Published: Friday 26 January 2018
TMO:
Madame Mayor, I want to give a clear update on the transfer of housing management to the Council.
On the 18 December the Board of KCTMO concluded that it would be in the best interests of residents for the services provided by the KCTMO to be handed back to the Council no later than 31 January.
It should be noted that this decision will not effect the continued existence of the KCTMO as a legal entity and it will remain independent and will be separately accountable to the public enquiry and the criminal proceedings. The Governance structure of the KCTMO will be changed to insure it remains independently accountable
The hand back of the day to day services will be effected by a deed of variation to the Modular Management Agreement (MMA) and will be discussed and approved by the Council’s leadership board on February 6.
The Council requested a further period of time to prepare for the handback but the TMO allowed a period of time to enable the practical
The TMO operation will then be handed back to the council the following day – 7 of February.
The TMO board has insisted on this timetable. It is not ideal. Our lawyers are working assiduously through the many issues this rapid process throws up.
However, despite the difficulties the speed of the handover will engender, the council welcomes the decision. The council already has a duty of care to all residents within its housing portfolio.
In effect, all that is happening is that the TMO is removing itself as the intermediary between the council and its residents.
Housing stock under the management of the TMO is deteriorating daily. The council must step in quickly to stop the rot.
The handback will also allow us to ensure that services to residents are better run and that the huge backlog of repairs – 3,500 by the TMO’s own reckoning, though I fear that the figure could be significantly higher – are dealt with in order of priority.
I have mixed emotions about the TMO handback. There is great anticipation and a well-founded hope that the council can and will improve housing services for residents.
And there is a palpable anxiety – we, the council, has a lot to do to get the handover right in a very very short time. It will not be easy.
This is a big moment. Many residents want the council to take charge. This is a great opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of tenants and leaseholders.
The handback will allow us to work with tenants, leaseholders and residents’ associations to develop a housing management system that will be focussed on you, the residents.
Your house is where you sleep, live and eat. It is your haven in the borough. You must have a say in how your property will be managed in the future.
That is why we have set up a new Tenant’s Consultative Committee – the first of which have been well attended. Residents have taken a great leap forward already in working out how the consultation into the new housing management system will be run.
Residents own the whole process – not the council.
The handback will also allow us to ensure that services to residents are better run and that the huge backlog of repairs are dealt with. But dealing with this backlog will take time and a lot of money. It will not be easy or quick. But we must and will do it.
We also know that residents have been failed by the service they have received. You should not have to battle for a simple window repair or a door to be replaced.
Under the careful and experienced stewardship of Doug Goldring, Director of Housing Management and who has worked in housing management for many years for other London boroughs, we will do all we can to tackle the backlog and improve the services to bring back your trust and respect.
Another key issue is fire safety. This is an obvious and key priority. The TMO has owned this duty. We will be reviewing – indeed we have already started reviewing – and publishing all the current fire safety assessments. We will not rest until they are all online and until we have addressed every issue. It will take time. But that is my promise to you.
There is a significant difference between us and the TMO.
You can hold us to account.
… through the Tenant’s Consultative Committee…
… the Housing, Policy and Scrutiny Committee, here at full council, through your ward councillor…
And through Freedom of Information requests – something from which the TMO was immune.
Furthermore, we will publish our targets so you can hold us to them.
And we will review, in detail, the whole TMO operation and publish our findings.
And at the heart of it all is justice.
Let me be clear.
The TMO will still exist as a legal entity.
It will not be able to hide from the public inquiry, from criminal investigation and civil actions.
At every meeting I have with residents, this is the number one concern.
After the handover, the TMO can still be prosecuted and will still answer to you, through the public inquiry.
In conclusion, this handover has happened faster and sooner than we would have liked. This means there will be rocks on the road. Doug and his team will do all they can to smooth the way.
The backlog of repairs will take time to work through and will cost a lot of money. But I am confident the service will, slowly, improve and that justice will be done.