Comments on: Birmingham Council Gatekeeping, with benefit of transcript http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript Housing law news and comment Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:27:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Al http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3135 Al Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:02:55 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3135 I recently spoke to someone close to Birmingham's homeless unit. [Edited by NL. Al made some extensive allegations about the internal management and operation of the Birmingham homeless unit, apparently based on information from someone 'close to' the unit. Now, while we have and may well continue to criticise the lawfulness of the HPU's decisions and adopted policies from time to time, this is not the proper place for allegations about its operation and management - that is a purely administrative matter and outside the realm of a housing law blog, save where they have demonstrably played a role in the decision-making. They were also allegations that we would not be able to substantiate. For those reasons, I've cut the comment.] I recently spoke to someone close to Birmingham’s homeless unit.

[Edited by NL. Al made some extensive allegations about the internal management and operation of the Birmingham homeless unit, apparently based on information from someone 'close to' the unit. Now, while we have and may well continue to criticise the lawfulness of the HPU's decisions and adopted policies from time to time, this is not the proper place for allegations about its operation and management - that is a purely administrative matter and outside the realm of a housing law blog, save where they have demonstrably played a role in the decision-making. They were also allegations that we would not be able to substantiate. For those reasons, I've cut the comment.]

]]> By: Humphrey http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3134 Humphrey Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:53:46 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3134 I aqree - being a homelessness officer, sorry a 'homeless prevention officer' or a 'housing options officer' requires no formal training or qualification whatsoever. Perhaps the sector's lack of professionalism in respect to training, qualification and support makes these cases inevitable - bring on Homelessness 101, Housing Options 102 and Gatekeeping 103 - well perhaps not that last one. Actually I might be up for a Midlands branch of the Homelessness Practitioners Association (although I think HPA has already been taken)........ I aqree – being a homelessness officer, sorry a ‘homeless prevention officer’ or a ‘housing options officer’ requires no formal training or qualification whatsoever. Perhaps the sector’s lack of professionalism in respect to training, qualification and support makes these cases inevitable – bring on Homelessness 101, Housing Options 102 and Gatekeeping 103 – well perhaps not that last one. Actually I might be up for a Midlands branch of the Homelessness Practitioners Association (although I think HPA has already been taken)……..

]]> By: Lets all play the blame game http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3133 Lets all play the blame game Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:09:12 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3133 It really is time Birmingham's homeless team sorted itself out, sack the lot of them and start again! - As the CLP will no doubt agree having seen many decision letters, as well as the policy and procedures being wrong the individual staff haven't a clue what they are doing either. They all need an intense training course and a reminder that they are dealing with real people in housing crisis. It really is time Birmingham’s homeless team sorted itself out, sack the lot of them and start again! – As the CLP will no doubt agree having seen many decision letters, as well as the policy and procedures being wrong the individual staff haven’t a clue what they are doing either. They all need an intense training course and a reminder that they are dealing with real people in housing crisis.

]]> By: S http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3132 S Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:24:53 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3132 Looking at this on a macro level and beyond the appalling treatment of the applicants in this, and all the other non-reported cases, I really hope (and it is properly naive) that this gets picked up beyond our circles. The real questions is why are Birmingham CC, and the city and borough councils, adopting these tactics? It is not because of a few bad apples, it is not (I don't believe anyway) because the policy makers love seeing homeless people on the streets or living in poor housing conditions, but due to the targets imposed upon them by central government. Even in this current climate, I think the general public would be appalled by that. Looking at this on a macro level and beyond the appalling treatment of the applicants in this, and all the other non-reported cases, I really hope (and it is properly naive) that this gets picked up beyond our circles.

The real questions is why are Birmingham CC, and the city and borough councils, adopting these tactics?

It is not because of a few bad apples, it is not (I don’t believe anyway) because the policy makers love seeing homeless people on the streets or living in poor housing conditions, but due to the targets imposed upon them by central government.

Even in this current climate, I think the general public would be appalled by that.

]]> By: Humphrey http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3131 Humphrey Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:55:54 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3131 And the really good part is that if the conditions for referral are met then the receiving LA i.e. BCC cannot wriggle out of accepting the case. And the really good part is that if the conditions for referral are met then the receiving LA i.e. BCC cannot wriggle out of accepting the case.

]]> By: J http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3130 J Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:44:10 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3130 I'm aware of such advice being given - apply to a small district council in rural England and wait for them to send you back to London/Manchester/Birmingham etc. I’m aware of such advice being given – apply to a small district council in rural England and wait for them to send you back to London/Manchester/Birmingham etc.

]]> By: Humphrey http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3129 Humphrey Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:50:44 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3129 Assuming this continues over the Xmas shutdown will the easier approach simply be to apply to A N Other LA and have the clients accommodated then s198'd back to BCC? Assuming this continues over the Xmas shutdown will the easier approach simply be to apply to A N Other LA and have the clients accommodated then s198′d back to BCC?

]]> By: Chris J http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3128 Chris J Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:22:43 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3128 Yes B'ham are bad but rest assured they are not the only ones. Another (mini)battalion at CLP represents Gypsies and Travellers throughout England and Wales. Homeless Gypsies and Travellers regularly get turned away at first approach to the relevant homelessness department, reasons including: 1) you've got a home i.e. the caravan (even though no authorised pitch- s175(2)(b) Housing Act 1996 refers); 2) we only do bricks and mortar ( R(Price) v Carmarthenshire refers); 3) you can go on the housing waiting list; and many more This year's special award though goes to Basingstoke County Court who sent back our client's homeless appeal on the basis that this was not something that the county court dealt with. So obviously all homelessness decisions in the Basingstoke area are absolutely perfect..or could it be .... And, back to Kelly and Mehari, special mention to my colleague Mike McIlvaney and to Zia Nabi of 1 Pump Court who had to put in a lot of homework to prove what they already knew was happening.Philip Marlowe would be proud of you, guys. Yes B’ham are bad but rest assured they are not the only ones. Another (mini)battalion at CLP represents Gypsies and Travellers throughout England and Wales. Homeless Gypsies and Travellers regularly get turned away at first approach to the relevant homelessness department, reasons including:
1) you’ve got a home i.e. the caravan (even though no authorised pitch- s175(2)(b) Housing Act 1996 refers);
2) we only do bricks and mortar ( R(Price) v Carmarthenshire refers);
3) you can go on the housing waiting list;
and many more
This year’s special award though goes to Basingstoke County Court who sent back our client’s homeless appeal on the basis that this was not something that the county court dealt with. So obviously all homelessness decisions in the Basingstoke area are absolutely perfect..or could it be ….
And, back to Kelly and Mehari, special mention to my colleague Mike McIlvaney and to Zia Nabi of 1 Pump Court who had to put in a lot of homework to prove what they already knew was happening.Philip Marlowe would be proud of you, guys.

]]> By: P S http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3127 P S Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:18:24 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3127 i worked as agency staff with b'ham and their procedures are terrible. I find it disguisting they've used an officer as a scapegoat for their poor policy and i'm pleased the court seen through their feeble excuses. i worked as agency staff with b’ham and their procedures are terrible. I find it disguisting they’ve used an officer as a scapegoat for their poor policy and i’m pleased the court seen through their feeble excuses.

]]> By: dave http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2009/12/birmingham-council-gatekeeping-with-benefit-of-transcript/#comment-3126 dave Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:02:51 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/?p=3852#comment-3126 Blimey, that really takes the biscuit. You'd think they would have learned by now. They must be assuming that a certain proportion of applicants won't seek legal advice, which is gatekeeping of an even worse nature, really. Penal notices anyone? Blimey, that really takes the biscuit. You’d think they would have learned by now. They must be assuming that a certain proportion of applicants won’t seek legal advice, which is gatekeeping of an even worse nature, really. Penal notices anyone?

]]>