Earlier this afternoon two of the co-chairs of the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform All Party Parliamentary Group made a submission to the backbench business committee for a debate on leasehold and commonhold issues.
At approximately 2:47 Sir Peter Bottomley states that he wishes to “place on the record we are dissatisfied with the running of LEASE”, the government funded Leasehold Advisory Service.
The relevant part of the hearing starts at about 2:44 pm and can be watched here:
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/c3bb949e-e75c-478e-a0b5-105da68df90e
This is a matter that the APPG wish to be considered as part of the wider backbench debate on all leasehold issues, which has been requested.
The backbench committee should announce when the debate has been scheduled in the near future.
At a further meeting, with Housing Minister Alok Sharma later in the afternoon, Sir Peter made clear that it should be a cause for concern to the DCLG that the APPG has had to indicate that it considers the LEASE chair Roger Southam to be conflicted.
As a result, he is not invited to any APPG meetings.
Sir Peter went on to explain that he considers it wrong that the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership has now also felt it necessary to decline to attend DCLG meetings where Mr Southam continues to attend.
Related posts:
‘Dump Roger Southam. Appoint Sebastian O’Kelly,’ National Leasehold Campaign tells housing minister
Motion of no confidence in Roger Southam as LEASE chair
LEASE chair Roger Southam resigns
Roger Southam should not be LEASE chair, leaseholder tells housing minister
Housing minister says LEASE must be on the side of leaseholders, and promises more money
Sebastian O’Kelly addresses retirement property managers. Were you lynched? No, they agreed: leasehold ‘granny flats’ have no future
I hope he listens. Too long has there been conflict over Lease and as a leaseholder I don’t find them approachable. What are the government paying Lease to provide?
I think the NLC should consider re- sending Its excellent letter to Roger Southam / Sajid Javid demanding that Southam step down as LEASE chairman.
His appointment was / is utterly inappropriate. Clearly 2 fingers to beleaguered tax paying Leaseholders.
The time has come to clear the sw@mp.
Excellent idea kim.
I will dig out our original letter and re send it to everyone.
There have been a number of representations to government concerning Roger Southam’s position as chairman of LEASE, all have been disregarded. He is still considered a suitable person to consult with by DCLG, he attends their meetings.
It is polite to say Roger Southam is “conflicted”, he is an out and out supporter of leasehold – as is the not conflicted Master of the Rolls, Sir Terence Etherton.
I am amused by APPG and the 126 MP’s who are members, my amusement will only end when they achieve something of substance. I remember William Gladstone’s grand speech (I don’t, I am not quite that old. But I know of it) condemning the barbarous slaughter by the Ottomans when Bulgarians rose to throw off Turkish tyranny. Not one thing changed after Gladstone’s speech, Bulgarians continued to be slaughtered. Is parliament a talking shop, a theatre, whilst decisions are made elsewhere behind closed doors? Are MP’s merely players/actors, oratorical masters and purveyors of grand speeches, but of no real use? Is the system loaded against the masses and designed solely for an elite? Leasehold must be abolished, all else is peripheral
David,
It is testament to the quality of contributors to the LKP site that a contributor refers to the Ottoman – Bulgarian wars.
I completely agree with you regarding to much talk and too little “ Walk” by the APPG members.
I think the Scandal that is Leasehold requires “ WAR WAR no JAW JAW!
Kim, Couldn’t agree with you more regarding “quality of contributors” on this site. I have Michael Portillo’s “Great Railway Journeys” to thank for my knowledge of Ottoman/Bulgarian wars – there is a street in Sofia named after Gladstone, by the way.
I am conflicted (word of the day) whether to accept your praise and say I am worthy of it, or to demur. I think I will demur, not through modesty I have to say, but critical judgement.
David,
Except my praise. You are truly worthy of it!, ( Says Kim) Also , I find it it rather “hmm” for a chap to demur.
If only we could see ourselves as others see us.( I do realise that may be interpreted in several ways)
Oh! That is just great!
I have recorded the Ottoman/Bulgarian conflict and was going to watch it tonight.
Thanks a bunch for giving away the result!
Please note: If Roger Southam ever appears on Strictly Come Dancing(around
any vestige of integrity) I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW!
Sir Peter should have asked Alok Sharma Housing Minister to reverse all LVT decisions where buildings insurance is charged under a multi- block policy which includes commission demanded from the broker or insurance company by the freeholder or its managing agent..
Its an offence under the Fraud Act 2006. and the Insurance Company giving the commissions may be liable also for collusion. .
.
Part 3 and 4 are copied below from Fraud Act 2006.
3 Fraud by failing to disclose information
A person is in breach of this section if he—
(a) dishonestly fails to disclose to another person information which he is
under a legal duty to disclose, and
(b) intends, by failing to disclose the information—
(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or
(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.
4 Fraud by abuse of position
(1) A person is in breach of this section if he—
(a) occupies a position in which he is expected to safeguard, or not to act
against, the financial interests of another person,
(b) dishonestly abuses that position, and
(c) intends, by means of the abuse of that position—
(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or
(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.
(2) A person may be regarded as having abused his position even though his
conduct consisted of an omission rather than an act.