Camden New Journal Comment - We can’t help but ask questions about Jennyfer’s life

Published: 8 April, 2010

IN many ways a sense of impotence on the part of council officials seems to run through the statement by Jim Wintour, director of housing and adult care, over the tragic death of Jennyfer Spencer.
In attacking this newspaper for being “misleading and sensationalist” Mr Wintour sets out to argue that, essentially, the council cannot be held responsible for the horrific circumstances surrounding Ms Spencer’s death.
The blame, to some extent, Mr Wintour suggests lies with Ms Spencer herself.
She refused help, she refused an offer made five times to move her from her fifth-floor flat to a ground-floor flat.
And just in case it may be asked why the council did not attempt to compel Ms Spencer to move, Mr Wintour assures readers that the council did not have legal powers to do so.
So who is to blame?
Effectively, not the council – says the council.
The council, as a landlord, of course has an indissoluble duty of care for its tenants.
Until full and proper documentation is provided by the council as to the exact nature of the offers of a ground-floor flat, and details of Ms Spencer’s replies, if any, in writing or verbal, are put into the public domain, we feel it is right to reserve our judgment.
Until information is placed before the public as to the full nature of the council’s legal advice, such as who gave it, and was it tested with the advice of senior barristers, we, again, feel judgment should be reserved.
We asked last week why the elected representatives did not appear to have become involved in the tragedy that was obviously building up.   
They may have been, of course, but until they make public declarations about Ms Spencer’s tragic case, we are not to know. 
Our columns were open this week to statements by any elected representative who may have tried to help Ms Spencer  but, again, none came.
Instead, the only response came from an officer of the council.
In considering the events surrounding Ms Spencer’s life and death, it has to be borne in mind that for seven years, although severely paralysed and only able to get about in a wheelchair, she remained trapped in an upstairs flat – and that we are being asked to believe that during the whole of the time the council were an impotent and helpless body. 
It is this we find hard to accept.