Agenda and minutes

To agree the minutes of the meetings of the Panel held on 27 and 28 April 2005 (previously circulated) and 25 May 2005 (attached).

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings of the Panel held on 27 and 28 April 2005 and 25 May 2005 be taken as read and sign by the chairman as a correct record.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services) To report the attendance of any substitute members for the meeting.

It was noted that Councillor K Wright was substituting for Councillor K Rush. Councillor Wright had attended the Panel on the occasion of the previous hearing into Appeal 12/2005.

To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

Councillor Mrs J Davis declared a personal interest in agenda Item 6 (Appeal No: 12/2005) by virtue of being a Council-appointed representative on the SAFE Project - Support and Advisory Group.  She had determined that her interest was not prejudicial and that she would remain in the meeting for the duration of the consideration of the appeal.

            To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act indicated.

            Agenda                   Exempt information

            Item No.            Subject            Paragraph Number

            6            Appeal No. 12/2005             3

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items which are confidential under Section 100(A)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972.

            Item No.            Subject

            Nil            Nil

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the item of business set out below as it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act indicated:

Agenda                   Exempt information

Item No            Subject            Paragraph Number

6            Appeal No: 12/2005            3

To consider a restricted report.

The Panel gave further consideration to an appeal against the decision of the Assistant Housing Needs Manager (Homelessness) acting under delegated authority that the appellant had become intentionally homeless.  It followed the Panel's consideration at a meeting on 25 May 2005 at which they had expressed concern about allegations made by the appellant regarding the NACRO House Manager.  At that time they had decided to allow the House Manager an opportunity to answer matters which had been raised by the appellant at that meeting and members had formulated questions for NACRO which they felt needed to be answered before they could determine the appeal.

At the meeting on 25 May 2005 they had agreed that it would not be necessary to re-hear all the circumstances of the case but to just ask questions of the House Manager.  It had been agreed that the appellant should also be given the opportunity to ask the House Manager questions.

The appellant attended the meeting to present her case accompanied by her father.  Mr R Wallace, Assistant Housing Needs Manager (Homelessness) attended the meeting to present the Council's case together with representatives of NACRO including the House Manager.  Mr A Hall, Head of Housing Services attended the meeting to advise the Panel as required on legal issues and details of the National Local Housing Policies relative to the appeal.

The Chairman introduced members of the Panel and officers present to the appellant and her father and reminded them as to the stage of the appeal.  Members had before them:

(a)       The minutes of their meeting on 25 May 2005 on which the appeal had originally been considered;

(b)       A report outlining the current position together with indication of the questions had been formulated to ask the representative of NACRO;

(c)        An abstract of an Action Log and record of complaint by the appellant from NACRO dated 6.8.04 (tabled at the meeting);

(d)       A proforma letter from NACRO to the appellant dated 19.8.04 in relation to a missed appointment (tabled at the meeting);

(e)       A letter of NACRO to the appellant dated 12 November 2004 in relation to a meeting to discuss tenancy and support plan review (tabled at the meeting).

The Chairman confirmed that both parties had access to the questions prior to the meeting, both confirmed yes.

In response to the questions of the Panel the representative of NACRO stated the following:-

(1)       It was the policy of NACRO that all tenants had to apply for transfer and the criteria was that they had to maintain 3 months with no arrears or any problems and took up support provided to them.  The appellant had arrears and had admitted to not staying at the property and had been found at the sister's address in Epping.  The appellant had not attended key worker sessions.

(2)            Information relating to transfers was supplied at interview.  Records of these were not available at the meeting.  Normally there were many meetings and support meetings and there was an internal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.