23 March 2010
First Meeting of Park Home Legislation Consultative Group
WILLOW WOOD TAKES PART IN THE FIRST SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIVE MEETING CONCERNING CHANGES TO PARK HOME LEGISLATION.
By Mike Larkman
Last week Wednesday March 16th saw Willow Wood's Jim Haluch take part in the first Scottish Goverbment Consultative Group meeting on amending park home legislation in Scoland.
At long last after the Minister for Housing and Social Affairs Alex Neil made the announcement in a press release October 2009 the first meeting of the stake holder group took place. The meeting was chaired by Steven White, Head of the Consumers in Private Housing a Department within the Scottish Government.
Represented at the meeting were: -
SHELTER – Rosemary Brotchie
COSLA – Eni Bankole
WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL – David Brewster
MIDLOTHIAN COUNCIL – Ross Buchanan
PHLAGS – Barry Plews
PHLAGS – Mike Larkman
WILLOW WOOD (West Lothian) COMMUNITY COMPANY – Jim Haluch
BRITISH HOLIDAY AND PARK HOMES ASSOCIATION - Colin Fraser
BRITISH HOLIDAY AND PARK HOMES ASSOCIATION – Jeanette Wilson
NATIONAL PARK HOME COUNCIL – Alicia Dunne
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PARK HOME RESIDENTS Brian Doick
INDEPENDENT PARK HOMES ADVISORY SERVICE – David Tweddle
PARK HOME RESIDENTS ACTION ALLIANCE – Ron Joyce - Apologies
The purpose of the meeting was to agree the Draft Remit, Terms of Reference, and Initial Priorities
In summary it was agreed that the group should initially concentrate on the written agreement Implied and Express terms which the Minister has the power to change by secondary legislation and can be the most effective way of bringing about the earliest changes for the improvement in safeguards, security of tenure and clarification of areas of doubt
The 1960 Act which is all about Site Licensing and the Powers of Local Authorities will require Prime or new legislation which will require an Act of Parliament before being introduced
The Scottish Government team propose to utilise a current Housing Bill, to include proposals for the Licensing of Mobile Home Sites. If all goes well any new legislation could be completed within this current parliament and although this is a sound aspiration PHLAGS has warned that getting it right is more important. The current legislation has been in place for fifty years and it might be another fifty years before we get another chance!
The group is expected to meet again in August 2010
See official minute at:
Now is the time to get involved let your views be known either through this web site, your residents association or your park home resident group.
Take part yourself in the consultation at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/03/04140613/14
