Health and Safety on the Chalcots

The low levels of light to the entrance ways and underground car parking continues to be a very considerable concern to all residents in the vicinity of the Chalcots.

The situation has been currently under review for some time. Irrespective of whether the properties are responsibility of the PFIC group of companies or ultimately the Local Authority. It must be remembered that the Local Authority is the primary "Social Landlord" and the "Landlord" for all properties. Under Health and Safety Protocols and Security provision Protocols have a direct "Duty of Care" not only to all residents but also all residents in the Belsize area that may be affected as a "knock-on consequence" of the above mentioned low levels of lighting provision and inadequate security.

Common sense prevails at Camden's PFIC

I reported yesterday "if you (Camden) don’t have temporary lights installed by the end of the next day (4/12) then I will take the matter to the local MP". Glenda Jackson MP was contacted. Senior officers of Camden and the PFIC were instructed.

I had an "official" walk-about yesterday with all the senior staff connected with the PFIC so they could see first hand the problem areas.

As of 8:45am today I can report that Bray now has the emergency temporary lighting asked. All that remains is that a permanent solution is found for the lighting problems.

Strength of resident feeling on Chalcots "escalate"

I was present at an ad hock walk-about with an Camden Project Manager yesterday evening and on the subject of NO lighting on the entranceways to Bray, which has been a ongoing problem for many years.

A resident knowing the Project Manager clearly angered at the situation, said to the officer "if you don’t have temporary lights installed by the end of the next day (4/12) then I will take the matter to the local MP". The deadline set is now looming.

I have had so many complaints now from residents about this Health and Safety concern that MP Glenda Jackson has now been notified.

This is an outrage; even the local Police have reported the matter of inadequate lighting to the Patch Manager for the estate.

Camden PFI Chalcots December 2008

Where we are now in December 2008

Bray, the third of the five blocks making up the Chalcots estate is due to be signed off by the Independent Certifier (IC) 19th December.However, problems still remain in resident’s homes, such as leaking radiators, faulty windows and poorly regulated central heating controls, despite the IC sign off process. All the remaining problems will be transferred to the "snagging" process.Security remains a "key" concern of the residents at Bray and indeed the whole of the Chalcots.Inadequate lighting and no provision of a canopy to the entranceways continue to be a BIG concern for all residents.

Back in July 2008
I had written a summary of the “key” problem areas of the PFI process

1. Output Specification
2. Role of the Independent Certifier (IC)
3. Sign-off and snagging
Only the misapprehension of the role of the IC has now been addressed.It was hoped that with the correct levels of “direct” management pressure would the other issues have been addressed too.

Conclusion
Apart from the previous misapprehension that the role of the IC was to actually check all aspects of the finished “home” and check for essential Health and Safety certifications. We now know that the IC primary role is to sign-off, thereby starting the “unitary charge” process for release of “real” money from the PFIC bank to the contractor.

There is no real demonstratable change of the current implementation model.
It has to be said that PR skills have considerably improved on this PFI project.

I would also now add a new key "problem" PFI and non-PFI word to the list;

4. Communications
This refers to both the PFIC as well as the Local Authority, which are in many cases the worst offenders.

PFI at Chalcots - Third block due to complete

Bray, the third of the five blocks making up the Chalcots estate is due to be signed off by the Independent Certifier (IC) 19th December.

However, problems still remain in resident’s homes, such as leaking radiators, faulty windows and poorly regulated central heating controls, despite the IC sign off process. All the remaining problems will be transferred to the "snagging" process.

Security remains a "key" concern of the residents at Bray and indeed the whole of the Chalcots.

Inadequate lighting and no provision of a canopy to the entranceways continue to be a BIG concern for all residents.

Offenders to wear community vests

Another crazy idea. How are the Public meant to distinguish between contractors, builders and offenders (without referring to the backs of the high visibility jackets or bibs).

If a person is seen fit to be returned to serve a "Community Service". Having a "Community Payback" will only serve to further distance the offender from mainstream society and may leave the offender open to abuse. This is back to the dark ages. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7757908.stm

Start of the 13 month 15% VAT Rate Today

But will it actually have the desired effect and who will profit?

Large e-companies (such as Amazon) clearly will have no problems implementing and passing on the lower rate to their customers. However, the "very type of smaller business" most affected by the credit crunch will have a much harder time to implement and pass on the savings in the high street.

The cost to small businesses to implement the VAT rate change will be high compared to turnover and it will be unlikely that the customer will see benefit at the till. A product or service that has been pitched at £9.99 will not be marked down to £9.77 for long.

The VAT rate change is a negative way of dealing with credit crunch; it serves to illustrate the despair that the New Labour Government is in.

It is back to the OLD Labour days of the past. History does indeed repeat itself