Where The Responsibility Lies
I freely admit that there is much that is true in what SE5 says above.
However, it is my feeling that the writer is not a Lambeth tenant, and that he has little experience of housing management in this borough, or of the behaviour of councillors; but I was brought up in a council property (which my mother still occupies) and have had much experience of both.
I am, also, a realist, andl, as senior civil, servant I do not have unreasonable expectations of either council members or local government officers. However, the behaviour of both in this case falls well below what is acceptable.
Councillors are well paid today for the work that they are expected to do: we expect them to read papers, and do their work with reasonable diligence. Thus, it is absolutely unacceptable for them to fail to attend a group meeting on an issue of the importance of that which was decided 8 days ago. It is also totally unacceptable for them not to make proper enquiries regarding a department's failure to work within a budget, and to accept an overspend of that proportion, without making stringent enquiries into why it has been exceeded by more than, say 5%, at the outside. Their backing down in response to harsh criticism, and officers' acceptance of the compromise without question, suggests that no one has any idea of the sums that are really required to deliver the service, or what it will really cost. This is absolutely shocking
Lambeth officers are infamous throughout Westminster and Whitehall, indeed, the whole country, and the service is probably incapable of being reformed from the inside. However, this is not entirely their fault. Councillors have not exercised the powers that they have to emend the situation, and so must take equal responsibility.
Councillor Dixon should resign, or be replaced, and so should Councillor Reed; and, if they won't they should be forced into it.
I don't know if the Liberal Democrats, in coalition with the Conservatives will do any better, but both these councillors are removed, and the managers responsible for the current situation are replaced, the situation is liable to deteriorate further, and we simply cannot afford that!
We need the ALMO money, and we surely won't get it if thing like this continue to occur. Furthermore, it is a once only offer, and we will not see its like again. Party members (and as a young man, I was one) must force the issue, otherwise they will not be forgiven.
If Labour lose the next lg elections (and I, for one, will not be voting for them, either locally or nationally: I shall vote Green), at least the fate of these officers and councillors will be noted, and the next incumbents are likely to try a great deal harder. Who knows, they may even produce an acceptable level of service.
One can but hope!
there's a surprise, but sadly not unexpected or unpredicted... when's the next chance to vote out the little prick Steve Reed?
My company has pretty much daily control of the amount of money in it - admittedly it's 70 people - but any sensible organisation should be able to see things are seriously out of kilter after a few weeks (or maybe a month). Bu to get to £14m is insane.
