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Financial ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges

Audit of Islington Council Accounts 2011-12

Inspection of Accounts
Audit Commission Act 1998, sections 15 – 16
The Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011 Regulations 9, 10, 21 and 22
Each year the Council’s accounts are audited and any person interested has the opportunity to inspect and make copies of the accounts and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts relating to them. (A charge may be made for excessive copies.)

The accounts for the year ending 31 March 2012 and documents will be available at the Council Offices, 7 Newington Barrow Way, London N7 7EP between 9.30am and 4.30pm on Mondays to Fridays from on Monday 25 June 2012 until on Friday 20 July 2012.

If you wish to inspect any documents please apply first to Mohammed Sajid, Chief Accountant, at the above address or call 0207 527 2574 or email Mohammed.Sajid@islington.gov.uk so that arrangements can be made.
From 10.00am on 25 July 2011 until the conclusion of the audit process, a local government elector for the area of the Council, or his/her representative,may:
– ask the auditor questions about the accounts. Please contact the District Auditor, Mr Philip Johnstone, at the Audit Commission, 1st Floor Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4HQ to make arrangements to ask any questions.

– object to the Council’s accounts asking that the auditor issue a report in the public interest (under section 8 of the Audit Commission Act 1998) and/or apply to the court for a declaration that an item in the accounts is contrary to law (under section 17 of the Audit Commission Act 1998). Written notice of a proposed objection and the grounds on which it is made must be sent to the auditor at the address given above and copied to me at the following address:
Finance Department,
Floor 2, Council Offices,
7 Newington Barrow Way,
London N7 7EP
Mike Curtis

Remember, it’s ‘how much’ was spent – not why. Also, bills paid, invoices, deeds and CONTRACTS can be requested for examination & copy. Good opportunity for anybody especially faced with major works bills to get hold of the relevant contract + bills and do some maths !
One could also ask the simple question, please provide all Bills paid and relevant invoices regarding property at ………… then one could compare with Annual Service Charges.

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Election Financial ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Meetings Service Charges

ILA AGM & Meeting Wed 13 June 2012

ILA

Islington Leaseholders Association

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

(meeting in public)

Wednesday 13th June 2012, 7pm

Main Council Chamber, Islington Town Hall,

Upper Street N1

Agenda

=======================================

1/

Introduction and Annual General Meeting 2011-2012:
7pm-7.30pm
a) Chairs Report

b) Treasurers Report 2011-2012

c) Resolution regarding Audit of Accounts

d) Election of Directors/co-opted directors

==========================================

2/

Chair opens monthly meeting 7.30pm

==========================================

3/
Guest speaker: Ms Patricia Napier (Barrister) who has been advising leaseholders and acting for them on a Pro Bono basis. 7.35pm-8pm
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4/

Questions and answers from leaseholders 8pm-8.30pm

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5/

Any other business 8.30pm-9pm
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NP:- Please let other leaseholders know about this meeting especially those who do not have email or tweet / RT this event.thank you.
=========================================

Hosting the meeting:- Dr B.S. Potter Chairman ILA

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Categories
Financial ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges

LVT refuse Islington council appeal against poor works and overcharging decision – Tremlett Grove vs LBI

The LVT recently confirmed that it considers Islington council Major Works charges were not reasonably incurred, and that one roof had been replaced & charged for without any clear evidence of inspection by the council, and that leaseholders were entitled to expect that blocks were inspected before substantial costs were incurred.

The LVT upheld it original decision of Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12

The leaseholders concerned saved 10’s of thousands of pounds off their bills.

The council may still appeal again, but the real questions are why is the council wasting taxpayers money in making appeals rather than investigating its contractor(s) and staff responsible for the issues pointed out by the LVT ? and Is the Council going to obtain a full refund for the overcharging from its contractors so all tenants affected can benefit from the LVT decision , or are LBI to pass the cost back onto tenants and leaseholders in increased service charges in future bills ?

You can read the refusal statement LVT Refusal statement 26 April 2012

The LVT upheld it original decision of  Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12 see below post LVT – Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12

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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Meetings

ILA monthly meet 9.5.12

Islington Leaseholders Meeting 

on Wednesday  9th  May 2012

in Islington Town Hall Chambers

at   7 – 9pm
Hosting the meeting:- Dr Brian Potter
Guest Speakers:- TBA
Please view our Website www.ila.org.uk    Twitter @ilaorguk   Face Book http://on.fb.me/mWzios
Please let other leaseholders know of this meeting or tweet / RT this event.
Categories
ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Service Charges

Islington Local press letters on Tremlett Grove vs LBI LVT & LBI waste April 2012

Islington Local press letters on Tremlett Grove vs LBI LVT & LBI waste April 2012
in “campaign” section of site here

 
 

Categories
ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works Newsletter Partners PFI Service Charges

ILA spring 2012 Newsletter Download

You can download a pdf of the ILA spring 2012 newsletter here ILA newsletter Spring 12 Final

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ILA Information Islington Leaseholders

ILA spring 2012 newsletter

If your a Leaseholder and you haven’t received your ILA spring 2012 newsletter yet, Please email us on “ilaorguk at hotmail.com” with your name and address and we’ll send you a newsletter.

Categories
Financial ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Listed Buildings Major Works Service Charges

Leaseholders get massive bill reduction at LVT for extremely poor major works, and massive overcharging.

One of the most important Leasehold Valuation Tribunal LVT decisions to date, from an Islington leaseholder’s perspective, was announced last week, (Merryweather court and Brennand court vs the mayor & burgess of Islington 29.3.12).

Please see the downloadable LVT decision pdf for details on the bill reductions, and to see how Islington leaseholders supported their claims before the LVT, plus the degree of detail they provide in evidence of shoddy workmanship, overcharging and gross mismanagement.   LVT – Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12

Examples of the council overcharging identified by the LVT include roof works charges of £208,661 which were reduced to  £50,000, i.e. £25,000 per block. and asbestos removal charges of £157,371 that the Tribunal reduced to reasonable expenditure of £15,737.

This is one example, where the Council has authorised expenditure without satisfying itself that the expenditure is really necessary, and it demonstrates what can be achieved when leaseholders have the courage to challenge the bills they are sent, and demand that council officers ,  councillors and their contractors  are made accountable for their actions.”

Since the ILA can only supply ‘useful information’ on our web site, and not “advice”, as always, we suggest that you should obtain ‘professional independent legal advice’ before considering issuing such a challenge.

The Islington Gazette  has reported that millions of pounds of public money could have been wasted.

The ILA has already lobbied Islington Council, and, both the leader of the council, and the chair of housing, in regard to applying the reductions obtained by Merryweather/Brennard Courts leaseholders to all leaseholders in the same contract, and insisted that the council also reclaim, on behalf of the public purse, all monies related to tenanted properties in the same contract.   LVT – Merryweather & Brennand court vs LBI 29.3.12

 

Please feel free to pass on to other leaseholders you think may be interested

 

Late News:  The ILA  understand that LBI intends to appeal the decision.

 

Categories
ILA Information Islington Leaseholders Major Works

Resident improvement task force – Leaseholders may be excluded from key posts confirms Cllr James Murray

James Murray ( head housing honcho @ Islington Council) yesterday confirmed that although there would be 4 or 5  councillors advising him as part of the new housing consultation process, he would not confirm that any of them would be Leaseholders.

…unfortunately seems like more  anti-leaseholder politics

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ILA Islington Leaseholders Meetings

next ILA meet Wed 14th March 2012

Islington Leaseholders Meeting
on
Wednesday 14  March 2012
in
Islington Town Hall Chambers
 At
7 – 9pm
Hosting the meeting: – Dr Brian Potter
Guest Speakers:- Two Legal representatives from the “LEASE” organisation will be attending to answer leaseholders questions.
Please view our website
Website          www.ila.org.uk
Twitter            @ilaorguk
Face Book      http://on.fb.me/mWzios
Please impress upon any other leaseholder’s that you know that it is in their interest to attend these meetings regularly…

 

Categories
Financial ILA Information Leaseholders Meetings Service Charges

OCASA Building Insurance – comments on the queries from ILA meeting

BUILDING INSURANCE QUERIES _ILA MEETING_11Jan12 and response from JLTAlison Goodwin from JLT [Jardine Lloyd Thompson Public Sector Risks] who admin OCASA Building Insurance have sent us comments on the queries submitted for the January ILA meeting. The ILA queries and her comments are in the attached document.