COMMUNITIES PLAN

LTF OPEN LETTER

Rt Hon John Prescott MP
Deputy Prime Minister
House of Commons
London SW1A 1AA

10 March 2003

Dear Mr Prescott,

We are writing to ask that you provide places for representatives of the London Tenants Federation on the new London Housing Board and London Housing Forum. We think that officials who have turned down our requests for representation on these bodies have done this in contradiction of the Government's stated aims.

We note that the London Housing Strategy Conference being held today has been organised with little opportunity for tenants to get involved. We suggest that we could work together to hold a London Tenants Conference to bring council, RSL and private tenants into the debate.

Government ministers have made strong statements in support of increasing tenants' involvement in housing policy. For example, in July last year Tony McNulty said "I want all tenants to have genuine opportunities to be involved in decision making about their homes and neighbourhoods." The previous housing minister Lord Falconer said "Tenants don't have a sufficiently direct voice with policy makers."

At a local level, the Government introduced the 'Tenants Compacts' with the aim of tenants becoming "involved in every level of decision making." But if tenant participation has any meaning, tenants must also be involved in decision making at regional and national levels.

Opening these new bodies to tenant representatives is the obvious next step towards making this a reality. In the long run, second-tier consultation in focus groups and 'talking shops' only ever leads to disengagement and disillusionment.

Tenant representatives from across London have worked hard to establish the London Tenants Federation. London's council tenants now have a unified and accountable voice. We have a lot to bring to the table - direct knowledge, expertise and perspective.

The 'Communities Plan' proposes major development in four major areas of London and its outskirts. In previous stages of London's development policy-makers ignored the needs and contributions of residents. They did so at great cost to us all. If we are not to build 'slums of the future', things must be different this time.

• Regional Decision Making