High Court orders Reigate & Banstead to support British islanders during housing appeal

A South-east council is FACING A BILL of 鈥渢ens of thousands of pounds鈥� after the High Court ordered it to house 33 people from a British overseas territory.

Reigate & Banstead council was told it must house the 33 from the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia while the local authority carries out a review into its initial decision to refuse them housing.

After the ruling on Monday, the council warned that the decision could encourage other islanders to come to the UK.

The council also said the review process, which may include further appeals from the Diego Garcians, could take 鈥渟everal months鈥�.

Councillor Joan Spiers, leader of Reigate & Banstead council, said: 鈥淲e will apply the law correctly but it is not acceptable for a district authority to have to pick up this bill.

鈥淲e understand the position the islanders are in but we simply cannot afford the tens of thousands of pounds this process will cost.鈥�

She added: 鈥淭his is a government problem and the government should sort it out. The council tax-payers of this borough should not have to pick up their mess.鈥�

The Diego Garcians were granted British citizenship under the British Overseas Territories Act 2002. This group arrived at Gatwick airport, which borders Reigate & Banstead, on 8 October.

Allen Vincatassin, spokesman for the group, said: 鈥淭he local authority has been very sympathetic and we understand the difficulties it faces. That is why we are calling on the prime minister to readdress the situation.

鈥淲e are habitually resident in this country and this is why we have gone to court, but if the government had provided for us this wouldn鈥檛 have happened. We are a special case and it鈥檚 not a big amount of money the government needs to provide.鈥�

He added: 鈥淥ur people are here to work.鈥�

This case follows a ruling in September 2003 when the High Court told West Sussex council to support 30 Diego Garcians until they found homes and jobs or became eligible for benefits (HT 5 September 2003, page 12). The ruling was overturned in October 2003.

A government spokesman said: 鈥淲e welcome British citizens who come to the UK to work and Jobcentre Plus is ready to help them. But they must support themselves until they find a job. The same rules apply to any other British citizen not normally resident in the UK.鈥�

Source

Housing Today