One of their messages: I NEED WORD TO GET OUT TO ALL THE HOMELESS. PLEASE DONT STAY ON THE STREET TONIGHT IN LIVERPOOL. GO TO : Address - 31 Castle Street, Liverpool, Merseyside. THERE IS FOOD AND SHELTER THERE FOR YOU!!...THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE WAITING THERE TO HELP YOU. THERE ARE BANNERS UP OUTSIDE THE BUILDING SO IT IS EASY TO FIND. CAN PEOPLE OUT SHOPPING TODAY PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THE HOMELESS AND GIVE THEM THIS ADDRESS. WE NEED THIS POST TO BE SHARED GUYS, SO CAN YOU PLEASE PUT IT ABOUT!!!...THANK YOU GUYS!!
It looks as though the ‘value for money standard’ will remain untouched by the changes the HCA is proposing for the Regulatory Framework in April 2015.
Value for money is also an increasing priority for local authorities who have retained housing, whether they manage it themselves or through an ALMO.
So, will the new EU procurement directives make it easier or harder for housing providers to secure value for money? My colleague Andrew Millross will be debating this question with landlords at PfH Live later this month.
The new rules were passed in April 2014 and the UK government has two years to implement them. However, the Cabinet Office is talking about ‘fast-track’ implementation, so they could be in force later this year.
The introduction to the main EU directive refers to the importance of securing ‘the most efficient use of public funds’. One of the reasons the EU Commission says it is revising and modernising the 2004 directives is ‘to increase the efficiency of public spending’.
Value for money is at the heart of the new EU rules and a number of fresh provisions actively promote it
Value for money is therefore at the heart of the new EU rules and a number of fresh provisions actively promote it.
One such rule is an increased focus on lifecycle costing. The price of maintaining assets over their lifespan can now be considered when evaluating tenders, as well as their initial price.
There is even an opportunity for the government to ban ‘lowest price’ as a potential criterion for awarding public contracts (although it is unlikely that the UK government will go this far).
The new rules will give greater protection when using a buying club. Previously, a housing provider would be at risk of challenge if the buying club breached the EU rules when setting up the framework for joint purchasing.
Under the new rules, it is only the buying club that can be challenged, although the social landlord must still follow the rules for calling-off individual contracts from frameworks.
There are also proposals to simplify the ‘selection’ process, where a supplier’s financial strength, technical ability and experience is assessed when deciding who should be invited to tender. Self-declarations will be used, which are checked only once a supplier has won the contract.
The proposals also involve setting up central databases of suppliers’ accounts and registrations that landlords can check, rather than having to request them for each tender.
When considering the ‘value’ part of ‘value for money’, the HCA focuses on whether a housing provider’s resources are used effectively to meet its objectives.
These could include objectives linked to the environment, ‘fair trade’ or improving job opportunities for tenants.
The new EU rules will allow a greater focus on these value considerations when choosing a supplier so long as such considerations are relevant to the contract.
Richard Brooks is a partner at Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP. The impact of the new EU directives on social landlords will be discussed at PfH Live on 24 June 2014.
Last edited by granny; 19th Apr 201512:22am.
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle
Hi Moonie,it interests me that you talk pejoratively about habitual drinkers and drug takers, I take my prescription drugs on a daily basis and also habitually enjoy a glass of cabernet sauvignon.I don't wish to appear disingenuous, but let he who is without sin.....
they didn't actually 'technically' break in, they made the most of an already open bit.
Originally Posted by Moonstar
Neither is the lack of provision of some sort of decent housing for single people.
there's many one bedroom flats about, just not everyone wants them.
Originally Posted by Moonstar
What to do about the habitual drinkers, drug-takers and slackers? Rehab?
what about them? we will ALWAYS have them, at least for a couple more generations. Before you label them all as ..., think about why they turned to that lifestyle and you may have a little more understanding. and rehab is an answer, but an expensive one unfortunately.
Neither is the lack of provision of some sort of decent housing for single people.
What to do about the habitual drinkers, drug-takers and slackers? Rehab?
Sometimes its only extreme measures that highlight a situation because the media will report it ,and the publicity twists arms to start doing more legally.
Neither is the lack of provision of some sort of decent housing for single people.
What to do about the habitual drinkers, drug-takers and slackers? Rehab?
I think there is a degree of correctness in Moonstar's post. Plenty of homeless everywhere and it's very sad.
The homeless in Liverpool City centre are probably different in many respects from those in Aigburth or Kirby, or Bootle for example. If they don't have a roof and a bed to sleep in at night it is dreadful but many would prefer to sleep rough in the cities, rather than have a permanent home. Even the Samaritans agree to that. Their words were, "would you believe it if I told you that many people are happy to live that way"?
So one size doesn't fit all, but there are a wide variety of all categories and activist groups like this, will only encourage more of the same rather than resolving an already bad situation. All the refugees and homeless from the EU etc are likely to descend on them, and as the building doesn't have any water.....pretty dire situation really. The chances are the foreigners will get the flat and then the job to go with it (because they would then have a permanent address) that others will refuse, according to J_demmo's viewpoint .
The one brandishing his sign of defiance, should change his uniform he looks like an ISIS member. Of course , they have now acquired themselves a nice little place to live, on the backs of others. Well done to them.
Last edited by granny; 20th Apr 201512:14am.
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle
Might have guessed Wirral Unite would have something to do with it !!!
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Love Activists
11 hrs · .
We will be kicking off workshops in 20 mins with a talk from Wirral unite community.
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~Chief Seattle
While squatting in a non-residential property may not be illegal, stealing water is.
There's a real danger that the left will drag Britain back to the 1970s, with secure well-paid jobs, ample housing, properly-funded NHS and social care, free tuition, student grants, final salary pensions, affordable rail fares and fabulous films and music. David Osland 2025
We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn
