Our Patch march 2017
THE FINE PRINT
Lord Dubs discusses child refugees
THE UPPER ROOM LORD DUBS ' FIGHT FOR CHILD REFUGEES
T
he popular lecture series at The Upper Room charity in Shepherds Bush returns with a speech by child refugee-champion Lord Alf Dubs .
Recently recognised by the British Humanist Association , he will discuss what has happened to the unaccompanied child refugees in Europe on March 30 .
A former director of the Refugee Council , Lord Dubs last year proposed an amendment to the Immigration Bill which would have compelled the government to relocate 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children from other countries in Europe . The Dubs amendment , as it became known , was rejected by Parliament .
The series continues on April 26 as Lord David Willetts asks if the baby boomers let their children down . The former Minister for Universities and Science has written a book , titled The Pinch , arguing baby boomers have benefited disproportionately at the expense of later generations . theupperroom . org . uk
FRIEND OR HEATHROW
Y
ou have only a few more days to share your views with the Government about a third runway at Heathrow ariport . The consultation roadshow arrives at Hammersmith Town Hall on March 6 and has already met opposition from many councils worried about more noise , trafffic and pollution . gov . uk / dft / heathrow-airport-expansion
RULES OF THE
A new licensing system aims to protect landlords from badly behaved tenants , and renters from poorly performing landlords . But how will it work in practice ? Tim Harrison finds out
Landlords and tenants will see a change this summer as a new set of standards and licences is introduced in Hammersmith & Fulham . They are designed to shield renters from unscrupulous landlords and raise the quality of properties for rent .
Two different categories of licence come into force from June 5 , with landlords required to apply for either a selective or an additional licence , and comply with a new package of minimum standards .
As a third of all H & F residents are renters , the new measures will affect thousands of people … in a positive way , insists the council ’ s Head of Residential Environmental Health , Richard Buckley .
“ It means that in this borough , any house in multiple occupation – where three or more households share a bathroom , kitchen or toilet with other tenants – will have to have a licence ,” he says .
Licences will last for five years and landlords will have to pay the equivalent of £ 108 a year , which is tax-deductable and covers admin and inspection costs . The council makes no profit from the fee .
There are discounts for landlords who belong to recognised bodies and who sign up to a new landlord ’ s charter . When the application is made , the property will have an initial inspection ,
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