Should your office be closed?

· The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 stipulate that the minimum temperature in an office should be 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit).

· Further relevant statute legislation is section 6 of the Offices Shops & Railway Premises Act 1963. The appropriate bits state:

- "(2) Where a substantial proportion of the work done in a room to which the foregoing subsection applies does not involve severe physical effort, a temperature of less than 16 degrees Celsius (61F) shall not be deemed, after the first hour, to be a reasonable temperature while work is going on.

- (3)...there shall be provided for persons who are employed to work in a room to which... this section would apply, conveniently accessible and effective means of enabling them to warm themselves.

- (6)It shall be the duty of the employer of persons for whom means of enabling them to warm themselves are provided in pursuance of subsection (3) of this section to afford them reasonable opportunities for using those means, and if he fails so to do he shall be guilty of an offence."

Defend Council Housing 2009 Dates

Dear Defend Council Housing supporter ,

Lambeth councillors are pressing ahead with plans for a £12 per week rent rise on top of 130 job cuts to housing services due to the crisis in the Housing Revenue Account.

Lambeth tenants, leaseholders and trade unions are holding a protest at the full council meeting on FEBRUARY 9th at 7pm at Lambeth Town Hall against this latest attack on council tenants. Use the attached petition and return it to 56 Foxley Square SW97RY , or email me and I will arrange to collect from you.

Lambeth Defend Council Housing meeting February 14th at the Brixton Recreation Centre, Station Road, Social Rooms Level 5 from 1.30 pm -3.30 pm with speakers from DCH , Tenants Council and trade unions on the housing crisis plus election of DCH committee. All welcome.

If you would like to stand for election as secretary , chair or treasurer to the DCH committee please email me asap - you are also welcome to stand for the committee as a 'general member'. The committee meets about every three months , or as and when necessary.

The House of Commons Council Housing Group is holding an enquiry at the House of Commons on 25th Feb 12-8pm and is asking all tenants, leaseholders and councillors to give evidence about the current state of council housing. Lambeth DCH are organising a delegation - watch this space for more details.

Happy holiday to you all !

in solidarity
Stephen

Lambeth Living Chair arrested

Dear councillor

You may be aware that Asuman Ozkan, Chair of Lambeth Living, was arrested earlier today. The allegations against Ms Ozkan are to do with fraud.

We are not in a position to comment on the details of the case but wanted to let you know that she has been written to today by Lambeth Council asking her to step down as Chair of Lambeth Living. We do not wish to prejudge the case but in light of the arrest we believe that it is not appropriate for her to stay in post. If she does not step down we reserve our right under the management agreement to remove her from the role.

I would also like to make it clear that the issues involved do not relate to her role as Chair of Lambeth Living.

Regards

Derrick Anderson
Chief Executive

"Lambeth faces fraud inquiry into £22m housing black hole"

Yesterday's Evening Standard reports how council bosses are under investigation for the catalogue of cock-ups that have led to the massive projected overspend in Lambeth's housing department in the 2008/9 financial year.

Until now, it has been Lambeth tenants, leaseholders and staff who have paid the price - job cuts across the board, services cut back, repairs not done.

And of course, Council Leader Steve Reed is blaming the whole mess on the Lib Dems - how pathetic! Grow up, take some responsibility, have the decency to fall on your sword.

Click here for the full story

Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth Council...

…has been elected to the London Councils' Executive, with responsibility for housing! What a joke!!!

This is the same man who presided over the introduction of Lambeth's ALMO, "Lambeth Living", contrary to the wishes of tenants. The same man who is responsible for a deficit in housing of over £20 million, and the subsequent slashing of services and jobs. The same man who is trying to privatise even more council services by giving private contractors ten-year deals with no consideration for how those contracts will be monitored.

Click here to read the full story

Lambeth UNISON votes for solidarity with Adrian Swain

This motion was passed unanimously at our branch committee today:

This branch notes:
Adrian Swain is an NUT rep at St Paul’s Way School in Tower Hamlets. He is currently being disciplined by management for failing to comply with the school’s dress code. The code was imposed on staff in the autumn term with no consultation whatsoever. Adrian has been given a final written warning for misconduct (for failing to obey a “reasonable instruction” of the headteacher) and he faces a hearing in December which could result in his dismissal.

This branch expresses its solidarity with Adrian Swain and agrees that:

• The head teacher at St Paul’s Way School should stop the victimisation of Adrian Swain, halt the disciplinary procedures and reverse the previous decision to discipline Adrian Swain.

• We offer our full and unconditional solidarity to Adrian Swain and the NUT group at the school in resisting this victimisation.

ROUND 2 to the residents and campaigners

Dear all,

Last night campaigners had a victory when the 'call-in' (when a decision is looked at by scrutiny) was successful. This means that the decision to put an Academy as well as the primary school on the current Fenstanton site will need to be looked at again by Cabinet.

We will have one more chance to put in our objections. This will probably be heard at a special cabinet meeting so we will need to act swiftly to get people to attend the meeting and protest. As soon as I know the date I will let you know but it will be within the next 10 days.

Thanks
Sara Tomlinson
Lambeth NUT, on behalf of campaigners.