On 14th August the government green paper on social housing was released for consultation. Yet despite ongoing appeals from local government across the political spectrum it fails to make progress on the need to deliver affordable houses and in particular social housing. Figures show that since 2007/08, the number of homes let for social rent has fallen from 366,820 to 334,602. (more…)
Essex Labour councillors tabled an amendment to Essex County Full Council meeting on Tuesday. (more…)
Housing is a key issue for local people and the issue of housing is something that Basildon Labour takes extremely seriously. Here is what we have achieved in the last year of running Basildon Council: We introduced the Keyworker Housing Scheme, meaning that doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers and firefighters Read more…
Reading the national papers today was not a task for the faint-hearted. The Tory-led coalition’s ideological cuts to local government grants, cuts to social care and a lack of investment in our local communities are now more than ever pulling our communities apart.
(more…)One of the issues that is raised the most to me on the doorsteps of Basildon and Thurrock is the Bedroom Tax. If elected to power next May, Labour will scrap the coalition bedroom tax and send this vile, unjust and cruel policy to the dustbin where it belongs. The Tories and Lib Dems have taken an average £700 a year from half a million low income households with two thirds of those hit having disabilities and another 60,000 being carers. Only 4.5% of affected claimants had been able to move to smaller accommodation within the social sector, 60% have fallen behind with their rent after just six months and many who are paying are having to make cuts to other household essentials or incurring other debts. This policy tells you everything you need to know about a government who have cuts taxes for the richest while hitting low earners the hardest. (more…)