What follows is an update on the tornado that ripped through South Birmingham in July 2005. The update reveals gross incompetence on the part of Birmingham City Council and the fact that resident’s concerns about numerous issues were indeed true. Not only will residents bear the cost of the tornado’s damage through higher council tax rates passed onto them by Birmingham City Council, but it looks like the costs will be far higher than expected because of the council’s negligence in handling the situation and it’s failure to secure support from the governments Bellwin Scheme. The report also reveals that Birmingham City Council failed to insure it’s own properties and downplayed an asbestos scare.
TORNADO - LATEST NEWS
Report to City Cabinet 28 November has estimated the cost of the tornado emergency to the City Council as being £4.3 millions
1. SCAFFOLDING
This was left up for 4 months on the instruction of city surveyors, after the plastic roof covers were put on. Residents warned at meetings with the council officers that this was expensive and unsafe. The owners, City Demolitions Ltd, have now billed and the reported cost is £400,000.
The officers' report proposed to recover half of these costs from property owners for this 'service' - under provisions that relate to "making properties safe". Estimated average bill per property would be £1,800, but no bills issued as yet (perhaps the grounds for such a charge does not exist).
2. UNINSURED PROPERTIES
The Council has refused to do work on uninsured properties. Owners might borrow from the Council at a commercial rate of interest. Officers report that the council had not insured any of its own properties, so the cost of repairs to them is £1.6 million. They are now asking the government to pay for repairs to Ladypool School.
3. SECURITY
Residents complained that the Council refused to help with putting up fences and removing scaffolding, which made homes insecure. The Council hired security guards and temporary fencing, reported cost over 4 months is £500,000.
4. REOPENING OF ALDER ROAD
Officers recently decided to remove the fencing and reopen Alder Road. Birchwood Rd residents protested it was unsafe. Health and Safety Executive has now ordered the road to be closed again (after alert by residents), since it runs through a construction site.
5. ASBESTOS
Remember the city officer assuring residents that the debris of roof slates was 'only 1% asbestos'? Or the council advice leaflet advising householders to clear it themselves? Well, insurance companies have taken another view.
16-32 Alder Rd is currently being decontaminated by specialist asbestos contractors, as it was found to be too dangerous for building workers or residents to enter.
6. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
Residents asked that the Council clear debris and put up fences, then reclaim under disaster provisions from central government (Bellwin scheme).
It has now been reported by the officers that the council spent too little in the 2 months following tornado to qualify as a disaster under Bellwin rules. It will therefore get nothing and is blaming the government. Much debris and damage remains.
7. CONSULTATION
The officers hired expensive consultants from London to consult and draw up regeneration plans. Residents complained that they knew the issues and had already consulted and written up the results. It has emerged that using outside consultants was contrary to council policy. There is a question as to whether this contract was open to tenders. Cost unknown.
8. HARDSHIP
The Lord Mayor refused to start a hardship fund, on the instruction of the leader of the council. Residents started their own, approaching Birmingham Foundation. Applications from people in hardship have far outstripped the money collected. The Council has not responded to a petition asking them to donate to the fund.
9. RECOVERY
Council submission to the government quotes 134 properties as "showing no sign of repairs" in November. The second tornado of 12 October removed some plastic sheeting and properties are being damaged by weather through this winter. Damp will affect adjoining properties. Future of such properties is obscure.
10. THE FUTURE
The officers have no plans to hold more meetings with residents or voluntary organisations about tornado recovery issues.
Regeneration plans for the tornado area (£50 millions), written by the council officers, and asking central government for money, insist that the City Council must be the "accountable body" "for reasons of financial integrity and probity".
Report to City Cabinet 28 November has estimated the cost of the tornado emergency to the City Council as being £4.3 millions
1. SCAFFOLDING
This was left up for 4 months on the instruction of city surveyors, after the plastic roof covers were put on. Residents warned at meetings with the council officers that this was expensive and unsafe. The owners, City Demolitions Ltd, have now billed and the reported cost is £400,000.
The officers' report proposed to recover half of these costs from property owners for this 'service' - under provisions that relate to "making properties safe". Estimated average bill per property would be £1,800, but no bills issued as yet (perhaps the grounds for such a charge does not exist).
2. UNINSURED PROPERTIES
The Council has refused to do work on uninsured properties. Owners might borrow from the Council at a commercial rate of interest. Officers report that the council had not insured any of its own properties, so the cost of repairs to them is £1.6 million. They are now asking the government to pay for repairs to Ladypool School.
3. SECURITY
Residents complained that the Council refused to help with putting up fences and removing scaffolding, which made homes insecure. The Council hired security guards and temporary fencing, reported cost over 4 months is £500,000.
4. REOPENING OF ALDER ROAD
Officers recently decided to remove the fencing and reopen Alder Road. Birchwood Rd residents protested it was unsafe. Health and Safety Executive has now ordered the road to be closed again (after alert by residents), since it runs through a construction site.
5. ASBESTOS
Remember the city officer assuring residents that the debris of roof slates was 'only 1% asbestos'? Or the council advice leaflet advising householders to clear it themselves? Well, insurance companies have taken another view.
16-32 Alder Rd is currently being decontaminated by specialist asbestos contractors, as it was found to be too dangerous for building workers or residents to enter.
6. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
Residents asked that the Council clear debris and put up fences, then reclaim under disaster provisions from central government (Bellwin scheme).
It has now been reported by the officers that the council spent too little in the 2 months following tornado to qualify as a disaster under Bellwin rules. It will therefore get nothing and is blaming the government. Much debris and damage remains.
7. CONSULTATION
The officers hired expensive consultants from London to consult and draw up regeneration plans. Residents complained that they knew the issues and had already consulted and written up the results. It has emerged that using outside consultants was contrary to council policy. There is a question as to whether this contract was open to tenders. Cost unknown.
8. HARDSHIP
The Lord Mayor refused to start a hardship fund, on the instruction of the leader of the council. Residents started their own, approaching Birmingham Foundation. Applications from people in hardship have far outstripped the money collected. The Council has not responded to a petition asking them to donate to the fund.
9. RECOVERY
Council submission to the government quotes 134 properties as "showing no sign of repairs" in November. The second tornado of 12 October removed some plastic sheeting and properties are being damaged by weather through this winter. Damp will affect adjoining properties. Future of such properties is obscure.
10. THE FUTURE
The officers have no plans to hold more meetings with residents or voluntary organisations about tornado recovery issues.
Regeneration plans for the tornado area (£50 millions), written by the council officers, and asking central government for money, insist that the City Council must be the "accountable body" "for reasons of financial integrity and probity".