Lambeth Conservatives

This empty property near Brockwell Park is valued at £297,000

The draft a damning Audit Commission Inspectors’ report into the dire state of Lambeth Living which manages social housing in the borough for Labour Lambeth Council, has been leaked to tenant leaders and a number of copies are currently circulating in the borough.

A copy was stuffed anonymously through a tenant leader’s letter box last week.  Labour councillors have refused so far to release the document for general scrutiny but a copy has already reached the local press which is fiercely independent of Labour Lambeth Council.

Councillor Irene Kimm, Conservative Housing Spokeswoman, says:  “From the extracts I have been read, it is an amazingly forthright document for an Audit Commission production: every area of the Lambeth Living’s activities is slammed as being weak.  The conclusion, on prospects for future improvement, suggests that there may be none.  Although no particular individual is singled out for blame, there is no area of operation of the service that escapes criticism.”

As the final date for receiving funding from the Government to qualify for millions of pounds to improve neglected properties, after years of Labour control, is fast approaching, there is little hope of Lambeth being able to qualify to receive the money that it requires to bring its residential estate up to the Decent Homes standard.

Conservative Group Leader Councillor John Whelan says:  “This is possibly the reason that the Labour Group reversed its decision on the sale of residential properties, and why there has been no move to transfer sheltered housing schemes to a Residential Social Landlord.  In view of the fact that Labour Lambeth is seeking to withhold this document from public scrutiny, we will be publishing it as soon as possible on LambethConservatives.com for everyone to read.”