P.E.P.
The Whys and Wherefors
There can't be much left to say about the Priority Estates Project which we haven't said in the last two issues, but another free lunch at Stakis Grand Hotel (Wed, 4th March) convinced me the subject wasn't exhaustted yet......
Just why is the Council doing this?
It was afterall the City Council that invited the Priority Estates Project to go round the four estates of Abbey Hulton, Bentilee, Blurton & Meir, so why are they doing it?
Well, it all started with 'Tenant's Choice' one supposes, when the government decided to give teneants the choice of staying with their local council, or opt out with a private landlord. And, as the Conservatives aren't exactly fond of local councils, they decided to fiddle the figures a bit so that anyone who couldn't be bothered to vote against a private landlord would be counted as having voted for one!
'Unfortunately' they shot themsleves in the foot a bit by making the criterian wouldbe private landlords had to meet were so high that only one such landlord has been approved so far. However, the various new housing bill they introduced also made it possible for tenants themselves to partially or completely 'opt out' of their local council by taking power for themselves. This is primarily in the form of an Estate Management Board, a Tenant Management Co-operative or various forms of 'transferred ownership' options whereby tenants buy out their homes enmasse from the council (i.e. they don't individually own them) and form some legally recognised body to run them as the council did. This has the advantage of protecting their homes from being sold to private landlords/developers, but has many disadvantages too.
The Estate Management Board option, on the other hand, didn't protect you from this possibility enmasse (though if you voted NO to a private landlord, you would stay with the council). However, you are protected against financial risk because of the need to form an 'Industrial & Provident Society', which you then join for anytthing from 10p to £1 for LIFE, and would then limit your personal liability to that sum in the event of the board becoming bankrupt.
In addition:
Owner-ocuppiers can also be
members of such a board and
could vote in any elections.This would give them greater security and form a greater bond between Right to Buy owners and council tenants.
MYTH EXPLODING
As I said in issue 3 PEP hasn't anything to do with what's going on in Galloway & Thornhill Rds, and Fullwood & Gilliant (sic) Walks (new windows, etc.). THAT is due to 'Estate Action'.
And Estates Action is basically a pot of money that the government has put aside for estates, and bits of estates, that qualify as being the 'worse bits'.
How it Works
In short, you have to make your estate, street, whatever sound like a hell on Earth (e.g. poor, crime ridden, run down) and then submit an expensive, glossy report to the Dept of the Environment asking for a slice of the limited Estates Action cake. And, compared with the highrise flats and crime rife ghettos also putting in applications, most of Bentilee is an Eden not an hell.
BENTILEE HOUSE
The PEP people are no longer at Bentilee House, 240 Ubberley Rd, Wednesday & Thursday afternoons because they are currently busy in the Meir area doing the stuff they've already done round here.
They will however be returning in a few weeks. Unfortunate, The Bentilean mini-mag isn't expected to last many more issues, so I can't say "Watch this space!". But a call to the Bentilee Neighbourhood Office, on S-O-T 598014, near the time, should solicit the information.
Remember
It's not too late to get involved in the future of your estate.
Aylesbury Road Association
One of the most positive things to come out of the last PEP Training Day was the announcement of a new residents' association for Aylesbury Road.
The group, being organised by Mrs. Barbara Jones & neighbours, is still in its infant stages, having just held a meeting with Tenancy Condition's Officer, Rod Clark, to find out just what support the council would give them (and anyone else who does likewise), and to which I was invited (with no mention of the wonderful buffet lunch put on for the occasion).
Rod Clark said that the council would supply a photocopying service upto a maximum of 2500 copies (A4 size, double sided), advice, a £50 start up grant, and attend their meetings, if desired. This is open to everybody wishing to start such a group.
Concern had been expressed that starting up such groups may lead to conflicts if an Estate Board should be set up, but as was pointed out, it is likely to be 2 to 3 years before such a board could get off the ground; 2) the Chell Heath Residents Association (which was laregely responsible for getting their EMB off the ground) is still going strong though with more as a social thing; and 3) the Aylesbury group is in any case happy to liaise with anyone. The presence of Geoff Lowe, of the Galloway Rd group, and Mrs. Ann James of Abbey Hulton's Link group (and PEP man, Ian Powell) confirmed this.
Aylesbury residents can contact Mrs. Jones on 283411, or calling at no. 157.
Copyright the Bentilean 1999
Mrs. Jones no longer lives at the address listed and cannot be contacted on the listed number.Back to: The Contents Page | The Archive | The Bentilean Main Page