I have followed with interest your recent reports on Circle Housing Merton Priory (CHMP) and offer the following observations and comments.

Prior to retirement I worked for 10 years as a housing consultant for First Call Housing Consultants which were then based in Prince Georges’ Road Colliers Wood but have since relocated to Tooting. During my work at First Call we undertook a survey for Merton Council about the potential stock transfer to a Registered Social Landlord (RSL aka as a Housing Association or HA). We surveyed by door-knocking and by postal service all council tenants in Merton.

The survey, as I recall gave four options. These were:-

1.         Stay with the council.

2.         Transfer to a newly created HA utilising Merton Housing Staff.

3.         Transfer to a big HA such as Metropolitan, Hyde, Moat, Circle Anglia etc.

4.         Transfer to a small local HA that wasn’t part of a major HA.

 

The majority of people (I can’t recall the percentages) voted for option 4. As a result, I couldn’t understand why the transfer to Circle Housing took place since it was against the wishes of the majority of voting tenants. I can only assume that the Conservative led council or cabinet thought differently.

I had previously encountered Circle 33 as it was then called whilst working on stock transfers in East London & Essex. On one estate, (Mardyke Estate in Havering) residents alleged that within 6 months of transfer Circle were already going back on promises made to residents during the consultation process.

Whether these complaints were justified I cannot say since my involvement had ended by then.

Mike Tilcock

Pollards Hill

Mitcham

 

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