Mark That Disabled Green Party Guy

Labours Draft Housing Strategy 2025-2030 A Perspective  & Plea Labour Cabinet Telford and Wrekin Council  I’m writing this as a resident, and a disabled person, and as someone who wants our borough to be fairer and safer for everyone. Labour-led Telford and Wrekin Council have published a draft housing strategy for 2025 to 2030 and asked for our feedback, but there’s only 11 days to respond. What I’m seeing in the draft: There are some positive steps in the plan, but the strategy does not do enough to protect and support people with disabilities, older people, and those who are vulnerable. The plan talks about “reference to vulnerable groups” in a superficial way, but it doesn’t set concrete, time-bound actions to fix the issues people face day to day. As the Green Party Disability Officer, I’ve suggested a practical set of actions that would not only help disabled and vulnerable residents but would also improve things for everyone in the borough. The Bottom Line  We...

EHCPs: Cutting Through the Noise for Telford & Wrekin Parents If you’re a parent in Telford & Wrekin, you’ve probably heard a lot about EHCP's (Educational Health Care Plans) lately—mostly that they’re too slow, too costly, and somehow they are “The problem.”  The Ombudsman’s published decisions about councils, including cases involving Telford & Wrekin, show a different story: delays, unlawful gatekeeping, missed reviews, and undelivered support. That’s system failure, not a flaw in the EHCP itself. 10 common claims against EHCP's —and what the facts really are! 1. “The system is too bureaucratic” Most red tape comes from council delays, extra hurdles, and poor decisions that trigger appeals. When LAs (Local Authorities - like Telford and Wrekin) assess on time, work with families, and commission enough services, the burden drops. 2. “EHCPs are too complex” An EHCP simply sets out needs, specific provision (what/by whom/how much), and outcomes. It feels complex w...