New Executive Member Says Aylesbury Tenants Deserve More Compensation

2.06.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 25th Feb 2005

Councillor Stephen Flannery, the newly elected Executive Member for Housing in Lib Dem run Southwark, has promised Aylesbury Estate tenants without heating and water that they will receive an enhanced compensation payment.

Almost half the Aylesbury Estate was left without heating and/or hot water over the Christmas period. Further to investigation by Executive members, it seems that many tenants were left without facilities for more than 24 hours and that the current compensation procedure has not been reviewed since 1995.

Councillor Flannery told a deputation of Aylesbury tenants at last night's meeting that he will be asking officers to review the compensation policy and that he wanted to grant affected Aylesbury residents a special payment because of the inconvenience caused over the Christmas period.

Cllr Flannery said: "Aylesbury tenants received a raw deal over Christmas and I'm keen to make amends as far as possible.

"In my view, the standard payments on offer to affected tenants doesn't go far enough to soften the blow dealt over Christmas. When I looked into the compensation arrangements I discovered that they had not been reviewed for the last ten years and so I have asked for an urgent review.

"In the meantime, I think that it is only right and fair that we recognise the distress caused by the problems over the festive period and offer a package that demonstrates this sympathy."

ENDS

Notes:

1. The issue of compensation needs to be considered by Executive as it falls within Executive functions.

2. The Executive is due to consider a motion, proposed by the Lib Dems at the last Council Assembly, on Tuesday 8 March. This motion called for an investigation into the problems and requested that compensation issues be dealt with swiftly.

3. The Executive will consider fully therefore the issue of enhanced compensation and a review of current arrangements at the meeting on 8 March.