Your recent coverage on the Glasgow Housing Association was pretty one-sided (23 July, page 17; 6 August, page 11). I think it’s worth adding that:

  • The Scottish Executive deliberately ignored its own published requirements, including that of producing a “best value” comparator
  • The report of the external auditors to Glasgow council finds the transfer not best value
  • While Michael Lennon waxes lyrical about new kitchens and bathrooms in a few thousand core stock houses, the 18,000 houses destined for demolition and the 22,000 houses “under review” and in investment limbo are deteriorating even further

To focus on these largely cosmetic items, while ignoring the many thousands of houses in Glasgow plagued with rising and penetrating damp to the point where they are unfit for human habitation, is frankly obscene

  • GHA plans to demolish 18,000 houses but provide only another 3000, while Glasgow has a waiting list of 10,500 homeless and is committed to closing the remaining five hostels by 2007. To date, not a single planning application has been made by or on behalf of GHA
  • To date, GHA has only met and exceeded one budget target – that of its own management costs, running at some £93m a year. In reality, GHA has spent less than the council did previously and the money released from the previous debt repayment is being swallowed up internally
  • Economic benefits were part of the promised package but we now see GHA calling for redundancies from coalface workers, while still recruiting more highly paid lawyers and accountants. There has been no direct benefit for local employment as a result of this “investment”.

So with a perverse approach to asset management, a hostile style of industrial relations, antagonism towards innovation and a patronising attitude towards tenants, the GHA is the least open, accountable and democratic organisation ever to exist in the public sector. All this and much more could be confirmed in as much detail as you wish.

Colin Deans recently excommunicated member, GHA board

Source

Housing Today