Labour pulls housing motion in order to 'move the issue forward' with Conservatives

Labour leader Councillor Danielle Stone said her party would withdraw its motion

The Labour party had put forward the motion, which called for the council to adopt the Housing First model used in countries such as the USA and Finland. But they decided to pull it at the last minute as they could not agree on a proposed amendment from the Conservatives.

The motion, submitted by Councillor Zoe Smith, had read: “We call on the council to house eligible families in permanent housing straight away. This would be kinder, cheaper, and more effective. We call on the council to use the Homes First model to take people off the street and make them safe.

“We call on the council to fulfil its 2015 manifesto promise and ensure we have a fully functioning social lettings agency by the time we go to unitary. A social lettings agency will help us with the supply side by working with private landlords, investing in empty properties, and bringing back into use properties that are hard to let.“

But speaking at the full council meeting on Monday (March 9) at The Guildhall, Labour leader Councillor Danielle Stone said: “The Labour group have opted to withdraw this motion.

“This should not be a game of political football and if we can find a way to move this forward then we should.

“We didn’t agree with the suggested amendments and rather than having a ding-dong we would rather come up with somethings that brings this issue forward.”

Had the amended motion come through, it would have meant Labour could not bring forward a similar motion within the next six months.

The Housing First model is one which the council has been exploring. An overview and scrutiny committee involving councillors from all parties examined homelessness issues in the town over many months, and recommended last May that NBC adopt the Housing First model.

It would see rough sleepers be given accommodation without required conditions having to be met, other than maintaining their tenancy.

Currently, homeless people have to meet certain criteria to be eligible for housing, while other organisations offering accommodation may insist on drug or alcohol tests.