Local groups Power to the People and All About Me have been joined by Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty to protest against benefits cuts. The local groups, who meet at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, aim to highlight the plight of families being made homeless as a result of welfare reforms. Continue reading Groups rally to support victims of benefits cap
Hi
We have been attending the ‘All About Me‘ group on a Monday morning. We have been taking part in various training and upskilling courses and improving our health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, due to our funding ending in September, the group will no longer run.
We decided to make a film about how difficult it is to gain employment when you are a lone parent: lack of suitable jobs, lack of childcare, housing issues, to name a few!
We would love if you could join us for a viewing of our film and to see some of the work we have been doing over the last few years.
Look forward to seeing you on the 5th June.
The Mums
On Tuesday next week M, a local mum and her young family, will lose their home. M and her children are the next family among dozens of local women and children who will find themselves homeless through no fault of their own over the coming weeks – and North Edinburgh groups have joined forces to demand changes to the system. Continue reading Home truths: benefits cuts biting deep
A local tenants and residents association has been short-listed for an award at next month’s Tenants Information Service (TIS) Annual Excellence Awards. Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse & Friends of West Pilton (TRIM & FOWP) are finalists in the tenants and residents organisation of the year category and have been invited to attend the TIS National Excellence Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in Glasgow on 10th June. Continue reading Tenants and Residents up for National Excellence award
A report detailing the scale of the problem with ‘short-term lets’ in Scotland’s capital has been published by Green MSP Andy Wightman.
The publication by the Scottish Greens’ housing spokesperson shows there are more than 6200 properties available in Edinburgh for short term letting and that more than half of these are entire homes where the owner is not present.
A number of key issues with short term lets are also spelled out, including anti-social behaviour, loss of community, displacing available housing, the avoidance of non-domestic business rates and property security.
Lothian MSP, Andy Wightman MSP said: “I am calling for new powers to enable councils to plan and regulate the use of residential property for short term lets. Many constituents have contacted me in recent months to raise their concerns about the widespread growth of this sector in their communities. It is clear that we need to find a simple solution and one such way is through the introduction of new Use Class Orders in the planning system.
“To stimulate debate and greater awareness of the problem, I am delighted to be publishing the first in a series of briefing papers (below) on the topic.”
20170403 – Briefing Paper on Short Term Lets v.FINAL-1
More young people in Scotland will be at risk of homelessness due to UK Government changes to housing benefit, Social Security Secretary Angela Constance has warned. Continue reading UK housing benefits changes ‘shameful’
The Scottish Government’s quarterly housing statistics show that ministers are too reliant on the private sector to deliver housing targets, say the Scottish Greens. Continue reading Housing stats raise affordable homes questions, say Greens
Over £590 million will be made available for 2017/18 to increase the supply of affordable homes in Scotland, Angela Constance has announced. The Scottish Greens have welcomed the announcement but say that more must be done to bring empty homes back into use. Continue reading Increased funding for affordable housing
Continue reading Port of Leith to build a further 850 new affordable homes
UK Government ‘completely disregarding discussions.’
Communities, Social Security and Equalities Secretary Angela Constance has written to her Westmonister counterpart to seek ‘urgent reassurance’ that the UK Government will not impose changes to housing benefit for 18-21 year olds in Scotland while discussions continue between governments.
The Department of Work and Pensions is pressing ahead with plans to remove entitlement for this vital benefit for young people, something the Scottish Government has constantly opposed.
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Damian Green, Ms Constance expressed her anger at the UK Government’s short timescale for change despite assurances that options for Scotland would be considered further. The current timetable makes it impossible for alternative arrangements to be put in place.
The issue was specifically raised at the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare on Monday 20th February but UK Government Ministers were unable to provide an answer on when the regulations will be laid, only to confirm just two days later they would be laid on 2 March.
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Damian
You may already be aware that, further to the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare (JMWGW) on Monday, I have written to David Mundell noting my disappointment that we left the meeting with several issues still unresolved.
I have repeatedly set out, both in writing and in meetings, the Scottish Government’s opposition to changes to Housing Benefit (HB) for 18-21 year olds and the interaction of the benefit cap with our plans to abolish the bedroom tax. I was reassured somewhat, most recently, following meetings with Damian Hinds on 19 January and David Mundell on 23 January, of the UK Government’s intention to work constructively with the Scottish Government to achieve a satisfactory solution to these issues. It was frustrating therefore, following the JMWGW, to be asked to set out in writing once again the key points of difference and my suggested solutions for the DWP to consider and respond to. I have, nevertheless, done so in my letter to David Mundell of 22 February.
It now appears that the DWP is completely disregarding the discussions at the JMWGW and any commitment to work collaboratively regarding HB for 18-21s. I was quite frankly amazed to learn yesterday from my officials that the UK Government is planning to lay regulations on 2 March with a view to them coming into effect on 1 April 2017. DWP is effectively pressing ahead with the changes just days since UK Ministers were unable to offer any answers to the points I raised on HB for 18-21s and, when asked specifically at the JMWGW when regulations and changes would be introduced, were told ‘we don’t know’. Worse still, UK Ministers and officials gave the distinct impression that there was still time for other legislative options to be considered. I feel that it makes a mockery of having a meeting to discuss a way forward on 22 February when you plan to lay the regulations merely 6 working days later.
This is completely unacceptable. I should not have to stress that the devolution of social security powers – and indeed devolution arrangements more widely – requires both governments to work jointly, give advanced notice of plans and openly share information that has a bearing on each other’s decision making processes.
The Scottish Government’s position on HB 18-21s has been very clear and raised at a number of meetings with both governments making clear they did not wish to thwart the policies of each other. Less than a week ahead of the regulations being laid, we have only just received the draft regulations confirming the groups that will be exempt and now we find ourselves with just six weeks before the changes come into effect. This is not sufficient and I would appreciate your reassurance, as a matter of urgency, that the changes to HB for 18-21 years old will not be introduced until we have agreed a solution for Scotland.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Angela Constance.
