Nottingham SP judicial review rejected

Framework Housing Association had sought permission to bring the review after Nottingham Council announced a 45 per cent cut to its budget for housing services for vulnerable people next year.

Despite the fact that correspondence between the department for Communities and Local Government and Jon Collins, leader of the council, indicated that the city’s formula grant allocation for the coming year includes at least £19.8 million for Supporting People, the council continued to cut their budget from £22.3 million in 2010/11 to £12.4 million in 2011/12.

But the judge concluded that in conditions that are fundamentally different from previous years it was rational for the council to start from a figure of £12.4 million when setting its own budget for housing-related support. 

Andrew Redfern, chief executive of Framework, said: ‘We embarked on this process because we couldn’t stand by and watch while thousands of people lose the support they desperately need.

‘We are disappointed, on their behalf, that permission for a legal challenge has been refused.

‘However it is better to hit the brick wall at this point than take the case to court only to discover that it makes no difference to the reality on the ground.’

He confirmed that Framework would now be exploring a judicial review against the government’s handling of Supporting People redistribution.

‘In the meantime we will continue to do all we can to highlight the impact of withdrawing support from thousands of vulnerable people whose needs have not disappeared regardless of the disputes between central and local government,’ he said.

‘It will not be possible to prevent the harm to individuals and communities, but we may be able to mitigate it.’