Last week Deputy Russell Labey hit out at Andium Homes, accusing the company of ‘shamefully’ pursuing plans for the redevelopment of the La Collette low-rise flats that went against a vote taken in the States.
He has now lodged a proposition with the States calling for Treasury Minister Alan Maclean, who acts on behalf of the States as the sole guarantor of the company, to direct Andium Homes to re-submit revised plans which include the retention of the green space where the site meets Green Street.
- Andium Homes is a States-owned company that acts independently to look after the Islands housing portfolio.
- Previously the Housing Department had responsibility for the administration of Jerseys social rented accommodation, affordable housing and accommodation for older Islanders, but Andium was given oversight of these area last year.
- The company manages more than 4,500 properties and provides accommodation for more than 10,000 Islanders.
- They have embarked upon a major drive to bring all States-owned housing up to the nationally recognised decent homes standard and are also creating hundreds of new homes at sites across the Island.
The Deputy, who is a member of the Planning Applications Committee, previously took a petition to the States calling for the site’s open space to be preserved.
Previously Andium’s plans to replace the ageing five-block complex with five new units made up of 147 apartments would have led to the loss of the green space in question.
Deputy Labey’s petition to ensure that the space is protected was passed by 22 votes to 19.
However, Andium’s new plans, which have been revised to change the location of the block that had caused concern, show that the green space would still be lost.
In the report accompanying his proposition, the Deputy, who had no vote when the original plans were first rejected by the Planning Applications Committee because he represents the area, says it is with ‘deep regret’ that he has had to resort to such formal action.
‘We are not talking about a private developer here – this is not government interfering with a commercial transaction.
‘This is a States-owned company deliberately proceeding against the wishes of their shareholders, namely the States of Jersey,’ he says.
- 75 per cent of States-owned homes meet the Decent Homes standard
- The waiting list on the affordable housing gateway, which monitors those who need accommodation, currently exceeds 1,200
- The company works to help more than 10,000 people
- 1 July 2014 the date that Andium began operating
- 4,500 the number of homes for which Andium provides landlord services
‘It is a gross discourtesy to the sovereignty of the Assembly to say the very least, and runs contrary to all accepted protocol.
‘So now I am forced to ask the Assembly to assist me via an alternative political route, to assert its authority, which is being flagrantly challenged by the actions of one of its own “arm’s-length” companies.’
He adds: ‘To those who say this adds further delay to the much-needed provision of social rented housing, I would point out that had new plans been submitted which concurred with the wishes of the States, the bulldozers could already have been on standby to move in and begin work.’
The proposition is due to be debated by the States on 15 December.
MORE checks will be carried out on the repairs made by contractors on social-rented houses following the introduction of a £780,000 IT system.
Ian Gallichan, Andium Homes’ chief operating officer, said that the new system would free up staff and that they would spend less time on paperwork and more on visiting estates.
It is envisaged that the system, which will result in the loss of three posts at Andium, will be introduced in the next 18 months.
Mr Gallichan made the statement as he gave evidence to the Public Accounts Committee earlier this month, which is due to report its findings from the hearing to the States later this year.
Last July the States transferred their 4,500 units of social housing to Andium Homes. The company is owned by and accountable to the States but has greater operational and financial freedom than the States’ Housing Department.
Mr Gallichan told the committee that Andium Homes was ‘in the Dark Ages when it comes to IT’ but that the new system would improve efficiency.
Asked whether the system would result in staff having to be retrained in other areas, Mr Gallichan said: ‘Some will be redirected to other things and some will leave and we will not replace them. Andium Homes needs to keep its numbers in check and, where it can, reduce them.’
The company is currently working to bring homes up to the UK government’s ‘decent homes’ standard, which specifies that all social housing should be in a reasonable state of repair, adequately insulated and with modern kitchens, bathrooms and boilers.
Andium Homes spends £2.4 million annually on emergency repairs and £6.3 million a year on planned maintenance.
The panel heard that although Andium inspects the ‘high-value’ repairs, it does not check all the work, relying instead on feedback from the tenants. Mr Hamon said: ‘We don’t inspect enough, to be honest. That’s why we want to change the emphasis so that we are out and about making sure the job is being done and that our clients are happy.’
He added that Andium Homes had dismissed contractors whom it felt were not meeting certain standards, and that it had added ‘an element of competitiveness’ by rewarding contractors who have performed well with extra work.
