HC Deb 21 July 1989 vol 157 cc412-3W
Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he had made of how often the working party considering the possible creation of a housing action trust in Southwark should meet.

Mr. Trippier

The consultants, PIC Ltd., are responsible for arranging meetings with residents and other local interests on the North Peckham and Gloucester grove estates.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what precedents of ownership co-operatives exist for the working party to(a) examine and (b) visit at the end of the operating period of the proposed housing action trust in Southwark, when considering the future management of the Gloucester grove and North Peckham Estates.

Mr. Trippier

The Housing Corporation can put tenants in touch with ownership co-operatives now operating, and give them information about other local authority estates where tenants are thinking of forming such co-operatives.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the minimum number of meetings held annually by the proposed housing action trust board in Southwark.

Mr. Trippier

It will be for individual trusts to decide how many meetings to hold each year.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would happen to all existing council employees working on the North Peckham and Gloucester grove estates, and in particular resident caretakers, in the event of the proposed housing action trust being created in Southwark.

Mr. Trippier

A trust would give first consideration to council staff already working on the estates concerned when considering its staffing needs.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a firm and detailed management plan would be agreed prior to any ballot concerning the creation of the proposed housing action trust in Southwark.

Mr. Trippier

[holding answer 21 July 1989]: We are currently seeking tenants' views on how the estates could be improved, including the way in which they are managed. We shall draw on these views to prepare a statement of what a trust might do. Tenants would then be able to consider this before they vote in a ballot. If established, a trust would have to take the statement into account in deciding the best way to manage its estates. It would also consult residents under section 105 of the Housing Act 1985 and section 64 of the Housing Act 1988.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether all the meetings of the proposed housing action trust board in Southwark and documentation of meetings would be open to the public.

Mr. Trippier

We intend to ensure that trusts open their board meetings to the public except in specified circumstances, for example where confidential information relating to individual people or commercially sensitive matters are under discussion.