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Dear Readers
Your silence has been golden. The ODPM have decided that the issue is in the discretion of local authorities
I quote extracts below:
'Therefore, in answer to your question about whether the LA must meet your client's costs through Supporting People, the answer is that they do not have to pay for the cost of the services. However, as you have applied to have the costs examined, they must look at your application and take a view on the services provided, your client’s needs, the cost and quality of the services. They should then take a decision that is based on their charging rules and is transparent and fair. The outcome may be that they meet the costs in full, in part, or not at all.
Unfortunately, the ODPM has no powers to get involved in local decision making, as long as the authority is meeting the grant conditions that we set for them. However, we do encourage authorities to take a pragmatic view on service provision and to this end are preparing a paper for authorities on how to work more effectively with leaseholders.'
I have therefore on the advice of policy officers from two leading agencies asked if an MP would consider raising the issue in the Commons, and believe this will now happen.
Will keep you (silent!) readers informed
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