NEW CHARTER'S PRESUMPTIONS TO GREATNESS ECHO NARCISSUS

Soft echo shimmers in the pool disquieten narcissus. New Charter have gazed so intently upon their own reflection for so long that they have lost all touch with reality and become deaf to the distant cries of their humble tenants.

Echo and Narcissus by John Waterhouse (Oil,1903)
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool,UK

The following text is an extract from: A Psychological Perspective on Place by David Russell

New Charter Board Directors remunerate themselves

----- Original Message -----

From: Ardern, John

To: 'Starlord'

Cc: Pearson, Vicky

Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 11:17 AM

Subject: RE: Board Directors and payments received

I have attached documents and response below which I hope answer your questions. In summary, there was a significant amount of discussion and consultation on the matter of Board remuneration which received the Trust Board's support.

From: Starlord
Sent: 06 April 2010 14:26
To: Ardern, John
Subject: Board Directors and payments received

Hi John,

At the time of the LSVT New Charter said:

"There can be no payment for Directors under strict Housing Corporation directions."

"Those taking seats on the Boards cannot by law be paid."

Have communities REALLY had a say in policy making and decision making?

I think NOT!

http://www.northern-consortium.org.uk/Page/NewsArticle.aspx?ArticleId=690
(undated on page 11th July 2010)
EXTRACT

Northern Housing Consortium News
Northern Housing Consortium Response to Emergency Budget

"The Northern Housing Consortium will be co-ordinating a submission to the Spending Review on behalf of our Members; we are very keen to engage with our members to shape our submission. In the coming weeks we will be requesting information upon examples of:

Effective localism where communities have had a stronger role to play in policy making and decision making improved and/or better transparent use of information
Examples of real community engagement and better and effective engagement with the third sector
Areas where you have made significant budget savings without compromising quality of service"

New Charter Housing Trust are a member of this consortium.

I sincerely hope they are not 'engaged' to "shape 'their' submission", for in Tameside there is no "effective localism" where communities have a say in "policy making and decision making". In fact, New Charter does the very opposite acting to remove any such input through tenant exclusion and lack of information. When a tenant really does want to get involved in such activities and where New Charter are unable to control them they evict them from the process! I know this for a fact and I am not alone in being on the receiving end of such forms of tenant exclusion by this authoritarian landlord! It is probably the case that I am the most excluded! Perhaps this in itself is a badge of honour!

New Charter may very well be able to 'demonstrate' such inclusive practices by reference to their vetted and long-standing 'nodding donkey' tenants and Tenant Directors. They are very few but even so receive most attention by New Charter! Most tenants that become involved do so as lambs to the slaughter. If they cannot be convinced, or should I say coerced, they are 'sidelined', and if persistent they are evicted! Democracy, what democracy!

Love, Light and Laughter

Starlord

New Charter, Green Environment? - Tenant Garden's under attack

'Trouble in Paradise' 2006
http://www.flickr.com/photos/harrypotts/4601458316/
Love, Light & Laughter
Starlord

New Charter Tenant Director Elections July 2010

New Charter Tenant Victimised
http://northernvoicesmag.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-charter-tennant-victimised.html
Love, Light & Laughter
Starlord

New Charter warns of “greatest threat ever” to locally driven community schemes » Housing » 24dash.com

posted here 16th May 2011
http://www.newcharter.co.uk/News/Press%20Releases/index.asp
http://www.newcharter.co.uk/assets_PublishedResources/News/PressReleases/2008/02_22%20Feb_pressHousingBill.pdf

an excerpt:

Published by David Rigby for New Charter Housing Trust Group in Housing

Wednesday 27th February 2008 - 10:04am

"Group Chief Executive Ian Munro has written to local MPs warning of the dangers contained in the Housing Bill, currently going through Parliament. He believes the Bill represents the “greatest threat ever” to the ability of housing associations to ensure neighbourhood schemes are driven by local need, not central direction."

Starlord's comment:

an excerpt:

I personally see no problem in reclassifying housing associations as Public Bodies? A level playing would exist once again between the newly created Social Housing landlords and the remaining Social Council Housing!

Love, Light & Laughter

Starlord