” … some providers of supported housing say they rely on higher levels of housing benefit to cover the additional costs of care and support needed to cater for vulnerable adults.
The analysis – carried out by the Placeshapers group of housing associations – warned that the cut represented “a major threat to the financial viability of such schemes”.
“Placeshapers is calling for all supported housing schemes to be exempt from the government’s changes to social housing rent levels,” it added.
The research suggested specific schemes such as one in Middlesbrough which helps vulnerable women, and another one in Norfolk for children with learning difficulties, would be in the firing line if the cap came into force.”
East Devon Watch 
Do you ever have any positive comment to make or are you simply very good at criticism? East Devon Watch appears to be very good at ‘watching’ what other people do or say but have no constructive or proactive thoughts or proposals themselves. In my experience, it’s far easier to knock down than it is to build.
LikeLike
Change from the cabinet system to the committee system, beef up scrutiny so it REALLY scrutinises, improve transparency by ensuring almost nothing is discussed in secret, have meaningful public consultation that actually listens to the public and acts on their concerns, change to proportional representation, get devolution matters into the open, get a functioning local plan, register more people to vote and spend the money earmarked for relocation on public services. Take the politics out of district councils (or, better still, take away district councils altogether), take more care of the vulnerable and stop thinking the answer to everything is excessive economic growth and consider social AND economic growth together. Oh, and get rid of the various “Champion” councillors who champion nothing, invest more in tourism …. how’s that for starters? But I’m just a little owl who can’t change these things only notice them and comment on them, whereas officers, councillors and MPs can …
LikeLike
Yes – it is easy to criticise – but physics entropy tells us that it is even easier to destroy (than to create).
And that is what the dogma-driven, hidden-agenda, secret-dealing, sell to the highest bidder, thoughtless, consultation-less, undemocratic manoeuvring of the current Cabinet is doing.
And, what David Page fails to realise is that critical review by the press (both official and bloggers like the Owl) is an ESSENTIAL part of democracy.
Perhaps David can explain to us just why he thinks our current council leadership is so wonderful. Who knows, he might even convince us. (Though I suspect it is more likely that it will simply demonstrate that the current leaderships policies are not defendable and expose the vast gap between what local residents want and what the council leadership is doing, claiming to do it in our name but with scant evidence from proper consultations to show that they actually have the support of the majority of residents.)
Merry christmas everyone.
LikeLike
Paul F
I think you are OTT and unfair in your response to David Page.
He may well realise that press scrutiny is a good thing – you cannot claim to know his feelings about that from his post.
David may well not feel that the current council leadership is wonderful – he doesn’t say anything in his post that indicates either way.
I sympathise with your criticism of the leadership when looking at a lot of what they do, but some things are good.
Owl is right to scrutinise fiercely, but personally I sometimes get a bit tired of too much criticism and want some more praises – but praise is there in Owls’ posts, just not enough to balance the criticism in my view.
LikeLike
No – David Page’s comment was hypocritical – he was himself simply criticising this blog without adding anything positive. And he was definitely suggesting that blogs which try to hold elected officials to account are not appropriate – which does somewhat imply that he doesn’t understand the democratic role that they play as part of the so called “fourth estate”.
Personally I want to know what is really going on, and rely on local bloggers and campaigners to look into what is happening and give me an alternative perspective to the always ultra-positive spin from the likes of EDDC.
But yes – I accept my comment was extreme – but not much more extreme than stating that blogs which expose the alternative interpretations (which are generally going to be negative) are unwelcome.
Funnily enough, whenever I have previously offered to debate such positions publicly (e.g. on Claire Wright’s blog) either the offer is refused, or they go very quiet indeed after they are unable to justify their position with facts, logic, consistency and reasoning.
But if David Page would like to take me up on my offer to debate this further and then let people make their own informed judgement, it is still open if he is interested – and who knows, if he can provide facts, show consistency and logic and explain the reasons behind the policies, actions and decisions, we might all be convinced.
LikeLike