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S.A.F.E. Update
THE next meeting of
Southport Access For Everyone forum will be held at the Victoria
Methodist Church, Sussex Road, Southport, PR8 6DG. On Monday, 25 November 2013, at 7 pm. This is a free public
meeting. The premises are fully accessible for wheelchair users with
adequate car parking facilities, and light refreshments will be
served will be served before the meeting commences.
Anyone with an interest in disability issues is welcome.
For further enquiries go to the groups
website.
or phone:- 07866531036
Fraud work
praised by Audit Commission
LIVERPOOL'S work to cut
Council tax fraud has been highlighted in a new report by spending
watchdog, the Audit Commission. "Protecting the public purse 2013" examines how local
government is tackling the issue.
Liverpool is used as a case study following its success in reducing
the number of people falsely claiming they live on their own in
order to get a 25% Council tax discount. The percentage of
households claiming the single persons discount has been reduced
from around 46% to just over 40% since 2010.
It follows a piece of work in which households had their details
cross referenced with other information to identify anomalies.
It equates to over 6,000 fewer homes now receiving the benefit,
bringing in an additional £1.5 million per year for the Council to
invest in services.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "Every single penny
claimed fraudulently by people is a penny less for us to spend on
services.
At a time when we have less money to spend on services due to cuts
in our funding from central government, it is more essential than
ever that we do everything we can to make sure people are not
fiddling the system.
They are effectively taking money away which could be used for
services to benefit their neighbours. We continue to review
cases robustly but those that are legitimately claiming have nothing
to worry about."
Around 85,000 households claim single person discount in Liverpool
and it costs £20 million a year to subsidise.
Liverpool City Council's Revenues and Benefits Service is run by
Liverpool Direct Limited (LDL), a joint venture partnership with BT.
Mosaic celebrates Merchant Navy
A Mosaic has been unveiled
on Thursday, 21 November 2013, in North Liverpool celebrating the
contribution made by Merchant Navy seafarers to the City. The new
artwork has been created by local artist Alan Murray and illustrates
the skylines of 3 Cities linked by the sea; Liverpool, New York and
Montreal. In the centre of the mosaic is a plaque celebrating the
Merchant Navy and Merchant Marine. It was unveiled by the Lord Mayor
of Liverpool, Councillor Gary Millar, in a ceremony at the Eldonian
Village Hall. The artwork was requested by the Mayor, Joe Anderson,
to recognise the contribution made by men and women from the City
who served in the Merchant Navy. "We cannot ever overlook the
importance to the City of those Liverpool people who served in the
Merchant Navy. Thousands gave their lives in the war and they should
never be forgotten. And in peacetime their work ensured that
Liverpool was a major trading port. It is only right that there
should be a permanent marker in the City to celebrate what they have
done for the City over very many decades." said Mayor
Anderson. Council officers have worked with the Merchant Navy
Veterans Association to ensure the artwork will be a fitting
tribute. Many of Liverpool 's Merchant Navy seafarers sailed on
vessels owned by Cunard, the Canadian Pacific and White Star Lines
so the mosaic reflects the links between Liverpool, New York and
Montreal To coincide with the unveiling of the mosaic a 2 day
community clean-up, involving local residents and businesses, has
been held along the canalside between the Eldonian Village and Athol
Village. |
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Do you know what
Tenancy Deposit Protection is?
IN England and Wales, it is
hard to get on the property ladder so many people are now renting
more and more. But what is not always understood is that if you are
renting a property did you know that a landlord must protect your
deposit once you become a tenant? But Landlords doesn't have to
protect any holding deposit, that is the money you pay to
'hold' a property before an agreement is signed. But once
the agreement is signed then the landlord or letting agent, then
they must put your deposit in the scheme within 30 days of getting
it. They must also tell you, within 30 days getting your deposit,
the following:-
► The address of the rented property.
► How much deposit you've paid.
► How the deposit is protected.
► The name and contact details of the
tenancy deposit protection (TDP) scheme and its dispute resolution
service.
► Their (or the letting agency's) name and
contact details.
► The name and contact details of any
third party that's paid the deposit.
► Why they would keep some or all of the
deposit.
► How to apply to get the deposit back.
► What to do if you can't get hold of the
landlord at the end of the tenancy.
► What to do if there's a dispute over the
deposit.
But the idea of these government-backed schemes are that they ensure
you'll get your deposit back if you:-
► Meet the terms of your tenancy
agreement.
► Don't damage the property.
► Pay your rent and bills.
The Law in England and Wales says clearly that you are entitled to
have your tenancy deposit returned to you, if you have met the
above. should it not be paid back a court can order your landlord to
return your deposit and pay you compensation of between 1 and 3
times its value. If you are still a tenant, there may be risks
involved in taking action, so be aware of that.
The Dispute Service
Ltd. is the UK's longest
established provider of tenancy deposit protection whom told us
that:- "Tenants, landlords or letting agents should all be aware
of this deposit protection and alternative dispute resolution in
England and Wales. Most private landlords ask new tenants for a
tenancy deposit before they move in, but few tenants are aware that
landlords or letting agents, should place your deposits in a
government-backed tenancy deposit protection scheme. We would
strongly advise that if you are in assured short hold tenancy or
provide tenancy, then you should read up about the scheme."
The schemes in England and Wales are run by:- My Deposits, The
Deposit Protection Service (Custodial and Insured), The Dispute
Service and Capita. But the Capita Tenancy Deposit Protection is no
longer accepts new deposits and is closing on 13 September 2014.
Tenants under them will are covered still as their deposits remain
protected until the end of a tenancy.
For information on how to find out if your deposit is protected see
the charity Shelters's
wesbite On that site can
you can get more advice on what to do if you have a problem. Also
see this
link for more information.
You can also get free advice by calling Shelters' Helpline:- 0808
800 4 444. Also if you are a landlord or letting agent you can
go to:-
gov.uk/browse/housing/owning-renting-property.
If you have had an issue with tenancy deposit protection and would
like to voice your views on this subject, please let us know by
emailing our newsroom via:-news24@southportreporter.com. |
