Shapps slams TSA for 'offensive' waste of money
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Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps has accused the social housing regulator of wasting money, after it emerged it paid a firm to lobby politicians.
The Tenant Services Authority paid around £80,000 to public affairs company APCO for work developing its key messages, and engaging politicians and stakeholders.
The regulator initially commissioned APCO for £76,000 of work between August 2008 and February 2009, then agreed a further three month contract at a reduced rate of up to £1,500.
Mr Shapps said: ‘It’s totally offensive that money intended to help with the regulation of social landlords for the benefit of tenants is totally being wasted on paying for lobbyists to come and lobby people like me; to persuade me that the TSA is a good thing.
‘Not only is completely counterproductive since I haven’t noticed the lobbying, but it’s also wrong to burn tax payers’ money which should be being used to look after tenants.’
In a statement the TSA confirmed it had employed APCO earlier in the year, but said: ‘We no longer use APCO or any other public affairs consultancy and do not intend to do so in the future.’
Last week the Local Government Association published an analysis of the performance of quangos including the TSA, and regeneration body the Homes and Communities Agency.
The TSA was rated as showing ‘cause for concern’ in the three areas assessed: value for money, accountability, and openness. The HCA fared slightly better, with a satisfactory rating for value for money and openness, but a ‘serious problem’ on accountability.
LGA chair Margaret Eaton said: ‘We think the time is right for a thorough look at the way the public sector is organised to make sure every penny of public money is working as hard as possible for hard pressed families who deserve the very best services at the lowest possible cost.’
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Readers' comments (15)
Bernard Townroe | 24/11/2009 8:52 am
....whereas supping champagne at a party conference at a price per bottle that comfortably exceeds many tenants' weekly income isn't remotely offensive.
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Terry J Edwards (MESH) | 24/11/2009 9:34 am
When will they ever learn ? until we get a elected body of tenants
who live on and really care about social housing ,we will continue to get this sort of thing ,the latest so called super panel selected by Hays, got 26 out of 50 nominated from councils not elected by anybody so tenants end up with anther quango as for the Tories comments on social housing, they should remember who ruined it in the first place .
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Melvin Bone | 24/11/2009 9:41 am
'Bernard Townroe | Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:52 GMT
....whereas supping champagne at a party conference at a price per bottle that comfortably exceeds many tenants' weekly income isn't remotely offensive.'
I agree with you Bernard. The Labour party should not go around quaffing champange at conference when they have better things to be getting on with. But then they are not champagne socialists without some bubbly...
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Junior | 24/11/2009 10:17 am
I agreed Tenant's should be running these Housing Association under the parts of the Repairs, Customer Service and ASB Matter. But we must be ware of the Nodding Dog's. My his of one these Housing Association always getting in Consultant's and at the end of the day nothing changing. Still a bad Housing Assocation and stop these Chief Executive and Director sitting on other Boards and I belive none should be sitting on Local Authority Board. I believe these Chief Executive and Directors should be giving own Housing Association one hundred per cent. Expect Tenant's to give up time for nothing well let these Housing Association staff do the same in really and many say want do some good. I do not want to see Tenant Board Members sitting on the board whereby our telling us giving Tenant Board Member go to give the Board Members one hundred per cent loyal and not raise Tenant's issues. I think these Board Member half of the thick has a plank of wooden. Well Housing Association gone to the Dog's Well at our Christmas party allow only one glass of wine. I love to see the expense for they Christmas party can we now ask to see the Expenses of these Housing Association Chief Executive and Directors like we saw of the TSA staff on site.
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Peter | 24/11/2009 2:01 pm
Margaret's comment......'organised to make sure every penny of public money is working as hard....' I have been hearing this type of comments for the last thirty years! The only things that have flourished during this period are Quangos, Consultants, Chief Executives and (paid) Directors. I fail to see how you could justify 'value for money' when these consume a large proportion of finance which never equates to the value and quality of the business and services!
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Julian Thompson | 24/11/2009 2:06 pm
Easy. Abolish TSA and merge with HCA. They could even call it the Housing Corporation. Housing is one of the most beauocratic infested activities in the country and all involved should get on building houses for those in need
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Joe Halewood | 24/11/2009 2:52 pm
pot kettle and .....
MPs of any party discussing wasted monies on lobbying and spin doctors is highly duplicitous and hypocritical. As is the same 'lecturing' or even hectoring on misuse of public monies in general.... expenses anyone?
And agian for any MP of any political party in the run up to a general election to attempt to side with tenants is risible and as much if not more offensive than what Grant Shapps lectures on here. We've had what 9 Housing Ministers under this government/ Does anyone expect anything different if Mr Shapps and his neo-conservatives (aka scrap secure tenancies, right to move nonsense etc) gets in?
Social Housing is a convenient political football at the moment and in the run up to the next general election - take all stories like this with a hefty pinch of salt!
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harry | 24/11/2009 7:14 pm
What the TSA has spent is a drop in the ocean compared to the billions of pounds the banks have wasted. The TSA as an organisation is far better value for money than the banks who are not acountable to savers and customers. Where is customer involvement in LloysTSB or Northern Rock?. Do you trust the FSA? Leave the TSA alone they are better managed than the greedy bankers. The banks caused the recession and they are still wasting billions.
Most CEO and Directors of Housing Organisations have better run organisations than the bank and they are financial viable. Please point the finger at the banks. The public sector did cause the recession it was the private sector. They need regulating. Leave the TSA and housing bodies alone.
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Fingers | 24/11/2009 8:43 pm
How dare Grant Shapps pontificate from on high, has he no shame?
Let’s go back to the days when his party were last in power. The gerrymandering scandal decision in July 1987 by Westminster to sell 500 homes each year under a policy called "building stable communities". Dame Shirley Porter paying £12m into Westminster Council's bank account in settlement of the surcharge for her role in the homes for votes scandal.
Then there is the fact that all the best homes that were publicly owned were disposed off at gift prices under the “right to Buy” legislation in another effort to curry favour with the electorate, resulting in a lack of capacity to meet demands that we now face.
We could go on about these elected members that do not utilise the “Right to Rent” as a choice, but wish to deny all tenants the right to influence the decision making process.
I will not be surprised when the old cliché come out from the Conservative party that ‘they know what is best for tenants.’ They can then dip into the HRA account to fill the financial holes in other local authority budgets as in the old days.
Honourable Grant Shapps M.P. examine your own parties history on social housing and let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
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You are having a laugh | 25/11/2009 8:12 am
I am no conservative but find myself agreeing with Grant Shapps.
It is a sign why there is a huge problem with inspection. To do anything the inspection body has to gain the support of politicians and every other 'stakeholder'.
The TSA should be about a process that supports a system designed to focus upon what matters to tenants and then help HAs to achieve this by removing the things that get in their way. It should do away with all of the old measures including the obsession with one best way, one set of performance measures applied for comparison purposes. Madness.
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