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Estate office closure back on the agenda

Published date: 23 November 2011 |
Published by: Staff reporter

 

CONTROVERSIAL plans which it is claimed could result in the closure of five council housing offices are back on the agenda.

Wrexham Council’s executive board will discuss proposals for the future of the local estate offices at their meeting on Tuesday.

Debate on the use of the offices, in Caia Park, Gwersyllt, Plas Madoc, Rhos and Broughton, has been ongoing since last year.

Plaid Cymru members say that despite the issue being put on hold for some time, they are angry it is now back on the agenda.

Queensway councillor Carrie Harper said: “Some councillors do not represent wards that have a high number of council houses, some of them don't understand what a vital service these offices provide.

“To put it bluntly, if these services are taken away either in part or in full, our tenants will see things go downhill very quickly.

“If the offices are closed, tenants will no longer be able to pay their rent and council tax locally with cash, there will be less accountability and we will lose staff with vital local knowledge.

“This is a backward step with no clear benefits.”

Cllr Arfon Jones, who represents Gwersyllt West and is a member of the executive board, said: “This issue should have been put to bed a long time ago, staff have been left in limbo because this matter has been dragged out for so long.

“The social affairs health and housing scrutiny committee has already debated these proposals at length and came to the conclusion that there should be no change in service provision, we should now support their recommendation.

“There has been no consultation with tenants and there are no clear financial savings for closure or a reduction in services.

“I can’t understand why certain senior councillors are so determined to push this forward.”

Cllr Marc Jones, of Whitegate, said: “Centralising services will not improve them for tenants or staff. It will mean tenants and anyone else using the local estate offices are less able to access services and there is no clear rationale for the proposal."

Council leader, Cllr Ron Davies, said he he would not be commenting on the proposals until next week’s executive board meeting.

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  1. Posted by: a cahill at 10:59 on 23 November 2011 Report

    Centralising the repairs service has led to a vast improvement in service to tenants...and may get rid of the "vital local knowledge" that has led to the situation where housing staff treat people differently according to their own personal views of that tenant..get rid of them and allow people to recieve service according to the legally binding contract of the tenancy agreement

  2. Posted by: jones212121 at 17:38 on 23 November 2011 Report

    a cahill, i take it you live in a nice big house, and have great access to services. Centralising services helps the people who know how to access them, and for the people less fortunate who need that extra level of support get left behind. This is the same reason the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Nice to see there are still people with narrow minded views about!!! Makes me feel all warm inside

  3. Posted by: a cahill at 18:13 on 23 November 2011 Report

    Jones...don't makes comments that you know are untrue...I live in Glan Gors in a Waites fall down property which the Council have deemed to be adequate for habitation despite well publicised faults including no air vents for the last six years and a housing staff and manager that ignore instructions from Ian Downward.

  4. Posted by: a cahill at 18:21 on 23 November 2011 Report

    We also have nigh on £3m pound coming into the estate through Communities First with no real effect on the lives of the majority of residents, in other words going to the same old faces and groups year after year which part of could be used to give support to those who are unable to fend for themselves

  5. Posted by: a cahill at 18:34 on 23 November 2011 Report

    Benifits and legal advice are available at the Partnership as are family and child services...but then again its in the interests of some people to continue the duplication and old pals act which see's money being wasted instead of being used to support the residents...as for our Cllrs if they spent more time on the estate instead of campaigning on issues that don't concern residents who voted them in then they might get to grips with some of the problems affecting our lives

  6. Posted by: a cahill at 18:41 on 23 November 2011 Report

    Getting rid of at least one part of the problem and ensuring that Communities First actually do the job they were set up to do...empowering and including residents is probably too much to hope for... given that you act in the same vein as lib1 who's been talking through his armpit for the las 12mths

  7. Posted by: InMyOpinion at 20:29 on 23 November 2011 Report

    Some Cllrs feel that if you get rid of the offices you have no need for council stock... and the next step is to offload it to Ty Wrexham, who can then use it to borrow millions and get government grants, leading to higher rents and less rights for tennants. Those Cllrs who back this move should be named and shamed so they dont get elected next year.

  8. Posted by: a cahill at 08:55 on 24 November 2011 Report

    IMO...when repairs were centalised it took away a major part of the Estate Office reason for being...leaving it and its housing officers with little to do but check out if gardens are kept tidy...thats why a majority of tenants actually reported the need for repairs to Lambpit St...and in ref to a point about elderly residents made by Jones...which do you think they would rather do...struggle up the rising road to Kingsley Circle or use their bus pass to go to an office in Town

  9. Posted by: alidyl73 at 09:44 on 24 November 2011 Report

    Well said Tony, you've highlighted the important issues.

  10. Posted by: jones212121 at 13:50 on 24 November 2011 Report

    a cahill - looks like i have hit a sore spot. How about you stop running your mouth off and get involved and support these project which are set to help people. Its easy to to find faults in what people are doing but much harder to effect change. Try and be part of the solution not the problem!!!!! Its not all about you!!!

  11. Posted by: a cahill at 15:56 on 24 November 2011 Report

    Jones....making untruthful statements is telling lies which we residents are very much used to from the snouts in the through brigade in Caia...pity you wouldn't and they wouldn't allow people to come up with new ideas instead of the my turf attitude shown by them....Opening up the books of the Venture Partnership and C/f to public scrutiny might actually give your comments a bit of credibility

  12. Posted by: a cahill at 16:06 on 24 November 2011 Report

    Jones lets clear the whole mess up while we're at it and give decision making back to the residents rather than the few people who generally look out for themselves and the Labour supporters on the Estate and including Cllrs...as for hitting a sore point all your lies have done is to give senior Cllrs more reason to meddle with the running of the estate...noticable that Lib 1 is also at the same time as you

  13. Posted by: a cahill at 17:18 on 24 November 2011 Report

    Jones...One last point....it has been noted that yesterday you tried to paint me as living in a big house with great access to services...when that lie was corrected you reverted to the Liberty1 attitude of slagging off other forum users...I do wonder if theres a course for idiots like you two...otherwise looking forward to the forthcoming clear out of the hangers on in Caia and the local elections next May

  14. Posted by: liberty1 at 20:25 on 24 November 2011 Report

    Mr Jones,the comment I left yesterday has gone which is common now when you include a certain persons name, there are people who need the support you mention in your 1st comm, sadly you criticised St Conhill which has brought down his wrath on you, he is the Ferguson of Wxm, if the question is not one to massage his ego the dummy comes out the pram.

  15. Posted by: liberty1 at 20:34 on 24 November 2011 Report

    Mr Jones, your 2nd comment "Try and be part of the solution not the problem!!!!! its not all about you!!!" spot on Mr Jones, the point I have been making for a long time, but once more you have incurred the anger of Conhill with his insults and deranged claims and he even drags me into it. Lets see how long this one stays on, I'll give it 20mins.

  16. Posted by: a cahill at 20:41 on 24 November 2011 Report

    Jones told you so...libby can't make comments based on the article nor sustain a reasonable argument...hope you enjoy his patronage...I bid you all goodnight from this nirvana aka known Caia Park where we all sleep easy due to the loving care of the double act of Gary C/F and Marc PC Jones ably assisted by Cllrs King Prince Harper and Gregory and your new BFF Liberty 1...who believes his comical comments are worth removing

  17. Posted by: a cahill at 21:00 on 24 November 2011 Report

    Libby... 20 mnutes gone and its still there.."Mr Jones " will not be pleased at all, thought he had a depedable brown nosing boot licker in you...what happened forget to delete your own post at the appointed time set by you....must do better

  18. Posted by: liberty1 at 23:05 on 24 November 2011 Report

    20:41, bids everyone goodnight and performs strange ritual known only to himself were he blesses certain people in the community, 19mins later back again like a sleepwalking toddler in a state of paranoia looking for his "depedable".

  19. Posted by: a cahill at 09:04 on 25 November 2011 Report

    Lieberty 1....have you ever considered this....the so called removal of your comments lies in the fact that you either don't post them as you claim to do...or... even the liebour supporters find them too nonsensical and embarrassing for public consumption

  20. Posted by: liberty1 at 09:24 on 25 November 2011 Report

    Conhill, no I don't consider either of those suggestions as neither is correct, what is correct is that a person/people don't want my comments seen by the wider public and have them removed.

  21. Posted by: a cahill at 09:42 on 25 November 2011 Report

    Lieberty1... now who's on here morning noon and night ?...having the time to post comments at all times...proves my point that your whole existence is just one big lie..how do know if they are not embarrassed by your comments...suggests close contact with the Labour Party

  22. Posted by: jones212121 at 10:54 on 25 November 2011 Report

    Cahill-it have become very apparent, that you love to complain.The CF, local council etc are all democratic processes. So people with the most support get voted on, I assume that as you are on the outside and not getting involved that you have either never been voted in, or you have never even put you hat in the mix! Also all accounts for public funded organisation are public documents so you can request them!

  23. Posted by: a cahill at 13:25 on 25 November 2011 Report

    Jones...thanks for that....now can you tell me when was the last time Caia Communities First held a park wide election for Board Members...and how well it was publicised or would it be just like the day Carwyn Jones First Minister visited their offices in Gwenfro when only the few were aware of his visit...have seen the annual reports which give an overall view of expendititure but don't contain indepth info...are they trustworthy when they once referred to Queensway as Gwenfro ward.

  24. Posted by: a cahill at 13:33 on 25 November 2011 Report

    Why are most residents unaware of what is going on in the community....would it be the failure to inform them by C/F...and as we all know Cllrs like Marc Jones have a tendency to operate on a personal agenda rather than treat residents with respect...Caia is just one big Masonic Lodge where the residents are kept firmly outside the loop of Cllr Estate Office and Comm First

  25. Posted by: a cahill at 13:41 on 25 November 2011 Report

    Jones....that and your outbursts are the reason we don't need Estate Offices or while their at it maybe the council should take a look at the use of funding by groups on the Estate...as for your attitude to residents you started out with a lie and now your banging on about me not getting involved...be careful what you wish for it may come to pass in the very near future...sounds like a nerve has been touched if you keep trying to bully and disparage residents

  26. Posted by: liberty1 at 20:52 on 25 November 2011 Report

    Conhill, if you look back at comments made by me on Fridays you will see they are all around the same time, it's all part of a working life.

  27. Posted by: a cahill at 12:22 on 26 November 2011 Report

    Lieby....fully understood...your job as a part time comedian and full time clown must leave you stretched for time...never mind though...the cross over skills of your chosen career qualify you without reservation to become a Cllr.

  28. Posted by: liberty1 at 12:33 on 27 November 2011 Report

    Conhill, Lieberty sounds better than Lieby but at least you are making the effort as for the comment itself, when did Tory central office send you that one?

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