tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post7302471086992430143..comments2024-03-29T14:57:02.824+00:00Comments on WEMBLEY MATTERS: Brent Council set to increase Council Tax by 3.99%, make cuts and increase chargesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-53088515323742979252016-10-21T19:55:25.392+01:002016-10-21T19:55:25.392+01:00Martin, I am a Brent residentI recieved an intimid...Martin, I am a Brent residentI recieved an intimidating letter from DWP over my entitlement to housing benefit. I had to attend a interview and was told it was a routine review, during this 'routine review' I was insensitively questioned in depth about my relationship with my children's father (to whom I fled domestic violence from) and when reduced to tears and even though I made it clear it was so severe police, social services and Advance (domestic violence charity) were previously involved she still questioned and questioned and that was all she asked about and was then told that would be it.. for now. Proof of income, my working hours, bank statements were not even asked for.<br />I have also had problems with Brent council over council tax, last year I missd one of my monthly installements, yes it was my fault, when I contacted Brent I was told it had been referred to Equita enforcement officers.<br />Equita added £300 onto my £540 bill, I had to pay £280 back each month. I tried to explain I was a single parent but they didn't care. <br />Those were the toughest months. I cried myself to sleep, working full time, looking after my kids and scrapping each penny was a nighmare.<br />My kids were what got me through it.<br />Yet Cllr Butt says he has "no time" for the vulnerable like myself who need support Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-61154425625014921782016-10-21T13:29:38.642+01:002016-10-21T13:29:38.642+01:00At yesterday's Kilburn Unemployed Workers Grou...At yesterday's Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group business meeting, mention of Brent Council 'services' came up in the context of discussion items about 'public consultations'. How can a 'public consultation' that is exclusively online as many 'public consultations' are these days, when public access to the means of participating has been stripped from the poorer members of the public who don't have computing equipment? Would not such consultations be skewed in favour of the 'haves'?Kilburn Unemployed Workers Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281633520479831796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-31127728209989174572016-10-17T14:28:53.648+01:002016-10-17T14:28:53.648+01:00Martin, you wrote, "Meanwhile I would be inte...Martin, you wrote, "Meanwhile I would be interested to hear from Brent residents about any letters they have received from the Council, DWP etc with a similar bullying tone."<br /><br />It strikes me that the letters as such received by Brent residents are confidential to the recipients, while the standard texts of LB Brent letters should be available from Brent Council upon enquiry by Brent Council Tax payers. The impact statements would be more reliably obtained from the recipients than from a key decision makers who never seem to learn from the history of their outcomes.<br /><br />At the same time, I am reminded that after the Tianment Square student demonstrations, families of the protesters executed were reportedly billed for the execution bullets in exchange for the bodies. Whether that story was founded on propaganda or fact is open to speculation.<br /><br />What is fact however is that Brent Council has summonsed thousands of residents to Court over non-payment of Council Tax. The evidence: Brent & Kilburn Times reports:<br /><a href="http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/politics/vulnerable_residents_in_brent_left_with_250k_court_bill_over_council_tax_arrears_1_3427133" rel="nofollow">Vulnerable residents in Brent left with £250k court bill over Council Tax arrears</a><br />and<br /><a href="http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/four_per_cent_of_brent_residents_summoned_to_court_over_council_tax_arrears_showed_up_1_2967266" rel="nofollow">Four per cent of Brent residents summoned to court over Council Tax arrears showed up</a>.<br /><br />Who pays for such fallout from Brent Council policy? Camden Council's decision to consult on restoring 100% Council Tax Reduction on its most economically vulnerable residents is arguably based more on the failure of its own attempts to enforce the unenforceable.<br /><br />It is widely reported that moving home is one of the most stressful experiences individuals are likely to encounter in their life-times. What about Council Tax-arrears-related eviction?<br /><br />Brent is consulting on whether to take bailiff services out of private company hands. Whether the bailiff 'service' is 'in house' or 'outsourced', it is arguably adding insult to injury in enforcing unjust policies.<br /><br />Back to the topic of standard text in official letters, in an article entitled <a href="http://www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/A-TALE-OF-TWO-ENFORCEMENTS.doc" rel="nofollow">'A Tale of Two Enforcements'</a> Taxpayers Against Poverty founder Revd Paul Nicolson cites an 'outsourced' bailiff's letter received by a 'Mr Watson', a man with learning difficulties. The standard letter demanded money with menaces, and the semi-literate recipient hanged himself.<br /><br />Who pays for 'Weapons of Mass Destruction' 'form letters'? And whether Brent's 'bailiff service' remains 'outsourced' or goes 'in house', who will authorise the texts of the standard letters sent out on the Council's behalf, and who will pay for them and how? Some pay with money, others with the direct stress of being ordered to do what they cannot do, especially when services for vulnerable people such as Brent Mencap have been savaged.<br /><br />Those with consciences will also surely pay with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicarious_traumatization" rel="nofollow">'vicarious traumatisation'</a> compounded by 'blood on my hands' sense of responsibility.Kilburn Unemployed Workers Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281633520479831796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-31157626954292100092016-10-15T16:03:58.924+01:002016-10-15T16:03:58.924+01:00Thanks KWUG. I have Tweeted Kate's blog. Mean...Thanks KWUG. I have Tweeted Kate's blog. Meanwhile I would be interested to hear from Brent residents about any letters they have received from the Council, DWP etc with a similar bullying tone.<br />Martin Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02194641151012303116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-65730825097262751672016-10-15T13:35:03.025+01:002016-10-15T13:35:03.025+01:00Yes, Camden Council's consultation on restorin...Yes, Camden Council's consultation on restoring 100% Council Tax support to those too poor to pay Council Tax is deadlined for Friday 21 October.<br /><br />Meanwhile, 'Camden Benefits Service' [sic] standard text in 'form letters' to Housing Benefit claimants has come under fire. Kate Belgrave: <a href="http://www.katebelgrave.com/2016/10/bullying-benefit-claimants-because-you-can/" rel="nofollow">Authorities bully benefit claimants because they can</a><br /><br />It would be interesting to see what kind of standard text Brent Council's equivalent has.Kilburn Unemployed Workers Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281633520479831796noreply@blogger.com