Important
gains have been won in the battle against the spread of private estate
management companies in Fingal Council’s recent policy debates
on the topic.
With the lead role played by the Socialist Party, Fingal Council agreed
in future to take in charge normal services on housing estates and to
also take over roads and external services in exclusively apartment
complexes.
Scandalously, however, the major parties chose to do nothing for residents
suffering under existing management companies – with Labour, Fine
Gael and Fianna Fail voting down a Socialist Party proposal on assisting
residents who chose to dissolve their management companies and wanted
Council services instead.
Having made loud noises in the Dail, at public meetings in Tyrrelstown,
Castlecurragh and elsewhere in Dublin West, Labour displayed stunning
hypocrisy by leaving Council policy silent on the issue of dissolving
existing companies. If, as these parties claim, the practice is privatisation,
a scam by developers and an unfair tax on new homeowners, then why leave
residents ensnared in it? In fact, none of the parties put a solitary
proposal on the key issues, with Cllr. Varadkar of Fine Gael actually
arguing for limits on the type of road and footpath materials which
the Council would take in charge.
Similarly, a proposal by the Socialist Party to limit the scope of private
management companies to insurance, maintenance and a sinking fund, and
that planning permissions should not be granted unless the Articles
of Association complied with Council policy was shot down. This is vital
for prescribing what companies can charge for and would prevent situations
such as in Tyrrelstown where residents are being fleeced with car-parking
charges.
Major victories have been won on management company policy. The Socialist
Party will actively support any residents who vote to abolish their
company and who then petition the Council for services. We will put
the challenge in front of the other parties on this issue.
