Councillors missing from the Housing debate votes - we name them

11.30.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 29th Jun 2006

Six Councillors were absent from the Extraordinary Council meeting on Council Housing this evening. Some were absent for reasons beyond their control (these things happen) but one or two may not have been there because their views (and votes) could embarrass their party. The majority for the change in Council policy was 4 so these 6 Councillors may have made the outcome different if they had been there.

The missing Councillors

Conservative - Alan Quirk (Broadfield South ward) and Marcella Head (also Broadfield South ward). Both have spoken out publicly against Crawley's Council housing being transferred to a Housing Association.

Labour - Chris Cheshire (Bewbush ward), David Shreeves (Langley Green ward), Brian Quinn (Broadfield North ward) and former cabinet member responsible for Housing, Stephen Joyce (Southgate ward).

There were no Lib Dem Councillors missing.

The Conservatives at the meeting voted for a delay in the ballot till "spring 2006" and for the Council to support a transfer of Crawley's Council housing to a Housing Association. They also supported the additional £90,000 being spent on giving Crawley's tenants more information on the transfer of the housing stock. 17 Councillors voted this way.

Liberal Democrats and Labour voted for the Borough Council to continue its neutral stance on the housing transfer and for the ballot to take place as planned this October. 13 Councillors voted for this.