Town Council report 'done objectively': Ms Grace Fu

Claims by Opposition-managed town councils that the recent Town Council Management Report was "unfair", "subjective" and loaded with a political agenda have been refuted by the Senior Minister of State for National Development, Grace Fu.

Ms Fu said the six-month assessment was carried out objectively, and data collected for half of the indicators - lift performance and service and conservancy charges (S&CC) arrears management - came from the town councils themselves. As for Opposition claims that resources were "limited" for their town councils, Ms Fu said that Government resources are allocated according to need, and it is up to each town council to manage its own resources.

Speaking at the sidelines of a community event yesterday, Ms Fu said: "The operating funds, the grants are exactly identical ... there will be flats which are eligible for (the) Lift Upgrading Programme, including (those in) the Opposition wards." Asked about residents' feedback on Opposition wards not pressing for payment of S&CC fees for fear of losing votes, Ms Fu said that town councils have to manage their own fee collection. "It also means for those who are paying on time, you are helping to fund those not paying on time ... (these are) operation decisions for each town council to decide what's best for their residents," she added.

The Town Council Management Report released last Thursday showed Opposition wards Hougang and Potong Pasir getting a grade "5" - in S&CC arrears management. (Grade 1 is the top score, 5 the lowest.) In these two wards, at least 60 per cent of total monthly collectable fees were in arrears for at least three months. Both estates also scored a "4" and "5", respectively, for maintenance, indicating at least an average of four defects like corroded pipes or damaged plaster in each block of flats. Other than these two areas, their grades for cleanliness and lift performance were comparable with that achieved by the other 14 People's Action Party town councils.

Ms Fu said that ample notice was given to all town councils before the assessment exercise began and hence, all councils started from the same point. Stressing that the report is not meant to rank town councils but rather, should act as a talking point between residents and the management, Ms Fu said: "If residents are happy with a level 3 for cleanliness, no further action is needed. Should they wish for a better grade or a cleaner estate by having more frequent washings, residents may have to consider the trade-off of paying more fees."

Aljunied resident Emilin Ng, 42, said that the report allows her to provide feedback to her town council. "I hope that it does not translate into higher S&CC fees and if so, residents must be consulted first." she said. Chairman of Hougang Town Council, Mr Low Thia Khiang and chairman of Potong Pasir Town Council, Mr Chiam See Tong did not reply to MediaCorp's queries by press time.

Article by : Ng Jing Yng, Today