Cllr Stephen Cowan, the Labour Opposition leader on Hammersmith and Fulham Council, has stated his opposition to the sale of expensive empty street properties. He complains of them being sold "instead of re-letting them to people on the housing waiting list."
Does he think they should be retained for social housing regardless of how much money they could be sold for? A million pound house in Parsons Green? It would seem so. His support for retaining state ownership is ideological completely ignoring any practical concern for value for money.
Had he troubled to read the report he was attacking he would see that it is about providing more homes and better homes. Poor asset management does no favours to those waiting on the housing list. Where you have a two bedroom property that could be sold for over £350,000 then selling it make sense - that is the threshold that is agreed. Cllr Cowan has no suggested an alternative threshold. He seems to oppose any sale at all.
The proceeds go to the Decent Neighbourhoods pot. They help pay for the capital maintenance programme - especially to reduce crime and anti social behaviour. For items like the current works at Fulham Court (including the Children's Centre) which cost £4.5m. Would Cllr Cowan cancel these improvements?
The funds will also help "develop or acquire new affordable housing to meet identified housing needs, including where appropriate extension of current properties" - for instance the "Hidden Homes" programme. It will also "fund tenant incentive initiatives (qualifying as capital expenditure) that
free up council housing which is in demand for those in housing need (e.g. the need for larger family accommodation)."
As an outsider who has connection with Hammersmith I shudder at the inane behaviour of the Labour Party on H&F Council!
Posted by: Steve Foley | Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10:58 PM