At a meeting of the full Rugby Borough Council on Thursday 14 November 2019, Councillor Carie-Anne Dumbleton (Rokeby & Overslade) questioned the Portfolio Holder for evidence that the targets set out in the Council's Housing Strategy are being met.

Councillor Dumbleton's question to the Portfolio Holder for Homes and Communities asked about how the Council is providing homes for families that suit their needs and how the Council is planning the right houses in the right places.

Evidence from Rokeby and Overslade is showing that families need larger houses and are struggling with their existing arrangements.

Commenting, Councillor Dumbleton, said:

"Across Rugby, including in Rokeby and Overslade, there is a demand from families for five-bedroom homes when only three-bedroom homes are available.

"The Council must look at all options at their disposal. For instance, there may be option to convert upstairs to a four bed or alternatively block the dining room door leading to the kitchen, put French doors where the existing windows are and call it a bedroom.

"More must be done by Rugby Council to adapt existing three-bedroom homes and or purchase larger homes that cater for the people of Rugby."

Question at Full Council on Thursday 14 November 2019.

Councillor Miss Dumbleton to ask the Communities and Homes Portfolio Holder, Councillor Mrs Crane:

"Our Housing Strategy states that we will

1. Provide homes for families which suit their needs.
2. That we will plan for the right houses in the right places and diversify the housing market.
3. It states that in the previous housing strategy the objective was to ensure that Rugby's housing supply meets housing needs.
4. It states that properties were purchased to mitigate the loss of houses through the right to buy scheme.

The Liberal Democrats have set out ambitious plans to tackle soaring levels of knife crime, by investing £500 million in youth services and adopting a public health approach to youth violence.

A Liberal Democrat government would create a £500 million ring-fenced fund for Local Authorities in England to spend on youth services. This would provide young people with positive, safe and healthy opportunities to prevent them being drawn into youth violence and gang-related crime. The party would also make local youth services a statutory service, protecting them from future cuts.

The Liberal Democrats would take a public health approach to tackling youth violence, modelled on the successful approach taken by Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit. This would involve identifying risk factors and treating them early on, with youth workers, police, teachers, health professionals and social services all working closely together to prevent young people falling into gangs and violence.

Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidate for Rugby and Bulkington, Rana Das-Gupta said:

"There is a problem with knife crime and something needs to be done about it. Recently in Warwickshire over 80 knives were handed in to county police during a week-long campaign. In Rugby 15 blades were handed in, 16 in Nuneaton, 17 in Stratford and 35 blades in Leamington. Liberal Democrats will support young people by investing £500 million a year in youth services and taking a public health approach to youth violence."

September 2019 - Over 80 knives handed in to Warwickshire police during week-long campaign https://rugbyobserver.co.uk/news/over-80-knives-handed-in-to-warwickshire-police-during-week-long-campaign-15189/