Brixton news, rumour and general chat - January 2015

[Manter]

Is it a nice hob?

Gas, zanussi, black.

 

[Gramsci]

I'll not argue with you about the legal status of the properties' occupation but I would assume the point of their statement is that they weren't able to carry out the kind of survey that would reveal the full structural state of the building, while it was occupied (legally or otherwise). Of course, they shouldn't have let such a situation develop in the first place, that they weren't able to keep a proper tab on the condition of their own housing stock.

I expect that a large proportion of what they've had to put right would have been preventable with proper maintenance.

As Casaubon says Short Lifers gave access to Council owned properties for surveys.

The Council recently asked me if I had a copy of a survey of Carlton Mansions. They had lost their copy.

Reminds me I need to ask for some plans back that I gave officers so I can take them to Lambeth Archives.

Reading the report I do not understand why contracts were put out when proper survey had not been done. The report makes great play how the Council had finally got vacant possession. So why did they not get in specialist structural survey done? Before contracting it out.

The report reads to me like the officers did cursory survey. Its an officer balls up. Which is why they blame the "squatters"

 

[Gramsci]

And the same will almost certainly apply to the Carlton Mansions building. Leaving it unoccupied will allow problems to progress more quickly than they would, were it still occupied. But leaving a building to be squatted (or short life tenanted or whatever) rather than actively maintaining it inevitably lets it deteriorate.

Short Life is not squatting.

Without the "Short Life" use of Carlton Mansions it would have rotted years ago.

I ( with other Coop members) replaced floors, joists and generally kept the dry rot at bay. Also patched up the roof etc.

boohoo is right to say it will deteriorate now its empty. Was in Mansions a few weeks ago. Its already a sorry sight. Council have put metal grills up and to do that had to leave windows open. Brilliant. They are not checking to see the roof is not leaking. As I warned them to do.

 

[teuchter]

There are some things that you can't know until you start to do some fairly serious stripping out of the building - ie. not before the builders are in and have a proper building site set up, scaffolding and all the rest that allows you to do that work. This is not an unusual way of proceeding. They've accepted a tender from the contractor on the basis of the work that could be anticipated at that stage, and set some money aside to be used for the very likely additional work that will become necessary during the job. They are now approving the extra payment to the contractor for the work that was extra to what was tendered for.

I've no doubt that they are capable of mismanaging all sorts of stuff nonetheless, but in principle there doesn't seem to be anything particularly unusual. This is the way plenty of private jobs are done too.

 

[teuchter]

Short Life is not squatting.

Without the "Short Life" use of Carlton Mansions it would have rotted years ago.

I ( with other Coop members) replaced floors, joists and generally kept the dry rot at bay. Also patched up the roof etc.

boohoo is right to say it will deteriorate now its empty. Was in Mansions a few weeks ago. Its already a sorry sight. Council have put metal grills up and to do that had to leave windows open. Brilliant. They are not checking to see the roof is not leaking. As I warned them to do.

I know short life is not squatting. And I amn't blaming any tenants for the deterioration of the building. I agree absolutely that had the building been left empty instead of being let to the Coop, it would have rotted years ago. However, had it been managed properly, instead of leaving tenants to do whatever patch-up jobs that were within their means, it would be in a better state than it is now. To repeat, it's not a criticism of the coop or any other tenants. It's a criticism of Lambeth neglecting buildings which are public assets and which would be less expensive to fix up now, had they looked after them properly over the last few decades.

 

[Gramsci]

There are some things that you can't know until you start to do some fairly serious stripping out of the building - ie. not before the builders are in and have a proper building site set up, scaffolding and all the rest that allows you to do that work. This is not an unusual way of proceeding. They've accepted a tender from the contractor on the basis of the work that could be anticipated at that stage, and set some money aside to be used for the very likely additional work that will become necessary during the job. They are now approving the extra payment to the contractor for the work that was extra to what was tendered for.

I've no doubt that they are capable of mismanaging all sorts of stuff nonetheless, but in principle there doesn't seem to be anything particularly unusual. This is the way plenty of private jobs are done too.

If they had written their report in reasonable language like you use here that would have been fine. Straightforward explanation of what has been done and why extra funds are needed.

But they didn’t. The report is written in a way that is a wind up to ex Short Lifers like me and Casaubon

 

[ricbake]

Look at the way Lambeth manage any of the property in their care - from Cressingham Gardens to the Town Hall - Lambeth Living to Lambeth Facilities Management they are quite hopeless about looking after anything. They bring in consultants who they accept reports from completely uncritically. The consultants then negotiate and oversee contractors with whom they have very close relationships. It is all done on the understanding Lambeth will pay and pay and pay.
The Lambeth Housing Standard Program = £490,000,000
Your Nu Town Hall = £40,000,000

Whats an extra couple of million here and there...

 

[teuchter]

The report is written in a way that is a wind up to ex Short Lifers like me and Casaubon

Yes. Fair enough, I can see that.

But I also think the Brixton Buzz article is written in a way that highlights those wind-up passages in the report, rather than explaining clearly about what the extra money is for and how it was or wasn't budgeted for.

 

[leanderman]

Look at the way Lambeth manage any of the property in their care - from Cressingham Gardens to the Town Hall - Lambeth Living to Lambeth Facilities Management they are quite hopeless about looking after anything. They bring in consultants who they accept reports from completely uncritically. The consultants then negotiate and oversee contractors with whom they have very close relationships. It is all done on the understanding Lambeth will pay and pay and pay.
The Lambeth Housing Standard Program = £490,000,000
Your Nu Town Hall = £40,000,000

Whats an extra couple of million here and there...

On this front, how does Lambeth compare to other local authorities or ministries?

 

[ricbake]

There is a horrendous attitude among suppliers to Local Authorities and publicly funded organisations across the board - I think Lambeth maybe a little better than it once was but that's not saying a lot

 

[teuchter]

There is a horrendous attitude among suppliers to Local Authorities and publicly funded organisations across the board -

But why?

 

[Gramsci]

Yes. Fair enough, I can see that.

But I also think the Brixton Buzz article is written in a way that highlights those wind-up passages in the report, rather than explaining clearly about what the extra money is for and how it was or wasn't budgeted for.

The Brixton Buzz piece is short and to the point with a link to officers report. I think its fair enough.

 

[ash]

So - San Marino have started playing Magic FM. That's my custom lost : (

 

[snowy_again]

The Front Line offy refurb has started.

 

[editor]

The Brixton Buzz piece is short and to the point with a link to officers report. I think its fair enough.

And it's currently the only local news outlet to have covered the story, which I think is an important one.

 

[Greebo]

On this front, how does Lambeth compare to other local authorities or ministries?

In a word? Shamefully.

 

[ricbake]

But why?

Free market capitalist mind set meets public money with lost ideal of doing the right thing for the majority


e2a with absolutely zero negotiating ability

 

[cuppa tee]

Fridge Bar Brixton's facebook status update avoids happy hour promotions and pics of cocktails in jam jars


.................https://www.facebook.com/lateralthink/posts/10152234449892465?frenf

 

[leanderman]

Nine flats and retail to replace Mango Landin' (planning app spotted by Rushy)

 

[Crispy]

Utterly unsurprising

 

[editor]

Rashid Nix, Green Party candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood, will be on the Politics Show tonight.

Despite the name, the constituency covers a huge chunk of Brixton.



https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/v...TF8&msa=0&hl=en&mid=zkmyoltjQ4os.kQ3LSRn3BERs

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

Brockwell Park was stunning this morning, a clear sky, a low sun and shadows cast by the bare trees created streaks of frost upon the green lungs of Lambeth.

Also, spotted this small act of resistance on atlantic Road;


It's nice to know that not everyone in Brixton is a free market loving, slave trader quisling.

 

[editor]

Coming up:
Lambeth Libraries celebrate LGBT History Month with events promoting local LGBT writers in Brixton and beyond

 

[CH1]

Nine flats and retail to replace Mango Landin' (planning app spotted by Rushy) View attachment 66625

At least it's got a round bit. I am getting very bored with angularity.

 

[CH1]

Rashid Nix, Green Party candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood, will be on the Politics Show tonight.
Despite the name, the constituency covers a huge chunk of Brixton.
View attachment 66632
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/v...TF8&msa=0&hl=en&mid=zkmyoltjQ4os.kQ3LSRn3BERs

I think you mean Daily Politics - repeat of the noon today edition at midnight on BBC Parliament Freeview 131.

Rashid etc is about 35 mins in - all the main candidates in DAWN get a look in - Tory, Labour, Lib Dem and Green.

Rashid was interviewed outside the Barrier Block, which looked quite imposing.
The labour candidate was shown knocking on doors somewhere with maisonettes
The Lib Dem guy chatted whist wheeling his bike over Goose Green
The Tory candidate plotted her evil strategy in an office looking very well turned out.

The piece was really about what the candidates thought/felt about campaigning, not about any specific policies.

Should be on the iPlayer soon, but isn't right now.

 

[editor]

I think you mean Daily Politics - repeat of the noon today edition at midnight on BBC Parliament Freeview 131.

Rashid etc is about 35 mins in - all the main candidates in DAWN get a look in - Tory, Labour, Lib Dem and Green.

Rashid was interviewed outside the Barrier Block, which looked quite imposing.
The labour candidate was shown knocking on doors somewhere with maisonettes
The Lib Dem guy chatted whist wheeling his bike over Goose Green
The Tory candidate plotted her evil strategy in an office looking very well turned out.

The piece was really about what the candidates thought/felt about campaigning, not about any specific policies.

Should be on the iPlayer soon, but isn't right now.

Rashid is the only candidate I've ever seen campaigning in the streets around Brixton.

 

[CH1]

Rashid is the only candidate I've ever seen campaigning in the streets around Brixton.

That's logical if you think about it. The Brixton part of Dulwich and West Norwood is safe Labour - so sitting candidate Tessa Jowell was best employed trying to get the more Tory & Lib Dem areas of Dulwich onside.

I can't remember in detail earlier elections, but bear in mind that around 2001 Coldharbour was put into Duwich, whereas previously it was Angell Ward, Vauxhall.

The same argument applied to Vauxhall from a Labour point of view though. Brixton was safe Labour whereas the northern areas were marginal.

If they ever redo the boundaries - as should have happened in 2011 but didn't due to the row between Lib Dem and Tories over the House of Lords - then there will probably be a Brixton constituency again and the candidates will not have anywhere to hide.

 

[colacubes]

That's logical if you think about it. The Brixton part of Dulwich and West Norwood is safe Labour - so sitting candidate Tessa Jowell was best employed trying to get the more Tory & Lib Dem areas of Dulwich onside.

I can't remember in detail earlier elections, but bear in mind that around 2001 Coldharbour was put into Duwich, whereas previously it was Angell Ward, Vauxhall.

The same argument applied to Vauxhall from a Labour point of view though. Brixton was safe Labour whereas the northern areas were marginal.

If they ever redo the boundaries - as should have happened in 2011 but didn't due to the row between Lib Dem and Tories over the House of Lords - then there will probably be a Brixton constituency again and the candidates will not have anywhere to hide.

In the 2005 election Coldharbour ward (or at least my end of it) was still part of Vauxhall. It only moved into Dulwich and West Norwood in 2010.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Simply failing to repaint the window frames and leaving the bare wood open to the elements can cause them to go rotten.

That's what happened in my block, and it cost a fortune to replace one window with some plastic thing that I very much doubt will last as long as the one it replaced (had it been maintained properly).

Yup.The original window frames on Cressingham were over-painted hardwood that was basically allowed to degrade until bits of frames and occasionally whole windows were falling away.

 

[haushoch]

Does anyone know a charity who could use an oven, hob or dishwasher?

Don't know if you've already found somewhere, but if not I'd suggest donating them to Emmaus:

http://www.emmaus.org.uk/shop/donate_goods

They're really fantastic, they helped out a friend of mine when he desperately needed some white goods but had no money to pay for any. I hadn't even heard of them before. They've got two places in Lambeth:

http://www.emmaus.org.uk/lambeth