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Bedroom Tax Campaign
The following resolution was passed by unanimously Bristol City Council at its meeting last Tuesday.
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More information at:
http://www.bristol247.com/2013/06/19/councillors-back-call-for-bedroom-tax-protection-plan-27994/
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.654188547942668.1073741835.157931087568419&type=1
This is a step forward for which BADACA can claim much of the credit. We have consistently campaigned against the Bedroom Tax, distributing thousands of leaflets and organising area meetings, lobbies and demonstrations.
However, it is not the end of the story. This resolution passed is considerably changed from the original motion posted on the Council’s website and is limited. That it was passed unanimously is a bit of a giveaway.
1. Its implementation is up to the Mayor. Although he supported the resolution, he will, when push comes to shove, do as ordered by the Government.
2. There is an expectation that tenants will downsize. Where? The problem in Bristol is that there is hardly any affordable, single-bedroom accommodation
3. The hold on evictions is only until September.
4. We are in the hands of a working group. This can be a delaying ploy. The one on Residential Homes never met.
5. Redefining box rooms has limited effect, important though it is for many people. The standard council house has three bedrooms, including a box room. Tenants whose children have left home will still lose benefit.
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The campaign must continue.
1. Our ‘Say No to the Bedroom Tax’ e-petition is now live and collecting signatures on the Bristol City Council website.
Please can everyone sign it and then distribute the link below across all of their networks (on-line and off-line) and see how quickly we can obtain the 3500 signatures required to trigger a specific council debate on the issue:
http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/petition/2322
The council approved paper petition (which can also count towards the 3,500 needed to force a BT debate):
http://www.bristolanticutsalliance.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/BTpetition2.pdf
We hope to launch the petition in the media next week so would be great have a good number of signatories early on to provide some momentum. The Council have also said that they will accept our paper petitions, so we need to hand in the completed ones and keep going with these.
2. The next co-ordinating meeting for the Bristol Against the Bedroom Tax group will be on Monday 8th July, 8pm, 3rd Floor, Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft (a fully accessible venue).
This is open to anyone who wishes to be involved in building the campaign and deciding the next steps.
