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Issue - meetings

Public Questions

Meeting: 09/06/2011 - Cabinet (Item 6)

6 Public Questions pdf icon PDF 55 KB

(The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 2 June 2011)

 

(copy attached).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

6.1             The Chair reported that one public question had been received.

 

6.2             Ms  Claire Blakemore asked the following question on behalf of the Youth Advocacy Project:

 

On 22/03/2011 Care Leavers were removed from ‘priority need’ category for housing allocations. It appears there was no consultation of Care-Leavers or consideration of this group in the Equalities Impact Assessment.  

 

In the minutes of Housing Cabinet Meeting 22/03/11 the Green Party state “the policy is in serious danger of being discriminatory of those most in need”.

 

In future we request a full consultation with service users and any change in policy to be presented to the Corporate Parenting Board for scrutiny and ratification.

 

Can you assure us that this matter will be given the highest priority and resolved immediately?

 

6.3             The Chair reported that he and Councillor Mitchell had met with a group of Care-Leavers earlier in the year and shared concerns about the housing issues they faced. He had requested that it be a priority issue for discussion at the next meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board. He advised that the Administration was committed to doing more to support Care-Leavers.

 

6.4             Councillor Wakefield gave the following response:

 

“Thank you for your question. I agree with the general point that you made about Care-Leavers and, of course, we’ll always work to protect those that are most vulnerable in society

 

The allocation policy review in March 2011 was a major piece of work and, although the politics of the council were different at that time, the views of the Green Party remain consistent and we take this very seriously.

 

I would like to make a couple of points of clarification. We looked back at the paperwork and the minutes of the Housing Cabinet Member Meeting that you refer to in your question don’t actually reference a quote from the Green Party because they weren’t in fact any Green Party Members present at that meeting; however, former Councillor Rachel fryer did intervene to amend the report considered by the meeting to make some points on behalf of the Green Group. Her views included that fact that, at the time the report was being drafted, the Equalities Impact Assessment had not been seen and also the view that the policy that was proposed to be amended was in danger of being discriminatory to those most in need. We realise that this could include Care-Leavers and I can assure you that the matter you raise will be of highest priority

 

A few points just to reassure new colleagues here who many not be aware of the level of work that the officers have actually carried out on this already. Some consultation on the allocations policy was carried out at the time and under our new Administration, which is committed to open government, we can assure you that there will be further consultation with tenants. It was as a direct result of their input that the allocation policy was changed. An Equalities Impact Assessment was carried out and was provided when the report was considered.

 

There’s a general agreement that the most suitable accommodation for young people, including Care-Leavers, is supported accommodation and we’ve already developed various projects and are looking to fill any gaps in their provision”.

 

6.5             Ms Blakemore asked the following supplementary question:

 

“Will you consider those currently affected and can any further decisions be put on hold until the matter is looked into because young people are still receiving letters to say that they won’t be getting the housing they were expecting to get?”

 

6.6             Councillor Wakefield gave the following response:

 

“I will raise that with the officers involved and we will look into it further.”


 


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