Campaigners attack housing plans 'secrecy'
CAMPAIGNERS against the transfer of council homes in Neath Port Talbot have blasted the authority for withholding information which they say is vital to a fair debate.
Spokesman for the Neath Port Talbot Defend Council Housing (DCH) campaign, Huw Pudner, said the council's refusal to provide them with the addresses of council tenants amounted to an "obstruction of the democratic process".
He told the Post an official complaint had been lodged with the Information Commissioner, along with an appeal to the council's monitoring officer.
"We are only asking for addresses, we do not want names," said Mr Pudner.
He said they wanted the information so they could put forward their side of the argument against the transfer to a new landlord.
"There are two sides to this case," said Mr Pudner. "The council is spending £5 million on its camp- aign, and we have only got £500 raised through small donations.".
Mr Pudner said the Freedom of Information request was made in writing last August.
"The information was paid for and a cheque accepted and paid in by the council in early September 2009," he said.
Mr Pudner said campaigners waited more than five months only to be told at the end of January the request would be refused over concerns for "vulnerable" tenants.
"It is as if they are saying tenants are wards of the council," he said.
Robert Rees, the council's head of housing services, strongly denied the matter was a political issue, and confirmed the campaigners' cheque had been returned to them.
He said the authority had received the request but had concerns about data protection.
Neath Port Talbot DCH campaigners were due to hold a meeting today at Dyffryn Clydach Memorial Hall in Longford, at 2pm.
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by Govermental, Swansea
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 4:01PM
“adey, Port Talbot
Councillor Kevin Edwards has continously made questionable allegations on numerous occassions on this website in the past, so it is not surprising that the Evening Post has indeed, if that is the case, banned him from posting comments for his past misuse of the website to glorify the BNP and demean others!
If he has belief in his allegations about Neath Port Talbot, then he should have supplied evidence about them to the Police and made a complaint to the Council Ombusman.
The 'Justice for Linda Lewis' campaign, shouldn't rely on the likes of Councillor Kevin Edwards and his bunch of BNP cronies for continued support post the General Election, as it is likely you won't see them for dust as they re-enter the Political Abyss!”
by adey, Port Talbot
Monday, February 15 2010, 7:10PM
“It appears that Councillor Edwards has been band from posting on this site, has the south wales evening post been got at by the Neath Port Talbot council who are desperately trying to cover up their crime against Linda Lewis
Justice for Linda Lewis”
by Govermental, Swansea
Friday, February 12 2010, 6:37PM
“Councillor Kevin Edwards, BNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Aberavon
At the time you posted your comments, you had only sent off your Freedom of Information request 11 days earlier! The LA has at least 20 working days (or more depending on complexity of the request) and as there are 23 exemptions, which some are ¿absolute¿ and some ¿qualified¿ under Part 2 of the act which may or may not apply to your request. So, how on earth can you expect a detailed, accurate reply so soon!? Try reading Freedon of Information Act 2000, before you cast your shameless accusations! Surely, a wannabe Parliamentarian like yourself, should be aware of the relevant Acts of Parliament!? Like with the rest of the BNP rabble, you make unreasonable, unrealistic demands and as there is a General Election just around the corner, you are making public your involvement for your own self interests! Why didn't you make this Freedom of Information request much earlier than you did!?”
by BNP, we dont need your help, A democratic country
Friday, February 12 2010, 1:09PM
“Wow is there any popularist band wagon the BNP and Kev wont jump on at the last minute?”
by Paul Lynch, Swansea
Friday, February 12 2010, 11:32AM
“Defend Council Housing is a broad-based national campaign. DCH has repeatedly stated it is prepared to work with all political parties, except those parties who hold racist or fascist ideologies.”
by Councillor Kevin Edwards, BNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Aberavon
Thursday, February 11 2010, 10:36PM
“ANTI NAZI, neath
A bit pathetic your last statement wasn't it.
Have you forgotten the issue or is it more important to attack the BNP with your moronic lies ?
Would you vote for the BNP in Neath if we had a Jewish candidate ?
Please reply if you dare !”
by ANTI NAZI, neath
Thursday, February 11 2010, 10:30PM
“The Defend Council Housing Campaign would not touch the BNP or its local leaders with a bargepole.
We wouldnt dream of seeking support from a bunch of racists, fascists and violent bigots whose first leader walked about the place in full nazi regalia and whose present boss is a convicted race hater.”
by Councillor Kevin Edwards, BNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Aberavon
Thursday, February 11 2010, 10:21PM
“I have consistantly come out in suport of this campaign it is simple.
Council House Stock should always be the responsibility Local Authority and should never be up for sale.
With regards to FOIA requests sent to NPTC their record on responding accurately is abysmal bordering on illegal.
Below is a copy of an FOIA that I sent to NPTCBC on the 31st of January 2010.
To whom it may concern.
I have been asked by the "Justice for Linda Lewis Campaign " which consists of
over 3000 people from within NPTCBC area for you to supply us with the following
information.
At a time when around 750 jobs could be lost from your Local Authority and the
Council is short of financial resourses,funding has always been found by the
Local Authority to fight this case since illegally removing the daughter of
Linda Lewis from her hospital bed at gunpoint on a false passport in 1998 by
Agents of your Social Services Department.
We therefore request that you provide us with the following information within
the required time statute of 20 working days.
1- How much did it cost the taxpayers of NPTCBC to fund Julie Rzezniczek and
Alison Paisley to go to America in flights,hotel accomodation and expenses to
carry out the illegal kidnapping ?
2- How much has it cost the taxpayers of NPTCBC to keep the daughter of Linda
Lewis seperated from her caring and loving family by Social Services for the
last 12 years even though she is now 23 years of age ?
3- How much more money have Social Services allocated for financial year 2010 to
systematically keep Mother and Daughter apart to cover up their crime ?
4- Exactly how much expense have the taxpayers of NPTCBC incurred in
"LegalCosts" so that Social Services can employ "High Profile Lawyers,Barristers
and QC" to cover up for their crime ?
5- What has it cost the Local Authority for accomodation and travel expenses so
that representatives of NPTCBC can attend the many court cases that have taken
place ?
We look forward to your reply in due course.
Yours Sincerely,
Councillor Kevin Edwards
on behalf of the " Justice for Linda Lewis Campaign "
To date I have had no reply.
The cover up to protect the guilty continues.
I have stated that if elected I will call for an immediate indepedent enquiry into the way NPTCBC is run.
I will carry this out given the chance !”
by Paul Lynch, Swansea
Thursday, February 11 2010, 11:28AM
“Becca, Port Talbot - First of all you need to realise that council rents go up every year by about £3 or so. Housing association rents are far higher and the gap between council rents and housing association rents are increasing year on year. The Assembly's estimated council rent for 2009/10 is around £72 per week, however the estimated housing association rent is £83 per week!
Secondly, despite what you may have been told (in order to persuade you to vote yes), if tenants vote No repairs will not be cut! The council are saying, that because they wont receive any extra funding they wont be able to do any more than they currently do - yet they are not being completely truthful, as it has already been established that council are going to be able keep all the rental income and right-to-buy receipts (something they so not get now) so there will be more money to repair homes, not less!
Finally, please realise that even if tenants vote no to stock transfer, properties will still have to be improved.
It is because so many tenants throughout the UK have voted No that the current rules around council housing finance are being changed.
If you value your secure tenancy, lower rent and an accountable landlord, VOTE NO!
If you want to have improvements done but don't want to lose your privileges as a council tenant, VOTE NO!”
by Linda, Neath
Thursday, February 11 2010, 7:49AM
“Neath Port Talbot Councillors are custodians of the assets of the Council. They want to get rid of 9300+ houses. Ask yourself, if this Council has the right to 'give away' the homes that belong to the people. We do not own much but we do own these houses so any attempt to give them to another body is 'privatisation' as they will no longer be under democratic control. My conscience will not allow me to give away the home I live in and our Councillors should fight to retain these houses for the people of the future to have the same safety net we have been privileged to have. IF themoney to repair them and upgrade them can be found for a private organisation then it can be found for the Council in one way or another. They need to work at it and not just sell every asset of the people off to reduce their debt which has to have occurred through bad management.”