I know the Housing Corporation is on an efficiency drive, trying to squeeze as many homes out of registered social landlords as possible, but it seems to be taking it a bit far.
At a breakfast briefing last week in London, guests turned up to find the only thing on the menu was none-too-tasty rhetoric. Not a mini-muffin in sight.
Evidently the corporation was hoping what it had to say would provide enough food for thought for its ravenous guests …
A spoonful of sugar
Blackpool council, on the other hand, realises that the way to journalists' hearts is through their stomachs. The council turned up at the press office of the Labour conference last week with trays of pastries and other delicacies. As the hacks piled in, they discovered small notes reminding them that there were many positive stories to be had about Blackpool.
Perhaps the government should take note and provide some sweeteners to help angry unions swallow the private finance initiative.
Foot in mouth disease
A bit of flattery never goes amiss. That was doubtless chief griller Roy Irwin's maxim last week as he tried to compliment the loser in the inspections battle.
"The value of the Housing Corporation's work cannot be underestimated," he said magnanimously.
Er … well, you know what he meant.
The wrath of McNulty
Tony Blair's cult of being constantly on-message backfired somewhat this week, with junior minister Tony McNulty being interrupted at least twice by delegates taking calls on their mobiles during his speeches. However, the MP for Harrow East gallantly limited his response to a withering stare. The old ways of communicating are still the best.
Stranger than fiction
Les Battersby, "loveable" rogue of TV's Coronation Street, has an unlikely champion at West Lancashire council. (Note for Eastenders fans: Battersby is in trouble with Weatherfield council, the fictitious authority for the fictitious Manchester area in which the soap is set. He has been caught renting a room in his council house to a man named Kirk and the two are pretending to be lovers to avoid eviction.) Kindly Robert Hodge, West Lancashire's portfolio holder for housing, has written to Weatherfield, care of Granada TV, pointing out that sub-letting is permitted under the 1985 Housing Act and is no grounds for eviction and offering Les a home. Housing officer-script writer job swap, anyone?
Craggs the cheerleader
Sunderland whizz kid John Craggs was sounding a bit hoarse the other day. Had the normally perky one worn out his voice in the latest round of tenant consultation?
Oh no, he croaked. "Sunderland won on Saturday. We're just not used to it."
First time for everything
Source
Housing Today
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