Agenda and minutes

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

It was noted that Councillor Mrs R Gadsby was substituting for Councillor D Stallan.

To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made pursuant to the Council's Code of Member Conduct.

            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

            5            Appeal No. 15/2005             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 12A of the Act indicated:

Agenda                                                                   Exempt Information

Item No            Subject                                             Paragraph Number

7                      Appeal No: 15/2005                                3

To consider a restricted report.

Members were reminded that consideration of this appeal had been deferred at the meeting held on 22 September 2005 as written submissions on behalf of the appellant had only been made available at that meeting and the Panel had determined that it needed time to read the papers.  Accordingly, the meeting on 22 September 2005 had been adjourned until 3 October 2005.

The Panel gave consideration to an appeal against a decision of the Assistant Housing Needs Manager (Homelessness) acting under delegated authority regarding the appellant's homelessness application.  The appellant was not in attendance at the meeting and had elected for the appeal to be determined on the basis of written representations.

The Head of Housing Services confirmed to the Panel that he had not previously been involved in this case and would be able to advise members on housing policy and legislation relative to the appeal.  He confirmed that, in addition to the submitted written statements, the relevant housing file was available, if required by the Panel.  He emphasised that the decision of the Panel had to be based on the representations before it.

The Panel had before them the following documents which were taken into consideration:

(a)       a summary of the appeal together with the facts of the case, forming part of the agenda for the meeting;

(b)       a copy of a letter dated 7 June 2005 from the Principal Housing Officer (Needs) to the appellant;

(c)        a copy of a letter dated 27 June 2005 from the Assistant Housing Needs Manager (Homelessness) to the appellant;

(d)       a copy of a statement dated 14 July 2005 made by the Scheme Manager at the women’s refuge where the appellant had resided;

(e)       a copy of the notes of an interview of the appellant by a Housing Officer dated 15 July 2005;

(f)         a copy of a letter dated 15 July 2005 from the Assistant Housing Needs Manager (Homelessness) to the appellant;

(g)       a copy of a notice seeking possession dated 17 August 2005;

(h)        a copy of the appellant's bail conditions;

(i)         a copy of the application to the Housing Appeals Panel by the appellant dated 29 July 2005;

(j)         a copy of a letter dated 12 August 2005 from the Democratic Services Manager to the appellant's solicitors;

(k)        a copy of a letter dated 22 July 2005 from the appellant's solicitors to the Council's Housing Services;

(l)         copies of two undated statements prepared by the appellant;

(m)      a copy of a letter dated 17 August 2005 from the appellant's solicitors to the Council's Housing Services;

(n)        a copy of a letter dated 1 September 2005 from the Democratic Services Manager to the appellant's solicitors;

(o)       a copy of a letter dated 5 September 2005 from the appellant's solicitors to the Council's Democratic Services;

(p)       a copy of a letter dated 15 September 2005 from the appellant's solicitors to the Council's Democratic Services together with copies of the enclosures referred to therein, i.e. draft Judicial Review claim form; note  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.