The Independent Federation of PCHA Tenants and T.A.s

BMG survey: Now they are telephoning tenants

The people running the BMG survey are now ringing up people trying to get them to answer their survey, and supply them with personal information.

As stated below, this survey is ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY. You are at liberty to hang up on them. If you have any problems with them, let us know.

PCHA/Genesis boss gets 25% rise 

In an article and feature published in Inside Housing, it was revealed that Mr. Anu Vedi, chief executive of Genesis, received the fourth largest pay increase out of the country's 2,000 housing associations. Previously, he got £130,000 out of our rent money, and now the figure has been increased to £170,000. Also, he gets a bonus of £20,000.

In addition to these sums, he is almost certain to get pension benefit of about 10% of his pay, and as a result, this year he will be walking off with £207,000.

This amounts to £934 per working day. Is this what social housing has become?

New BMG survey

All tenants of Pathmeads, PCHA, Sutherland and Springboard should have received an advanced warning letter followed a week or so later by a survey form from a company called BMG Research. It is headed:

and includes what many will see as some impertinent personal questions, three of which are labelled "optional"; the other fifteen are not, and so may be seen as compulsory.

The Fed believes that all the questions are optional, as is participation in the whole exercise. A letter has been sent to PCHA's managing director, Pamela Lockley, (pamela.lockley@ghg.org.uk) who has been asked to write to every tenant pointing this out.

Furthermore, the advance letter says:

"Anyone who does not return this form will receive a phone call, or be visited at home in a few months"

We believe this to be intimidation and grossly improper. We are asking Ms. Lockley to confirm that she holds this view, and to advise all tenants accordingly. If you are concerned about the form, please feel free to email us at the usual address:

independentfederation@yahoo.com.

We will keep you in touch.

In a letter dated September 7th to the Fed's chair, Peter Denton, Pamela Lockley, the boss of PCHA, says that every part of this survey is voluntary. She said that mention of a visit is to provide assistance to those who are disadvataged in one way or another.

The Fed specifically asked her to contact all tenants and make sure they understood the position. She has failed to give this undertaking.

So, if you want to fill it in, do so; and if you want to tear it up, do that. And when a second form comes through the post, you may give it the same treatment.