Greens vow to protect social housing

The Green Party has vowed to protect social housing at the launch of its campaign for next month’s local elections.

Speaking at the campaign launch in Lambeth last week, the party’s co-leader Jonathan Bartley (pictured) said Green Party councillors will always work to repair social homes instead of demolishing them in favour of developers building private housing.

He also pledged Green councillors will give people a say in their futures – with meaningful input into plans for their community and a ballot for residents on the demolition of their homes.

Mr Bartley also called on the government to ‘treat social housing with the value it deserves’ and end the controversial Right to Buy scheme, which has seen the number of social homes sold increase by more than 400% since Conservative ministers revamped the rules in 2012.

‘Cosy, complacent councils like this one in Lambeth have forgotten the communities they are meant to serve,’ said Mr Bartley.

‘Greens know that houses and flats aren’t commodities, they are the homes where we build our lives, start families and make memories.

‘Any community which puts a Green on their council chooses someone who values social housing and will fight to protect it. Greens will always work to give people a say in their futures – and stand with them to oppose the demolition of homes against their wishes,’ added Mr Bartley.

‘With the political will, we could work to repair social homes rather than demolish them and scatter communities across the country. It’s time, too, the government treated social housing with the value it deserves and ended the Right to Buy scheme, which has pushed stock to crisis point.

‘Greens will always be a bold, brave voice standing up for local communities and challenging the status quo. One Green has the power to transform a community.’

In Lambeth, Green councillor Scott Ainslie has been fighting with residents against plans by the current council to regenerate six housing estates, including the Central Hill estate, where the Greens launched their manifesto.

Last month, Lambeth council turned down Mr Ainslie’s attempt to call in for scrutiny the decision to award a £15.5m contract to oversee the redevelopment of Central Hill estate to Mace Group.

Mr Ainslie said he had concerns over the cost of the project, and the lack of a ballot of estate residents.

‘When such large sums of public money are being spent on behalf of council tax payers, it is essential that there is public confidence in the integrity of the decision-making process,’ said Mr Ainslie.

‘This is of particular importance in the light of questions currently being raised over the awarding to the same company, Mace, of the contract to redevelop Fenwick Estate in Clapham, a contract which has been overturned after a legal challenge by a rival company.

‘For the public to have confidence in the councillors and officers making these decisions, there needs to be total openness to questions and scrutiny by their elected representatives.’