REACH 461 - What are your views on the increase in Service and conservancy charges (S&CC) charges in view of the GST Voucher payments? What more can done to support HDB residents, shops, offices, markets and food stalls owners?
(SK)
05 Jun 2023 (10am - 7pm)
REACH
[10:10 am, 05/06/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
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[10:35 am, 05/06/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢
Service and conservancy charges (S&CC) will be raised twice over the next two years for Housing Board residents, shops, offices, markets and food stalls under PAP town councils due to rising costs.
The first increase, which takes effect from July 1, will have monthly fees rising by between $0.70 and $7.90 for HDB flats. Commercial property owners and tenants will see an increase ranging from $0.01 to $0.40 per sq m. Market and food stalls will have their fees hiked between $2.20 and $31.50.
💬 What are your views on the increase in Service and conservancy charges (S&CC) charges in view of the GST Voucher payments? What more can done to support HDB residents, shops, offices, markets and food stalls owners?
S&CC rates will differ among towns depending on the age and profile of estates, residents’ needs and operating expenditures. The fees pay for cleaning, landscaping, refuse collection, pest control and maintenance of mechanical and electrical fixtures such as lifts and lights.
The rebate for S&CC, which are fees for estate maintenance, ranges from 1.5 months to 3.5 months. The total rebates each eligible household will receive in financial year 2023 starting in April range from $440 to $760, depending on the flat type. This amount is the same as that in FY2022 – double the households’ regular U-Save payments, which come in the form of rebates in utility bills.
These payouts are part of the enhanced permanent GST Voucher scheme and Household Support Package announced at Budget 2023 to help Singaporeans tide over higher inflation and to cushion the impact of the GST hike.
The GST Voucher payments comprise cash and MediSave, U-Save for utilities and S&CC rebates.
These payouts will be given in four tranches – in April, July and October this year, and in January 2024, said MOF.
👉 https://str.sg/i3ZH
👉 https://str.sg/iog6
👉 https://str.sg/iZHY
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[10:57 am, 05/06/2023] +Frankie Wee: SC & C increased price but I note worker didn’t do well job when left unclean area.
[11:01 am, 05/06/2023] +9richard: Wrong timing to increase sc & c charges
[11:06 am, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Cost will pass on to consumers!
[11:13 am, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: this sc and c is ridiculous
[11:13 am, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: each hdb unit have to pay for snc and also rubbish collection
[11:13 am, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: and the quality of the scnc provision is really just surface job....
[11:14 am, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: show face at the ground level and make it look clean
[11:14 am, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: but for the every floor which payee are staying is usually full of dust and dirt on daily basis den once a mth spray water
[11:14 am, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: seriously at this point in time to raise SNC
[11:15 am, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: is it a callable action?
[11:25 am, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Conservancy rebates must rise in tandem with cost!
[11:38 am, 05/06/2023] +~chua: Extremely correct I stay at commonwealth crescent where it mostly older flats, these worker actually ignore the residents even if they home and just in 1 minute you heard sound and they are gone the next minute, They should at least spray water onto the corridor drain and the drainage holes which usually lies fallen trees leaves & dust at each level.
[11:38 am, 05/06/2023] +Sam: We are going through a bad cycle of inflation, when most operating cost gone up, it is hard for TC not to raise charges. Else, something must be cut whether lesser workers or less cleaning.
[11:39 am, 05/06/2023] +Sam: The worker quality and work performance is another issue
[11:40 am, 05/06/2023] +Sam: Often TC subcontract out the work. The quote are generally higher nowadays
[11:40 am, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: Agree. It is not up to standard
[11:48 am, 05/06/2023] +XaniceAfcai: S n c increase but service level never up.
Every month, I have to report to one service app(call tc no use) to report the fault thinggy ard neighborhood regardless fr littering, uncleared rubbish, dirty/smelly lift, sign board gg to drop, flooding due to choke leaves or rubbish (aka pub eveb Call me to send the photo where I asked them don't tc reported or send the photo, why call me) , pest aka ants crawling fr the bins to letterbox, noise pollution aka zooming monitor, ppls yelling at carpark, park at midnight etc...
Even after reporting, tc did call me done or reply thru one service app. But there were few occasions that task still not complete done n reoccurring up to 4th times.
Didn't tc counter check what was done after resident reported etc..we …
[11:49 am, 05/06/2023] +XaniceAfcai: True. Agreed 1001%
[11:50 am, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: We need to remind them to keep standards. Not a good way to reward laziness or lazier fair attitude. Keep standards only when complaining. Are town council top heavy? Like some logistic company management paid more and workers paid less and the work harder.
[11:55 am, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: I came across an estate where the contractors told me . They are paid so little to do the job. So who's pocketing all the collections? Maybe they should be transparent, where the Money goes.
[11:56 am, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: Another resident shared that they increased the fee. Cleanliness last only for 3 months after that estate dirty
[11:57 am, 05/06/2023] +XaniceAfcai: That why I guess if got estate awards, I think my name will get popular in the oneservice app.i even told the tc staff, I'm not complaining but those things I m feedback is fir improvement of the estate and also pose danger to ppls. Eg mirror at lift landing dangling ..sign board by the roadside gg to fall..which will pose danger n accident to ppls. Dun wait until accident happen then resolve.
Said understand few times but services still like that since I'm been living at the same estate for 10+ yrs.
The only time Im so pissed 😡 was to write to mp on noise pollution at carpark during midnight when thing dun resolve for 3 month. With immediate attention, mp sent email to relevant parties involving nea, tc, police and hdb. Wow ...thereafter, saw 🚓 petroll…
[11:58 am, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: Like I shared before CEO who raised prices is a no brainier. Then why pay so much for the CEO. We all can do the job. Who's sitting on their laurels and not working
[11:58 am, 05/06/2023] +YT: To be fair, it's a very small increase. Running a town is not just a matter of cleaning and maintenance. Many underestimate what it takes to keep our towns running. I feel Town councils should be more open and also more willing to tell us where our contributions of S&CC go towards. This will help many people to understand that it's not so easy to run a town.
[0:01 pm, 05/06/2023] +XaniceAfcai: Agreed. Reported certain period very clean but back to square one....
How to justify the service standard provided and the s n c increase.
Despite of only pasting paper at lift landing to inform ppls not to littering, dripping water etc.....
I suggested that Rc or cc volunteer can go ard the estate or organise a educational guide to educate resident hie to improve the estate environment (eg go green, keep clean of the estate etc)
[0:01 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Yes
[0:01 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Until election
[0:02 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: So, why increase!?
[0:02 pm, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: I am all for paying good management and staff but I hate those who collect money and don't do exceptional performance rather that 'except optional ' work when people complain and don't keep standards
[0:03 pm, 05/06/2023] +XaniceAfcai: Recently, mp visit the other block... Then suddenly, the following wk, there is a banner to state by tc...junk will be cleared along the corridor n walkway which obstruct n pose danger ....
[0:04 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: To be fair also dun forget town council have enuff to invest and if they keep having surplus in fy are they spending wisely
[0:04 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Penny wise pound foolish
[0:05 pm, 05/06/2023] +XaniceAfcai: That why I question tc when the property mgr call me. I asked him..we resident are paying s n c...dun tc ppls come n see what kind of service or how 'horrible' is the estate.
[0:05 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Same for the other way if they overspent how are they budgetting
[0:05 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: In a mnc having too much or overspent means one mgt is screw up
[0:06 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Remember public service is using the hard earn money of the public is not money drop frm the sky
[0:07 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Every cents use are bloodied money of the people and it should be put to good use
[0:07 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Am sure we have no issue for investment if the quality of service is up to certain standard not asking 100% stanb by bed quality
[0:09 pm, 05/06/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: I hv no issues with the increase but I hope the increase goes to paying the cleaners to help them with increased cost of living.
I also hope the $20-50 increase to hawkers don’t translate to another $0.50 increase in food prices! Where is CASE?
[0:14 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
I live in an opposition wards.
Dead mouse in different places for a few days never clean up.
Until I report to oneservice app.
Got broken glass along the void deck, didn't sweep for a couple of days.
[0:15 pm, 05/06/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: For those estates which is constantly dirty, I would suggest keep logging each feedback using one service app. Over time, it forms a factual pattern that is actionable. Now it’s just he say I say, no facts. Need to build case against current Town council team.
[0:15 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
So look like it happens everywhere.
Opposition wards service also not up to standard.
[0:16 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Ivory tower part time mp election gimmick show face!
[0:17 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Agree
[0:17 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Yes
[0:22 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
At home I can't keep my house absolutely free from pests.
Occasionally, cockroach, lizards, some insects will visit my house.
Next time no plastic bags to hold home waste will be worst.
[0:23 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Sfa approved some insects for human consumption!?
[0:24 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Hahaha, definitely not cockroach, lizards, ants or those small flying insects that crowd around the toilet.
[0:25 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Wonder how to keep my house pest free?
[0:26 pm, 05/06/2023] +XaniceAfcai: That what I did..build case over 3 month for noise pollution via oneservice app, video, photo as evidence n wrote to mp.
[0:37 pm, 05/06/2023] +Smiley face: "...by over regulating or creating more markets or unintentionally created steeper competition may not yield benefits or solutions to the impediments and social flaws of the 8 billions of lives. Let's start thinking more deeply about how we live, when, where, what, why and how the streams of benefit are allocated to whom...?"
- - anonymity
[0:38 pm, 05/06/2023] +Smiley face: Sembcorp in preliminary talks for potential sale of SembWaste
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/sembcorp-in-preliminary-talks-for-potential-sale-of-sembwaste
[0:56 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rose M K Ho: Agree.
[1:15 pm, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: Just curious, the who shared not much, up to what amount is not okay?
[1:35 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. It is natural that increase in charges, people will not be happy - as there will be additional burden to household cost of living - in lieu with the current high inflation.
2. However, before we start to get work up, we will also need to look at the justification of why the conservancy charges need to increase.
3. Like in business, revenue need to cover costs.
If the town council have taken steps to keep cost down, but other uncontrollable factors are pushing the cost up eg :-
a. Salaries
b. Energy prices
c. Spare parts, components cost
- then if the town council go into red - when cost run ahead of revenue - it will means:-
4. It will have to cut cost somewhere eg.
a. Reduce maintenance of lift
b. Reduce collection of rubbish
c. Sweep the floor less often
d. Pest control less often - like spraying insecticide rubbish chutes to clear cockroach
e. Fumigation to control mosquito
f. Landscaping to cut grass, flowers, trees.
g. Repair faulty playground, void deck fixtures etc.
[1:38 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
5. Obviously, poorer service is not acceptable, hence to ensure town council to operate its estate management without falling standard - some price increase will be justifiable.
[1:41 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
6. Else a business cannot operate at a loss whereby cost exceed revenue.
Likewise town council can't operate in red - if cost keep exceeded revenue collected.
Where will the money come from - short of borrowing from "dai yi loong" - loanshark/Ah Loong?
[1:46 pm, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: Now they are sweeping Floors less often and not keeping the areas clean. Increase prices will not help. It could be a systemic problem. Doing the same and expecting good results is like banging your head more with more coins
[1:48 pm, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: They need to look at it innovatively rather than raise prices . I am okay with good management and wise policies and keeping good standards but not for free loaders and standards are bad
[1:51 pm, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: Maybe they should share how they try to save cost and improve productivity rather than just raised cost
[1:51 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Looking at the u-rebate given to HDB household - on average $500 per year.
2. The coming $600 + $450 (max) - cost of living voucher depending on house types and income.
3. The increase of town council charges are about $6 per month or $72 per year.
4. Taken into second year increase of another $6 per month on average, another $72.
In total, it will be $144 increase in charges.
5. The rebate more than fully covered the charges increase for 2 years - if we do a rational calculation devoid of emotion.
[1:55 pm, 05/06/2023] +~N: Salary and career progression review for both blue and white collar workers will be helpful, especially for demographic groups that may be overlooked.
[1:57 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: A delicate balance to increase cost, subsidies and salary accordingly.
[1:58 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: A minimum part time wage across all sectors too to cushion the impact!
[2:02 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Oops col voucher should be $400 + $300.
[2:04 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Means testing will lower actual amount for some
[2:04 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Depends on income and housing type.
[2:04 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Yes
[2:05 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
So it is giving a whole chicken but take back a drumstick.
[2:06 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Unlike last time, give a drumstick but take back a whole chicken.
So we are lucky this time.
[2:06 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: The pattern is widely known!
[2:07 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Give a inch but take a yard!
[2:07 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Well life is not a utopia - because resources are scarce.
But demand is never yielding.
[2:08 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: To each their own!
[2:10 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心: https://www.thestreet.com/technology/elon-musk-flags-sophisticated-attack-against-apples-iphones
Elon Musk Flags Sophisticated Attack Against Apple's iPhones.
Computer-security company Kaspersky indicates that a sophisticated new malware is affecting iPhones, including those of its own employees.
[2:12 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
To sound an alert, there is an APT attack on iPhone exploiting its iOS vulnerabilities.
No need to click anything, APT malware is loaded into the iPhone and can remotely controlled.
So those who own an iPhone, look out if your iPhone display abnormal behaviour.
Even proprietary iPhone iOS is not safe.
[2:13 pm, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: I think it's not the charges it's the quality of services. I think the tag line of folks is that the government doesn't give Money for free , they will take it back . One way or another. I don't think that would be a good tagline to have. Like your dad give you school allowance then charge you for utilities and cleaning and food. Hahaha
[2:14 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Well, public service also has a cost.
It will have to charge somewhere.
If not through tax, will be through its services.
[2:14 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Yup
[2:16 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Likewise transport.
Either it subside heavily with very low transport charges but heavy tax ( whereby tax are raise from people not using it) - the most equitable way is to collect from those people that use it.
Same as town council charges.
Those who stay in HDB pay the charges.
Cannot be those who live in condo or landed properties pay for it - because they don't stay there - by raising taxes.
[2:21 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Agree
[2:25 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: To increase the sinking fund, I understand but contractors must be paid more to pay their workers too.
[2:25 pm, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: When citizens want more, they're greedy and lazy. When Town council wants more it's cost.
[2:27 pm, 05/06/2023] +Jimmy Chew: When I told my friends government is generous, most of them replied wait, they will take it back. Hahaha
[2:27 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Exactly !
[2:27 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Any increase in cost must be shared equally with the contractors who maintain the estates
[2:29 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Last time in a condo apartment, mgt committee also raise the needs to increase management fees due to rising cost.
Then residents make the same complaints like what is mention here, lobby dirty, leaves and flowers never clear up, rubbish not clear timely etc.
Then I noticed the ah pek cleaner also come back Saturday and Sunday to do the cleaning.
I talk to him why he came back to clean up the estate as it is supposed to be his rest days.
He politely say, it is also his work.
If he come back over the weekend to clean up the estate, then he will have less to clean on weekdays.
But I say then you don't have rest days and is working 365 days a week.
He smiles and say he is alone at home, working make him happy and can earn some income.
Then I told him, if he feel unwell, weekends just take a break.
He didn't say residents complain about the mgt fees increase - and that is why he work harder to make up.
But I am very clear where he is coming from.
[2:32 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
And some condo residents expect the ah pek cleaner to collect their rubbish from their doorstep instead of bringing it down to the central rubbish collection point.
They say, mgt fees increase, so they expect better service.
[2:36 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: This is too much!😳😖😡😞
[2:43 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
So I am wondering, if people demand higher wages to cope with the inflation, does management expect workers to work doubly hard - because management increase wages to workers.
Is that the expectation of everyone?
[2:46 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Wages increase is justified along with costs but not for blady doorstep collection!
[2:53 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Hence I am always mindful of one word :- "Empathy".
2. Be able to see in our own shoes, and then reverse "to be able to see in the other person shoes".
3. If I do it to others, can people take it?
The same thing, if people do it to me, can I take it?
4. If I cannot accept unreasonable demand, likewise, I won't demand it on others - hence the word "Empathy".
5. Thus coming back to my own house, can I keep my house "pest free"?
Can I keep my house tidy every time?
Can I keep my house dust free?
6. I would say I try to do a reasonable tidying.
Cleanliness is "relative".
7. When my wife complains, I say "please show me your standard of cleanliness".
8. Then I reverse my role, how come still dirty, how come still got pest, then she "suck thumb" - and don't complain anymore.
Talk is easy, action is difficult.
9. Hence I often take the " Middle Path", "Empathy", "Be Reasonable".
[2:58 pm, 05/06/2023] +Frankie Wee: Then whole HDB will use robots take over their jobs. There will be less manpower to do.
[2:58 pm, 05/06/2023] +Frankie Wee: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/robots-for-cleaning-floors-disinfecting-lift-panels-among-technologies-being-tested-at
[2:58 pm, 05/06/2023] +Frankie Wee: Indian worker will have go if they are not happy salary.
[2:59 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Agree
[3:06 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
"WP MP Louis Chua calls for balanced CPF OA rates to safeguard Singaporeans’ retirement funds againts inflation"
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2023/05/31/wp-mp-louis-chua-calls-for-balanced-cpf-oa-rates-to-safeguard-singaporeans-retirement-funds-againts-inflation/#:~:text=WP%20MP%20Louis%20Chua%20calls%20for%20balanced%20CPF%20OA%20rates%20to%20safeguard%20Singaporeans%E2%80%99%20retirement%20funds%20againts%20inflation
[3:06 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
WP MP is always getting the policy wrong misplacing their compassion.
1. CPF OA is not for retirement - mainly use by people to service their HDB flats, condo and landed properties housing loan.
Currently 2.5%, means people using CPF OA to finance their house will have to pay 2.6%.
An increase in CPF OA interest rate will make people having to pay a higher interest rate to finance their house loans - putting a heavier financial burden and not helping the people to cushion higher cost of living.
Hence WP MP often get the "ball wrong" - making matter worst than helping.
2. PAP government is getting the policy right by increasing CPF SA and medisave interest rate to 4.01% - because CPF SA account are use to finance retirement by moving to CPF retirement account upon 55 years old.
Medisave is also used to pay for medical bills.
Both these accounts will help to cushion higher cost of living - and will not increase burden onto people using OA to finance their housing loans.
3. Else young couples, middle age people who are still struggling to repay their housing loans will have unnecessary heavy burden if CPF OA interest rate are increased as suggested by WP MP.
[3:06 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
羊毛出在羊身上。 When interest rates are very low, Cpf rates held the fort and not let mortgagees down. Now, so quickly want to raise rates. Where the money come from huh? Raise gst to pay increase in Cpf rates, can?
[3:06 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
That's why CPF OA rate is a stabiliser to help Singaporeans to service their housing loan.
Cannot anyhow increase.
It will break those people who rely on CPF OA to service their housing loans.
Else many housing loan default will happen - causing untold unnecessary suffering to people.
That's why WP MP many cannot make it.
[3:09 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: How to elect such idiots!?
[3:10 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
That's why, always do critical thinking.
Don't just look at the surface in each policy.
Delve deeply, understand the consequences of every policy and the overall impact.
Devoid of emotion.
[3:16 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Also don't rely on ChatGPT to provide the answer.
Because ChatGPT is devoid of consciousness, feeling, mental formation and judgement.
ChatGPT will just provide the answer that are trained from data model.
ChatGPT conscience is as good as the data trained.
[3:20 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Agree
[3:21 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Don't trust AI!
[3:24 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Can use and exploit it.
But do critical thinking, because AI ChatGPT is a deep neural network that emulate how a human think.
But ChatGPT is as good as human data feed into it.
It has no mental consciousness to guide it.
Human being is wholesome because it have both intelligence + mental consciousness.
Most solutions will be guided by mental consciousness.
[3:33 pm, 05/06/2023] +Khuan Yew: I think the increase in service charges is reasonable and should be expected because of inflation and also because the government wants to increase the wages of low wage workers. I think the assumption of higher service charges should equal better cleanliness of the estate is flawed. Increasing wages of cleaners will increase service charges with no change in cleanliness.
There is also another issue with some residents not taking care of their estate and it makes the work harder for the cleaners. Some observations:
1) some residents may throw litter like tissue paper outside their windows
2) bulk refuse like furniture is dumped at the common areas instead of informing the town council in advance to assist with the removal. The cleaners then have to spend time clearing these from the ground floor.
3) some residents litter the ground with unburnt paper offerings and plastic wrappers when observing their religious customs. I wish they would clear these instead of leaving it to the cleaners.
4) unwanted junk mail is dumped on the floor by residents
5) cleaners work from 7 am to 7 pm from Mondays to Sundays. We should treat them with respect and realise that they are already working very long hours to clean up the mess that others make.
[3:38 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: If the expectation of I creased charges cannot be equate to expectation of service den the same shld apply to the whole economy aka take salary but no need to expect boss or company requirement regardless of what economical reasons like inflation
[3:39 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Think we are brought up in a society where u paid to get the most service is this not what was and is in the civil sector...
[3:39 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Thus if such concept is leak out to the public guess what will happen?
[3:41 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: We hold ourselves at a high standard thus either we maintain or do better not because of ohh inflation this things like expectation or quality of service or goods can be lower or stagnant
[3:41 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: That is what is happening in some sectors inflation portion of food become smaller, etc
[3:46 pm, 05/06/2023] +Timothy Low: I believe the cleanliness of the estate is also dependable on the type of residents staying in that estate. My mum is living in a 2 bedroom flat under PAP ward and for the past 15 years the entire block is very dirty. Can see rubbish everywhere with rats and cockroaches running about.
[4:02 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. In this era of inflation, my food quality and quantity no change as prices increase.
Ta pow container, they charge 20 cents - previously use plastic bag - free. Recently increase to 30 cents.
2. Groceries, almost all item prices increase - with no improvement in quality and quantity.
3. In fact for some items, price increases but quantity shrink.
4. Wages increase for many people, but customer services received from organisation still the same - didn't see visible improvement in services.
[4:06 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
5. Rightfully with 5% to 6% increase in salaries to our workforce, we should see a 5% to 6% improvement in services.
But still the same leh.
[4:09 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
6. Eg. Previously when we buy car at coe only $30,000 - the car is one with 4 wheels.
But now the Coe is $100,000, we should expect the car to come with wings.
But the car look the same leh.
[4:21 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Agree
[4:21 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: 😳😄
[4:25 pm, 05/06/2023] +Smiley face: June 5, 2023
" The business of Maintenance"
"So what are the tricks and treats in any business or service? Cutting costs from labor supplied, or less materials, or not in accordance to the contractual obligations or all of it?"
- - anonymity
Cutting Corners or Covering Corners? (不是这个，就是那个 ? 偷工减料? 加工添料? )
[4:26 pm, 05/06/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢
Service and conservancy charges (S&CC) will be raised twice over the next two years for Housing Board residents, shops, offices, markets and food stalls under PAP town councils due to rising costs.
The first increase, which takes effect from July 1, will have monthly fees rising by between $0.70 and $7.90 for HDB flats. Commercial property owners and tenants will see an increase ranging from $0.01 to $0.40 per sq m. Market and food stalls will have their fees hiked between $2.20 and $31.50.
💬 What are your views on the increase in Service and conservancy charges (S&CC) charges in view of the GST Voucher payments? What more can done to support HDB residents, shops, offices, markets and food stalls owners?
S&CC rates will differ among towns de…
[4:28 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: 2x raise some more like gst clap clap
[4:29 pm, 05/06/2023] +Smiley face: One, the size of a property matters, the larger built-in area and the surroundings, the more maintenance it needs and the costs to maintain this property varies with the scope of works predetermined based on experience and planning, essentials or cut down on certain non-essential areas to save cost and manpower.
Two, the residents of this property have the rights to assess the quality of maintenance works and the team that is in-charge and it is subject to complaint and feedback. These residents voices must be taken seriously because it will affect the entire population that is residing in that block or a cluster of blocks!
Three, all people would love to return to their homes with clean walkways, working lift and nice greenery; a well maintained area an…
[4:29 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Raise in pay in tandem with the current global inflation is like no rise in take home pay
[4:29 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Dun forget come Sept cpf contri will further reduce take home cash
[4:30 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Also to those who quite cleanliness is up to the residents I agree to that but have anyone consider the % of non locals who do share the same social habits
[4:31 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: To them having a peat infested house is fine
[4:31 pm, 05/06/2023] +Smiley face: The Power to Purchase has shrunk...
Hi Ah Heng!
[4:31 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Or should the workers make to work extra half day in Saturday to make up for the 5% to 6% salary increments.
I am sure nobody wants right.....
[4:31 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Pest I mean
[4:32 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Also many resident are renting out to workers who stink up the place and hygiene level in those units are well very powerful....
[4:32 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Cook in room
[4:32 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: No respect for the landlord premises!
[4:33 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Not being bias but this is what happen when we open more and more and more
[4:34 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Of 100 migrants workers to have 30 who is willing to learnt the way of living of the land we are lucky
[4:34 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Agree
[4:34 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Yes
[4:35 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: When local speak up defending our way of living we get names called like what xenophobic, racists etc...hey try that in USA may be a bullet will bite one cos they too believe in defending their social habits
[4:36 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Try that in Japan u get a soft but sarcastic teaching frm ur neighbour
[4:36 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Yes
[4:36 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Try changing the way Chinese in china live u get socially shame and maybe lock up for disturbance social
[4:36 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Definitely
[4:37 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: So as locals we should speak up more and stop what is socially not right
[4:37 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: That disturb our way of living
[4:37 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Wait long long!
[4:38 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Millennium generation thinks Western concepts of living
[4:39 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Many countries youth have lost its own identity like LKY says show me that Freedom and Human rights can bring food home
[4:39 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Totally agree
[4:39 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: In our current times we had seen what so call freedom and human rights brought to Syria, Iraq, Libya etc etc
[4:40 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Had their people reach a level of what the new world, or they become refugees worst then their past
[4:40 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Totally the opposite!
[4:40 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Now back to the topic
[4:41 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Like mentioned if TC have funds for investment ...what makes this rise justified. How much surplus they had all these while in their budget?
[4:41 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Were they always in red or black?
[4:42 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: What are their reason for justifying the cost of these rises
[4:42 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: To fatten their kitty!
[4:43 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Add up all the rising cost and charges one will see whatever being given is only a penny % against the rising cost
[4:43 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Are their books open to public scrutiny!?
[4:43 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Is really a stab in the back for the middle class
[4:43 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: What kind of investment!?
[4:44 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Gst, utilities, transportation, now snc
[4:44 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Forget lehmen brother i think that's where the public learnt the investment by tc
[4:45 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: I mean no wrong u can invest.... Is to grow ur coffer. But at this time everyone is scrapping the bottom of their rice pot
[4:46 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Public money so be open where it is!
[4:46 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: Note COE is not added cos like my last stand car is a luxury item
[4:51 pm, 05/06/2023] +Ah Heng: No one is stopping anyway to earn more business want to earn, workers want to earn, govt need to earn but some sectors need to be the one paying these WANTS ....is cycle ....and sometimes is timing of execution of the rise
[4:54 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Exactly
[5:25 pm, 05/06/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: All the “profits” go to gov lah. Not car manufacturers.
Gov use the money to make cycling track, join East Coast to West Coast etc
So I’m afraid to winged cars anytime soon but can look forward to better cycling/running tracks…
[5:25 pm, 05/06/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: To winged = no winged
[5:29 pm, 05/06/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: I recall reading in papers that they are all in the red. Need gov top up to be able to break even.
[5:30 pm, 05/06/2023] ☸️ Danny 心:
Hahaha...
It meant to be a humour.
[5:56 pm, 05/06/2023] +REACH: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/s-pore-turf-club-to-close-racecourse-in-kranji-by-march-2027-to-make-way-for-housing-and-other-uses
[6:13 pm, 05/06/2023] +Smiley face: Singapore to double capacity for subsea cable landings to enhance digital connectivity
https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/tech-news/singapore-to-double-capacity-for-subsea-cable-landings-to-enhance-digital-connectivity
[6:13 pm, 05/06/2023] +Rama: Edging closer to a population of 10M!?
[6:39 pm, 05/06/2023] +Smiley face: "What I hear, I forget; What I see, I remember; What I do, I understand."
- - Confucius
"If everything seems under control, you are just not going fast enough."
- - Mario Andretti (race car champion)
[6:48 pm, 05/06/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
[6:55 pm, 05/06/2023] +Smiley face: June 5, 2023
To: Our Distinguished Leaders and All Honorable Members
" The business of Maintenance"
"So what are the tricks and treats in any business or service? Cutting costs from labor supplied, or less materials, or not in accordance to the contractual obligations or all of it?"
- - anonymity
Cutting Corners or Covering Corners? (不是这个，就是那个 ? 偷工减料? 加工添料? )
One, the size of a property matters, the larger built-in area and the surroundings, the more maintenance it needs and the costs to maintain this property varies with the scope of works predetermined based on experience and planning, essentials or cut down on certain non-essential areas to save cost and manpower.
Two, the residents of this property have the rights to assess the quality of maintenance works and the team that is in-charge and it is subject to complaint and feedback. These residents voices must be taken seriously because it will affect the entire population that is residing in that block or a cluster of blocks!
Three, all people would love to return to their homes with clean walkways, working lift and nice greenery; a well maintained area and property tends to fetch higher prices too!
On the economies of scale, the Town councils are managing the largest areas compared to the ECs or Condos. The latter have swimming pools and security guards and both monthly service fees are much higher than any HDB flats monthly service fees. It is generally more affordable for all HDB dwellers to pay for these fees. How about HDB flats property tax, water and electricity bills compared to EC and Condo?
Are there subsidises and or benefits deriving from the larger scale of these TCs or nil?
Circumstances?
Besides manpower shortage during Covid; what are the costs, the standards and quality of TC services, the operational and maintenance issues and challenges from the perspective of pre Covid, during Covid and today's post Covid?
"Contractor promised this, workers doing that...?"
So what are acceptable cleaning standards to adopt? What are the criteria in determining a cleaning job is done properly and a good job?
Giving demerit points to contractor and/or contract cleaners may not help in upping the quality of work done (LD). So what other ways to supervise and monitor these maintenance jobs on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis?
Are there areas of immediate concern to address and resolve, to relook at all maintenance issues?
Schedules?
Perhaps, two ways in looking at schedule of maintenance works.
One is essential and daily while the other is less urgent and weekly or ad-hoc?
Total audit?
How can Town Council quantify and qualify scopes of workload?
Manpower is one key enabler if the TC needs an upgrade of service and quality of works to the area of concerns. The cost of labor is no longer cheap nor it is easy to employ more helping hands. Either you pay more to these manual workers and skilled workers or risking many areas not covered or unable to cope with the daily or monthly mandatory services.
All things equal, the cost of maintenance has been going up worse still given the present stubborn inflation of goods and services. All pointing to the inevitable increase in the monthly fees to maintain the living spaces.
How to assess the cleanliness and relevant jobs?
Foremost, the Town Council must undertake a 360 internal and external assessments of their functions, roles, the contractors' roles and lastly the present value of all these services rendered by contracts.
Secondly, comparatively, the supplied labor suffice the scope and areas of intent. There are work-in-progress and works that are non negotiable; that means the exceptional level of cleaning and cleanliness needed for refuse, lifts, void deck, staircases, walkways and pest controls. The next is the frequency and intensity of keeping these crucial areas tip top where residents will notice from time to time and over a period of time; the residents will know the areas of slacking and the areas of exceptional jobs done!
Simply, there are no blindspots whereby nobody will notice nor nobody will not eyeball that leading to feedback or to complaint with evidences submitted to the TC.
Now, perhaps it's is timely for the TCs to strike a balance between what they can competently do and what areas need more efforts in achieving a higher level of quality whether it is routine or an adhoc job within the TC managed vicinity.
Thirdly, start by re-establishing trusts among contractors, TC, workers and residents. No one wishes to complaint and complaint unless it matters so much and more often it is due to slacking of cleaning and other common issues that irritate many residents.
Let's start a fresh approach of a friendlier relationships among these stakeholders. It is not about complaining, it is about complimenting good jobs and highlighting and accepting areas that need to be brushup and in shipshape too!
A smart way is to hold the staffs of the TC to be answerable to the areas of assignment. The job performance will be based on the number of complaints and compliments by the residents; the basic for bonus and/or pay increase!
How can the contract workers better coordinate with the TC executives to ensure they all are doing what they are supposed to do and the quality of works have to be above satisfactory grade?
Fourth, how to grade the quality of work done? A score card behold by the TC executives and they will go for spot checks to assign alphabet A, B, C with A as good job, B is above satisfactory and if the workers or the team is able to turn the area in A grade, incentive awards will be given every quarterly, and C means the areas will be closely supervised for up to a month. A continuous C grade of three times will result in temporary stop work to include penalty to contractor or termination of service contract within the following quarter.
Fifth, for all TC executives slack in their duties, similar consequences as to what a contractor or any worker will face!
All residents should help keep their living environments clean and not behaving selfishly, be considerate.
Finally, to summarise, nobody wishes to complaint, complaint and over and over. In a community style of living comprising all walks of life and different human behaviors too! It is also reasonable for residents to expect a higher level of cleanliness and livable environments from the door steps and onto the bus interchange or the MRT station they all recognise these existential infrastructures as part of their homes!
- - in progress - -
[7:00 pm, 05/06/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
=====
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