BrumLAG 5 weeks in …

Our last blog post at the beginning of the month was titled “1 week in …”. We had hoped to do a weekly post but things have been happening so fast 4 weeks have got behind us already!

Back on the 4th Sophie and Brian recorded a podcast over a few glasses of wine and chatted about how we find ourselves in this kafkaesque predicament.

We also had an Article Published in the Birmingham Mail.

Jewellery Quarter flat owners slapped with bills up to £100,000 to replace flammable cladding

On the 6th March some of the team met a Daily Mirror photographer for a photo shoot and interview in the bridge at Islington Gates.

Birmingham Leaseholder Action Group Meeting at the Holiday Inn
BrumLAG Meeting at the Holiday Inn

On the 5th we held a Birmingham Leaseholder Action Group Meeting at the Holiday Inn Snow Hill. The meeting was well attended and many Birmingham developments we represented. We also had an article published in Inside Housing.

Leaseholders face £19,000 cladding bills next month amid coronavirus crisis
Steering Group Meeting
Steering Group Meeting

On 11th March we had our first Steering Group Meeting. We have started to compile a heartbreaking collection of personal testimonials from our members and leaseholders caught up in the Cladding Scandal. These can be seen on our Testimonials page.

After the Budget on 12 March Jen reflected on what it might mean for the End Our Cladding Scandal campaign?

BrumLAG member reflects 24 hours after the Budget announcement on Cladding.

Fire Safety Bill announced

On Monday 16 March a member of the team travelled to London to team up with the UK Cladding Action Group (UKCAG) to give evidence about insurance issues to the Insurance and Financial Services All Party Parliamentary Group (IFSAPPG). This is chaired by Craig Tracey MP.

Then due to the COVID-19 crisis our face to face meeting were curtailed. The team now meet up online using the Zoom platform. Our first online meeting was on 23rd March. We also are in constant communication using our WhatsApp Group and and are constantly posting updates to our twitter account @BrumLAG.

Week commencing 23rd March we wrote letters to both Robert Jenrick Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and to the Treasury Department lobbying for their support to end the cladding scandal. We also prepared a briefing for West Midlands Mayor Andy Street to prepare him to put our case to the Housing Minister.

On 25 March we had an article published in Inside Housing – Leaseholders face £19,000 cladding bills next month amid coronavirus crisis

Cladding insurance may force out residents of tower blocks
Cladding insurance may force out residents of tower blocks

On Saturday 27 March we had an article in the Times – Cladding insurance may force out residents of tower blocks.

Our next online meeting is on 30 March. It will be hosted online using the Zoom app. It you would like to join us please contact us for an invite!

Until next time, stay safe!