The financial crisis of local authorities is spiralling out of control. Councils are running out of money as a result of the loss of grant from central government, increasing demand for services, high inflation, and the increasing cost of paying for temporary accommodation because of rising homelessness. A recent emergency meeting organised by Eastbourne council, the District … Continue reading Zoom meeting: the financial crisis of local government and its impact on housing
Author: lcfch
The financial crisis of local government and the housing crisis
"Labour council groups, CLPs and affiliated unions need to raise the alarm and demand that Labour commits to increased funding, both for local government services and for council housing." Will a Labour government come to the rescue of local government? What is it proposing to do to stop the collapse of local authorities and to … Continue reading The financial crisis of local government and the housing crisis
The Temporary Accommodation crisis – Liverpool
Sarah Doyle, Cabinet Member for housing in Liverpool, recently reported on the emergency meeting on Temporary Accommodation in Eastbourne. Councils are warning that the rising cost of temporary accommodation is pushing some councils to the financial brink. For instance, Hastings council recently warned that the cost of temporary accommodation was a major factor in the … Continue reading The Temporary Accommodation crisis – Liverpool
70% home ownership target – wrong in principle and undeliverable
Just before Lisa Nandy was moved sideways from her job as Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling-up, the Highbury Group on Housing Delivery (“an independent group of specialists from the public, private and independent sectors from housing, planning and related professions”) wrote to her on Labour's housing policy. We reproduce some extracts below. You can … Continue reading 70% home ownership target – wrong in principle and undeliverable
Emergency Accommodation and Homelessness Summit
"the financial and social crisis caused by escalating homelessness and use of emergency accommodation threatens budgets across local government" Councillor Sarah Doyle, Cabinet Member for Housing on Liverpool Council, reports on an emergency meeting on Temporary Accommodation and its dire financial impact on councils. As councils across the country prepare to present options to councillors … Continue reading Emergency Accommodation and Homelessness Summit
LGA calls for review of council housing ‘self-finance regime’
In a submission to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the Autumn Budget, the Local Government Association has called for a review of the “current self-financing regime” which has been in place since 2012. Under this regime Housing Revenue Accounts received no subsidy. More than 90% of their income is tenants rent and service charges. … Continue reading LGA calls for review of council housing ‘self-finance regime’
Promises of new towns keep being broken – here’s why Keir Starmer’s are likely to go just the same way
Peters Apps writing in the i-paper says The Labour leader has put new towns at the centre of his pledge to ‘get Britain building again’. But without council housing and state money experts fear the project is ‘doomed’ “For the first time in nearly half a century we will show the imagination to build new … Continue reading Promises of new towns keep being broken – here’s why Keir Starmer’s are likely to go just the same way
Housing and climate change – how are these not priorities?
Carol Hayton reports on the Labour conference We would like to thank all those that supported our conference motion on housing this year. Housing was the topic that received the largest number of submissions to the priorities ballot from CLPs. Over 20 of them submitted our model motion, or a version of it, and a … Continue reading Housing and climate change – how are these not priorities?
The strange priorities of the Labour conference
Housing kept off the agenda of the Labour conference For the second year running Housing was kept off the agenda of the Labour conference. As happened last year, 'Labour to Win' told delegates deemed to be supporters of the leadership, which six subjects to vote for in the priorities ballot. It explained, with a little … Continue reading The strange priorities of the Labour conference
Section 106 agreements will not fund building on the scale we need
Increased central government grant for council housing is necessary and possible "The 100,000 social rent homes a year, and more, that are needed to liberate a new generation from the private rented sector, will not be built without central government grant." Keir Starmer has said that Labour will build 1.5 million homes over five years; … Continue reading Section 106 agreements will not fund building on the scale we need
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 