Amanda Taylor

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Government blocks Cambridge’s bid to keep council house income

by admin on 21 April, 2010

GOVERNMENT BLOCKS CITY COUNCIL’S BID TO KEEP COUNCIL HOUSE INCOME

Cambridge City Council’s bid to make significant changes to the law governing “green” building has been left stagnating in the government’s in-tray.

The City Council involved an enormous number of people — groups and individuals, including schools, colleges and businesses– in drawing up proposals under the terms of the Sustainable Communities Act (see previous post) We put forward two proposals, one on green housing and one on retaining council house sale proceeds and use the money to build new, sustainable housing in the city. Nine months later, the government is no further forward in processing them.

The delay has left councillors worried that the process which has cost time and money, has been pointless.

Our ideas won the support of the Local Government Association and we were optimistic that the government would do the same. But the whole process has ground to a halt. The council, together with the residents who took part in this exercise, have been badly let down by this government.”

They were put together with just under 200 proposals from other councils and three months ago they were laid before the government to see if they could be implemented. But only 17 schemes have been pulled out of the pile and those are destined only for “further review and discussion”.

“But the proposals are languishing in the government’s in tray and there is no sign of them getting any further.”

I am bitterly disappointed by the lack of action. Cambridge City Council was the only council in Cambridgeshire to put forward any suggestions. It did so with the help of a whole range of groups and individuals, including schools, colleges and businesses, who were involved in the process of coming up with ideas.

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