Monthly Archives: March 2013
Fighting in High court for Care
Disabled pensioner set for High Court battle with council over One Barnet scheme
Campaigner Maria Nash outside Barnet House in Whetstone. Picture: Polly Hancock.
by Tim Lamden Monday, March 18, 2013
7:00 AM
A disabled pensioner is preparing for a High Court battle with Barnet Council this week in a bid to topple its controversial £320million outsourcing plans.
Lawyers instructed by New Barnet resident Maria Nash, 68, will go head-to-head with the council’s legal team in the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow for a three-day hearing challenging the legality of the One Barnet outsourcing scheme.
Ms Nash, who has received government aid to fund the legal bid, called for the judicial review, citing a lack of consultation about the plans to outsource a swathe of council services to two private companies.
She also insists the council has failed to meet equality obligations in relation to the plans, which attracted a petition with 8,000 signatures in January calling for a referendum on One Barnet.
In a cabinet meeting last month it was revealed that should the High Court rule in favour of Ms Nash, it would cost the council £15million annually to deal with the collapse of One Barnet and would force a re-think on plans to freeze council tax over the next two years.
“This is a warning to everybody else that there is a better way of doing things,” said Ms Nash. “If a council consults with residents they can give more insight on how better to spend money and how better to cater for the needs of the citizens – much better than a private company which only caters for profit.”
Ms Nash is confined to a wheelchair due to severe arthritis and requires a full-time carer to help her with daily life. She also suffers from osteoporosis and diabetes.
The mother-of-one, whose husband died in 2001 after contracting a hospital bug and who lost her 13-year-old daughter to meningitis in 1992, has an autistic son she also helps to care for.
Protests: Carers and disabled affected by Benefit change
16 March 2013 Last updated at 18:32
Housing benefit change protests held
Protests have taken place across the country, including Manchester.Thousands have been demonstrating in a series of cities against government plans to cut housing benefit for those considered to have too much space.
Protests against the plan – labelled the “bedroom tax” by Labour – have been held in 52 towns and cities, including Manchester and London.
Organisers said between 12,000 and 13,000 people turned out.
The government’s welfare changes are due to come in in April and are expected to affect 660,000 people.
Those deemed to have a spare room in their council or housing association home will have their housing benefit claims reduced by £40-£80.
The protests’ national organiser, Éoin Clarke, said: “This is a cruel policy that primarily hits single parents, and the adult disabled.
“Even children deemed disabled but not ‘severely’ so, are affected. Carers, the terminally-ill, battered wives and husbands are all affected.
