Bid to protect council houses in Wiltshire successful
The calls from Conservatives on Wiltshire Council came following a decision to sell off some council houses
A bid by Conservatives on Wiltshire Council to better protect the county’s stock of council houses has been successful.
The call follows a decision to sell off some council houses that are in remote areas or in need of significant work to bring them up to compliance with energy regulations.
A motion behoving the council not to sell any Wiltshire Council-owned council housing wherever possible, and to report to full council at the earliest opportunity when council houses are identified for disposal was passed by 47 to 43, with one abstention.
The motion was brought to a meeting of full council on Tuesday, October 21 by Conservative group leader Richard Clewer and his colleague Cllr Rich Rogers, Tory spokesperson for housing.
It followed a political row in July when the Liberal Democrat administration voted to sell two vacant council houses in the south of the county – one in Wilton and the other in nearby Barford St Martin.
“I am sad that I have to be bringing this motion today,” said Cllr Clewer. “In this council we sought for a very long time to build council houses and not see a reduction through anything other than right to buy.
“It was really regrettable that we came to a point with the new administration where we were suddenly seeing council houses being sold off.
“You do not see council housing being rebuilt in rural areas – it’s in urban areas. Keeping hold of rural council housing means keeping families together.
Adrian Foster, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for housing, said: “Wiltshire Council recognises the vital importance of council housing in supporting cohesion of our communities particularly in rural areas.
“We are committed to building council houses in rural areas (and) asset disposals are normal and necessary as a part of responsible housing management.
“Disposals allow us to invest in better quality, more energy efficient homes, replacing stock that is no longer viable.”
He reminded councillors that new rules around energy efficiency and dangerous mould made some properties very expensive.
The sale of two former council houses is likely to raise enough to build three modern three-bedroom homes” he said.
Council leader Ian Thorn added: “If we can’t put anyone into those properties, that’s a problem.”
Deputy Conservative leader Dominic Muns said: “To invest in new social housing stock, yet let stock drop off at the other end, is nonsensical. We need to increase the size of the stock.”
And Ed Rimmer, leader of the Reform UK group, said: “We support this motion. Council housing is extremely important.”