Finsbury Estate residents said ‘hands off bin shed’

• THERE are serious questions about Islington Council’s decision-making processes about the lease for the Finsbury Estate bin shed, (Residents in the dark over bin shed laundry, September 16).

It has taken a formal TRA, tenants’ and residents’ association, complaint to get answers. The response says that the council’s housing business plan manager took the decision to lease the space after it was identified as one of two “sites” by a local – Bunhill – business owner supported by Troy Gallagher, Labour councillor.

We have also been told, from elsewhere, that the other identified “site” on King Square Estate was rejected by the estate’s residents / TRA.

Yet, for the Finsbury Estate, the council says it didn’t feel that it needed to consult with us, as the space was not considered a matter of housing management.

But, of course, housing management comprises waste storage from homes on all council estates, along with the land the homes sit on, their green and play spaces, and other facilities and amenities.

Council tenants and leaseholders pay for this through our rents and service charges, via the council’s housing revenue account.

Islington Council’s website highlights its duty, set out in the Housing Act 1985, section 105, to “consult with council residents” about changes to the management of council residents’ homes that are likely to substantially impact them.

The arrangements for household waste on the Finsbury Estate, particularly the leasing out of our bin shed (which the council locked up from use a few years ago without discussion with residents), and the resultant rat infestation, substantially affect us.

Is this a one-off, or just normal practice for Islington Council to feel it appropriate that decision-making about the services and amenities on one of its housing estates is made in such a way?

The lease deal occurred almost two years ago, during the Covid-19 lockdowns, without the council even letting Finsbury Estate residents know that it was occurring.

ALMA BELAI
Secretary, Finsbury Estate Tenants’ and Residents’ Association