Update 28.10.07:
The Scrutiny Working Group, comprising Councillor Sylvia Taylor, Councillor Roger Stansfield and myself, want to talk to as many people as possible to enable us to know what everyone involved wants to see changed and/or implemented.
To date we have met with representatives from the Sheltered Tenants Forum, Tenant Liaison Forum, Blackpool Coastal Housing Officers responsible for implementing the Lettings Policy and the Assistant Director. We have also written to every Blackpool Councillor to ask for details of any problems that their sheltered tenants have experienced, and for their views on what they think would be the best way forward to help resolve them.
This is only the beginning! We still have a lot of work to do in order to try to ensure that the new Lettings Policy is as effective as possible.
Please do contact me if you would like to take part in this very important scrutiny, My e-mail address is cllr.kath.rowson@blackpool.gov.uk
Campaigning on behalf of sheltered tenants
At the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 13th June, I seconded a motion submitted by my Labour colleague, Councillor Simon Blackburn, which I sincerely hope will alter the way in which Council properties above sheltered tenants are let.
Councillor Blackburn and I both spoke of the problems that the ground floor properties which house sheltered tenants have, for many years, been subject to. Noise and anti-social behaviour by those living in the flats above has caused many tenants to feel frightened and unsafe in their own homes. This is totally unacceptable and we called for a more stringent lettings policy, including a rule that no-one under the age of 40 should occupy a flat above sheltered housing.
The Councillors present voted to refer the issue to the Adult Social Care and Housing O & S Committee, which I chair. At the meeting of the committee on Thursday 14th June it was agreed to give this priority and begin an immediate scrutiny into how we can change the lettings policy. I will lead the scrutiny and ensure that we explore every avenue, and use all legal means available, to create a lettings policy that will protect our sheltered tenants.
Unfortunately, this can’t be done overnight. There will be a minefield of legal and human rights issues to sort out, but I am determined to work to the best of my ability to bring about a much-needed and long overdue change.