Rugby Liberal Democrats support more affordable housing
At the Special Council meeting on 21 June 2017 which voted on the Local Plan, Rugby Liberal Democrat Councillors supported a motion that would have seen more social or genuinely affordable housing.
Rugby Liberal Democrats want to see a fair society, where everyone has the means to get by and the chance to get on. It means being able to provide for your family, afford decent housing, and enjoy high-quality local services.
The motion to Full Council said, "On previously developed sites a target affordable housing provision of 30% be sought. On greenfield sites a target minimum housing provision of 40% will be sought."
Unfortunately the motion was defeated 19 to 14 with 5 abstentions.
For the motion: Councillors Mrs Avis, Brader, Brown, Douglas, Miss Dumbleton, Ms Edwards, Lewis, Mistry, Mrs Nash, Mrs New, Roodhouse, Mrs Roodhouse, Sandison and Srivastava - 14 votes
Against the motion: Councillors Allen, Mrs Bragg, Butlin, Cade, Cranham, Ellis, Mrs Garcia, Gillias, Keeling, Miss Lawrence, Lowe, Mrs Parker, Poole, Ms Robbins, Mrs Roberts, Mrs Simpson-Vince, Stokes, Mrs Timms and Dr Williams - 19 votes
Abstentions from voting: Councillors Mrs Crane, Leigh Hunt, Pacey-Day, Roberts and Ms Watson-Merret - 5 votes
The Liberal Democrats manifesto for the 2017 General Election included plans to:
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Ensure that half a million affordable, energy-efficient homes are built by the end of the Parliament.
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Directly build homes to fill the gap left by the market, to reach our house-building target of 300,000 homes a year, through a government commissioning programme to build homes for sale and rent.
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Create at least ten new Garden Cities in England, providing tens of thousands of high-quality new zero carbon homes, with gardens and shared green space, jobs, schools and public transport.
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Set up a new government-backed British Housing and Infrastructure Development Bank with a remit including providing long-term capital for major new settlements and helping attract finance for major house building projects.
The Liberal Democrats manifesto can be read in full here: https://www.libdems.org.uk/manifesto