Councillor hits out at lack of consultation over Gale Farm Court charges

Gale Farm Court sheltered accommodation

Gale Farm Court sheltered accommodation

Liberal Democrats have criticised a lack of consultation on price increases for residents in sheltered housing who use the council’s warden call service.

At this week’s Decision Session Labour’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services, Cllr Tracey Simpson-Laing, rubber-stamped proposals to increase the charges for residents using the 24-hour support service.

12 months ago Cllr Laing refused to meet Gale Farm Court residents but tried to blame the LibDems for her plans to increase warden call charges

12 months ago Cllr Laing refused to meet Gale Farm Court residents but tried to blame the LibDems for her plans to increase warden call charges

The report admitted that the price increases could “result in financial hardship for vulnerable elderly tenants”.

 

Despite these concerns, no consultation was undertaken with sheltered housing tenants on the proposed changes and there are fears that the first residents will know about the plans is when they receive a letter from City of York Council.

Cllr Lynn Jeffries the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Equalities, attended the meeting and criticised the lack of engagement with tenants. She commented:

“This change will affect some of the most vulnerable residents in York and it is unacceptable that neither they nor their families were asked for their views on the price increases.

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Trip to Strasbourg

Apparently they never learn.

Council Deputy Leader (Tracey Simpson Laing) is off on a trip to Strasbourg.

York residents petition

York residents petition

Apparently she is telling Europe how successful York’s Labour Council is using “online petitions and campaigning”, and spoke of “the council’s approach in engaging with residents via the internet, as part of its wider communications offer”

Given that every on line petition received by the York Council during the last 2 years has been ignored, and their woeful record in providing even basic update reports on their web site, the topic beggars belief.

No doubt she was able to explain why there has been an explosion in the number of Freedom of Information requests submitted to the Council since 2011 as residents desperately try to find out what is happening in their City.

It is unclear whether the trip it is connected with her failed bid to become a Euro MEP. The media have observed a conspiracy of silence on that topic