Tuesday, May 25, 2010
First Minister clueless on empty homes
I have just asked the First Minister again on the issue of long-term empty homes around Wales. Shelter Cymru estimate that there are 26,000 such properties in the private sector, whilst the Government's own statistics put the figure at 21,000.
I am pleased that the Deputy Minister for Housing has now adopted the Welsh Liberal Democrat policy of offering Councils the choice of imposing higher Council Tax on these properties so as to compensate the community for the blight that they have had to suffer, though she did not give us credit for the idea when she last spoke on the matter in the chamber.
However, this does not amount to a strategy to bring these houses back into use as affordable homes and when the First Minister responded to my question all he had to say on the matter was that the present economic climate made it difficult to do anything.
This is complete nonsense. It is possible to implement a carrot and stick policy to bring homes back into use within existing budgets. However, the Welsh Government remains clueless on this issue and apparently are unwilling to listen to suggestions as to how to move this agenda forward.
I am pleased that the Deputy Minister for Housing has now adopted the Welsh Liberal Democrat policy of offering Councils the choice of imposing higher Council Tax on these properties so as to compensate the community for the blight that they have had to suffer, though she did not give us credit for the idea when she last spoke on the matter in the chamber.
However, this does not amount to a strategy to bring these houses back into use as affordable homes and when the First Minister responded to my question all he had to say on the matter was that the present economic climate made it difficult to do anything.
This is complete nonsense. It is possible to implement a carrot and stick policy to bring homes back into use within existing budgets. However, the Welsh Government remains clueless on this issue and apparently are unwilling to listen to suggestions as to how to move this agenda forward.
Comments:
<< Home
"I am pleased that the Deputy Minister for Housing has now adopted the Welsh Liberal Democrat policy of offering Councils the choice of imposing higher Council Tax on these properties so as to compensate the community for the blight that they have had to suffer, though she did not give us credit for the idea when she last spoke on the matter in the chamber."
Because it has been Plaid's policy on Gwynedd council for over a decade.
A bit rich of you to use the word 'clueless' Peter!
Because it has been Plaid's policy on Gwynedd council for over a decade.
A bit rich of you to use the word 'clueless' Peter!
I think clueless is a perfect description of the First Minister's answer to my question. I have no idea what otherwise you are eluding to.
In fact up until the publication of the second version of the Housing LCO the Plaid Cymru Deputy Minister was refusing to accept my arguments on council tax on empty homes. On one occasion she actually said there was no case for it.
I would be surprised if Gwynedd Council is implementing the policy as it is envisaged as they do not have the powers to do so. Hence the bid in the Housing LCO.
The proposal is that any property empty for longer than 24 months can be charged multiple Council Tax rising further over a period of time to give Councils some stick to use to encourage owners to bring their homes back into use.
To this I would add using SHG funds to provide grants to help them bring these properties back into use as social housing for rent for a limited period of time.
Those are the sort of tools I would like see used in a strategy.
In fact up until the publication of the second version of the Housing LCO the Plaid Cymru Deputy Minister was refusing to accept my arguments on council tax on empty homes. On one occasion she actually said there was no case for it.
I would be surprised if Gwynedd Council is implementing the policy as it is envisaged as they do not have the powers to do so. Hence the bid in the Housing LCO.
The proposal is that any property empty for longer than 24 months can be charged multiple Council Tax rising further over a period of time to give Councils some stick to use to encourage owners to bring their homes back into use.
To this I would add using SHG funds to provide grants to help them bring these properties back into use as social housing for rent for a limited period of time.
Those are the sort of tools I would like see used in a strategy.
"I think clueless is a perfect description of the First Minister's answer to my question. I have no idea what otherwise you are eluding to."
The clueless point was not about the FM but your lack of understanding about Plaid Cymru housing policy.
"I would be surprised if Gwynedd Council is implementing the policy as it is envisaged as they do not have the powers to do so. Hence the bid in the Housing LCO."
Gwynedd has invariably put minor restrictions on empty houses. Of course they don't work and the powers to make a difference don't exist. Hopefully your government will now fully faciliate those powers coming to Wales. Your Tory coalition partners opposed it before so hopefully you can use your influence (?) on them to change their minds.
The clueless point was not about the FM but your lack of understanding about Plaid Cymru housing policy.
"I would be surprised if Gwynedd Council is implementing the policy as it is envisaged as they do not have the powers to do so. Hence the bid in the Housing LCO."
Gwynedd has invariably put minor restrictions on empty houses. Of course they don't work and the powers to make a difference don't exist. Hopefully your government will now fully faciliate those powers coming to Wales. Your Tory coalition partners opposed it before so hopefully you can use your influence (?) on them to change their minds.
If Plaid Cymru had a coherent housing policy it would help. You will note that the coalition document has a commitment to approving the Housing LCO. I am pleased to have made a contribution to giving Gwynedd CC the powers to make a difference.
If "Welsh Ramblings" believes that GCC has anything other than 'Policies of misery' there is one more deluded "Plaid Cymru" person. If he/she/it is also an AM then we need to make sure that Wales does NOT obtain yet more law making powers, we might end up with gas chambers for the English who have 'inmigrated'. Yes that sounds stupid and extreme but that is par for the course for a certain element within GCC. Currently I am winding up to remove as many S106 'locals only' (not 'affordable') agreements which will no doubt be included in the WAG target for 6,500 new affodable homes by 2011. GCC and others LPAs are punishing locals for being.. er.. local and the WAG are encouraging Welsh politicians to penalise Welsh people who are clinging on to their private sector jobs in Wales.
Post a Comment
<< Home
