A simplistic explanation of why we pay so much…!!!
Why are council Rents and Maintenance bills, so inexplicably high? …simple, …Just follow the money!
The council state that their main funding stream is basically via council rents, and maintenance billing. This is paid into the Housing Revenue Account by tenants, leaseholders, and 4000 absentee landlords…So…
1/ Islington Council issue contracts to maintain the borough’s estates.
2/ The Contractor scopes out the work, price the job, and bill’s the Council for work completed.
3/ The Council (using 33% of the housing Revenue account) pays the tenants contribution. It apportions the remainder between their leaseholders and absentee landlords.
4/ The absentee landlords then recover their cash by raising their rentals.
Who gets this public money?
1/ Builders get paid directly by the council, come what may.
2/ The council simply raise the tenants rents, and present Home owners with a massive bill.
3/ Landlords increase their rental charges to cover their liabilities.
Where does the money wind up!
1/ Contractors reinvest their massive profits in new projects.
2/ Builders simply “rack it in” by piecemeal subbing-out of the fractionated contracts.
3/ Council reduces its gross over spending to appear efficient.
4/ Landlords pay off their Mortgages.
5/ Private tenants reduce their renting costs by flat sharing.
6/ Mortgage lenders always win in the long run, since their investment is inevitably founded in “Bricks and Mortar”.
All financed from the constant uncontrolled wastage of public money.!
Solution…
1/ Council reduces contract sizes
2/ Council stops issuing astronomical bills to pay contracts
3/ Council controls Building and Maintenance costs by bringing building projects “Back in House”…
4/ Council demands total accountability
5/ Council demands value for money
6/ Council accepts “Individual Corporate Responsibility”, as the norm.
Which is no more than what they’re already being handsomely paid for doing…!!!
Dr Potter…
Chairman ILA… (www.ila.org.uk)