Rough Sleeper Street Count 2024

 

Picture is from around 11.45pm last night of 2 teams about to leave the Council offices in Dockside to go out and count rough sleepers in Newham. At least 4 other teams had already left for the midnight start. Today was a national annual count day of rough sleepers across the UK (I think - or maybe only England).  The data is used to inform the Government and partners about the scale of the problem. It is no secret that the numbers of rough sleepers have been rising since Covid. 

The data from the national council is also confidential until released by the ministry. 

The numbers today (the count was between 12 Midnight and 3AM) will probably be lower because of the recent cold weather, which has trigged the London Mayor SWEP (severe weather emergency provision). Newham Council has been funded for a number of emergency beds located in a local community centre.

As well as the national count, Newham does a bi-monthly count, to assess how successful its own Government funded internal programme is in reducing numbers of people sleeping rough in the borough. In Newham the Count volunteers are made up of Council officers, stakeholders, volunteers and Councillors (as well as myself, Cllr Wilson & Cllr Lofthouse). 

I went with Aidan who is a Newham officer who works in a Government funded team to support long term rough sleepers and to help them get off the streets. A difficult but at times rewarding job. We were joined by another Newham Council colleague, Cllr Shaban Mohammed.

We went to a part of Newham that I had been to a number of times and I was pleased that we "only" came across 2 rough sleepers on a pavement next to a busy road (but 2 too many of course). The temperature was just above freezing. They only had a light duvet covering them. Aidan spoke to them and took some details. They had apparently refused the SWEP centre earlier today but agreed to speak to a follow team of outreach workers, who will be visiting people who had been found from 5AM this morning. 

After we had visited all the sites,  I drove back to Newham Dockside building and we passed on details to the Newham Council organising team led by its amazing manager, Ajitha Sajeev BEM (Front centre of main photo). 

Campaigning for Labour in Canning Town with Labour Candidate, James Asser

 

I met up with James and some of his team outside Canning Town Library, while they were canvassing local blocks. Other canvass sessions were also going on in Custom House and elsewhere in Newham. 

It has been a very busy time recently campaigning and also sorting out the legal paperwork but this should be completed very soon and we can really start the real fight to deliver Newham and the rest of the country from tory misrule. 

"Landmark case win as Newham Council’s campaign against Rogue Landlords achieves major milestone"

 

Well done to Newham Enforcement officers and Cabinet lead Cllr Shaban Mohammed. More please, more. Need to make sure this "landlord" does not find ways to try and get around "ban". 

Hat tip @letsandleases via @NewhamBooker

• Newham Council win’s appeal case against rogue landlord convicted of seven housing offences in Newham;
• National banning order upheld by court marks a major milestone in the Council’s campaign against rogue landlords;
• Council accelerates work to protect Newham residents living in private rented sector.

Newham Council wins’ landmark case against convicted rogue landlord as court dismisses his appeal against a Banning Order following breaches of the Council’s landlord licensing scheme by renting an unlicensed property in Newham. The ban means that he is banned from renting any properties in Newham and the rest of England for three-years.

Convicted of seven offences under the Housing Act 2004, private landlord Mr Jahangir Hussain had originally failed to licence his property in Forest Gate in October 2021, which he used as a house in multiple occupancy (HMO). As well as breaching six other HMO Management Regulations, he received a fine of £10,000 plus the Council legal costs.

In February 2023, the Council successfully applied for a Banning Order against the landlord. Despite an appeal by the landlord, the Council won the case on 6 December 2023 and the Banning Order preventing Mr Hussain from renting any properties in England will now be in place for three years starting from 16 August 2023.

Councillor Shaban Mohammed, Cabinet Member for Housing Services said: “This Banning Order is a first for Newham and a landmark case in our campaign against rogue landlord and to protect the rights of Newham residents living in the private rented sector. We mean what we say, when tackling the scourge of rouge landlords who think they are above the law.

They aren’t and we’ll track down any landlord who tries to circumvent the rules that are there to protect our residents and their housing rights. We have very clear guidelines, information and support available for private landlords in Newham so that they can operate their businesses while also supporting the welfare of their tenants.

Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said, “Mr Hussain has shown flagrant disregard of both housing and planning legislation, to the detriment of both his tenants and residents of the borough. Combined actions from across our Council shows that we are will do whatever it takes to protect the interests of our residents. This major milestone sends a message loud and clear that rogue landlords have no place in Newham. It’s all part of our campaign to protect renters rights, including calling for an end to no-fault evictions and introducing rent caps.”

Following the Banning Order, Mr Hussain who rents out several properties in Newham, Tower Hamlets and Haringey will be unable to do so for three years.

The Banning Order also prevents Mr Hussain from:

• Letting housing in England;
• Engaging in English letting agency work;
• Engaging in English property management work; or
• Doing two or more of those things
• Being involved in any way in any corporate body that carries out any of the above activities.

As well as obtaining the Banning Order, Newham’s Planning Enforcement Team secured two convictions in the Magistrates Court against Mr Hussain for breaching planning enforcement notices at both his properties within Newham. The notices related to the construction of extensions at those properties without the required planning permission. The cases have now been committed to the Crown Court under section 70 of the Proceeds of Crime Act, for consideration of confiscation and appropriate sentencing for the offences.

For more information on our Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme, visit the Newham website".

West Ham Ward Christmas Campaign: Sadiq Khan for London Labour Mayor in 2024

 

This morning I went to my Councillor advice surgery for local residents, then this afternoon I joined colleagues in the ward to deliver leaflets (Labour doorstep was down) for Sadiq Khan, to be re-elected as London Mayor in May 2024. 

We were joined by the Newham Labour Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and we also delivered leaflets for West Ham ward residents, on how to contact us if they have a problem (and also our Local MP, Lyn Brown and GLA, Assembly member, Unmesh  Desai). We were joined by Cllr Shaban Mohammed, who missed the group photo. 

People appreciated having information on contacting their elected representatives and were as you can imagine for the time of year, quite relaxed and many were happy to chat with us. 

I had one women say that "we are sort of Labour but we don't like Starmer". I responded that I didn't agree with everything he has said or done (I have never agreed with everything any Labour Leader has done) but he is the only leader who can defeat the tories, and that trumps everything. She did not disagree.

We finished off at the beginning (or end) of Corporation Road and had photo outside a relatively new and unusual family business run by two twin brothers - its a mens barbers and a cycle repair shop. One brother is a barber and the other a mechanic. Why not? Will bring my bikes there for a service. Take your bike in and he will give you a price (and if you are male, you can have a hair cut by his brother at the same time). 

Across Newham we had 4 different campaign sessions today.  

Pen-blwydd hapus Shabs!

Happy 50th birthday to my good comrade, Cllr Shabab Mohammed, Cabinet lead for Housing Management. Enjoy your well deserved break! 

 

"Topping out" at Leather Gardens, West Ham

 

I know Councillors love having their picture taken in hard hats and hi-vis (even if they don't always fit that well) but I really enjoyed this "topping out" the other week with the Mayor laying the final brick.

But the main reason for my pleasure was that this new block of 100% Council flats at social rents is in my ward. This land had been boarded up and unused since way before I became a local Councillor in 2010. While this development will not solve the massive housing crisis in Newham it is a much welcome start. 

My Week 20.6.22-25.6.22

 

A really busy but interesting week. It was my first day back at work after almost 2 weeks holiday (Malta then UNISON conference in Brighton) so lots of tenancy and trade union issues to try and sort out (not helped by major IT/server problems). 

Monday evening was the full council meeting at the Old Town Hall in Stratford.  I spoke in favour of the Climate emergency update and gave what I thought was a gentile dig at the two new Green Councillors for opposing it. While their job is to be the opposition to the majority group at Newham Council, they should not in my view just oppose everything for the sake of opposition. I was pleased that they abstained at the actual vote and did not "oppose" the update. 

I was also really pleased that former long serving Councillor, Pat Holland, was awarded as an "Alder Person" for the Borough in recognition of her work for residents. 

Tuesday evening was another meeting at the Old Town Hall. This time the local Housing Forum, which was really positive. It was great that senior Housing managers met up with residents, face to face, to listen and respond to their concerns (similar to speed dating!). 

On Wednesday evening I attended virtually my UNISON branch General Purposes & Finance Committee meeting. 

Thursday evening we had a virtual induction for my new role as a member of Education, Children & Young People Scrutiny.  Which I am really looking forward to being a member of this so important committee. 

Friday evening I met up with former housing colleagues from Tower Hamlets UNISON for a birthday beer and curry. 

Saturday morning I covered the Councillor surgery for my colleague Cllr Whitworth at Stratford Library, who is away on leave. I had what I thought was a constructive meeting with local residents about very serious and multiple ASB issues. But also was able to look at the various historical pamphlets and documents in the library (see picture of Queen in 1953 and Vicarage Lane E15 in 1960's)

Sunday, I had a lovely recovery walk in Chilterns which I will post upon separately. 

Labour doorstep app canvass in Olympic E20, Brilliant William Morris quote & young people queuing up for Covid vaccine.

 

On Saturday I joined Labour Party colleagues to take part in a physical canvass of the Stratford E20 area (the site of the former 2012 London Olympic village). For the first time I was asked (or rather pushed) into leading a canvass team using the Labour Party "doorstep app" on my mobile phone. In the past we had paper sheets with details of names and addresses to call at to canvass on behalf of the Labour Party, now it can be done online via your mobile phone. It seemed to work very well and I hope the information we received on voting intentions was uploaded and saved to the national Party database.

I went with my colleague, Cllr Shaban Mohammed and former Councillor, Aleen Alarice.  We got a very good reception from residents who were overwhelmingly pleased that we were knocking on doors and asking them whether there are any local problems or issues they want us to raise.

I was really struck to see the green plaque in the foyer of the block we canvassed with the great William Morris quote “History has remembered the kings and warriors, because they destroyed; art has remembered the people, because they created.”. 

While cycling home I passed a massive queue of mostly young people, waiting for their Covid jab despite the intermittent downpours that day. I thanked them as I went past.

Protest outside Warehouse K - Oppose the hostile environment and there is no place for hate in our borough

Yesterday evening I walked from Newham Dockside along Royal Docks to join Councillor colleagues and local residents protesting outside the historic Warehouse K which is the site of a proposed Immigration detention centre.  

Local Newham Councillors have set up a campaign group - Newham Against the Immigration Centre https://twitter.com/NewhamAgainst

We joined a protest organised by the Newham Branch of the SUTR. Local Cllr Dr Rohit Das Gupta was the first speaker. He described how the local ward Councillors had met via zoom today with the developers to make clear their opposition to the proposal. 

As well as a wide range of local residents and activists, Cllr James Beckles, Cllr Shaban Mohammed, Cllr Anam Islam, Cllr Belgica Guaña and Cllr Suga Thekkeppurayil (final speaker) were there supporting the protest. 

Councillors who are on the Strategic planning committee would not be able to attend since by law they have to remain completely neutral until they have heard the actual planning application. The application for a change of use into a 24/7 detention centre with 35 custody cells is thought to be heard next month. 

There was a wide range of speakers addressing the protest. I spoke as Newham Deputy Mayor and made it clear that we are opposed to this "prison" being built in Newham and we will do everything we can do to stop it.  I also pointed out that this warehouse was built in 1855 for imported tobacco and therefore in all likelihood produce from American slave plantations was stored here and now the Home Office is proposing to jail migrants in the same building. This is an outrage. 

Chad Green ASB Walkabout

Today I went on my first post lock down "walkabout" around Chad Green in Plaistow North Ward with local ward Councillor Daniel Lee-Phakoe, Council officers, local Police and Deputy Housing Cabinet member, Cllr Shaban Mohammed.

There has been a number of problems in this area including the senseless murder last year of a local teenager.

Due to action by local residents, Police and ward Councillors, crime and disorder is still a top issue but has been reduced but lack of effective CCTV, environmental crime (especially fly tipping) and noise nuisance are still key issues.

A report of agreed actions will be drawn up (and sent to all of us on the walkabout and anyone with an appropriate local interest).

It was good to be "out and about" after so long on lockdown (my colleague Cllr Mohammed has already undertaken 2 other visits).

All Council estates should now be regularly inspected - High rise tower blocks every 3 months and low rise ever 6 months. Local Councillors and residents should also be invited to join these walkabouts.

As a Council we all want to put "people at the heart of everything we do".

Contact your Housing Liaison Officer here if you want to join the next walkabout

GRENFELL 3 YEARS ON

By Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz

"Still no justice for the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in North Kensington, which could have been avoided if residents where treated with the respect and dignity they deserved.

We read the news reports over the weekend that many of the residents that survived this horror have experienced racism, ‘cultural bullying’, indifference and arrogance by a charity tasked with supporting them: including discriminatory decision making and practices such as negative stereotyping by the Westway charity. These former Grenfell Tower residents still haven’t been housed in suitable permanent homes either.

The Labour Party has estimated that some 56,000 people are still living in homes wrapped in the same flammable cladding as the Grenfell Tower.

Three years on from the gross injustice which led to 72 people dying on the 14th June in Grenfell, tonight thousands and thousands of people and families will still be going to bed in unsafe homes.

Including thousands of leaseholders living in properties that remain potentially unsafe, they find themselves as ‘mortgage prisoners’ unable to sell their homes or re-mortgage; and face the prospect of facing huge costs as well existing on-going costs such as ‪24/7‬ ‘waking watches’.

Leaseholders who are unable to re-mortgage face being put in on very high variable interest contracts; and all blocks with cladding - regardless of height - face intrusive and destructive testing.

A survey by the UK Cladding Action Group (UKCAG), published last week, shows that 9 out of 10 of 550 leaseholders and tenants surveyed have experienced sleeping problems and other mental health issues including suicidal feelings and self-harm as they contend with the prospect of unsellable apartments and crippling bills.

UKCAG say that there some 262 private and social residential blocks still wrapped in similar aluminium composite cladding systems, found to be the main cause of the fire that spread at Grenfell Tower, that killed 72 people. They’ve also estimated that 1,700 buildings across the country have some form of other dangerous cladding that needs replacing and others have other fire safety defects. The journal, Inside Housing estimates that some 600,000 flats nationally are unsellable as a consequence.

This includes properties owned by Housing Associations and private developers in Newham; and we’ve been pressing and demanding that they do more; with cabinet lead Cllr John Gray and deputy Cllr Shaban Mohammed, leading on this urgent focus locally.

The Government’s £1 billion fund is grossly inadequate and does not include on-going costs such as waking watches. The fund was only announced last month to help pay for the replacement of dangerous non-ACM cladding, adding to £600m already set aside for the removal of ACM cladding on social housing blocks.

Their slow and inadequate progress of this is unjustified, and their guidance is causing anxiety, delay, and confusion as well as risking lives.

Three years on from Grenfell, the government must meet full costs of making these homes safe and cover the ongoing costs caused by their failure to regulate and bring in effective building controls.

Building contractors who failed to build homes, to even the inadequate standards of the time, must also be held accountable and pay up.

Cllrs John Gray and Shaban Mohammed are organising a special zoom conference with Housing Associations who operate in Newham, to establish their latest progress and demand that they speed up on behalf of residents; as well as demanding government and builders to pay up.

https://www.theguardian.com/…/the-guardian-view-on-the-gren…

Newham Walkabouts - Repairs, ASB & Building New Homes

Last week I went on two walkabouts with my Cllr colleague, Shaban Mohammed. First was to Drakes Walk, East Ham where we met up with the local Newham Council Housing liaison officer and a resident concerned about people gaining entry into her housing block to commit ASB as well as her personal outstanding repair issues.  Repair orders have been sent out but I am meeting technical officers next week to see what we can do to make our door entry systems to our housing blocks more secure.

Walking back to East Ham town hall it was good to see the building going ahead on the site of the old Didsbury Centre (top left of collage). Newham Council is building 148 new homes at this site. We are now building new homes across Newham (at least 50% of which will be truly affordable homes set at the London Affordable rent).

Also, on the way back I noticed for the first time that inside the Newham 6th form collegiate centre there is a large plaque dated 1903 marking the founding of building with the names of my Councillor predecessors.

Later that day I went on another walkabout in my own ward in West Ham to decide on the future of a green space which has been used by street drinkers for many years, causing a serious nuisance to residents living nearby. We had present a local concerned resident, Police, Newham Council Community Neighbourhood and Safety officers as well as political leads, Cllr James Beckles and Cllr James Asser.

This green space is right next to West Ham park and 3 options were discussed i) turning it into a community garden but fenced off; 2) building new homes on the site (if possible) or 3) greater enforcement on those individuals causing a nuisance. There was also across the road disused and abandoned garages that need sorting out.

I have emailed regeneration officers details of the site to see if they are interested and we will be holding another walkabout or public meeting in 4 weeks time. 

Unless anyone has got any other good ideas for the site? 

Newham Councillors on Tour

This morning I went on a visit to a regeneration site in Norwich with the Deputy Lead for Housing Services, Cllr Shaban Mohammed and the Chair of Regeneration and Housing Scrutiny, Cllr John Whitworth.

It was a really fascinating (and potentially important) visit which I will post upon later. 

Tackling Rough Sleeping at Newham Stepping Stones

Today I went on a visit with Cllr Zulfiqar Ali and Cllr Shaban Mohammed to our newly opened Newham temporary assessment centre for Rough Sleepers. The centre is called "Stepping Stones" and is staffed 24/7 and can house up to 20 people and another 5 when it gets very cold.

It is basic but clean, warm, dry and much safer than the streets. Food is donated by a number of local stores and charity foodbanks. Local Charities are also arranging for hairdressers to attend while specialist housing, medical & advocacy services are being brought in.

Some of the residents were previously sleeping in tents at Stratford. We spoke to Council officers, centre staff (ThamesReach) and to residents. All of whom were positive about the centre.

"Stepping Stones" is a temporary fix and not a solution to Rough Sleeping but will make a big difference. Already it has achieved 4 positive "move on's" in the last 2 weeks of rough sleepers being brought from the street to the centre to other more suitable accommodation.

We need a permanent assessment centre in Newham. In the Newham Council budget consultation for the next 3 years there will be proposals for such a centre and appropriate specialist support for it. 

A living wage for all from St Antony's Primary School

Yesterday was quite unusual since I visited two excellent Newham primary schools (for different reasons). Check out previous post on West Ham Primary in the morning.

While after school I went to St Antony's to listen to their fantastic choir sing about the importance of a London Living wage. A superb performance.

Next we went to a meeting with senior pupils and supporters of London Citizens to be questioned about Newham Councils implementation of the London Living wage and our policies on building new housing. My colleague Cllr Mohammed also attended.

I though it went really well and was impressed by the challenge and range of questions from pupils and supporters. I hope they were also very interested with our programme in Newham such as to deliver 1000 new homes at social rents, community wealth building, reducing rough sleeping and improving the fuel efficiency of our existing housing stock.

The London Living wage is really important but what is needed is also a living rent, a living pension and a living sickness pay policy as well as safe, secure jobs where workers are given respect and control.

There will be a follow up meeting in February. 

Two Walkabouts & Groundbreaking at TwelveTrees Park

Amidst the madness of the General Election campaign I have to get on with the day job. On Friday I went to meet Residents in Ibex House in Forest Gate with local Councillors Rachel Tripp, Anamul Islam and officers from L&Q Housing Association. There has been issues regarding the lift and fire safety. The tower block has 105 homes and at its highest has 12 floors but only one lift. This lift has been out of action on a number of occasions (sometimes over a week). L&Q are proposing to install a new lift.

L&Q also need to clarify that the cladding on the block is safe and there are a number of repairs that need to be carried out such as fire doors that do not close properly. L&Q have undertaken to send us (and residents) an action plan.

I must admit that I thought L&Q were a living wage employer but outsourced staff working at the block are only just paid over the legal minimum.

Later I joined the Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, to the ground breaking ceremony at what is now called TwelveTrees Park which is right next to West Ham Station. This used to be site of a former Parcel Force depot and it is planned that just under 4000 homes will be built here. It is a partnership with Berkeley Homes, Peabody Housing Association and the Mayor of London. I hope that the new tower blocks will have more than one lift!

Finally, I met residents, Deputy Cabinet lead Cllr Shaban Mohammed,  local Councillor Pushpa Mkwana for an unannounced walkabout around Newham Council owned Gainsborough Estate in Little Ilford.  There had been a number of issues regarding minor repairs and caretaking. It is a marvellous red brick low rise estate. It was agreed that we would come back with repairs and cleaning managers in the next few weeks for a full inspection and draw up our own action plan.

I would like to thank Kate (and the other 2 residents) in Ibex House and Sonia in Gainsborough for their work as resident advocates. We need a Kate and Sonia in every block or estate in Newham to hold all landlords and freeholders to account. 

Open letter: Put radical housing policies in Labour’s manifesto

Below is the open letter by Labour Campaign for Council Housing in full.

To Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and John Healey,

We the undersigned welcome the unanimous support of Labour conference for:

• Building 100,000 social rented council homes a year;
• £10bn housing grant a year, ring-fenced for councils to deliver this;
• Ending Right to Buy.

We understand that this is not automatically included in Labour’s next general election manifesto. In light of the unanimous conference vote, we call on the party to include these policies in the manifesto. They are absolutely critical if a Labour government is to begin to resolve the housing crisis.

hat tip LabourList

(Signed by Rokhsana Fiaz, Mayor of Newham, Cllr John Gray, Deputy Mayor of Newham & Cabinet lead for Housing and Cllr Shaban Mohammed, Deputy Cabinet lead for Housing)

West Ham Labour campaigning for London Mayor, Sadiq Khan & getting ready for the next General Election

A busy long weekend delivering leaflets in various parts of the borough for the re-election of Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan in May next year and promoting Labour to our residents.

Saturday and Sunday in West Ham ward with activists and with local Cllr John Whitworth & Cllr Charlene McLean. We are also had a young pioneer with us and a ringer from East Ham, Cllr Susan Masters, who had been attending a "Save NHS" meeting nearby.

On Sunday afternoon I went out with a team led by our MP, Lyn Brown to Canning Town North. Afterwards we had a drink in Cody Docks and watched a marvellous sunset.

This morning I was in my home ward, Forest Gate North, with Gill delivering to local streets including the address of a recent former leader of UKIP, who would not appreciated the front page of Sadiq's newsletter (top left).

A visit to a factory that builds homes

Yesterday Cllr Shaban Mohammed and I went to visit a factory and warehouse operated by Ardmore Group in Enfield. We were invited to attend following a presentation I had heard on how factory built modular housing could help Newham Council tackle our housing crisis.

We went with the head of our Temporary Accommodation unit, since my chief concern as cabinet lead, is the inadequate and very expensive supply of good quality, well managed and local homes for our 5,200 Newham homeless families.

The argument for modular housing (factory built) is that it is cheaper and much quicker to manufacture new homes in factories and assembly on site rather than using traditional building methods. The counter arguments are that it may be quicker but it is not always cheaper in practice and that quality can be poorer.

Newham Council has set up an investment board of financial and housing experts in order to work out what is the best way forward.

In the meanwhile it was really useful to tour the Ardmore Factory with its very personable and knowledgeable, Managing Director, Cormac Byrne (who had arrived from Ireland as a young man with a £50 loan from his mother in his pocket and had gone on to build up this now huge multi-national construction company with his brother).

The factory at the moment is manufacturing parts for new high quality hotels but has in the past (and can in the future) quickly convert to build homes for social housing at fixed prices and to agreed design standards.

Ardmore Group are one of a number of different organisations who are pitching to Newham on similar deals. The actual decision on who to partner with will be taken after a fair and transparent procurement process.

I did, however, enjoy the tour of the factory since it was good to see real stuff being manufactured and worked upon in the UK. Skilled craftsmen and women were using sophisticated machinery to cut and measure joinery, metals and stone, which were then worked upon with more traditional tools to finish the job.

My own father was a City and Guilds trained electrician and I am sure that he would have appreciated the high quality work and skills shown to us during our tour. 

Newham Housing Special on Community Radio "Revive FM 94.0"

This afternoon I was interviewed live on "Revive FM 94.0" by my radio host colleague, Shaban Mohammed & community activist, Armond Dean, on Newham Council Housing Policies.

It was a really good discussion on the housing crisis in Newham and what we are doing to address it and what we need to do to solve it.

• Under Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz we are building more Council homes at Council rents in her 4 year term than in the previous 50 years. A 1000 homes. 

• We have restarted Tenants and Leaseholders representation and participation in Newham 9 years after it was dismantled. Local TRAs will decide on a spend of £1 million a year on local projects. 

• We now have a named housing officer for every home, block and estate in Newham.

• We are planning to reopen Housing offices in Newham for vulnerable residents to able to have face to face contact with officers. 

• We will be spending £120 million in planned improvements on our estates including new roofs, door entry systems, kitchens and bathrooms, improving energy efficiency and designing out crime. 

• We will reverse the years of under investment in preventing rough sleeping and homelessness. 

However, while this is truly transformational for those 1000 families who will get decent homes, we need the Government to fund us to build 27000 homes for all those on our Council waiting list and in Housing need.