Tag: PFI

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Islington LBI Leaseholders Meetings Partners

Council meet to ban Partners Resident Forum?

Council  meet  to ban Partners Resident Forum?

The ILA voted at their AGM to totally boycott the Councils new Residents’ Improvement Taskforce  and therefore its scrutiny panel) process…as it is un-democratic and un-representative of leaseholders in the borough.

It  look like Islington Council are now trying to do away with one of the few remaining structures of the  pre-Residents’ Improvement Taskforce system, that is the  unpaid volunteer “Partners Resident Forum” (which improves service for Partners Leaseholders & Tenants)  because the PRF shows some independence of Council.

The Council is starting this process by imposing new rules and regulations for spurious  reasons on the forum, without providing any evidence for its alleged issues to, or  allowing any democratic debate by the forum.

These  undemocratic changes  may be formalised  without involving the Forum, at the  following council meeting this  Thursday  13th March, Town Hall committee room 4 @ 6pm.

Please attend, bring friends,they do not have to be in Partners properties,  just those whom object to these changes not coming to the Forum 1st, or the undemocratic way the  council is trying to rush this through, without informing Partners tenants & Leaseholders!

Residents’ Improvement Taskforce arrangement update report Download  

Update:14.03.14 – Thanks to everyone that attended,  The Council are rescheduling any decision for the moment. We will need to wait to see what happens in the future.

 

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ILA Information Islington LBI Leaseholders Listed Buildings Major Works Partners PFI

Listed Building Consents on works done by Council Agent

Islington Council ( PFI) managing agent for street properties “Partners” have recently said that they will only obtain Listed Building Consents (LBC)/ planning permissions on works that they have done on properties in conservation areas or that are listed buildings IF the matter is brought to the attention of Partners directly by the resident concerned.
Islingtons  Planning Conservation department on the other hand says that ” that unauthorised works carried out to listed buildings is a criminal offence. As such persons with a material interest in the property may be liable to prosecution”
Leaseholder may also find that they have an issue if they ever wish to sell their properties, and they need to obtains the the LBC’s to give to potential buyers. Trying to get consents from Partners  in 2 or 10 year after works have been done may be tricky.
The ILA can’t give advice, so this shouldn’t be taken as such, but If your a leaseholder in a Conservation Area or Listed building you may want to check with the Islington Council conservation section of the Planning Department. whether the Major Works  that Partners have done on your property should have had or require LBC., and if so bring it directly to Partners attention.
Please also let the ILA know if the Councils planning department  confirm that council’s  agents (  e.g. Partners,[the former] HFI etc) or Housing Property Services have done works to your property without getting the appropriate consents. contact

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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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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

Categories
Financial ILA Islington Leaseholders Major Works PFI Service Charges

Leaseholder fact of the week

 Since the start of the PFI 2 contract 926 Final accounts have been issued to leaseholders as part of the Major Works program. Of these 326 have been challenged, about 35%, with an average charge of nearly £7,000 and a total charge of £1.4m. 285 of these challenges have been resolved.
Of these resolved cases 207 have received some form of adjustment to their account, with the majority of these being adjustments of less than £1000 (120 cases).
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ILA Islington Meetings

ILA monthly meet Wed. 14 Dec 2011

Islington Leaseholders Monthly Meeting is

Wednesday 14 December 2011

 

Islington Town Hall Chambers

time

7pm – 9pm

Hosting the meeting Dr Brian Potter Chairman ILA

Guest Speaker: Two legal representatives from ‘LEASE’
Taking questions and answering leaseholders issues from the floor.

Please tell all leaseholders on your Estates and in Street

properties to attend especially those who do not have email.

Update your memberships here

 

Dr B.S. Potter ILA Chairman

w. ila.org.uk

t. @ilaorguk

f. http://on.fb.me/mWzios

 

 

 

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Financial ILA Islington Website

Billions of taxpayers money wasted by council on PFI schemes says Gazette

Residents will pay almost £1billion into the hands of big business and banks as a result of expensive contracts agreed by Islington Council.

Treasury figures obtained by the Gazette show £358million was borrowed from Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes, which will rocket to £1.3 billion – almost four times the initial outlay – by the time it is paid off in 2037.

This means £943million extra will be paid by Islington taxpayers, though this figure does include maintenance on the projects for the length of the contracts.  more