The owners of the ‘t Ruige Veld care complex in Rolde demand that the municipal council of Aa en Hunze withdraw a ban on additional night shelter as soon as possible. If that doesn’t happen, they threaten a new lawsuit against the municipal council.
The owners accuse the city council of abusing their powers. Their healthcare company is suffering damage due to the actions of politicians, their lawyer writes to the municipality.
During a secret council meeting in October, the city council decided that it will not be permitted to offer night shelter to more clients than is currently the case for at least another year and a half.
With this decision, the municipal council is circumventing an adverse ruling by the Council of State. This week, the highest administrative court struck down the ban on 24-hour care.
Due to the decision during the secret meeting, it remains not permitted to provide night care to more clients than is currently permitted.
Healthcare institution Phusis is also angry about the municipality’s administrative trick. Phusis provides care to 24 clients day and night at ‘t Ruige Veld and would like to expand that number.
The municipality ‘disrespects the judiciary’ and is guilty of ‘improper management’, Phusis’ lawyer writes in a letter to Aa and Hunze.
He holds the municipality liable for all damage suffered by the healthcare institution as a result of the ban.
The mayor and aldermen inform the municipal council that the ruling of the Council of State and the letters from the lawyers are no reason to lift the ban.
“This decision was taken at the time, regardless of any rulings by the Council of State, to create the necessary time and peace for a careful reconsideration of the area and its future destination,” the municipal executive writes.
A spokesperson for Aa en Hunze says that the municipal council will not deal with the lawyers’ letters until the council meeting on January 16, 2025 at the earliest.