When you’ve seen antisocial behaviour or know about access to property that makes burglarly easier have you ever thought – if only they would make that wall harder for people to sit on or gate off that alleyway? The Reading Labour party is committed to the belief that politics works best when …
Research by housing charity Shelter showed that one in four people across the country had been ripped off by unscrupulous agents charging unfair fees. I’d recommend to anyone either affected by this or who is interested in fair business dealings (and that includes landlords – I know a number who …
Council press release:Residents in Katesgrove, Park and Redlands Wards are set to benefit from the introduction of new controls which will see landlords having to apply for planning permission if they want to convert their property into a small house of multiple occupation (HMO).Known as an Article 4 Direction, the …
Council press reelease:An innovative scheme aimed at providing reassurance to people with disabilities has been handed a Promoting Community Safety Award by Association of Business Crime Partnerships (ABCP).Reading Business Against Crime (RBAC) is a partnership between town centre shops, Reading Borough Council and the Police and given the award was …
Reading Voluntary Action have asked me to publicise this. It’s a great idea – a chance to set up a shared, cooperative working space in Reading – whether you are a small voluntary organisation and would like permanent office space, you are a home worker or social enterprise that needs …
I was interviewed by ITV meridian yesterday for a story they will be running shortly on private landlords. Unfortunately it’s not about the positive service that good landlords provide but about two more cases of unsafe accommodation. I was asked about the fact that it cost one of the landlords £4000 …
I seem to post relatively often about poor accommodation in the private rented sector and action that Reading council is taking to change this (and I will have yet another update on a prosecution shortly!). However as I always stress good landlords are welcome in Reading and provide an essential service to …
In Reading as I’ve blogged many times before we are committed to doing all we can to improve the private rented sector including ensuring a level playing field for good landlords. Extract from council press release below: Tenants had to live in overcrowded conditions with blocked toilets, exposed electrical wires …
The regeneration of Dee Park is approaching another important milestone with the launch of Phase 2, which will see a further 106 brand new homes built on the estate.Council press release:On Monday 9th July, senior representatives of Dee Park Partnership, together with Jo Lovelock, Leader of Reading Borough Council, councillors, …
Reading much of this was not really a shock but it’s a good summary of why housing is now and is going to be more and more of an issue for anyone under, say 35 over the next decade or so. Disappointing that in the private sector ‘path’ they didn’t …
Last year Reading’s Labour councillors form a minority administration and this year, after we won 10 seats (gaining a net of 4) we have formed a majority. I believe the voters in Reading trusted us to stick to our pledge to be open and transparent about our plans, which as …
Cameron is clearly in a different world to me when it comes to looking at housing policy. When 93% of new housing benefit claimants are in work, attacking under-25s on housing benefit can’t be the solution to either the housing crisis or the alarmingly high unemployment amongst young people.In fact what is …
I received this email today and it’s a great example of the difference that Launchpad, the local homelessness charity to Reading is making to people’s lives:Jess* is 20 years of age and joined us under our Education, Training and Employment Project (ETE) in July 2011. She became a client of …
With the candidates for police and crime commissioners starting to come forward it’s becoming really important for everyone to ensure they are well informed about the issues that will matter in this election. Thames Valley Police have helpfully put together a report that gives information about the area they cover, the way they currently …
There are a lot of challenges facing Reading when it comes to both housing and neighbourhoods over the next year but putting it into context we are not alone. The National Housing Federation, which is the umbrella group for Housing Associations nationally has published it’s latest assessment of the state of the …
A campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse was launched yesterday by Thames Valley Police in partnership with Domestic Abuse Co-ordinators and Crimestoppers. The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness and promote early intervention in an attempt to break the cycle of abuse. The majority of domestic abuse …
Last year I was really proud to launch the pilot the “Your community your cash” scheme where decent neighbourhoods funding will be directly budgeted for by local residents. I believe that the best way to ensure that money to improve neighbourhoods is spent wisely is to get local people involved. …
The Labour party is seeking the widest possible input into our policy both at a national level and locally. The national party is continuing the ‘partnership into power‘ policy discussions. The general direction of travel is therebut the national policy forum will be discussing more submissions. Members and non-members, whether …
Local residents have consistently been calling for the use of planning legislation to control HMO’s in Reading. This is part of a wider picture as Reading’s Labour run council is determined to support good landlords, ensure decent homes for tenants and pleasant neighbourhoods for all. You can read more about …
Yesterday it was great to attend a pre-launch meeting for people interested in getting involved in Streetclub, a site for people to connect with their neighbours and organise things in their local area. It’s only available in Reading at the moment, and only just become a live site as we …
Great news for tenants of these two properties, and for good landlords who shouldn’t have to compete with a rogue who doesn’t take his responsibilities seriously.I promise that a Labour council in Reading will continue to tackle problems in the private rented sector and get the best for residents.Details below:Yet …
Council press release:Safer Reading Partnership is inviting residents of South Whitley to have their say on which three crime and anti-social behaviour issues are concerning them the most.Residents can find and fill in surveys at various shops in the South Whitley area, as well as the Whitley Wood Community Centre …
What a twisted tale this has been, but there is good news at the end of it. It shows that ambition and vision can still pay off even in these tough times.The Labour group has been pushing this since October 2010 (when in opposition) on this and once back running the council …
<!–[if !mso]>st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]–> Threatened cuts in legal aid will harm the most vulnerable in our society, unless the Government listens to a powerful coalition of charities and accepts House of Lords amendments when the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Bill returns to the House of Commons. …
Council press release:Disabled residents in Reading are celebrating the completion of three new accessible housing properties in Hastings Close, off Hatford Road, Southcote.A housing development site in Hastings Close, sold by Reading Borough Council to Ability Housing Association, has been developed to create three much needed disabled-adapted affordable homes.The accommodation …
Plans to improve facilities for local residents at Southcote Community Centre are set to be given the go-ahead at a meeting of the Reading Borough Council’s Cabinet later this month. If approved the centre, on Coronation Square, will be re-modelled, re-decorated and refurbished inside and out and fitted with improved …
Seem to be blogging about Southcote a lot at the moment, it’s just a coincidence I think. For updates on what i am up to in Whitley don’t forget to check www.whitleynews.org!The Neighbourhood Action Groups play an important role and while it’s great that the survey by the Southcote NAG …
We are getting really close to improve the community hub for Southcote residents. Local people along with the ward councillors, including our wonderful Mayor Deborah Edwards, have been tireless in campaigning for this for years now. By bringing council services together and seizing the opportunity to redevelop the derelict Happy Prospect site …
I am delighted with the positive impact the flowers and plants have had in neighbourhoods right across Reading. Feedback from resident’s through “Let’s talk” confirmed how much we all care about the way our neighbourhoods look and feel and the importance of green space, which is why the spring plantings are so valued. This is funded …
#rdgReading Primary School students have taken part in a unique project that encourages young people to take pride and keep safe in their local communities. Students from the George Palmer Primary School were the first to take part in Reading Borough Council’s ‘Community Kids Project’, which focused on the North …
This press release speaks for itself but it shows that what I am saying about the private rented sector in Reading isn’t just a whim, this is an issue which is increasingly affecting our residents and I expect this to increase as government housing policy and the lack of economic …
Today Reading played host to an event called ‘Delivering growth through localism‘ (link to the related site) organised by Berkley Homes. Other speakers were Alison Nimmo Chief Executive of the Crown Estate, Sir Bob Kerslake (Head of the Home Civil Service), and Emma Jones a founder of ‘Start up Britain‘. …
I’m very excited about this. Press release below: Reading residents are set to be offered the opportunity to take part in an innovative ‘time bank’ pilot in a move which will help forge an even stronger sense of community spirit in the town. People who sign up to the planned …
The full reports are available here – item that are labelled agenda item 15. However a summary is in the press release:Plans to improve Reading’s private housing sector by providing further support for tenants, house owners, landlords and local communities, will be considered by the Council’s Cabinet on 12 March. …
Reading’s Citizen’s Advice Bureua’s Director and I are interviewed on some major plans to improve the private rented sector in Reading. You may notice it’s quite windy today in Reading. I’ll blog on the details of this further but you can read the full reports here[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3fZmzvJStk]
Occasionally Reading Council does have to evict tenants, for the good of the majority (their neighbours) if nothing else. The advantage that we have where someone is a tenant is that it can be done – if a drug dealer is an owner occupier there’s not nearly so much that …
I was just on @BBCBerkshire to talk about a recent prosecution of a rogue landlord. BBC South Today is also planning to cover the story this evening, so look out for it. Responsible landlords know that this sort of thing is horrendous behaviour and brings their role into disrepute. The …
As I did yesterday I’m posting up my answer to a question that came to full council earlier in the week, this time on the results of the tenant’s survey from Cllr Benson. The tenant satisfaction survey is carried out early in the municipal year, therefore the 2011 survey tells us most …
I’m reporting on the issues that came up in full council earlier this week in bits. One of the questions I was asked was by Cllr Willis on the issue of homelessness.My answer is below: Homeless People in Reading Would the Leader of the Council update me on the numbers …
Today in my lunch break I was lucky enough to meet Molly and John at their lovely new home after they had downsized. Molly told me that it had been a very good experience although they had been sad to move away from neighbours of 53 years. It had been …
One of my priorities this year as the council’s lead on housing and neighbourhoods has been to look at how we can improve the private rented sector in Reading. While obviously most private rentals work well and are managed by responsible landlords there are a minority of landlords who don’t …
A win-win that I hope will benefit residents in both situations!Reading Borough Council will be increasing the range of voluntary incentives and support for tenants living in larger properties who are considering downsizing.Assisting tenants in this way will also enable the Council to release family size accommodation to help tackle …
I’ve already been contacted by a concerned resident who found a rough sleeper trying to keep warm in the lobby of her flats with the cold spell and wanted to help them. The council has an agreement with it’s voluntary sector partners abut providing extra emergency accommodation in cold weather. …
Even more tenants in Reading are to benefit from improvements to their neighbourhoods, thanks to the Council increasing its investment into community led initiatives by 10%.Reading Borough Council is to boost its spend on Decent Neighbourhood Fund projects this year, meaning £440k will be invested into programmes to provide a …
My new colleague on the council’s cabinet, Jan Gavin, has been campaigning on the issue of the use of 35 Alexandra Road for quite some time and it’s not been an easy one to resolve as it has lacked quite a lot of the facilities needed for modern living as …
Although a decision for full council the council’s cabinet has to recommend a rent increase for council tenants. As I outlined at the council cabinet meeting earlier this is not something that can be done easily at the moment. Inflation is still over 5%, the government is recommending a 7.2% …
Council press release:A landlord is to pay £2,125 in fines and £1,815 costs to Reading Borough Council after admitting he failed to keep a property in East Reading in a fit state for tenants. Mohammed Mir, 41, of Cumberland Road, Reading, pleaded guilty to 16 offences relating to a house …
After a thorough and wide ranging consultation with tenants, potential tenants, families and other interested organisations we will be considering proposals to improve our much valued sheltered housing service further at the cabinet meeting a week on Monday (16th January). There are 5 key proposals and together the aim is …
Congratulations to the staff and volunteers who make New Directions so special. One of my roles as lead councillor for Housing and Neighbourhoods is to sit on the council’s life long learning board along with fellow cabinet member John Ennis. The board oversees the work of the New Directions, which …
As probably many already know the council recently agreed to reorganise the senior management team. This was to both improve service delivery and join up working and also to save money at the senior level, to help protect to the extent possible the key services that residents rely on. From …
Across the country and in the South Eastwe’ve seen a 99% fall in housing starts (which is the Tory government’s prefered figure for measuring housing activity) for affordable housing being built in the 6 months to September 2011. Jack Dromney has called it a disaster, and I don’t think that’s …
The community spirit and special atmosphere of our sheltered housing schemes in Reading is something that is valued by all of us: a safe and comfortable environment where residents live independently and there is always someone to call on. There is no question of this changing under the proposals we …
I’ve been getting a clear message from Southcote’s residents has been quite clear – they want the old Happy Prospect site to be used and they want improved facilities to benefit the whole community in Southcote. A potential solution is close which could enable local people to work with the …
We know that the Tory led government policies are forecast to increase homelessness substantially, with national forecasts showing scary figures. Here in Reading we are already seeing an increase in homelessness and we are worried about what the new year will bring. As an administration the Labour group is committed …
It’s really nice to have tangible evidence of the future of sheltered and extra care housing in Reading (more photos on Whitley news). Today I ‘topped out’ Cedar Court the first council housing to be build in Reading for over 20 years. We got funding for this from the then, Labour, …
We are running a consultation on HMOs in Reading and are doing this through a series of focus groups in the wards with the highest number of HMOs. We’re keen to hear from residents of HMOs, landlords and other local residents: 10th October: United Reform Church, Palmer Park Avenue (Park …
Cake judging in Southcote, #rdg on Saturday, had the added bonus of tasting the entries. The winning entry was based on a war time recipe and was delicious. Here are John Ennis and I after awarding first prize: Council press release: A community fun day, organised by the Council, together …
There are 3 events* tomorrow in Reading where Labour will be well represented – hopefully I’ll be at two out of three… Obviously there is Reading Pride, one of the highlights of the Reading year for me. Our stall is being organised by Richard Wood and will be part of …
I’ve been using today as a catch up on various council matters including ensuring I’m as briefed as possible on various issues. Some of those are very local and some are not yet public. However two very useful papers I’ve been reading are from the Joseph Rowentree Foundation, one a …
As the lead councillor with responsibility for community safety I recently agreed with the police that we should have a dispersal order in place again following the success it had in 2010. I won’t be going to the festival but it looks like it has a great line up – I would …
I went along to the Coley street party yesterday and it was great to see a real mixture of young and old coming out to enjoy the weather – the marquee was only needed for shade! It was the day of voting for the community projects that residents wanted to …
In Reading and I imagine in many other councils, especially here in the South East, it is no secret that we, as a council, have been worried by the benefits changes. We know it will hit not just families and individuals but also to the council’s resources. In other words …
The press release below is the next step in our plan to work with people in improving housing – not just for people: Council tenants are to have more of a say in the way housing services are provided in Reading through a new independent tenant panel. The tenant scrutiny …
Firstly a quick plug for Reading Grow-a-lot they need votes today to get the allotment funding the number is 0871 626 88 68. Secondly I want to publish my answers to one of the questions I received at full council. The first two are from members of the public, one …
People have been asking me what it means in practice when Labour in Reading talks about giving residents more say and being a council that works with people not just for people. Well below is a press release that the council has just put out. It’s an example of the …
We’re all feeling the pinch at the moment, but increasingly I’m hearing from people who can’t make ends meet and I believe other councillors are too. The high inflation and squeeze on wages is affecting everyone but for some it can mean choosing between food and fuel. This radio report …
With members of CRAG Today was the official launch of the Dee Park show homes (although apparently they’ve already sold 3 properties!). Below is a copy of my speech “As Reading’s lead councillor for housing and neighbourhoods it’s a real pleasure to be here today to celebrate the next step …
