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The ILA Board members were elected in November 2007
Here are the statements submitted by the candidates who were elected. Central Street Helen Cagnoni Central Street I was born and have lived in Clerkenwell all my life, I have two children and three grandchildren. I have been active for 20 years in Clerkenwell & Islington, elected annually for 12 years as Vice Chair then Chair of Clerkenwell Neighbourhood Forum prior to its abolishment. Elected Directors to ILF have many issues to resolve to enable a completely independent organization, solely accountable to all Islington Leaseholders, as outlined in the Leaseholders Ballot. I think my previous experience could be useful in helping to attain all these goals for the benefit of Islington Leaseholders. Owen Hart Central Street As a board member of EC1 New Deal I fought successfully for recharges to be capped at £1500 down from the £10,000 allowed for in legislation, requiring significant lobbying at central government level. I am also on the committee of the London Leasehold Network and am working with Energywatch to ensure leaseholders will not be charged for communal electrical repairs costed at £3,000 per household. I support the LVT to determine whether the ILA levy is legal. Should this be the case by electing me you can be sure that your interests will be represented and vigorously prosecuted. Dave Stevens Central Street My home: 2nd floor flat, Kings Square for 20 years, the last 10 as a leaseholder. My experience: active member of the Islington Leaseholder Forum and chair of our own Association, extensive experience of challenging and negotiating with the Council. I want: an end to the ever increasing bills; much better quality and value; a maintenance strategy so we can plan our long-term finances; HFI to be an open and efficient service: some respects the people who pay their wages. I bring: the experience of hard negotiation and success after years as an active union rep. Holland Walk Chris Briere-Edney Holland Walk I have been a leaseholder for many years. I worked as a senior executive at the John Lewis Partnership before setting up my own business which I have run for 30 years. I served as a magistrate at Highbury Corner for 8 years. I have considerable experience in residential property in Islington and other boroughs. My business commitments are such that I would have time to devote to the task. I would endeavour to do my very best for all leaseholders. John Hume Holland Walk I have been an Islington leaseholder since 2000 and believe I have the skills and drive to serve as a Director on the Islington Leaseholder Association. I understand the frustrations felt by leaseholders and have experienced, first-hand, some of the real inequalities that take place for leaseholders, for example, struggling to buy a first property, only to be served with an enormous repair/renewal bill for work which has been neglected for many years. I currently work for myself supporting not-for-profit organisations to increase their funding and grow. I have a good understanding of the Director's function, an ability to see what is fair and to fight hard on behalf of others. Ros Tankard Holland Walk I was born and bred in Islington and definitely consider I belong here. I care about people's rights and since I have been a leaseholder I have become very aware of the financial hardship some people face everyday over exorbitant bills the Council impose on their residents. I was also an elected representative for the original Forum. Lyon Street Victor Davies Lyon Street I have been engaged in the financial survey industry for thirty years and I hold the FPC of the chartered insurer's institute. I believe that I could bring this experience to ILA. My late wife and I have campaigned against the unfairness in the way that major repair charges are levied and the often unfair way service charges are made. I will fight against the cosy relationship that exists between HFI, LBI and the contractors. Brian Potter Lyon Street I hold an honours degree in Law, and served for the past five years as Chairman of Islington Leaseholders' Forum, in which capacity I initiated this ballot for Islington leaseholders. My practical and theoretical knowledge on housing affairs are exceptionally comprehensive, particularly on the issues of leaseholder disputes and challenges. I have been associated with the building trades for most of my life and consider myself admirably qualified to evaluate building costs and quality issues on behalf of the leaseholders. My priorities are to reduce leaseholders' bills, ensuring true value for money and furnish leaseholders with an effective voice. Peter Stewart Lyon Street Home: 17 years a leaseholder in a 9th floor Highbury flat: Experience: Founder member and past Chair of our Resident Management Organisation; many years dealing with Islington Council on practical every topic including negotiating major internal refurbishment; many years in business. My approach: I recognise both parties have a responsibility for the success of any venture. My skills: strong communication and negotiation skills. My priority: to keep Council Tax and services charges down; see Council employees serve the community as opposed to thinking they own it; encourage tenants to become leaseholders to increase their personal stake in all our futures. PFI Ed Fredenburgh PFI I want to help build and sustain a leaseholder support service that's strong, independent, democratic and self-funded. Leaseholders need real support in the current battleground of private contracts for repair and maintenance of our homes; against poor quality work; against huge bills over which we have no control; for defending those unable to pay. I'm co-founder and secretary of PFI Leaseholder Action Group (LAG), which has fought a strong case against Partner's 56% management fee on their 30-year contract. LAG proved we have the skills and community support; the ILA can fund such work for the benefit of all of us. Mary Morris PFI Living in Islington from birth, we became leaseholders in 1994. I have been involved with Islington's Leaseholders for a decade and after serving on the Leaseholder's Forum, representing PFI 2 properties, I served on the Leaseholder's Association Steering Group. For my career I worked at secretarial jobs and my basic training in accounts served me in good stead when I took on homes for Islington in a recent leasehold valuation tribunal concerning major works and general service charges. I want to see the Islington Leaseholders' Association firmly established so that leaseholders can work together for a better deal. Chris Radway PFI Dear leaseholder, the major works programme has been, and continues to be, tough for Islington leaseholders. Our managing agent, Partners, tried to charge us 56% of direct costs on preliminaries, profits and overheads. Through my membership of Islington Leaseholder forum, Partners Residents forum and mostly the PFI Leaseholder Action Group (PFI-LAG) committee I have helped to get Partners to reduce this to 40%, and our fight continues to reduce this further. The ILA will be a vital independent organisation for leaseholders and I will use my experience and dedication to work to ensure it represents the interests of Partners' leaseholders. Upper Street Alison Barlow Upper Street Islington resident 28 years, leaseholder 9 years. Semi-retired Chartered Tax Advisor. Company Secretary and administrator of private shared freehold flat management company - with management charges about half the level of HFI's. Familiar with leasehold law, some knowledge of property law generally. Accustomed to construing legal documents and accounts. Former treasurer of a national charity. Long hands on experience rehabilitating old buildings. Familiar with building terms (late father in trade). Some experience of building contracts. Keen on efficiency, value for money and reducing waste. Richard Rosser Upper Street Like you I am a leaseholder. Like you, I'm fed up with never ending bills from HFI. That's why I campaigned for an independent Leaseholder Association. We promised to provide legal advice and surveys for major works bills and help to cut service charges. As a director of the ILA I will ensure we deliver those promises. Do I have the experience to represent you? Yes. I've served regularly on the Leaseholder Forum and was a Director of HFI. I also maintain the website for leaseholders at: http://www.leaseholderassoc.f9.co.uk. Vote Richard Rosser for Experience, Vision and Independence. Alan Tongue Upper Street Born in Hornsey and lived in my 2nd floor maisonette on the Andover Estate for 25 years, 11 years leaseholder, founder member and now Chair of the Andover Leaseholders Association with 65 members dealing with a wide range of problems with our own surveyor and solicitor. I've learnt a lot over the last five years. The biggest problem is major works: bad contracts; inflated prices; sub-standard work. HFI seem just to slap on bills and are very difficult to deal with. There is a real need for leaseholders to work together to get HFI to provide quality, value and respect. |
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