"We’re pleased that agreement could be reached in court today, 1st April, between the charity and those campaigning against us. This means that those Botton Village co-workers opposed to change have the option to be treated as employees of the charity until the case is heard in full, which may be some months away.
The option of temporary employment was offered several months ago by the charity. The agreement means that co-workers can continue to live with the people we support and receive a salary equivalent to other social care workers.
For the charity, it means that we will have the confidence that we are complying with our regulatory duties and providing the standard of care at Botton that people expect from us.
The agreement made today includes five co-workers. We very much hope the remaining co-workers will also sign up to this negotiated agreement and, by doing so, help reduce the tension being experienced by those we support within Botton Village.
The positive outcome in court follows the decision yesterday of co-workers in another Camphill Village Trust community, the Grange in Gloucester, to become employees. This means that Botton Village is the only remaining community run by the charity where some co-workers have yet to adopt permanent employment status."
As we continue to emerge from lockdown measures and deal with local measures and the short and long term economic impact of Covid-19, local authorities will need to re-assess how services will be delivered for years to come.
The Government first announced plans for a shared ownership right to buy in October 2019. At the time the sector raised concerns about the impact the plans would have on housing associations ability to borrow. An election and a pandemic later the Government announced, during the CIH Housing Festival last week, the return of the right to shared ownership as part of its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).
Two final pieces of the possession jigsaw have been published on 15 September 2020. Mr Justice Knowles’ working group on possession proceedings has issued its guidance on the “overall arrangements” for possession proceedings.
One change proposed by the Building Safety Bill is the introduction of a duty holder regime, which will see statutory responsibility for the safety of higher risk buildings placed on key individuals
Throughout this pandemic, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been publishing various “Statements on Coronavirus” (Statements) which provide guidance on consumer rights during this time.
A recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the UK means new measures are being put in place in an effort to reduce the risk of a second wave. Whilst the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt, it is important to remain focused on the sector’s road to recovery.
Sometimes half an hour at a conference gives you the reality that has been staring you in the face all along. That was my experience watching “Change is on the Horizon”
Following our recent e-briefing on Possession Notices, Helen Tucker and Emilie Pownall from our housing litigation team discuss the impact of the changes on social landlords.
Not only has the possession stay been extended until 20 September, the notice periods to be given to tenants has been extended in certain circumstances with some important exceptions.
The Court has confirmed that a party cannot withhold its consent in order to re-write the original bargain.
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