An update for you.

After a reasonable few days, I found that the scooter under the stairs had returned, Mr Mouth was shouting his mouth off again, so I sent my ASB log to one of the other councillors.

within minutes I had a CC of an email he'd sent to the director of housing at Birmingham City Council, the top man in the chain!



I had my rheumy app yesterday and saw a rheumy who will only be there for 6 months until the full time replacement is there, she was lovely, told her of the stress, she said she'd seen Dr Jubb had written to them, and said she was happy to back this up with another letter questioning why no action had been taken when it was quite clearly affecting my health.

I was then at the Gadget Show Live all afternoon and missed a call from the useless ASB team guy, who sounded quite peed off, requesting I phone him today between 9 and 12.

He had promised to phone me on Tuesday, as he'd met with the tenants causing the nuisance from his tone it sounded like as the meeting was "cordial" that now everything was wonderful and the last 10 months hadn't happened and the ASB wasn't still going on.

So I'll see what he has to say this morning and keep you posted :)

As Helly suspected, the council have been fed a sob story and have taken it hook line and sinker..

She's not having a relationship with the guy from 27
She has a medical condition and is now 5 months pregnant.
She can't tolerate noise herself, and has heard it going on but it's not from her flat.

They now want mediation, despite this being offered over 6 months ago, but she never responded to any council communication.

I'm so bloody angry, as the way he was talking, was that it's all my fault, and none of this has gone on, despite all the evidence and witnesses.

What a difference a day makes!

The classic songs lyrics sprang to mind when yesterday I phoned the (useless) man at the council (after getting some advice from someone) to ask him if he could put all of the main points from our discussion the day before in writing, as my last post I was so angry, to the point I was shaking, that after all this time of nothing happening, they lie to the council and the whole thing is set back 6 months. I was about to tell him that I wish all future correspondence on the issue to be by post only (so there's a paper trail, and they can't deny the contents) When he sounded pleased to hear from me and his tone was completely different to the day before.

On Thursday he had kept saying that they couldn't do anything about the drug issue unless they had the support of the police, they've already had the name and contact details of the officer dealing with the case for months, yet still trotted out the same story.

Yesterday he tells me that as the new tenancy conditions are now in force the council and the police are working together on such issues (they were before but apparently rewriting a document makes things work better) and that he wanted to have a meeting with me on Wednesday morning to discuss the case.

I told him in full about the effects RA can have, he was almost silent, and almost apologetic when he carried on the conversation.

So now I wasn't as angry, and getting a much better feeling about things, I decided to email a few friends who have witnessed the various things going on, noise, drugs, scooter. to ask them if they could write a letter to back up my claim.

In a moment of pure genius (even if say so myself) I've managed to capture video (of my front door mostly) but the audio of the moped, being brought into the block and revved up, filling the communal entrance and my hall with exhaust fumes.

This morning I chatted with friend Pete who just happened to be at the local Police tasking meeting on.... Thursday evening!!! which a member of the council team attends.. in the minutes of the previous meeting (March), presented at the latest one, it's there in black and white that the local sergeant and a number of his team have visited a few times (without me knowing) and has confirmed the use, and trade in drugs from the properties. The police are now gathering evidence. My friend is going to pop the minutes down to me today, so I can take a copy and add it to my increasing list of evidence.

So it seems the tables have turned, and I'm now hoping that with this new evidence, that I can finally get a move.

I'll keep you all posted!

Sorry for the long post, but it's such a relief to see that little ray of light at the end of this very long tunnel.

HUGS

Jo.

YIPEE! Await the feed back form your meeting. Keep to your intention to have everything in writing though and compile a file to take with you to your meeting.

Lots of love Jo, this is just so unfair. Ask if he can get you out and into more restful, suitable property as that time involved in evicting will be lengthy.

Eleanor x

Brilliant! Amasing what happens when agencies DO talk to each other. Hope this is the start of the End of things for yoy!

I have a meeting with Mr Useless and his manager today at 11am

I'm hoping it will get a positive result, though on past experience I'm not convinced.

I've ran out of printer paper, after printing out details of all my medications and the what is RA piece from the NRAS site. as well as copies of the letters from NRAS and my rheumatologist.

Will keep you all posted.

Jo.

Here's the update folks.

I met Mr Useless and his manager, I took my friend Donna along, for some support, but also as a witness to anything said, Well at first they refused to believe that i first contacted ther ASB team in July, and claimed that my first contact with them was in October. I produced the evidence from my log file to prove otherwise, lots of scribbling from manager.

The scooter problem was rectified in January, but I hadn't informed them that it had recommenced.. again i produced evidence, mr useless couldn't find his record of that conversation in his , more scribbling..

Brings up flat 27 saying that had been discounted from the enquiry, i stated as the youth from 27 was living at 29, I considered the issue to regard wholly with number 29, and that his mother was at 27... "The mother lives at 27?" came the reply. Yes, I says , she's been there for about a year or so.. scribble scribble... Ohh they're only 1 bedroom flats and it's leased to mr ****** yes, but he's living at 29.

They then brought up the issue of the drug dealing and taking in the block, saying they had inspectors visit, and there had never been any sign of the scooter or drug taking. I asked.. Can they get in past the security door? "yes she replies" I then produce the minutes of the police meeting from March, with specific mention of the drugs, the issue confirmed in black and white in the police minutes, they look at each other stunned, like I'd just played them a killer hand in poker.

I gave them a copy of my 29 page log file.. yes.. but these pictures of the scooter on the page could have been taken anytime. So I pull out my camera, with not only stills of the scooter under the stairs (with date and timestamps) but also the video/audio i've been grabbing the last few days... another glance at each other.

Then the manager says she had no idea it was like this, and apologised. Asked if I could get more evidence to them I said of course.

Then, would I be willing to go to court.. as the council are now considering legal action.. they have listened to the other side of the story, but my logs and pics etc have given them the evidence they need :)

Then I caught her a treat, she told me that if the scooter was ever in the block, or there was a strong smell of drugs to call the office (in office hours) and they would send someone around to witness it themselves. Then she says.. "can they get in the block?" I said It's got a security door and needs a fob (pulls out keys and shows her the fob) "Ohh we must get one of those" she replies.. seeing my chance, I said "You told me earlier that they could get in already"

Tuesday a housing manager is coming to my home about me being moved. :D

And as little as it will do now, the independent mediator will be here on Monday afternoon.

So it looks like my probably over zealous note taking, pics/video's have really swung the case, as has those notes from the police.

I then went for a walk in the severn valley country park this afternoon, just to unwind a little.

I'm not out of the woods yet, but at last it seems like my case is being taken seriously, and someone is coming to see about getting me a move :)

Thanks for all your support folks

Jo.

Oh Jo that is wonderful news.... Why oh why do these useless environmental health people fall for such sob stories... It wound me up no end when my officer said he could not take my health into account, yet he took into account our neighbours excuses that her son had behaviour problems (yes his behaviour caused them to have parties, late night all-weather BBQs etc)



I'm so glad you're now asking for a paper trail.... councils can be very good at lip service. Also if you ever need to send a letter, do it recorded delivery... just a little more but good for tracking when they say they haven't received anything... Same goes for emails... delivery reports a must....

You truly did play a killer hand but so sad that you needed to in order for them to do what they're paid to do... As for now wanting a mediator... yeah because they know that they are now walking on very thin ice.. shame they didn't consider that in the first place...

Hi Jo,

I've been following your thread and have previously felt too down hearted to reply (brings back old memories of the hell I went through for over 10 years, and experience with ineffective bureaucrats), but this news is FANTASTIC, and admire your perseverance, there's nothing like a bit self of activism, well done .

I look forward to hearing about your move,

love,

Barbara
XXXXXX

Hi Jo, what great news (at last i say!!!). Let us know how the next meeting goes, hope you have a say in where you would like to be moved to.
emilyXXX.