I have been invited to the launch of ‘Camden Talks’ on Saturday 11 September. According to the invitation, this is because I am now part of a panel of Camden citizens who will ‘influence what happens in the borough’. According to Councillor Sue Vincent the setting up of this scheme is ‘a great way in which we can listen to local people’s views on the huge range of services we provide...’

There are just fewer than 2,000 members of this ‘consultative panel’ and from the information sent out it seems our views are likely to be influential. How come, then that when more than five times that number of tenants, lease-holders and Tenant Management Organisation residents voted on whether council housing should be passed into the control of an Arms Length Management Organisation, with 77% voting against the proposal, they were derided by the council and have been repeatedly told their views are unrepresentative?