ONE-STOP CENTRE FOR PRIVATE HOUSING ESTATES

ONE-STOP CENTRE FOR PRIVATE HOUSING ESTATES

16.

Ms Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development whether a one-stop centre, similar to Town Councils or HDB Area Offices, can be set up to serve the needs of those who live in private housing estates.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Town Councils were set up to perform estate management functions for public housing estates. Their role is to manage and maintain the common areas under their charge in HDB estates. The Town Councils are similar to the management councils for private condominiums. Both the HDB and condominiums residents pay monthly services and conservancy charges towards maintenance of common facilities. HDB Branch Offices are set up to provide lease and tenancy services to HDB flat lessees and tenants.

In private landed residential estates, the public areas and amenities come under the purview of various public agencies, which serve the needs of the residents by carrying out the routine maintenance and improvement works. For instance, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) looks after the maintenance and upgrading of roads, pavements and street lighting, whilst the Public Utilities Board (PUB) oversees drainage-related works.

Given the smaller scale and generally more exclusive living environment found in private residential estates, compared to the HDB estates, it is more effective for the respective public agencies to carry out such works directly. Nevertheless, MND will consider the request and review the need to set up a one-stop centre as suggested by MP Lee Bee Wah.

In addition, to address the concern that a member of the public may not know which is the right agency to call to convey his or her feedback, the Government has implemented a “No Wrong Door” policy since 2004. This means that the officer of a public agency receiving the call will help to put members of the public in touch with the right agency. In cases where the feedback or request requires the inputs of more than one public agency, the receiving agency will liaise with the relevant agencies to provide a coordinated response.

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