Lambeth Council's Tin Men - Get Hearts
Let's not mince words - Lambeth Council are like tin men and its bureaucrats have no hearts. They are planning to take 93-year-old Constance to court on October 27th at Camberwell for allegedly not paying her Council Tax. There's just one problem - Constance is in hospital and I'm going stop this nonsense once and for all.
Before the emotion - the facts. On August 15th Lambeth officers visited Constance at her vulnerable elderly person's bed sit. That's what you get in this country after serving your country in its various wars of the last century. An application form for benefits was filled in and taken away by officers with satisfactory supporting document and a request for stay of proceedings made. You'd think that would be the end of the matter.
Despite all that a summons was issued on October 10th for GB pounds 719.14 creating great anxiety for Constance who was taken into hospital at the weekend. According to neighbours, it was as a result of anxiety about this piece of incompetent maladministration. I'm glad Constance has good neighbours cause through them I've told her not to worry.
On Monday morning, I will be contacting the Clerk to Camberwell Magistrates Court seeking an adjournment of Constance's case sine die (without day) and for a wasted costs order to be taken out against the council, if it continues with the proceedings. I will then give the Directorate of Finance the chance to sort things out and if nothing happens take it to the Ombudsman.
Will anyone be reprimanded? Will anyone find out why pre-court checks did not reveal Constance's vulnerability? Will anyone apologise to Constance? No, no, no. To protect the innocent I have changed my constituent's name - all other dates and details are factual.
Before the emotion - the facts. On August 15th Lambeth officers visited Constance at her vulnerable elderly person's bed sit. That's what you get in this country after serving your country in its various wars of the last century. An application form for benefits was filled in and taken away by officers with satisfactory supporting document and a request for stay of proceedings made. You'd think that would be the end of the matter.
Despite all that a summons was issued on October 10th for GB pounds 719.14 creating great anxiety for Constance who was taken into hospital at the weekend. According to neighbours, it was as a result of anxiety about this piece of incompetent maladministration. I'm glad Constance has good neighbours cause through them I've told her not to worry.
On Monday morning, I will be contacting the Clerk to Camberwell Magistrates Court seeking an adjournment of Constance's case sine die (without day) and for a wasted costs order to be taken out against the council, if it continues with the proceedings. I will then give the Directorate of Finance the chance to sort things out and if nothing happens take it to the Ombudsman.
Will anyone be reprimanded? Will anyone find out why pre-court checks did not reveal Constance's vulnerability? Will anyone apologise to Constance? No, no, no. To protect the innocent I have changed my constituent's name - all other dates and details are factual.
posted by Cllr John Whelan on Sunday, October 15, 2006
1 Comments:
All of these things seem to have been sorted out under that last administration with few exceptions. ( A quick phone call to the Court confirms this) They do say however it does seem that there is a rise in inapropriate court action, which does cause unnecessary stress on people let alone spending MY money in a wastful way.
The only change I can spot is a change in the adminstration. Is the politics of the loony left again?
By
Richard Moore on 12:57 PM, December 14, 2006
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