Affordable housing cost

Published 17 June Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Emergency housing for homeless people in hotel chains in Cornwall is costing the local authority "an awful lot of money", it has emerged. Cornwall Council is currently having to provide temporary accommodation for more than 700 households. This figure has risen from a level of around 250 before the pandemic, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service . The council currently has between 350 and 400 properties available. At a meeting of the economic growth and development overview and scrutiny committee councillors heard the council is currently placing people in Travelodges and Premier Inns. Phil Mason, strategic director for sustainable growth and development at Cornwall Council, said: "We don't have enough capacity in suitable accommodation for people who need housing. "We are running out and … [Read more...] about Homeless in Cornwall housed in Travelodges and Premier Inns

More than 115,000 Royal Mail staff have voted in favour of a national strike in what could be the first in a wave of public sector walk outs in the coming months as essential workers continue to struggle with the cost of living crisis. In a ballot announced today, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) – which represents Royal Mail Group workers – voted by 97.6%, on a 77% turnout, to take industrial action. The union is demanding that Royal Mail group enters into negotiations to secure 'a straight, no-strings pay increase for workers.' The Royal Mail said it was 'disappointed' by the strike announcement after offering workers a 5.5% salary boost. It comes as the Government geared up for a hot summer and autumn fight with trade unions today as it offered two million public sector workers including doctors and nurses below-inflation pay rises. More than a million NHS staff including nurses, midwives and paramedics have been offered increased that will see the worst-paid … [Read more...] about More than 115,000 Royal Mail workers vote for strike action in row over pay

When she was growing up, film-maker Gurinder Chadha was captivated by a photograph which took pride of place on the mantelpiece in her family’s front room in Southall, west London. For years she assumed the dashing man in a jewel-bedecked turban must be a relative; only later did she understand his true significance. “He was Maharaja Sir Duleep Singh, the last king of the Sikhs,” she says. “He ruled Punjab, my ancestral home – vast, powerful territories stretching from Afghanistan to China.” That is, until Duleep Singh was deposed by the British Raj, exiled to Britain as a teenager and forced to give the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the most dazzling of his dynasty’s treasures , to Queen Victoria. For Chadha’s family, that photograph was symbolic not just of past glories from the land of their forefathers, but of the deeply complex shared history between two nations – Britain and India - that had brought them as immigrants to this country. “As soon as you mention the word ‘Empire’, people … [Read more...] about Gurinder Chadha: ‘People get defensive about the British Empire but it’s our shared history’

Published 55 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A scheme to help tenants in private accommodation in Cornwall threatened with eviction has been extended after a successful bid for more funds. Applicants to the tenancy sustainment and rescue project can apply for up to £5,000 if tenants have fallen behind in rent and are at risk of homelessness. Cornwall Council and Citizens Advice Cornwall said they were to get £434,000 to support people until 31 March 2023. Landlords thinking about serving notice due to arrears can also apply. 'Increasing demand' The scheme was started in December 2021 after the organisations were awarded £700,000 from the Covid Outbreak Management Fund and government money to deal with homelessness. Since then more than 40 households have been helped to remain in their homes, scheme bosses said. Citizens Advice Cornwall said … [Read more...] about Cornwall tenant support scheme given further £434k