Barnet Council new housing policy. A masterpiece of stupidity

“I think these proposals should do that but I want to hear from all of the key parties before we finalise a policy” - This is the verdict of Councillor Richard Cornelius, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing on Barnet Councils latest discussion paper on the many failings of its council housing policies. The Barnet Eye has already revealed how this paper admits Barnet are institutionally racist in their dealings with ethnic minorities (a fact shamefully ignored by the other local press and media -hang your heads in shame boys and girls). Well I had hoped that the media who get paid to do this (I just do it out of love for my fellow citizens) would actually do a proper bit of analysis on this paper, but they couldn't be bothered. I guess that the underclass are not too worthy of column inches.

Well if they won't I guess I'll have to give up what little spare time I have to step into the breach  (cheers guys). Here's the really obnoxious bits in potted form

Here's what exactly is wrong with this (apart from the fact that people who write this crap clearly have no concept of the fact that people aren't on the housing list because life is going well).

9.13 This policy discriminates against those in most need. Doesn't it occur to the authors that those in dire straights don't have the opportunity to nip out and do a bit of social work, free of charge, for the council. How on earth are one parent families with young children meant to do this, whilst caring for their kids? And before all of the "they shouldn't have kids" brigade jump on the bandwagon, there are many who are in this situation through no fault of their own (abusive relationships, bereavement, abandonment)

9.21 A recipe for lazy council officers to do less work. Oh Mrs X doesn't like the hovel with the ceiling collapsing and the damp, great bump her to the bottom of the queue and send Mrs Y around.

9.23 Great a lovely long list of bodies to consult. One big ommission. The poor sods on the waiting list.

9.24 What can I possibly object to about this? Well I think that 12 weeks is far too short a time. They should have a proper independent study into the failings of the Barnet housing system, commissioned by experts, taking testamony from the people most affected by it, with public meetings in areas of social housing. Lets here what the poor sods who will suffer the policy have to say. There is no way that could be properly organised in 12 weeks.

9.25 This is just pure offence. They are saying that it's OK for staff to experiment with the lives of families? This makes me feel physically sick. They are going to disadvantage 50% of the people on the list whilst they conduct their experiment. Is this an April fool joke?

9.26 "The approach recommended will, in Future Shape Terms, deliver significant improvements". This is ominous. What about in real world terms? It will deliver "better allocations"? Better for who, I bet not the poor sods on the list. Better for the Tory councillors in their ivory towers and the senior council officers who can do less work for their money.

You can download the whole shameful document here
http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/reports/reportdetail.asp?ReportID=9350

You can tell Richard Cornelius what you think of it here -cllr.r.cornelius@barnet.gov.uk
and you can tell Council Leader Lynne Hillan to sack him here - leader@barnet.gov.uk