Westminster Council - B&B housing problem noted by Labour Group Leader

According to Labour Group Leader Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg the continued housing of families in B&B accomodation for more than six-weeks is "unlawful".  He points out that Housing Minister Mark Prisk MP has stated in a letter (29th November) to Karen Buck MP, that continued placing of families in Bed & Breakfast for more than six weeks is "unlawful and unacceptable". This followed a letter from the former Housing Minister, Grant Shapps MP, to Council Leader 

Philippa Roe, in April 2012, making a similar point. Labour Group Leader Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg on the blog "labourwestminster" writes that he has recently written to Council Chief Executive Mike More;

"As you know, there are now 140 families in B&B for more than 6 weeks. You will recall that in April 2012, when there were 36 families in B&B for more than 6 weeks, Mr Shapps wrote to Councillor Roe to inform her that he had "instructed my officials and local homelessness practitioner advisers…to offer their help and support in reducing levels of B&B use". 

Councillor Dimoldenburg asks "who is responsible at the Council for this, 

"Is it  the Cabinet Member for Housing, the Cabinet or Councillors?" Do 

"Council officers have any responsibility for this unlawful action?"

http://labourwestminster.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/westminster-council-guilty-of-unlawful-and-unacceptable-action-on-families-in-bb-

accommodation/bb-prisk-letter-nov-12/

http://labourwestminster.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/bb-prisk-letter-nov-12.pdf                                                                                      Letter from Karen Buck MP to Mark Prisk MP Minister for Housing 29/11/12