Seems the lords agree with me that East Ayrshire Council should be looking at medical cases for DHP's and NOT be basing all decisions on financial considerations only. This was the whole thrust of my piece in last weeks Kilmarnock Standard. http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/house-of-commons-22544406 …
Next East Ayrshire against the bedroom tax meeting will be in the John Knox Parish Church, High Street ,Stewarton on the 29th May at 7.30pm Disabled access is excellent. Members of our group will also be in Stewarton on Saturday the 25th May where local residents can sign the petition against the bedroom tax.
Saturday 27th April saw over 250 delegates and visitors from across the length and breadth of Scotland attend the conference to found the ’All Scottish Anti Bedroom Tax Federation’. Delegates represented 70 local anti-bedroom tax campaigns. Also sending delegates were four trade union branches representing local government and Housing Association workers.
In his opening remarks from the chair, Brian Smith, Branch Secretary of Glasgow City Unison and a member of Socialist Party Scotland set the tone in referring to the conference and the Federation as an expression of the local campaigns rooted in communities. "That is the strength of this movement, and that is how the bedroom tax will be defeated."
Alan Smart, aka Citizen Smart, opened the conference with his now legendary reworking of the Jeely Piece song, "You canny have a spare room in a pokey cooncil flat"... [Read More]
A few months back I had a visit from an EAC employee with reference to the bedroom tax. During that interview I was encouraged to apply for a DHP on medical grounds. I was told I required a letter from my doctor to accompany the application. I contacted my doctor and was told that they are not issuing letters and that if the council required evidence then they would need to make the request and a charge may be made. Realising the implications for a wide range of claimants with varying forms of disability I sent a Freedom of Information request to NHS Ayrshire and Arran on the subject who confirmed this position, these were passed to my MP.
So what is the problem? The problem is that EAC via its employees has misled tenants by saying that those who need a separate room should apply for a DHP. It is now obvious that EAC do not see these tenants as a priority and indeed are saying..... well let me copy and paste what the employee did say in her email to... [Read More]
The Trussell Trust describes itself as “a Christian charity that does not affiliate itself with any political party”. It is controlled by Tory Party Councillor and Mayor of Worthing, Neil Atkins and director Chris Mould, who splits his time between the Trussell Trust and the Shaftesbury Partnership.
The Shaftesbury Partnership is a “practice of professionals committed to large scale 21st Century social reform.” Co-founder was Nat Wei, who was appointed the Government’s Chief Adviser on Big Society in May 2010, now a life peer.
Other people in the Shaftesbury Partnership :
Dominic Llewellyn(Conservative party candidate in 2010 )who co-authored the government’s Big Society policies.
Shaftesbury’s recently departed head of operations Antony Hawkins states that he “developed conservative unemployment and welfare reform policy (“The Work Programme”). Planned the implementation of Conservative welfare policies in the Get... [Read More]
Kilmarnock against bedroom Tax next meeting is Thursday 9th May in the North West Youth Facility, Kirkton Road Onthank at 8pm. This meeting is open to any members of the public who wish to campaign against this hated tax.
Update: Should have added that our next public meeting looks like Stewarton, this is in the process of being organised by our Stewarton Delegate. Due to the need to inform Councillors, media etc in good time it looks like at least 2 weeks from now. I am also looking at the next Kilmarnock meeting in Shortlees this time round, again in the next few weeks.
Kilmarnock against Bedroom Tax: Next meeting to select officer bearers and delegates will be Tuesday 23rd April at 7.45pm in the North West Youth Facility Kirkton Road Onthank Kilmarnock. Unfortunately due to time constraints this was the only available venue that I could confirm a booking at short notice.
Also image from our meeting in Onthank on 16th April, look out for details of future meetings in Shortlees, Newmilns and Stewarton.
One of the largest Medical Practices in Kilmarnock has this week stated that it will not issue letters to patients in connection with the DWP welfare reforms. Where EAC are asking for letters to support a claim to the discretionary fund the surgery has said that the council should apply direct, there may be a charge and that in any event it is unlikely that the doctor will issue a letter.
No reason was given yet it seems that throughout Scotland this is the stance all medical practices are taking. This puts tenants in an impossible position.
For the last 3 weeks members have been at Kilmarnock Cross to distribute leaflets and obtain signatures for our petition. Over the last week or so many tenants have woken up to the reality of the bedroom tax largely due to the lack of any information from the local council. The membership is growing as is the anger. Tenants should be aware that now the hated tax is with us this does not end the matter, in fact we are just beginning.
Public Meeting Welfare Reforms and the Bedroom Tax Tuesday 16th April at 7.30pm North West Youth Facility. Kirkton Road Onthank, Kilmarnock - Next to the Community Centre
Speakers: Tommy Sheridan, Jim Monaghan All Welcome
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