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LOCAL LAWYER SUPPORTS NEW BILL TO TACKLE LIVING TOGETHER INJUSTICE
MERSEYSIDE
lawyer Jo-anne Lomax is joining forces with one of Britain’s top law
makers to introduce a Bill in the House of Lords this autumn. As a
member of Resolution, a national organisation of family lawyers, Jo-anne
is supporting the Bill as part of a new campaign to end the
injustice and financial hardship faced by thousands of cohabiting
couples, carers and siblings who live together.
The Bill to give rights to couples who live together will be
introduced by Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC, a veteran human rights
lawyer who successfully introduced the Forced Marriages Bill and was
instrumental in developing the recent Civil Partnership Act.
“It is a scandal in modern Britain that existing law does
almost nothing to prevent people from losing their home or sliding
into poverty if their relationship breaks down or their partner
dies,” says Jo-anne. “Sensibly drafted
legislation is urgently needed to tackle the vulnerability not only
of unmarried cohabiting couples and their children but also
co-dependent carers and siblings who live together.”
The Bill’s introduction is part of a new “Living Together”
campaign, launched by Resolution and Lord Lester’s Odysseus Trust.
Joyce and Sybil Burden, the elderly sisters who took their 30-year
fight to protect their home from inheritance tax right up to the
European Court of Human Rights, have added their support to the
campaign:- “We have always tried to secure each other’s future
after the death of one, but have found it impossible under this
system. It was a bitter disappointment to lose our case at the
European Court. We do hope you can help us, as after all these
years, we are getting quite past it for ourselves.”
1 in 6 couples in the UK co-habit and do not marry according to the
Office of National Statistics and this is predicted to rise to 1 in
4 by 2031. 53% of cohabitants still falsely believe in the existence
of Common Law marriage. However, the Government has decided to
postpone action on recent Law Commission proposals to reform
cohabitation law pending research into the cost and benefits of
reforms introduced in Scotland.
Lord Lester says that Britain’s more than 2 million cohabiting
couples and co-dependents should not be made to wait any longer for
justice:- "The Government's proposed research won’t even begin
until 2010 and if cost was the issue, one has to ask why the
Government specifically excluded research on cost from the Law
Commission’s original brief. Many other countries, including Canada,
Australia and New Zealand already have protection for cohabiting
couples. It is high time that Britain had a family legal system fit
for the 21st century.”
The Government’s timid response also flies in the face of growing
popular support for reform.
Findings from the British Social Attitudes Survey, published earlier
this year, show that almost 9 out of 10 people think that a
cohabiting partner should have a right to financial provision if
their relationship is a long-term one, has involved prioritising one
partner’s career or includes children. The campaign will also
look at ways to extend protection to those who cannot marry but
nevertheless live together in a co-dependent way. For example, it
would cover siblings such as the Burden sisters, elderly parents and
children who live with them and care for them.
The Bill would protect the vulnerable without equating living
together to marriage or civil partnership in every way. For example,
the Bill would apply only to people living in the same household for
a minimum period of time in which the parties have provided a
financial or other commitment to each other. To protect
freedom of choice, couples who wish to do so could “opt out”
of the scheme provided legal advice is sought by both parties to
protect the vulnerable. |
Buildings progress recognised
LIVERPOOL City
Council is welcoming a new report which shows it is making solid
progress in improving at risk buildings in the city.
English Heritage has just released its new-style 'Heritage at
Risk Register' - an enhanced version of its previous, annual 'Buildings
at Risk Register' covering grade I (1) and II* (2 star) listed
buildings.
The number of buildings on the list in Liverpool is down from 10 to
9, following the removal of the group of 4, late-Georgian properties
at 98-102a High Street in Wavertree after action over the last 2
years. Of the 9 buildings on the list, 3 have received
improved, lower gradings as a result of council action. They are:
Croxteth Hall and the laundry cottage within the hall’s grounds
which have been improved as part of a programme of maintenance; and
the Royal Insurance Building on North John Street, where planning
permission and listed building consent for a new spa hotel are
progressing.
Councillor Berni Turner, executive member for the environment and
the council’s historic environment champion, said:- “I am
pleased that the hard work going on to restore the city’s most
historic buildings has been recognised by English Heritage. We
are absolutely committed to doing all we can to tackle the problems
caused by owners letting their buildings fall into disrepair and
become an eyesore.
However there is still much to be done and we will continue to work
through the Stop the Rot forum to secure the future of Liverpool’s
built heritage as part of the city’s regeneration. There is an
incredible amount of behind the scenes negotiation going on to
tackle this issue in Liverpool and I am confident we will see more
progress in the near future.”
2 buildings have worse gradings:-
The North Warehouse at Stanley Dock
because of continued vacancy and deterioration, and St James’s
Church on Parliament Street because of difficulty finding a
long-term use. However progress is being made in both cases as the
Stanley Dock warehouses have had approval from the planning
committee for adaptation and re-use, while the Churches Conservation
Trust has repaired St James’s Church.
The 2008 Register also introduces a new ranking for all English
local authorities within 7 bands.
The 1st band has the lowest
proportion of grade I and II* buildings and monuments at risk, the
7th the highest. Liverpool is ranked within the 5th band, which
compares well with most large urban areas who fall within the higher
6th and 7th rankings.
The full list of buildings on the at-risk list is:-
St Luke’s Church, Berry Street
Wellington Rooms, Mount Pleasant
Royal Insurance Building, North John Street
Sugar Silo, Regent Road
St Andrew’s Church, Rodney Street
St James’s Church, Parliament Street
Croxteth Hall, Croxteth
Croxteth Hall laundry/laundry cottage
North Warehouse, Stanley Dock
For more information about Buildings at Risk, visit
www.english-heritage.org.uk.
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