Hendon MP ANDREW DISMORE is on summer recess, which really means a ten-week working 'vacation' leading up to the party conference season.

"You're off on your ten weeks holiday, then?" - the words that wind up any MP.

Although Parliament may be in recess, we're still working. Of course, the routine of letters, email and advice surgeries continues - constituents don't stop writing or contacting us for help or answers just because the Commons is not sitting. But the parliamentary work doesn't stop either these days.

As chairman of a select committee, I'm finalising the publication of three big reports coming out over the summer: one this week, on the fight against terrorism; next week, on immigration rules for highly skilled migrants; and in mid-August, our major inquiry of the past six months, on the treatment of the elderly in hospitals and care homes.

In September, we start our evidence hearings again, cross-examining the Home Office minister; and at the end of the month, the party conference season starts, with what is the inevitable week of rain in Bournemouth, Blackpool or Brighton.

Generally, though, the recess gives us time for our constituency work.

I'm in the middle of formal inspection visits to Hendon's big housing estates - something I've done every summer, since I was elected.

The problems and complaints remain depressingly familiar. Barnet Council seems incapable of cutting grass, killing weeds, picking up litter, but more importantly, maintaining the homes of thousands of our fellow residents.

The Labour Government has given the council £81million to improve council homes through the Decent Homes Initiative and, all over, I see new kitchens, bathrooms and windows being installed (though without giving credit to the Government for the programme) - except on the 'regeneration' estates.

For years the council has used the excuse 'this block is coming down', not to do any maintenance - understandable at first.

But when I receive a council letter in response to a request for a new security door, that there was not much point because the block 'was due to be demolished in 2017' - ten years off, after many years of waiting already - I see that as wholly unacceptable. It's just not fair to leave residents in this no-man's land of neglect for almost 20 years.

No wonder, when I asked residents their opinion, 84 per cent say the Conservative council has neglected their estate, 82 per cent that regeneration won't happen, and 76 per cent of tenants and 85 per cent of leaseholders didn't think the council treats them fairly - a consistent message across the area.

So that's why, as usual, I'm meeting residents and community groups throughout the summer, listening to them, representing their grievances and demanding action on their behalf.

I'll have a holiday too - a couple of weeks off, the same as most working people - a chance to get some exercise, recharge the batteries and catch up on my reading backlog - but not the ten weeks the press would have you believe.