Borough Council urges government to secure future of council housing

Hinckley and Bosworth was one of more than 100 councils represented at the Council Housing Summit in Sheffield this month. Councillor Michael Mullaney, Executive Member for Housing, attended alongside the Borough Council's Head of Housing, Madeline Shellard. 

At the summit, councils showed their support for a paper, commissioned by Southwark Council, outlining five solutions to secure the future of council housing. 

These are: 

1. Establish a new fair and sustainable HRA model: including a long-term and certain rent-settlement, an adjustment of HRA debts and more favourable conditions for council investment.

2. Reform unsustainable Right to Buy policies: by reducing discount levels and eligibility, as well as protecting newly built council homes from sale.

3. Remove red tape on the Affordable Homes Programme and other funds: including extending the strategic partnership model to councils. Funding should be streamlined, allocated simply, reflect recent cost inflation, and allowed to be used flexibly to meet local housing need.

4. Announce a Green & Decent Homes Programme: a long-term, capital funded programme to bring all council housing up to the new standard of safety, decency and energy efficiency by 2030 – and a road map for achieving net zero by 2050.

5. Fund the completion of new council homes: limit the short-term loss of housing supply and construction sector capacity caused by the unfolding market downturn, by funding councils to rescue and complete stalled development projects.

The summit was also attended by the Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook MP.

With growing numbers on the housing waiting list and losses through Right to Buy, additional council housing is urgently needed.

Speaking after the summit, Cllr Mullaney said: “It was good to attend the Council Housing Summit in Sheffield on behalf of Hinckley and Bosworth, along with more than 100 other councils urging the government to take action to secure the future of council housing.

"Too many people face long waits for a council house. It's important we maintain and expand the amount of council housing available so we can provide homes for the increasing numbers of people here and across the country needing social housing.

"Investment in council housing is also an investment in our communities, who need decent, affordable and secure homes."

Madeline Shellard added: "The recent Council Housing Summit underscored the critical need for sustainable housing solutions.

"Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council welcomes further opportunity to collaborate with both national and local partners to help ensure that everyone has access to safe, secure and affordable homes."

The report can be read in full online.