News
downsmail.co.uk Knuckles rapped over ‘injustice’
MAIDSTONE Borough Council has been hauled over the coals for refusing a disabled man’s application to join the housing register, meaning he and his family were condemned to un- suitable accommodation. The Local Government and So-
cial Care Ombudsman has or- dered MBC to “remedy the injustice caused” in a withering series of criticisms in the case of wheelchair-bound ‘Mr K’. In the report,MBC has been or-
dered to apologise toMrK, review his case, offer a compensation pay- ment for “distress” and train offi- cers dealingwith similar issues.
The 13-page report details how
Mr K and Mrs K, both benefits claimants, livedwith their son ‘L’ in a two-bed housing association property. In 2015, Mr K applied to be al-
lowed on theMBC housing regis- ter following a life-changing operation which meant his ac- commodationwas no longer suit- able due to his disability. Being wheelchair-bound, he
was unable to navigate around the property, toppling backwards on one occasion. Mr K,who also sufferswith de-
pression and anxiety, had several falls fromhis bed, breaking bones.
Hiswife’s health also suffered. The report reveals how MBC
tried to charge for a medical as- sessment and was slow to reply to his concerns. TheOmbudsman states: “There
was poor communication by the council. It failed to tell Mr K about the involvement of, and the assessment by, the Independent Medical Advisor until a tele- phone call 12 days after sending himits decision. “These failures
are...causingMr
K injustice. The injustice toMr K is not having his medical evi- dence and application properly considered.”
AMONG the list of recommen- dations,MBCmust: Say sorry toMr K in writing Review his case at no cost Check if any properties were available during the time in question and offer a compensa- tion package, if necessary Review its policy on allocation and the lawfulness of its provi- sion of charging for medical as- sessments Train officers in properly evalu- ating evidence Pay Mr K £250 for distress, stress, inconvenience, and frus- tration caused.
Kitchen boost for coffeemornings
LEADERS of Loose Community CoffeeMorningwill be able to top up their kitchen with a £250 grant after its scheme to tackle loneliness was cho- sen by Bluebird CareMaidstone for its first Community Grant for 2019. The scheme, set up in May last year with funding from Kent County
Council, now has a team of 11 volunteers and attracts 60-80 people a month to the pavilion at the King George V Playing Field every second Wednesday. Loose Parish councillor Peter Rigby said: “The coffeemornings provide a friendly outlet for people tomeet up and to chat.”
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