Current Events

Roma Support Group’s service users vs. London Councils Judicial Review Case

On 31st January 2011, the judge finalised the order which now reads as follows:

1. It is declared that the decisions taken under item 3 of the Agenda for the Leaders’ Committee of London Councils on 14 December 2010 adopting a categorisation of currently commissioned services, and deciding upon timing of proposed changes and transitional arrangements in respect of the London Councils Grants Scheme were unlawful because the Defendant reached those decisions without due regard to the statutory equality needs in the performance of its functions as required by s71 Race Relations Act 1976, section 76A Sex Discrimination Act 1976 and section 49A Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
2. The said decisions are quashed.
3. The Defendant is ordered to undertake a lawful process of reconsideration, in accordance with the public sector equality duties as set out above and, if and to the extent that it comes into force during the reconsideration process, the replacement public sector equality duty under s149 Equality Act 2010.
4. All consequent decisions to terminate funding for existing commissions under the London Councils Grants Scheme, including the notification to the Roma Support Group of 21 December 2010 are quashed.
5. No funding agreement with any organisation commissioned by the London Councils Grants Scheme shall be terminated, save either:
   
   1. with the consent of the organisation, or
   2. following the expiry of the 4 year period of the original commission of an organisation, until three months after the conclusion of the lawful consideration process.
6. The Defendant shall pay 60% of the Claimants’ costs of and occasioned by this application.
7. There be detailed assessment of the Claimants’ costs for the purposes of public funding.”