Big John Prescott faces some tough decisions now he's back at the helm of local government. Among the early problems beating a path to his door is what to do about his local council's housing service.
If the Audit Commission presses ahead with its threat to send in a hit squad, the MP for East Hull will be asked to give the final go-ahead. Civil servants are poring over manuals on correct procedure now that the hand of fate has intervened.
Another pressing problem for Prescott is the decision on whether to attend the Chartered Institute of Housing's Harrogate bash next week. Eggs, mullet wigs and Welsh farmers have been banned from the town in readiness.
When words are not enough
The Chartered Institute of Housing made some hasty changes to its press release welcoming John Prescott back to the housing world. The first version, calling on him to "throw his weight" behind the demand for more investment, was amended by red-faced PR folk to "add his voice". Presumably "throwing his voice" would be just too exciting, even for the multitalented Mr Prescott.
And what was institute policy director John Perry's reaction to Byers' resignation when an intrepid Housing Today reporter tracked him down to his lair in Coventry? "Oh no. He was supposed to be launching a report for us in June."
ALMO killed the video star
It's good to see the sector learning the lessons of the recent debacle in Birmingham. One of the things that prompted most laughter during the vote was the council's promotional video starring "soccer legend" and former council tenant Ron Atkinson. Perhaps fortunately for the council, the soundtrack on most of the tapes didn't work.
That hasn't deterred arm's-length hopeful Westminster council from sending a video to its 22,000 tenants to persuade them to agree to the transfer. It features TV journo Martin Bashir – of Diana "queen of hearts" fame – interviewing tenants and quizzing housing staff about the issues of arm's-length.
It's a mug's game
On a similar note, the Northern Housing Consortium had its troubles too, as it took delivery of a huge batch of flyers for its tenant participation conference just as news of the reshuffle came through.
The flyers featured a mugshot of former DTLR minister Sally Keeble. Rumours that consortium officials will just get out the felt-tip pen and add a moustache and glasses are of course completely untrue.
Let's hope the facilities are better
At least Stephen Byers' slaves in the DTLR press gallery could see the bright side of their lord and master's departure.
I couldn't exactly hear champagne corks popping when I called to check the honest one was actually going, but I sensed a certain amount of jollity and excitement in their voices.
And whom did they think would take the helm? "We've heard Roy Keane is coming in to replace him," one wag confided.
Village people
Before he scuttled gratefully to the Home Office, outgoing housing and planning minister Lord Falconer had to face one final grilling at a press conference to announce the disposal of the Millennium Dome.
The tongue-lashing came not from the fourth estate, but by something far worse – an irate old lady upset by the dome's ecological shortcomings.
Source
Housing Today
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