Insufficient Housing for rent

Provision of Social Housing.

A petition is currently circulating on social media from Liberal Council Andy Canning, calling for Dorset Council to use South Walks House, and other Dorset Council buildings that are currently surplus to requirements, to provide 100% affordable and social housing.  

I have not signed this petition.

Historically, Conservative Councils and Conservative governments have been opposed to social housing in any form. A comparison between the housing stock, maintenance facilities and new build shows a significant variation in the allocation of resources and actual performance. This imbalance between Conservative led councils and others including "NOC" councils goes back over many years.

Some time ago, when I was a member of the Basingstoke Borough Council, my group put down a motion critical of the Conservatives policy on council house provision, the growing number of families in the Borough waiting list in the Borough for council housing and demanding that the council take immediate action to substantially reduce the numbers on the waiting list. During the course of a heated debate, the ruling group's attitude towards council house tenants and those still on the waiting list for a home, was glaringly obvious as various members contributed to the arguments. Eventually the Conservative group (there was no overall control at that time) defeated our motion with the support of the Liberal group and some abstentions from "Independent" members.

The most atrocious and offensive contribution to the debate was when a Conservative member got to her feet and stated that there was in fact no waiting list problem. She went on to say that it was just a matter of time before the list was reduced in any case. Her reasoning for this ridiculous assertion was that natural selection would provide that as disabled people moved out of houses and that as older people passed on, a stock of houses would become available for those on the waiting list to move in. The benches in the chamber, particularly from my group erupted with howls of derision, shock and anger and at this heinous comment from an elected member of the council.

This incident has remained with me as a graphic reminder of the callous and soulless reminder that no matter what lip service  Conservative's may pay to the plight of homeless or people waiting for social housing, the bottom line is that they are indifferent to the problem. In this, from that day when the Liberals supported the conservatives and from subsequent experience, I also have little sympathy for Liberals who invariably express concern but support policies which are no better than conservatives.