Labour councillors in Abbey ward have conveniently short memories (It is time to come clean on the cost of repair services, September 11). Whilst it may suit them politically to blame the 2006-2010 Conservative administration for current problems with Circle Housing Merton Priory’s repairs record, the reality is very different.

Prior to being agreed in March 2010 by all political groups on the council, the housing stock transfer agreement was very carefully scrutinised and contained various safeguards to ensure residents on Merton’s housing estates received a high quality repairs service. In fact in the first 2 years after stock transfer, customers satisfaction rates with the service went up.

The problem is not with the contract but with Merton’s Labour administration which time and again seems unwilling to stand up for residents and use the powers available to them. 

We saw this when the cabinet approved rent increases for new tenants well above what were agreed in the transfer agreement (from 35% to 80% of market rent). Circle Housing’s proposals were waved through without Labour even ensuring the additional income was ring fenced for local regeneration meaning it may not even be invested here in Merton. 

And similarly in 2012 when Labour agreed for monitoring of the Circle Housing repairs contract to be done at a regional level rather than by the local board. This is when things seemed to go wrong. 

With customer satisfaction rates now down to just 60 per cent, Labour have failed spectacularly to hold Circle Housing to account. Andrew Judge claims to have been aware of all the problems with repairs and maintenance a year ago. Why then did he and his cabinet colleagues make more major concessions to Circle in July this year (including agreeing to drop the Merton Standard) without demanding anything in return for Merton?

And now to add insult to injury, Labour are seen celebrating with Circle Housing’s chairman on agreeing to 10 general commitments (most of which were already included in the original stock transfer agreement) instead of questioning him about major problems with his repairs and maintenance service. Yet another chance missed to stand up for residents.

Conservative councillors want to see a better deal for estate residents: quality and timely repairs, quality regeneration with proper consultation and complete transparency into allegations of corruption. We agree that an independent investigation is needed into CHMP’s repairs and maintenance contract. 

The question for Andrew Judge is why his own leader (and Ravensbury ward councillor) doesn’t support this. When challenged about it at last week’s council meeting, Councillor Alambritis dismissed calls for an independent inquiry into the whistleblower allegations. Instead he appeared only to commit to an internal enquiry by CHMP themselves.

Labour just won’t step up to the plate on housing and it’s residents who are paying the price.

Councillor Janice Howard

Conservative Housing Spokesman


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