my uncle is 88 and registered blind the local council are charging him for cutting his hedges and grass should he be paying
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Answers (2)
Firstly, a very warm welcome to money.co.uk, I hope you will find this place a useful and beneficial resource.
You raise a very interesting question and I can answer it only given the replies I have received when seeking help for my elderly disabled mother.
The policy of council's regarding the services they provide the elderly and less able, varies from one authority to another. In some areas your uncle would receive assistance. But some would advocate that the additional payments he receives for being blind or in my mothers case disabled are to help pay for the services he is personally unable to undertake himself.
Much would also be influenced by his home status. Does he own his own property, is it leasehold or council owned? Does he pay a service charge or just council tax or both?
If he is paying a service charge for where he lives then the grounds maintanence should be included as part of the service provided. However, if he is paying a council tax then the immediate property in which he lives is his personal responsible. In truth, I am surprised that the council are taking an interest in his gardens at all. based upon where I live there is no regard for the appearance of local streets.
Often a card placed in a local supermarket or a request for help through a local radio station or the scouts, will often result in volunteers prepared to assist him and at no cost. Indeed, a letter to Mr. Cameron asking him to personbally come and cut his hedges and grass might not go amiss given his 'Big Society' mission - a wonderful photo opportunity!
Hi cartaxed, and welcome.
Parchester has provided a good answer.
I would also suggest you contact the RNIB and see what advice they can give.
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What an excellent answer, Parchester! I would love to see David Cameron cutting an OAP's lawn!
Having said that, our local MP is John Bercow, The Speaker of the House of Commons, and last weekend he came to join in our annual 'Village Litter Blitz'. It was really good to see him grubbing old drink cans out of ditches then coming to the pub afterwards to talk to his constituents.
Well done to Mr Bercow, Feline, nice to see him get some praise...he gets a lot of bad press.
Yes he does, fruits and I don't really know why. He is an excellent constituency MP who always has time for his constituents and I know several people he has helped.
He also seems to me to be one of the minority of politicians who have principles and stick by them. I remember him resigning from the opposition front bench on a point of principle (I think it was to do with gay rights) and this set his very promising career back by a couple of years.