Cllr does Decent thing and reminds MP of waiting tenants

Cllr Oykener said "I wrote to Mr Shapps at the beginning of August asking him to support the continued funding of our Decent Homes programme, and to ensure that the 6,000 homes which are currently non-decent in Enfield get the works completed that their tenants are waiting for.

"I am disappointed, and frankly extremely concerned, that he has not replied".

Enfield Homes, the arms length management company running council housing for Enfield, has undertaken Decent Homes works in 3,893 properties during 2009/10, with 1,337 homes being made fully decent.

However, a full five year programme was put in place, and until funding can be confirmed many tenants will be unsure whether they will get the vital improvements to their homes or not.

Cllr Oykener continued "Winter is coming, and many of our residents are waiting to hear whether their homes are going to have much needed investment or not.

"Some of our properties need new window frames to keep out draughts which will help reduce heating bills; they have damp bathrooms and kitchens, bad heating and other problems. We want to put this right, but without this vital investment from the Government our hands are tied.

"The problem has been made worse by the fact that we need to start undertaking the procurement process for homes that need to be made decent during 2011/12 now. If we delay this process then we risk losing continuity and will not allow our tenants to plan ahead."

The Council anticipates a contribution from Communities and Local Government of £87m over three years, and while this is a very significant sum, Enfield Council believes that it does not fully address the needs required to regenerate the borough's major estates.

Cllr Ahmet Oykener concluded "I can see that the Conservative Lib/Dem Government may wish to cut down its spending on schemes such as Decent Homes, but housing has a direct impact on the quality of life for the family who live in those homes. I cannot let this matter rest.

"I am calling on Grant Shapps MP to answer my letter, and make a pledge to the tenants of our borough waiting to hear about outstanding works to their homes. I want him to say yes the money is going to be forthcoming, and that the outstanding work will be done, or there will be a winter of discontent for all of us."