A council investigation has concluded that allegations of employees and contractors making jokes about throwing a troublesome leaseholder off a balcony were unfounded.
A former site manager on the Draper House site in Elephant and Castle alleged in an email to Southwark Council last year that council contractors had joked to a senior council officer that the best thing to do about a resident who had complained about the standard of works at Draper House, would be to “push the c*** off the balcony” and that council contractors had been “bragging about going on Facebook” and looking at residents’ profiles.
It was also alleged that boilers had been installed incorrectly in the blighted block.
Cllr Richard Livingstone, Southwark’s cabinet member for housing, said a thorough investigation had been carried out by the council and its subcontractors and no evidence was found to support the allegations made.
“Our investigations are now complete and we have not found evidence that substantiates the claims of wrong doing, or of inappropriate actions or behaviour.
“In the meantime we are continuing to work with residents at Draper House to re-build relationships and learn lessons from the way these works were previously carried out. I would like to thank residents for their continued understanding and input.”
The former A & E Elkins employee who made the allegations told the News he was standing by everything he said and wanted to thank the Draper residents for their support.
Relations between Draper House leaseholders and Southwark Council worsened this week as a two day tribunal took place to contest six years of service charges and major works charges the residents were asked to pay while the problematic refurbishment of the block was taking place.
The judge will now consider the evidence and make a ruling in due course.
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