PIMLICO LABOUR ACTION REPORT – February 2022
Flaxley House, Abbotts Manor
We have again asked the Housing Department to fit a new front door at Flaxley House. The existing door is too heavy for elderly residents to open and an automatically opening is needed. The Housing Department says:
“The door at Flaxley House has indeed recently been automated, this is now functioning. The team have advised that they will be improving the ‘grab rail’ as currently it’s a little short for users, but other than this it is now fully functioning.”
Claverton Street
We have again asked when the outstanding repairs will be undertaken at a property in Claverton Street.
Sherbourne House
We are continuing to help a Sherbourne House resident with their application for a transfer.
Peabody properties
Churchill Ward Councillor Liza Begum has written to Ian McDermott, CEO of Peabody Housing Association regarding housing disrepair issues that have been raised by residents in Pimlico.
Mrs Smith’s Food Pantry
We were pleased to be able to persuade the Council to provide toilet facilities for the volunteers at Mrs Smith’s Food Pantry on the Ebury estate. The organisers say, “I would just like to thank you for sorting out the toilet facilities for our group, it’s very much appreciated.”
Sir Simon Milton University Technical College
The Sir Simon Milton university technical college (UTC) has confirmed plans to close just four years after opening. The UTC opened in 2017 and has capacity for 550 students aged 14 to 19 but only had 150 on roll last year. This number has since dropped to 75. According to its financial statements, the UTC recorded an operating loss of £486,000 in 2019/20 and required extra financial support from the Department for Education to stay afloat for the past two years. The college has also received almost £2 million in capital grants since 2017.
The building is set to be taken over by Ada, the National College for Digital Skills, which opened in 2016 and has been in search of a new home for a number of years. The Department for Education wrote off over £3.2 million on a failed research and development building project for the college, according to the DfE’s 2020/21 accounts.