These are the notes of a speech by Carol Hayton, founding member of the Labour Campaign for Council Housing, given to Witney CLP. Formed in 2019 by a group of Labour members who were concerned about the housing crisis and the lack of political will, on the part of successive governments, to take any meaningful … Continue reading Background to the Labour Campaign for Council Housing
Local democracy and council housing
A series of government measures threaten to undermine local democracy and give developers and the big builders a free pass to step up their profiteering. The government's Devolution White Paper proposes imposing change on councils based on an arbitrary figure of 500,000 population. It is proposing to impose tenure blind housing targets on councils which … Continue reading Local democracy and council housing
Do we really want more “poor quality/slum housing”?
The government should end conversions without planning permission Early in 2024 Labour opposed the extension of Permitted Development Rights on the basis that it would “add to the quantum of poor-quality/slum housing that post-2013 PDR expansion has created”. Yet the new government has refused to bin this planning deregulation. It says it will “keep it … Continue reading Do we really want more “poor quality/slum housing”?
Planning isn’t the problem but “an overwhelming lack of investment in social rent homes”
The government has introduced mandatory housing targets on councils and is proposing changes to planning rules which would concentrate more power in the hands of unelected council officers. There is a fundamental contradiction between the government's talk of devolving power away from Westminster and its decision to impose mandatory house building targets on local authorities. … Continue reading Planning isn’t the problem but “an overwhelming lack of investment in social rent homes”
Planning changes – “divorced from the reality of how the housebuilding market currently operates”
Sarah Calkin, editor of the Local Government Chronicle, writing in relation to the government's planning changes, writes that “The government’s analysis – that the country is in the grip of an acute housing crisis and urgent action is needed – is not disputed. But its unrelenting portrayal of the planning system and local democracy as … Continue reading Planning changes – “divorced from the reality of how the housebuilding market currently operates”
Where’s the council housing revolution?
We have had the relaunch, but where is Angela Rayner’s Council Housing revolution? On more than one occasion since being appointed Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner has said that the government overhaul of the planning system will result in a council house revolution, delivering “the biggest boost to social … Continue reading Where’s the council housing revolution?
Central government housing targets “unrealistic” and “divorced from need”
In very candid comments, Yvonne Gagen, Leader of West Lancashire Council told the BBC that “I feel that we are going to be on a collision course with Labour”. She will not have uttered these words lightly. She was clearly exasperated by an increased target for her authority of 605 homes a year as compared … Continue reading Central government housing targets “unrealistic” and “divorced from need”
Government rent consultation: NO to above inflation rent increases
The government is consulting on a rent policy of 5 years or more of above inflation rent increases of a maximum of CPI+1%, for council and housing association tenants. We explain below why we are opposed to this proposal. The premise of the consultation document seems to be that above inflation rent increases for five … Continue reading Government rent consultation: NO to above inflation rent increases
Differences in the government over housing policy?
“A senior Whitehall official said (to the Financial Times) there was growing pressure inside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for ministers to accept that hitting the 1.5 million home target was unattainable in this parliament.” S/he added “Everyone can see that any serious line-by-line analysis of how you could reach that target … Continue reading Differences in the government over housing policy?
When a broken lift turns a home into a prison
The latest issue of Inside Housing has an article on an issue pursued by campaign member Clare Joseph, Hackney councillor. It relates to the impact of a lift breakdown in a property with only a single lift. The tenant, Malcolm, a wheel chair user, estimates that over the last three years it has been out … Continue reading When a broken lift turns a home into a prison
Labour Campaign for Council Housing 