least Hulme Library, the Martenscroft SureStart Centre, debt advice service and youth centres will go.

There has been no call to local groups and unions to discuss the best way of saving services, no consultation on how to support the most vulnerable in our communities.

Add this to the increase in charges from Council services and Housing Trusts, VAT increase, cuts to Manchester Advice services, reduced support available from Job Centres, it is not a stretch to imagine serious hardship coming back to Manchester. The Council wrings its hands and says there is nothing to be done yet the Airport owes it £83 million.

And when the dust settles, the Council will look to cut another £60 million next year.

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Manchester Cuts: Is there really no choice?

The shocking announcement of 2000 job losses at Manchester City Council is the biggest result of the cuts handed down from the Coalition Government.

The Council, forced to deal with a £110 million reduction, expects to save £70 million pounds with these staffing reductions. This still means that £40 million pounds will still have to be found and it looks likely that front line services will be in the firing line.

In addition, because of the expected cuts in Manchester’s police, fire and health services Manchester residents are going find it more difficult to access the support they need.

Manchester Green Party (MGP) believes nationally, these cuts could largely be avoided by concentrating the deficit reduction by increasing taxes on the financial sector that caused the deficit.

MGP Chair Brian Candeland said “Not only is the Government pursuing the wrong policies, it is seeking to pass the blame onto local authorities. Whilst all local authorities are being hit to some degree, urban councils in the north such as Manchester and its neighbouring boroughs are being hit particularly hard. This will widen the north-south divide.”

While the Coalition Government has forced this budget reduction on the Council, the Council decides what services will be cut.

MGP urges the Council to make every effort to prioritise services to the vulnerable and saving jobs over capital building projects.

Following last weekend’s GMTUC conference, we note:

• that in the most recent Council accounts (Accounts Statement 2009/10, page 47, 102), Manchester Airport owes the council over £83 million. The airport is currently raising over £280 million to develop its facilities. As a major investor in the airport, the Council is in a position of influence and should look to reclaim those monies.
• the Council's 'sale/transfer' of Hulme's Birley Fields to Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) for far less than the value of the land (worth £10 million in some estimates). Hulme Green Party says "Its outrageous. The value of that land would go a long way to reducing the effects of the cuts in Hulme and Manchester. As it stands, the whole MMU proposal is not good for the area."

The recouping of even a proportion of the Airport and Birley Fields monies will save jobs and services in Manchester.

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City South Housing Trust Hulme Outreach

As part of our promise to customers we said we would improve the landscaping and the environment in your communities to make them nicer places to live. We have appointed landscape architects BCA Landscape to draw up some initial ideas for eight neighbourhoods and we want you to have your say to shape those plans.

Subject to funding, things we could introduce include street furniture, improved parking, more trees and shrubs,improved communal or play areas, better lighting, signage and public art, new allotments, orchards wildflower or wildlife areas, landmark and entrance features, alley gating and works to over mature trees.

From 12-16 July BCA Landscape and City South staff will be holding a series of consultation events in each neighbourhood. You will be able to see their initial thoughts and sketches at this early stage and give us your feedback and ideas to influence the development of the final designs. We'll also be using the opportunity to consult with you about how we can improve and tailor other services to meet the needs of your neighbourhood.

Check out the table to see when we'll bein your neighbourhood. We'll be setting up a gazebo on one of the communal areas.

If you would like more information contact Hannah Howard on 0161 227 1263.

We look forward to seeing you

Bethnall Monday 12th July 11.00 - 13.30 City Road/Cornbrook Monday 12th July 15.30 - 18.00

BBC / Loretto Tuesday 13th July 11.00 - 13.30 Flamborough Tuesday 13th July 15:30 - 18:00 Loxford street Thursday 15th July 11:00 - 13:30

Sherwood Thursday 15th July 15.30-18.00 St Georges Friday 16th July 11:00 - 13:30 Shawgreen Friday 16th July 15.30 - 18.00

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