Acorn disrupt Norwich City Council meeting over eviction

Emad Hamami, who lives in Grasmere Close, Earlham with his two children and carer, has been battling Norwich City Council for the last three years after claims he is under-occupying the two-bedroom house.

On November 16, the 55-year-old was supported by more than 30 friends, family and community members to halt the city council's attempt to evict him from his home of 13 years.

Emad Hamami, 55, has been battling with the council for the last three years to stay in his home (Image: Acorn Norwich)

A date to take the case to the High Court was initially set for Wednesday, December 6, before being postponed to December 19 - one day after Mr Hamami has a Family Court hearing.

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The saga is centred on the result of Mr Hamami's Family Court proceedings on December 18, which will determine the custody of his children, who are aged 13 and 17.

However, on Wednesday, members of community union Acorn Norwich disrupted a city council cabinet meeting to demand head of housing and community safety, Labour councillor Beth Jones, halts the eviction proceedings.

Mike Stonard, who was chairing the meeting, said it was totally inappropriate to try and disrupt the business of the cabinet (Image: Newsquest)

The city council, which live streams meetings on its YouTube channel, cut a section from the recording showing the intervention by Acorn.

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However, leader of the city council, Mike Stonard, said shortly after the incident on the stream: "We’re trying to run a cabinet meeting here, making important decisions for the city of Norwich and the interruptions are about a matter not on the agenda and which is out of the hands of the council and therefore not something this cabinet has any control over.

Emad was joined by friends, family and members of Acorn Norwich, when the council tried to evict him on November 16 (Image: Acorn Norwich)

"It’s totally inappropriate to try and disrupt the business of the cabinet in this way and if anybody does tend to do it further they’ll be immediately removed from the chamber."

Mr Hamami remains anxious for his situation to be clarified.

He said: "I’ve explained to the council numerous times about the situation with my children but they have shown me little care."

Mike Stonard addressing the incident prior to continuing the cabinet meeting on December 13 (Image: Norwich City Council)

The disruption was caused by members of Acorn Norwich at a council meeting inside City Hall on Wednesday (Image: Newsquest)