Published: Monday 16 October 2017
16 October 2017
An annual meeting that will decide the future of the Kensington and Chelsea Tenants’ Management Organisation (KCTMO) will take place at Kensington Town Hall on Tuesday 17 October.
Following extensive discussions, we are asking KCTMO members to vote for a resolution that will end the existing management agreement between KCTMO and the Council. We are also asking members to support a change to the TMO’s constitution which will allow us to step in when the management agreement ends. The change means we can make sure that the TMO keeps going so that residents continue to receive the housing services they rely on, and the transition to any new management structure goes smoothly. Also, as the public inquiry on the causes of the Grenfell Tower tragedy continues, the Council is mindful that the continuing existence of TMO as an independent body supports the work of the inquiry.
Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith, deputy leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: “We want to change this Council, and we want to change the way we work with our communities. We have a real focus on making sure residents have their say and help us to shape the future of housing in the borough.
“To do that, we cannot settle for the status quo. Elected Members of the Council have already recommended that RBKC end the contract with the KCTMO and establish a new management structure for the Council’s social housing stock. This was a result of members listening to individuals, families, and community leaders. But members also recognised that it is important that we achieve this in an orderly fashion, so we can continue to provide the services that people need.
“We want to be clear. If KCTMO members vote to end the existing management agreement and they support the change to the KCTMO’s constitution, this will allow the Council to make sure that the KCTMO keeps going for an interim period. It will not be disbanded and will continue to help the council deliver housing services to residents and this will allow the KCTMO to support the work of the public inquiry.
“Consultation with our communities is our next step, we will work with residents to allow them to decide the future of housing in Kensington and Chelsea.
“We have already written to residents’ associations to ensure they are aware of this position as we believe that they play one of the key roles in putting in place a new way to manage housing in the borough.”