Residents to have their say on £130k improvements on estate
PEOPLE have a week to give their views on how £130,000 should be spent on an estate.
Proposals for improvements to the Phoenix Estate in Gedling include new picnic areas and a community garden, more recycling banks and community notice boards.
The plans will be on display at Gedling Library in Wollaton Avenue until Tuesday, and then The Ark Centre in Wollaton Avenue in Gedling until September 14.
Councillor Carol Pepper, portfolio holder for safe and sustainable neighbourhoods at Gedling Borough Council, said: "We have already worked closely with residents of the Phoenix Estate to find out what they think needs tidying up and improving in the area, but we are keen for more people to tell us what they think."
The money became available after housing stock was transferred from Gedling Borough Council to Gedling Homes.
5 Comments
by Earl Manvers, Nottingham
Sunday, September 05 2010, 3:25PM
“Does Kate Evans agree with you about this Jan?”
by Maid Marian, Nottingham
Sunday, September 05 2010, 2:13PM
“Is this why my council tax is so high(?)
No. The money came from New Charter Housing Trust (the parent of Gedling Homes) when they took over the council housing. It has never been the council's money.
"People on estates already get housing with rents subsidised by tax/council-tax payers"
No they don't. Only if they claim housing benefit (which is maybe 1 in 2 households). Otherwise, social housing tenants pay an unsubsidised rent that covers the costs of their housing. The reason it's lower than a market rent is that the social landlord is not allowed to make a quick buck out of people's homes. But most social housing runs at a small surplus to the taxpayer.
and get everything from gardening to routine maintenance done at the expense of the same
No they don't. Gardening is paid for by a service charge, and maintenance, see above. It's paid for by the rent.
"pay for them as the rest of us d
When was the last time you put your hand in your pocket for improvements to the public realm? Did you send the council a tenner towards the new market square? Wire them £5.99 towards the planting that's improved Maid Marian Way? No. You paid your share towards it from your Council Tax, and now you benefit from it as does everyone in the community. Welcome to civil society.
"why did the money become available after housing stock was transferred to an arms length company ?"
Well, it's not an arms-length company (that's what the City has). It was agreed as a programme of investment between the council and New Charter Housing Trust, and may be one of the reasons they were chosen over the other bidders.
"did it come in a brown envelope ?"
No. This has all been in the public domain for the past two years. And, as above, the money never actually goes to the Council anyway - it's New Charter Housing Trust that are spending it. (Incidentally, if it did come in a brown envelope, i.e. a bribe, why would the person bribed spend it on estate improvements?)
Social housing tenants are an easy target for kicking through newspaper columns, especially by people who know nothing about the subject.”
by m, gedling
Saturday, September 04 2010, 6:49PM
“a picnic area ? i have heard it all now,
why did the money become available after housing stock was transferred to an arms length company ?
did it come in a brown envelope ?”
by Jan, Nottingham
Saturday, September 04 2010, 6:45PM
“People on estates already get housing with rents subsidised by tax/council-tax payers, and get everything from gardening to routine maintenance done at the expense of the same. No more money should be squandered on these estates - let the residents make improvements for themselves if they want them, and pay for them as the rest of us do.”
by 70s child, gedling
Saturday, September 04 2010, 9:59AM
“Is this why my council tax is so high. They are using my hard earned on hair brained schemes schemes like this. If people on this estate want this then let them pay for it themselves”