Lancaster councillors clash over affordable housing as rent rises look likely

It came as rent hikes for council house tenants look likely this spring, under the new budget.

Labour councillors attacked the city council’s Green leader at the budget meeting, over housing topics including redeveloping the former Skerton High School site and Lancaster’s Mainway estate.

But Greens rejected the accusations, saying progress was happening along with plans for smaller housing developments.

According to some, rent rises are necessary to keep housing finances in shape – where factors include repairs, maintenance and rising costs.

Currently, weekly average city council housing rents are £93.91 and £89.01 for supported living tenants – but these could rise to £98.79 and £93.95 from April.

But accusations flew when some Labour councillors accused the Green-led leadership of not having an overall grip on housing and finances.

Labour’s Phillip Black, a former council leader until 2024, asked why Green councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox presented an important housing revenue report when fellow Green Caroline Jackson, the council leader, holds the housing remit.

Coun Black said: “Housing is Coun Jackson’s direct responsibility. That she needed to pass that to another cabinet member is really troubling. It makes me feel she does not have a handle on finances. It could be why this budget is such a mess. What’s going on?”

The housing revenue account is one of three key accounts councils use for budgets. It covers all income and spending around council housing and services.

But Coun Jackson rejected the attack, saying: “The housing revenue account has had significant work done on it including by council officers and Tim Hamilton-Cox, which has been very successful.”

“Maybe you did not come to the briefing we held recently? Housing is a huge commitment for us. This council is just one of two in all Lancashire which is committed to housing, and our commitment goes wider than simply managing the revenue account.

“We are having a social housing regulator inspection soon and we’ve recently had good feedback in a tenants’ survey. We’ve made huge improvements and hopefully the inspection will show that.”

But Labour’s Martin Gawith said: “You say the housing revenue account has been sorted out. But the council is just rearranging the deckchairs. Let’s be real, we still don’t have the level of affordability we want and the cash we need for housing projects.”

Coun Gawith has been a regular critic over alleged delays in building new homes at the Skerton site.

But Green councillors insist progress is happening and outside factors, such as bidding for government funds, have played a part.

Conservative Keith Budden said Labour councillors had no grounds to criticise anyone because they disbanded their previous Labour-led cabinet in 2024, walking away from leadership.

He said: “There are people here who decided not to be part of the council’s administration in 2024 who are now throwing hand grenades from their seats to score points.”

Taking aim at Coun Black, he added: “We have a former leader who threw his toys out of the pram and walked away. He does nothing for the council.”

Jason Wood, the new Labour opposition group leader, cautioned councillors against ‘slinging mud’ at each other.

He said: “Labour supports public-funded and accountable housing, and long may it remain. However, for consistency in this budget, Labour is abstaining on this.”

Labour abstained on various budget votes, saying it supported council housing but disagreed with parts of the budget.