Decision Details

Motion F

Proposer: Cllr David King, seconder Cllr Paul Smith

This Council:

Notes the acute housing crisis across the UK, with the costs of mortgages and rents at an all-time high for many, a growing number of homeless families and a shortage of council and other social housing, pushing hundreds every year into temporary accommodation, or the streets.


Calls upon the new Government to act immediately upon their housing election promises, working with local government, including to: 

a. Resurrect the Renters Reform Bill to end no fault evictions, and to give tenants four months’ notice when they are evicted, rather than two months’ notice as had been proposed. 
b. Work with the All Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry into council housing stock and finances, to reduce the burden of past housing investments so that local authorities can invest afresh, with a long term rent settlement so that this Council can meet the rising costs of regulation, repair and net zero related modernisation;
c. Help councils to meet the ever-rising demands and costs of those at risk of becoming homeless;
d. Bring housing benefit subsidies back in line with current accommodation costs, to make renting for those most in need affordable. 
e. Allow a Colchester moratorium on Right to Buy, to reduce the pressure on council housing stock, and ensure we keep sale receipts in full, for reinvestment in new social housing.

Calls upon the administration, with the support of full Council, to work with our new Members of Parliament to pursue these issues, and working with others across North Essex to make housing the priority it is for so many of our residents.

As the motion relates to an executive function it will stand referred direct to Cabinet unless suspension of Council Procedure Rule 11(2) is agreed.