1

GAS SERVICING ……..ACCESS MUST BE GRANTED ...C ONSEQUENCES ARE EXTREME

NWTRA wishes to remind both PRS and social housing tenants that they must comply with landlords’ requests

for access to carry out annual gas servicing checks on their properties. Those people refusing entry to services

are not only placing themselves and their families in extreme danger leading to possible fatal consequences ,

but also their neighbours will no longer be safe as a result of the next door neighbour’s intransigence.

As more and more properties in both sectors are discovered to be the sites of cannabis farms , with the added

dangers of electricity supplies being by-passed , the risk of fires is increasing too. NWTRA urges all residents

to report suspicious smells and suspicious nocturnal activity to the authorities , even if they don’t suspect any

criminality .

It’s crucial that communities help to protect themselves from this kind of deadly danger.

Last year police in the North West of England reported upwards of 5,000 cannabis farms in ostensibly ordinary

houses and flats were discovered………...Let’s unite to make it impossible for growers to thrive in any

neighbourhood in our region. Reducing the temptation for children to experiment with illegal substances .

AND NEVER FORGET THAT:- “Under the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954 , energy

operators can obtain a warrant from a magistrate giving permission to enter a person’s home .According to

British Gas -during 2012-13– they entered the homes of 23,183 electricity customers and 29,178 gas custom-

ers, nearly every case was due to suspected tampering with supplies/meters or debt.

Many people are both shocked and surprised when they realise this . One recent resident who was mistakenly

“entered” by British Gas ( Now received an apology) tells NWTRA that it felt like she’d been burgled and raped

when she saw her belongings in disarray, despite her having no gas supply. Turns out she has recently moved

into a new flat without gas supply and attempted to set up a new electricity account with British Gas. Apparently

British Gas got their bureaucracy muddled and obtained a magistrate’s warrant to enter her flat whilst she was

out at work. She tells us that despite a written abject apology and £150 off her new account she was made to

feel violated. So beware and know your rights before the event it will save you a lot of heartache in the long run.

INSIDE page 2 PRS LANDLORD REPRIEVE ? page 3 GLOBAL SHIFTS Page 4 NW SHORT-

FALL /COUNTERBALANCE NEWS Page 5 CORRUPTION? Page 6 WELSH STREETS LATEST

Page 7 DEMOS NHS/BEDROOM TAX Page 8 NWTRA CONTACTS & DIARY OF EVENTS

NWTRA MEMBERS

GRASS ROOTS VOICE NEWSLETTER

AUTUMN 2013 EDITION 9 ISSUE 3

CONTACT NWTRA Telephone 01744634119 or01228-596074 e-mail jamesdev31@hotmail.com web: www.nwtra.btck.com

2

REPRIEVE FOR PRS LANDLORDS?

According to the Government , Plans to fine landlords up to £3,000 if

they fail to check their tenants’ immigration status are “In chaos”

and will have to be dramatically scaled back .

Both Conservative and liberal democrat Ministers are warning that

the flagship proposal risks criminalising hundreds of thousands of

middle-class families who rent out second homes.

They argue that buy-to-let landlords are not an extension of the Bor-

der Agency , and cannot be expected to do the work of immigration

officials.

Never mind introducing a bedroom tax on the poorest in social hous-

ing , they are not minded to protect these tenants from criminalisation

as they are forced out of their homes and increasingly feel forced to

turn to crime to survive.

Under the initial plans– all private landlords would have to check the

migration status of every tenant before renting out a room or house.

Tenants would have to produce documents showing they have per-

mission to be in the UK.

First time offenders would be fined £1,000 per illegal immigrant in

their property .But those sent an advisory letter about failing to make

proper checks within the last three years would be forced to pay

£3,000 per tenant.

Government spokesman also stated that the rules could be extended

to cover families who take in lodgers ,with fines of between £80 and

£5,000 per illegal immigrant.

More than 1.6 million people in the UK own more than one home.

Update: During the Conservative Annual Spring Conference held in

Manchester , ministers repeated that they are seeking to ensure PRS

Landlords are made to ensure that their tenants are in the UK legally

before renting to them.

3

GLOBAL ECONOMICS SHIFTING EVERYBODY’S BEHAVIOUR AND THINKING ?

THE last 25 years saw a historic shift from a divided world to a global one. Communism collapsed, and states representing nearly half the world’s population turned to free market principles. But while the world economy be-came more open, countries remained diverse.

Today there are over 1,000 companies in emerging economies with revenues above $1bn. This massive shift in industrial activities was initially driven by lower labour costs. And while emerging economies exported, richer countries faced deindustrialisation and rising structural unemployment. In the last 20 years, the US, Britain and Japan have each lost about 20 per cent of their industry in terms of its share of GDP.

And now very few places remain closed to competition. Obvious candidates include North Korea, Cuba and Iran but, even if they opened up, none could reshape the world. Future growth will depend on technological innovation and skills, not accessing cheap factors of production in uncharted lands.

As such, over the next 25 years global economic and social differences will narrow dramatically. We’re about to witness a great convergence of wages, living standards and mindsets.

In fact, it’s already started. Chinese and Indian wages are rising by 20 to 25 per cent a year, with most emerging nations following a similar path. It may take 20 years before wages match those in the richer economies, but the comparative advantage of cheap labour is becoming less relevant. Taxes and labour laws are also converging, and if productivity does not follow the trend, some nations may price themselves out the market. Reshoring has become fashionable, with General Electric moving production from China to a plant in Kentucky. But few jobs will be created as plants will be highly automated.

Consumer aspirations are also converging. Emerging markets are already moving from “first buy” economies (that satisfy basic needs) to “replacement economies”, where new products update older ones. In short, consumers will increasingly evolve from a mindset of “I need it” to one of “I want it.” In parallel, the world is becoming ever more urbanised, with some 40 mega-regions accounting for two-thirds of global GDP and 75 per cent of the technology. This world of cities will call for new management competencies to face similar issues like security and congestion.

Finally, resources are becoming more evenly distributed as new exploitation techniques (such as fracking) and new reserves of oil, gas and renewable energy become available. In 2015, the US is expected to produce more gas than Russia and in 2020, more oil than Saudi Arabia. The question moves from “do we have resources?” to “do we want them?”, while accepting the environmental and social consequences.

As access to education also expands, cheap brainpower will replace cheap manpower as a competitive advan-tage. Aging will also transform society. Until 1800, average life expectancy remained steady at around 32 to 35 years. The average lifespan has since increased by about five hours a day and is now over 80 in much of the developed world. The success of science has presented a huge challenge: how to pay for it? Emerging econo-mies will introduce pension systems, seeded with state money. Retirement ages will rise everywhere.

And as societies become more affluent, the pressure on leadership will increase. Transparency will become an international standard. Better management of key resources, such as energy, food and water, will move up the agenda. Information on policies and people will become increasingly available, driven by the internet.

Finally, this convergence will make changes in mindsets more noticeable than before. Fast-growing economies still have a collective value systems where success is defined by a sense of belonging to a group. In China, 65 per cent of people polled believe in a “work hard, get rich” mindset. On the contrary, in the US and Europe, value systems have evolved and now attach greater weight to the self and to work-life balance. Some call it “meism.”

Over time, all collective value systems converge to a more individualistic approach. But watch out for a new de-velopment, as supranational networks gradually increase in significance. These networks will pursue a range of societal problems from bribery to climate change. Thriving on social networks, they will prepare the ground for a more global set of values that will sustain a world of convergence. For the first time, global companies will con-front a global society.

Professor Stephane Garelli is the director of IMD Business School’s World Competitiveness Centre.

Article originally appeared in CITY A.M. Monday, 13th May ,2013

4

NORTH WEST HOUSING CRISIS —-SHORTFALL INBUILT —- says Turley Associates

The North West of England is facing a major shortfall in the delivery of new homes over the next five years, ac-

cording to a new report published by Manchester planning consultancy Turley Associates.

The report, North West Housing Land Supply Update, examines housing requirements and land supply across the North West and shows that the region will require at least 178,537 new homes over the next five years to meet local need. The report also shows that there is currently land supply for only 138,318 new homes leaving a substantial shortfall of at least 40,219 homes.

San Ryan, director in Turley Associates’ Manchester office, said: “Local authorities are required under the Na-

tional Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to be able to demonstrate that they have a sufficient supply of land to

deliver against housing needed over a five year period. Our research and report shows that 37 of the region’s 40

planning authorities fall short of their five year land supply targets.”

North West Housing Figures – by county

Source: North West Housing Land Supply Update, Turley Associates

Sam adds: “The need for housing in the North West is and will remain very high, yet just 40% local planning authorities have up-to-date adopted development plans. This leaves planning policy in a state of flux and uncer-tainty that will further delay the delivery of much needed homes across North West.

“Those local planning authorities that do not have an up-to-date plan will receive planning applications based on the context of the NPPF and its presumption in favour of Sustainable Development This creates a window of opportunity for developers.”

Sam concludes: North West Housing Land Supply Update is a snapshot of housing need and land supply as of May 2013. It is a best case scenario for local planning authorities; in reality the shortfall is likely to be higher.

“Developers are bringing forward new sites and permissions for new developments are being granted, meaning

that these numbers will change. That there is a shortfall, however, will remain.”

LATEST FROM FYLDE ...COUNTERBALANCE:-

http://www.counterbalance.org.uk/latest/index.htm

Fred’s team uncover Council Planning flaws and report corporate wrong doings across Fylde.

Country Five year requirement Five year land supply Surplus/shortfall

Cumbria 15,904 12,970 -2,934

Lancashire 31,156 25,881 -5,275

Greater Manchester 73,348 52,045 -21,303

Cheshire 25,443 22,116 -3,327

Merseyside 32,686 25,306 -7,380

Total 178,537 138,318 -40,219

5

DISABLED OAP PERSECUTED FOR SEEKING ANSWERS

( THE BLOODHOUND SEARCHING FOR TRUTH THREATENED WITH EVICTION)

One of our long standing NWTRA members who lives in sheltered accommodation just outside Hart-

ford, Cheshire, recently discovered what appears to be “Irregularities” concerning land usage , plan-

ning covenants , a new social scheme built on greenbelt land and a county/district council, parish

council and local town council all of whom deny any wrongdoing. Yet irregularities are evident to any-

body reading through the blogs posted by our community activist hero. Since he sought help from his

MP and the Chief Constable to ascertain the truth (possible fraud and alleged corruption is feared),

our hero has faced eviction proceedings on what you will see are spurious grounds , and a major

blackout on official responses from any of those tasked with seeking and prosecuting the truth of the

matter. Basically they’ve been ganging up on him to quieten his voice.

9 heart attacks, 6 strokes, major spinal surgery and other serious complications and our hero is still

searching for the truth as he battles virtually alone (legal aid has now expired and he urgently requires

pro bono legal help and support...if anybody out there amongst our readers knows anybody that can

help , please let us know ASAP)

Please read through the information and documentation on our hero’s blog and make up your own

mind as to who is really to be believed …..the corporate unity should serve as a warning to every-

body considering getting involved with local issues and truthseekers everywhere, many of whom of-

ten walk into situations without fully understanding what they are really fighting against. Many are

shocked and surprised by their treatment at the hands of those officials and politicians they were ex-

pecting to help and support their investigations.

www.thebloodhound.org.uk

Often NWTRA receives pleas for advice from desperate residents and tenants’ groups , embroiled in

local issues with many discovering that not all politicians and housing professionals , police officers

and council officers are as honest as they once were acclaimed to be.

Usually activists require serious legal advice to pursue claims etc against various bodies which really

should be on their side, yet they end up at loggerheads as corruption is discovered.

It’s not unusual these days for those organisations to close ranks against the man in the street/

tenants’ group etc.

Since Regulation became a dirty word for Governments of all shades in the UK , it’s becoming in-

creasingly difficult to get simple answers to certain questions , particularly as Freedom of Information

requests can’t apply to Housing Associations and certain aspects of council business. NWTRA al-

ways advises people to seek professional legal help (if they can afford to) , but to share their informa-

tion with others in our membership , many of whom may well have experiences which could be used

to help advise those less wise or knowledgeable . The NWTRA website is an excellent place to

liaise/seek answers. Or simply contact our regional committee via Secretary George Cornish.

6

WELSH STREETS LATEST UPDATE

Following the announcement this week that Eric Pickles is ‘Calling In’ the Welsh Streets Planning Application and has announced a Public Inquiry , remaining Welsh Streets residents have been shocked and disappointed. It is the last thing we need. There is no timescale for the public Inquiry, no information about the remit or powers it might have. Something will happen, sometime, and we don’t know what it can achieve. BOOM ! A BBC Northwest Today interview yesterday sadly edited some of the key issues in Welsh Streets debate. We know they were short

of time to prepare the report, and don’t think there was any mischief making on their part. However it is important for our supporters

to know that our position remains to support the refurbishment of more houses on the site, especially if that could speed up delivery

and increase housing supply. We agree it is a matter of National significance in that the methods used to clear the site, and then ef-

fectively abandon it create inescapable problems that ought at all costs, to be avoided in future. We need to remember many more

communities and districts in the UK have been trapped by the same HMR scheme. Welsh Streets is one of the few surviving districts

with an in tact campaign an awareness of urban design and an archive that shows how the authorities can be seen as failing the

people. If lessons are to be learned it appears they will be learned here. Over the last year WSHG have collaborated with local archi-

tects to produce drawings that show alternatives to mass demolition with the hope of negotiating design amendments thus avoiding

a Public Inquiry, and yet more delay.

Although well received at two exhibitions and online, our taster designs have yet to receive serous consideration. Local feedback to

the design project shows stronger interest in refurbishment than Plus Dane can show for new homes - so we know if the authorities

released more homes for refurbishment it would have support across the city and particularly from Liverpool 8. It is hard to see how

WSHG as an unfunded volunteer residents group could have done more to support retention of further houses whilst still trying

to avoid a dreaded Public Inquiry.

Remember we were warned if the planning application was not approved the 40 houses currently earmarked for retention may be

back at risk of demolition. Liverpool City Council’s failure begin a single refurbishment despite having the funds in place start

work, and having had clear instruction from DCLG to start refurbishing the retained 40 houses in Madryn St and Kelvin

Grove implies they mean what they say. No planning approval – no refurbishment.

If as Eric Pickles has briefed, a Planning Inquiry is really going to happen the group will try and assist, but would still much

prefer a negotiated outcome, based on extended housing choice, good urban design, and place making. There is no assump-

tion that a Planning Inquiry will deliver a better place to live, attract the funds for delivery of a scheme and that that is

what residents need. Delivery. A public Inquiry may satisfy public curiosity about what happened, and it will certainly cost

a huge amount of money, effort and emotional resource. Lots of consultants will be happy, lots of residents will be unhappy.

That kind of thing…….

So back to the BBC interview 27th September – Just for clarity there is no support from Welsh Streets Home Group for demolition.

There is however an acceptance that demolition is likely to happen, if residents are to be released from the living hell of a failed

regeneration scheme. All the problems of living alongside blighted and derelict properties for a decade, combined with the impact of

poor housing in phase B streets, make it untenable for residents to continue living in the nightmare limbo imposed on them by the

powers that be. Ten years is too long for any household to endure damp, arson , rats, cockroaches, theft, and fly tipping. Ten years is

too long to not know where home is. It is certainly too long to have our community divided so current plans, however feeble they

are have been reluctantly accepted by the WSHG campaigners, since they are the only plans currently tabled, with funding at-

tached for delivery. The Welsh Streets residents – all of them from phase A (Kelvin end) and phase B (Treborth St end) will not be

divided now since we are the people living on the site. We have drunk beer and eaten crisps together , there will be no turning back,

We inhabit the same nightmare, haunted by reports of all sorts, but waiting as if in Narnia, for a Christmas that never comes.

As WSHG said at the planning committee meeting in June 2013 we do not think the current plans are the best or only option for the

area – we don’t support current plans , but we do accept them, in the hope of seeing some action to repair the damage and have life

return to normal. Even though in large parts of Liverpool decades of living in areas blighted and crushed by demolition schemes has

become a regular experience it should never be considered normal or acceptable, and can always be considered fixable.

All over the city in the library, in the airport, and on the streets, Lennon’s refrain IMAGINE is writ large. Imagine – we dare you, a

future where the adversarial politics of regeneration as an activity with too many victims becomes a design collaboration that em-

braces diversity and understand criticism as a tool to improving plans. Imagine that…….

For more information or to add your group’s support –please visit

http://www.welshstreets.co.uk/

7

BEDROOM TAX DEMOS INCREASING and NHS march in Manchester was

the biggest ever according to GM Police.

On the first day of the Tory Conference in Manchester, according to Greater Man-

chester Police , upwards of 75,000 marchers turned out in protest at NHS Cuts and

Privatisation . Supported by a number of Trades Union delegates and members, the

public turned up in huge numbers too.

The main opposition (demos) to the “Under occupation penalty” ...we’ll call it the

Bedroom Tax which is what it really is despite Minister’s protestations, is also cen-

tred around Manchester, Tameside and Trafford boroughs. Our NWTRA members

have been extremely active in opposition across Greater Manchester and Mersey-

side, and as more tenants sink into debt (often for the first time in their lives) these

protests , demanding immediate repeal will continue to grow . These NHS and So-

cial Housing policies are part of the bigger overall picture , whereby the coalition

Government is using “Austerity” as the smokescreen for massive ideological cuts to

public services ...as they continue the grand larceny in cahoots with The City, Bank-

ers and Corporate interests , of transferring as much public wealth /assets into pri-

vate hands as they can get away with before they are jettisoned to the trashcan of

British history, which they surely must at the next general election, if NW public opin-

ion is any measure.,

Housing Associations are claiming that at the start of October they have on their

books more than £2.2 million of increased rent arrears and this is down to the Bed-

room Tax, along with other “benefit reforms”

Universal Credit will almost certainly make things even worse for claimants and

many (up to 3 million according to one confirmed report NWTRA has been shown)

people reliant on benefits may well be left for weeks with no income at all. This

would exacerbate homelessness and destitution ...as if sanctions alone aren’t

enough .

The message that work always pays more than languishing on benefits can only

ever become true if wages are increased , benefits reduced or both….this Govern-

ment appears to want to hit the poorest unemployed from both angles irrespective of

the damage to our social fabric .

Please share your information about the demos to enable NWTRA to maximise your

publicity and support ….telephone or e-mail George when you have anything

planned.

Food Banks are opening at a rate of 6 per week across the region and the first

“Students run” food bank opened last week in Manchester (University)……..Austerity

is a convenient excuse for politicians to hide behind, but word has reached us this

very day that according to Mayor Joe Anderson , Liverpool City Council is in real

danger of going bankrupt within 24 months as a result of Government funding cuts

to the City. Assuming this is true and not simply scaremongering , NWTRA wants to

know why have the 6 Merseyside Council leaders recently signed more than 1.4 mil-

lion constituents up to a combined super authority which will dictate policy across

the Liverpool City Region?

8

CONTACTS : George Cornish , Secretary 01228-596074 ghcornish1512@tiscali.co.uk

Jimmy Devlin , Chairman 01744-634119 jamesdev31@hotmail.com

NWTRA WEBSITE: www.nwtra.btck.com

AUTUMN DIARY : North West Fuel Poverty Forum , November 06th, Preston Town Hall (NEA)

NWTRA Regional Policy Forum (November TBC)

Please refer to the NWTRA website for the latest updates and events.

BIG BROTHER WATCH UPDATES :-

Firstly – and this goes to the heart of what Big Brother Watch has been campaigning on – the public are never,

ever told that this is part of the deal when they accept greater CCTV surveillance. The rhetoric is always about

violent crime, anti-social behaviour and catching criminals. Would the public be as willing to accept yet more

cameras if they had the full facts about how cameras are used?

If anyone can find us an ex- ample of a council justifying it’s need for greater

CCTV on parking problems we’d love to hear about it.

Back in 2010 we reported on the rise of Drive By Spies, with 31 councils operating CCTV cars at the time. That

number has now risen to more than 100.

That’s why, with every report we have published in recent years on CCTV, as well as our submissions to the

consultation on the CCTV Code of Practice, we have argued for councils, indeed all CCTV operators, to publish

statistics on how cameras are used. How many arrests? How many convictions? What offences are caught? If

the public had the facts, maybe the Government wouldn’t need to act because people would express their views

at the ballot box.

n the absence of such transparency, or any public arguments from councils that this is an essential part of CCTV

use, we wholeheartedly support the Government’s plan to stop councils using CCTV for parking enforcement.

Equally, the move to allow compensation to be awarded where unreasonable tickets have been issued should

help to restore some common sense to the system.

This is important because there’s the obvious question about whether the fines are all issued because someone

is causing an actual obstruction, or if they are simply contravening a strict interpretation of the rules. In recent

months we’ve had people contact us with tickets issued from CCTV where the footage shows they weren’t sta-

tionary long enough for another vehicle to even to come into shot, while another driver was issued with a box

junction infringement ticket for being stationary for two whole seconds.

This isn’t just a question of money either. The legal basis for some types of CCTV being used as parking en-

forcement has long been dubious. If someone is using a camera to scan a street, then zooms in on an individual

with the intent of monitoring them and potentially issuing a ticket, there are obvious questions about whether that

constitutes directed surveillance, therefore requiring a magistrate’s warrant under the Regulation of Investigatory

Powers Act. Equally, if a camera has been installed for the purposes of ‘the prevention and detection of crime’

then is it legally acceptable for the data to be re-used for the purpose of traffic enforcement?

Ultimately, CCTV is never, ever going to solve the fundamental problem of there not being enough parking in

town centres, and using cameras intended to catch criminals to issue parking tickets only undermines public

trust in the surveillance they’ve been told to accept to protect their own safety, not to fill council coffers and jus-

tify expensive CCTV systems.

© NWTRA 2013