Thousands wiped off housing waiting list

10:30am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Oliver Evans, covering Banbury. Call me on 01865 425271

Patrick Cartledge Patrick Cartledge

NEARLY three quarters of people waiting for social housing in North Oxfordshire are to be wiped off the waiting list overnight.

Cherwell District Council’s list is to be cut by 70 per cent in a bid to curb “unrealistic” demands for properties.

Bosses are to take 2,800 people off its 4,000-strong housing waiting list, of which just 414 got homes last year.

They said there was no “realistic” chance of so many people being housed but dealing with their requests took up valuable staff time.

But there are fears those in need will be stuck for help.

The council is responsible for prioritising social housing through providers such as Sanctuary Housing.

People are placed in one of five bands but the Conservative-run council is now set to axe bands four and five, the least needy.

A report says: “At present anyone can go on the council’s housing register. Most have little or no prospects of securing social housing.”

It said the change – allowed through the Government’s Localism Act – will “enable staff resources to be more focussed”.

It will also free up staff to deal with a “significant” expected rise in queries from changes to the welfare system, it adds.

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Lead member for housing Debbie Pickford said: “It is a cultural change. They think ‘my mum and dad got council housing, you have to supply me with one’.

“Sorry, why? If you are adequately housed and you can afford to openly rent you are not vulnerable.”

She insisted the council was working to get private homes built to help “aspirational” people.

But Clare Norton, CEO of Banbury youth homelessness charity BYHP, said: “It is more and more difficult now for under 25s to get any kind of housing support and this is only going to make it worse.”

Some youngsters have been considered “vulnerable” by BYHP but not the council, she warned, with benefit changes adding to the problem.

Labour group leader Patrick Cartledge said: “I come from a generation where local authorities used to provide social housing for all.

“We have gone to a system where everybody is expected to buy their own home which is virtually impossible at the moment or go private rented which is absolutely extortionate.

“The local authority should be there to provide housing where there is need.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Tim Emptage said: “I understand why the council is doing it but I am extremely nervous that people who have a genuine need that may not be reflected in their category could be removed from the list.”

The new policy is set to be agreed by the council’s executive on Monday.

Comments (4)

6:19pm Thu 1 Nov 12

carli says...

Absolutely disgraceful. Cherwell District Council should be ashamed of themselves. You can't just wipe people off a list as if they don't matter. What on earth is the world coming to? Perhaps council houses shouldn't have been sold off in the first place. Driving around Oxford (and surrounding areas) there are so many building empty, most of which are derelict, why are they not rebuilt and put to good use. The housing list may be just numbers on a computer to them, but in real life there are many people who need homes.
Absolutely disgraceful. Cherwell District Council should be ashamed of themselves. You can't just wipe people off a list as if they don't matter. What on earth is the world coming to? Perhaps council houses shouldn't have been sold off in the first place. Driving around Oxford (and surrounding areas) there are so many building empty, most of which are derelict, why are they not rebuilt and put to good use. The housing list may be just numbers on a computer to them, but in real life there are many people who need homes. carli

8:16pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Darkforbid says...

A report says: “At present anyone can go on the council’s housing register. Most have little or no prospects of securing social housing.”

Not if your homeless!,,, This year, the street services team (yes I know they've changed their name), convinced me to put my name the local housing register,,, Now I've been properly messed around by the councils before, So I go down with the council funded 'homeless street services' team member, it goes great... all the forms filled in, all extra info provided! We even left with promises of a band 2 consideration at the special end of month meeting,,, and that the bidding number would be with me in about 2 weeks... I was amazed!!!

So about two weeks later the letter arrives, Just one more step,,, can you supply your accommodation details???.,, what stopped me throwing one of them through the anti-begging poster on their window,,, I will never know!
A report says: “At present anyone can go on the council’s housing register. Most have little or no prospects of securing social housing.” Not if your homeless!,,, This year, the street services team (yes I know they've changed their name), convinced me to put my name the local housing register,,, Now I've been properly messed around by the councils before, So I go down with the council funded 'homeless street services' team member, it goes great... all the forms filled in, all extra info provided! We even left with promises of a band 2 consideration at the special end of month meeting,,, and that the bidding number would be with me in about 2 weeks... I was amazed!!! So about two weeks later the letter arrives, Just one more step,,, can you supply your accommodation details???.,, what stopped me throwing one of them through the anti-begging poster on their window,,, I will never know! Darkforbid

12:28am Fri 2 Nov 12

colinsfew says...

No social housing = private renting = high rents = not worth your while working = generations of non working families = less money into the gov coffers......... ffs why oh why wasnt the £££££ recieved from the sale of council houses not ploughed back into building more???? selling them off was a cynical ploy by the tories to break the unions......Labour for all their bluster just carried this madness on...............NOW the "plebs" are sticking the boot in to the poor...............n
iiiiiiiiice.
No social housing = private renting = high rents = not worth your while working = generations of non working families = less money into the gov coffers......... ffs why oh why wasnt the £££££ recieved from the sale of council houses not ploughed back into building more???? selling them off was a cynical ploy by the tories to break the unions......Labour for all their bluster just carried this madness on...............NOW the "plebs" are sticking the boot in to the poor...............n iiiiiiiiice. colinsfew

1:01am Fri 2 Nov 12

Darkforbid says...

Anyway after a decade on the streets, I've given up, no chance of housing, (unless I'm a new arrival). Seriously I'm better off in jail,,, three meals a day, without begging, education to fill the time with, free gym,,, Just got to chose a crime, so I don't get a quick in and out sentence... such is life!

The state of Britain today!
Anyway after a decade on the streets, I've given up, no chance of housing, (unless I'm a new arrival). Seriously I'm better off in jail,,, three meals a day, without begging, education to fill the time with, free gym,,, Just got to chose a crime, so I don't get a quick in and out sentence... such is life! The state of Britain today! Darkforbid

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