LABOUR COUNCILLORS CALL FOR JOINED UP CITY STRATEGY TO MAXIMISE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
City Labour Group Leader Coun Lewis Herbert said
18 April 2008
' Labour councillors are calling on Cambridge City Council to make Affordable Housing one of its top priorities as the city currently has no joined up strategy and opportunities are continually being missed.
He added 'Residents and people in the housing queue deserve answers on key issues where the council could deliver much much more. For example, where has the £2m gone that was raised when the Belvedere development avoided onsite afordable housing, and paid a 'commuted sum' to the Council ? Our information is that some has been spent in Cambourne which is little use to people wanting a home in the city, or for families without their own transport.
'We also ask 'Why is the current analysis of housing need in Cambridge taking over 12 months, when many issues are totally obvious?' And 'when will the Council produce a public review of its available land?' Our evidence again is that council land is being sold off that has far greater potential for affordable housing.
'The 5500 households on city housing needs register means that thousands of new homes are needed for rent. While planned fringe developments will assist, much more has to be done within the city too. The city council must give proper leadership on this massive housing shortage for local people and Cambridge.'
Labour's motion also called for the affordable housing needs of older people to be met, following plans for the 'Lib-Demolition' of council older people's bungalows across Cambrdge. The Council has threatened fresh demolitions at Colville Road, Cherry Hinton. There, the first residents heard of demolition plans were letters through the door to say their homes for decades were to be knocked down.
At the Council meeting, City Tenant Federation leader John Marais also presented a petition to Cllr Smart, City Executive Councillor for Housing with over 900 signatures, calling foir the threatened demolitions at Colville Road, Cherry Hinton to be halted.
Labour's Motion to the City Council
"Labour requests the City Council Executive member for Housing to bring before it a strategy which sets out options for increasing the delivery of affordable homes in Cambridge, in a form which reflects the 'key priority' status which the Council gives to this issue, including specific proposals to: