Blog

Meeting with Cabinet member Ben Kind

March 2024

Hoping to get the support of our elected officials, we decided to invite our local Brixton Rush ward councillors to a meeting this month, with Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Ben Kind coming along to hear our concerns. Tulse Hill Estate Unites members shared stories of enduring struggles with repairs amidst Council neglect and unreliable contractors.

Central to our discussion was the issue of Lambeth Housing unfairly placing blame on residents for damp and mould problems, which we believe are often stemming from structural flaws within our estate. Despite a recent housing stock condition survey by Savills, commissioned by Lambeth, indicating necessary structural repairs, Lambeth has withheld the results from us.

When asked about releasing the survey information, Ben suggested it might be too complex for us to understand. However, we believe we can judge for ourselves once we have access to it. He proposed a simplified version instead, which he says he is advocating for.

During the meeting Ben committed to investigating timelines for an Estate Improvement Plan for Tulse Hill Estate and how residents can contribute, as well as details on establishing a single point of contact and expanding Lambeth’s in-house Community Works. However, following our meeting Ben confirmed these responsibilities did not fall under his remit, and that they in fact sat with Maria Kay, Lambeth’s Cabinet lead for housing and homelessness, who we plan to engage with next.

It’s concerning that our elected representatives aren’t backing our efforts for estate improvements, and the reluctance to share the Savills report raises suspicions about what Lambeth Council are trying to hide.

Our asks for Lambeth council are simple, we demand an independent environmental inspection of our blocks to identify structural issues, an estate improvement plan based on its findings, and a designated senior point of contact accountable for its implementation. Without our input, and accountability to residents, there can be no meaningful plan to improve Tulse Hill Estate.