But Councillor Marilyn Taylor, co-chair of the North West asylum seekers consortium, made up of 11 councils, said that they would seek to continue discussions with Home secretary Jack Straw, and immoigration minister Barbara Roche to let them "hear directly from us the dreadful mistakes they are making."
During the year-long contract negotiations, Oldham council threatened to leave the consortium and Manchester city council publicly accused the Home Office of "reneging" on a last minute deal (Housing Today, 28 September).
Taylor said: "We are really pleased to sign the contract - things can now change."
She said: "The last eight months have proved very problematic to this region because of the chaotic way in which asylum seekers were being directly dispersed by the Home Office into private landlord accommodation."
"Local authorities expected to sign months ago. It has been galling to see private landlords given large sums of money when we have been tied down to the smallest little detail," she said.
"Councils remain very concerned about the quality and appropriateness of the accommodation the Home Office is using in the private sector. The few good examples are completely eclipsed by the majority that are of poor quality, in some cases uninhabitable, and in areas that are not at all appropriate."
Steve Coolie, a NASS contract negotiator seconded from local government said: "We are pleased to arrange the contract with them, which helps us meet expected needs."
He added that a contract should be signed with Cardiff city council in the next two weeks. Liverpool council, which withdrew from the north-west consortium earlier this year, may shortly sign a small emergency provision contract.
Source
Housing Today
No comments yet