Lib Dem success in Housing Debate

11.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 29th Jun 2006

At a tense Extraordinary Council meeting this evening the Liberal Democrats suggestion that an all party delegation should go to the Housing Minister to express support for the so called 4th Option on housing was overwhelmingly supported.

The 4th option on Housing is to allow Council's to retain their housing stock without any of the financial penalties that other schemes are exempt from. In Crawley's case retaining Council housing will cost literally tens of millions of pounds over the coming years. On a purely financial basis the argument for Crawley Borough Council's housing to be transferred to a new housing association is a strong one.

What however the move away from Council ownership does not take into account is the reduction in rights for the residents. For example, no longer will a Council tenant be able to go to his or her Councillor to get direct action in resolving a housing matter as the property will no longer be in the Council's ownership.

Cllr Gordon Seekings - glad that the Lib Dem suggestion received all party support.

Speaking after the debate Lib Dem group leader Councillor Gordon Seekings said "I am glad that our suggestion received all party support. I was particularly pleased that Conservative Council leader, Bob Lanzer, spoke so strongly in support of it as we were on opposite sides of the argument as to whether the tenants vote should be delayed and the Council no longer taking a neutral stance on the subject."

Continuing Gordon said, "It was no surprise to me that both the present and former Labour leaders, Cllr Brenda Smith & Cllr Chris Redmayne, supported it as they have had the courage to speak out against this unfair system on previous occasions. A system incidentally set up by their government."