Calls for independent mediation to resolve sheltered housing dispute

Several councillors voiced their support for the move at a meeting of the district council on Thursday, July 25, after tenant representatives from USAP (United Sheltered Accommodation Panel) handed in a petition containing 1,635 signatures.

The document, which was read aloud at the meeting by USAP’s chairman Pauline Simpson, called for ‘the 55 democratically elected volunteer tenant representatives in SDC’s sheltered housing schemes’ to be recognised, reinstated and supported.

Mrs Simpson also accused the council of ‘publicly humiliating and misrepresenting’ her organisation.

SDC’s rainbow administration severed its ties with the group in April after the two sides fell out over changes to sheltered housing services.

At the time, SDC’s leader Geoff Wheeler (Lab, Dursley) said the authority had no obligation to work with groups which behaved so ‘unreasonably’ and the council would consult with tenants directly.

However, at the district council meeting, several councillors called for USAP to be brought back into the fold, including a member of Cllr Wheeler’s own party – Cllr Roger Sanders (Lab, Uplands), who, along with Cllr Frances Roden (Con, Painswick) and Cllr Jon Marjoram (Green, Painswick), appealed for an independent mediator to be brought in to put an end the stand-off.

Cllr Sanders said: "The sheltered housing tenants are some of our most vulnerable residents. We need to put our thinking hats on, throw caution to the wind and lets get both sides together. Let's have some mediation."

Earlier, Cllr Mattie Ross (Lab, Stonehouse), who chairs SDC’s housing committee, had refuted suggestions that the authority was ‘persecuting’ old and vulnerable residents.

"Allow me to be quite clear about this – it is simply not the case. We value our tenants’ views and have no other agenda other than to do the best we can for them," she said.