Reply from Emma Reynolds MP, shadow housing minister

Labour’s shadow housing minster Jack Dromey MP was written to on May 1, 2012 about Labour Lambeth’s housing co-op evictions. He did not reply. Emma Reynolds MP, Dromey’s successor, has replied. The reply falls short of what we need to hear from Labour, but it does raise awareness.

See correspondence strand below:

Date: 6 November 2013 19:20:19 GMT
To: “REYNOLDS, Emma”
Cc: Kate Hoey
Subject: Re: Housing co-op evictions in Lambeth?

Dear Dominic,

I would like to thank you for replying on behalf of Emma Reynolds MP. Given how long we waited for a reply from Jack Dromey, it is something of a relief to hear from a Labour spokesman on this issue.

I do understand the constraints of parliamentary protocol. However, I would point out that spokespeople for any party are always happy to run up and down the country to showcase when their council is doing well, so it is a great pity that they cannot be expected to deal with the very real fall-out that happens when a council is behaving badly – as is the case with Lambeth, a supposedly ‘co-operative council’.

Obviously it is good to hear that Emma is supportive of housing co-operatives and the role they have to play in providing affordable/social housing. We had a number of representatives from the co-operative movement support the social housing solution that we presented to Lambeth on numerous occasions, but sadly this fell on deaf ears. You can read about the proposal here http://www.lambethunitedhousingco-op.org.uk/?page_id=157 and how it was dealt with here: http://www.lambethunitedhousingco-op.org.uk/?page_id=627

It is disappointing not to have a more substantive reply. This matter has also been raise with Ed Miliband in correspondence and in person, and a response was promised.

Ultimately it is important that Emma is aware of this issue and the damage that it continues to inflict on the Labour and Co-operative movement. It shouldn’t have to be like this, and if Emma is at all minded to look into the issue further we would be happy to provide further information.

Best,

lambethunitedhousingco-op.org.uk
@LambethUnited

On 6 Nov 2013, at 18:43, “REYNOLDS, Emma” wrote:

Dear Julian,

Emma has asked me to thank you for bringing the below matter to her attention. Sincere apologies for the delay in answering your email.

Emma is fully supportive of housing co-operatives and believe they play an important role as a provider of affordable housing for people.
However, due to parliamentary protocol, Emma is unable to act on the specifics of the case you have mentioned, as she is not your MP and, therefore, cannot make any representations to Lambeth Council. I understand you have taken up the case with your constituency MP Kat Hoey, who has made representations on your behalf. As Shadow Housing Minister, Emma is responsible for formulating Labour’s policies for housing at a national and not a local level, this is the responsibility of councils. If there are any proposals that you have about housing cooperatives then please do send these through.

I understand that this response may be disappointing, but Emma is not supported by civil servants. Unlike the Government, she has an ordinary office, and is, therefore, unable to comment on every housing incident or issue that is happening in every constituency across the UK.

Many thanks for your understanding in this matter, and I hope that a resolution is arrived at which proves satisfactory for you in this case.

Best wishes,

Dominic Palma
Office of Emma Reynolds MP

Sent: 29 October 2013 21:11
To: REYNOLDS, Emma
Subject: Re: Housing co-op evictions in Lambeth?

Dear Emma Reynolds,

I would like to chase up the email below.

I would be happy to re-send the briefing if need be – or look at the website below my sign off.

Best,

Julian

lambethunitedhousingco-op.org.uk
@LambethUnited

On 8 Oct 2013, at 15:36, “Julian Hall” wrote:

Dear Emma,

I never received a reply from Jack Dromey MP on the below correspondence that started in May 2012.

Perhaps you will be able to help, now that you are Labour’s housing spokesperson?

Please note that you should have received a separate update on Labour Lambeth’s eviction programme today. I have attached just in case.

I would happily supply further information – much of which can be gleaned from the website below my sign off.

Best,

Julian

www.lambethunitedhousingco-op.org.uk
@LambethUnited

To: jack.dromey.mp@parliament.uk
Subject: RE: Birmingham Mail article & Housing evictions in Lambeth?
Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2013 15:33:27 +0000

Dear Mr Dromey,

I’ve not had a response to this housing issue – see below – since first raising it on May 1, 2012.

I would be grateful for a response.

Best,

Julian Hall

To: jack.dromey.mp@parliament.uk
CC: hoeyk@parliament.uk; jonathan.reynolds.mp@parliament.uk
Subject: RE: Birmingham Mail article & Housing evictions in Lambeth?
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:53:00 +0000

Dear Mr Dromey,

I wanted to follow up my previous emails to you, particularly my emails of 1st May and 11th September (see below).

In my last email I attached a link to a piece about councils selling off homes in which you are quoted as attacking the move.

It has been suggested to me that Lambeth Council has a policy of selling off their streetside properties and, if so, this would be a similar move.

This may also help explain why Lambeth’s “co-operative council” are not engaging with housing co-op residents and their plan for a Super Co-op for their homes, as part of the plan suggests that these homes could pass into council stock and these homes are streetside houses.

This plan has been suggested as a way to give the council a revenue stream and thereby negate the perceived need to pursue housing co-op residents through the courts and sell off their homes (of 40 years or more) on the open market.

Whether or not it is true that Lambeth want to get rid of streetside properties (and I have it from reliable sources including councillors that it is) could you not comment, in some way, on the unsatisfactory way that Lambeth is handling its so-called “shortlife” properties – homes for some Lambeth residents for up to 40 years – by selling off social housing at auction?

I have copied in both my local MP, Kate Hoey, who has been unswerving in her support in the face of Lambeth’s intransigence on this issue and Jonathan Reynolds MP whose proposed legislation on co-ops might have helped Lambeth avoid this mess in the first place and may have helped them more effectively aspire to being a “co-operative council”.

Could you help put Lambeth on the right track?

Best,

Julian

To: jack.dromey.mp@parliament.uk
Subject: RE: Birmingham Mail article & Housing evictions in Lambeth?
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:02:48 +0000

Dear Mr Dromey,

I just read a piece online in the Birmingham Mail about a proposed council housing sell-off in the West Midlands, in which you are quoted. [http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2012/08/21/birmingham-mp-s-fury-as-councils-urged-to-sell-off-70-000-homes-97319-31662713/]

Given your opposition to this move I assume that you are also against what Lambeth Council is doing by selling off housing co-operative homes in the borough?

I wrote to you in your capacity as Labour’s housing spokesman about this situation on May 1st and I still await a reply.

If you need more information you can visit: www.lambethunitedhousingco-op.org.uk

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Julian Hall

To: jack.dromey.mp@parliament.uk
Subject: RE: Housing evictions in Lambeth?
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2012 16:01:11 +0000

Dear Mr Dromey,

I’d like to follow up my email to you of 1st May, see below.

I have had replies from the minister and I’d be interested in your view on this, as Labour’s housing spokesman.

All the best,

Julian

To: jack.dromey.mp@parliament.uk
Subject: Housing evictions in Lambeth?
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 12:47:11 +0000

Dear Mr Dromey,

I am sure that you are already aware of the speech made by my local MP, Kate Hoey, in December last year about “Shortlife” housing in Lambeth.

Since Kate made her speech, more and more housing Co-op residents have been lined up to go through the courts at the behest of Lambeth’s “co-operative council” in order that Lambeth can seize their homes – homes that some people have lived in for nearly 40 years.

It is a pitiful state of affairs, strewn with inconsistencies, intimidation and hypocrisy and one that totally goes against the grain of extending social housing along the principles of small-scale, proactive community initiatives.

It is with this in mind that “Shortlife” residents have been laying the groundwork for a “Super Co-op” structure that would allow them to stay in the homes that they have maintained for so long and leave a legacy of social housing in the borough.

I would welcome any support that you could give to Lambeth’s Co-op housing community (and to their “Super Co-op) to rectify the injustice of the borough’s “recall”.

I have enclosed a briefing for information.

Best wishes,

Julian Hall

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