This Council wants the political leadership to redouble their efforts to challenge the housing numbers which are being inflicted on this Borough by central government which we consider do not meet our local needs.
Since the beginning of the year our lives have changed considerably and local circumstances are now very different to what they were in January and February. We would therefore like to invite Ministers and senior Civil Servants from MHCLG to come to Wokingham to see for themselves the beautiful semi-rural nature of our Borough.
We would like them to meet local residents, Borough Councillors from all political groups, Town and Parish Councillors from all parts of the Borough including Remenham to Swallowfield and everywhere in between; so they can understand for themselves the strength of feeling that residents have about the high housing numbers that are being forced on us by this Conservative Government.
Minutes:
The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Clive Jones and seconded by Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey.
‘This Council wants the political leadership to redouble their efforts to challenge the housing numbers which are being inflicted on this Borough by central government which we consider do not meet our local needs.
Since the beginning of the year, our lives have changed considerably and local circumstances are now very different to what they were in January and February. We would therefore like to invite Ministers and senior Civil Servants from MHCLG to come to Wokingham to see for themselves the beautiful semi-rural nature of our Borough.
We would like them to meet local residents, Borough Councillors from all political groups, Town and Parish Councillors from all parts of the Borough including Remenham to Swallowfield and everywhere in between; so they can understand for themselves the strength of feeling that residents have about the high housing numbers that are being forced on us by this Conservative Government.’
Clive Jones stated that Wokingham had taken more than its fair share in housing numbers and despite efforts, these numbers had not been reduced. Last year a survey of residents’ views on future housing development showed that 95% of those who responded did not want lots more development. He asked that senior officials and civil servants to be invited to the Borough to meet with residents and to hear their views. He suggested that councillors from all parties and the Town and Parish Councils be included in discussions.
Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey commented that it was time to prevent a continuous urban sprawl. She felt that the north of England was crying out for more new homes whilst building continued to be more focused in the south east. She suggested that the money spent on the survey could have been used on other things, such as funding youth workers.
It was moved by Wayne Smith and seconded by John Halsall that the Motion be amended as follows:
‘This Council wants the political leadership to more than redouble their efforts to challenge the housing numbers which are being inflicted on this Borough by central Government which we consider do not meet our local needs.
Since the beginning of the year, our lives have changed considerably and local circumstances are now very different to what they were in January and February. We would therefore like to again and again invite Ministers and senior Civil Servants from MHCLG to come to Wokingham to see for themselves the beautiful semi-rural nature of our Borough.
We would
like them to meet local residents, Borough Councillors from all
political groups, Town and Parish Councillors from all parts of the
Borough including Remenham to Swallowfield and everywhere in
between; so they can understand for themselves the strength of
feeling that residents have about the high housing numbers that
are being
have
been forced on us by this successive Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative
Governments.’
Wayne Smith commented that the high housing numbers were the result of successive governments.
John Halsall commented that Wokingham was a rural area and that the development of the Borough had increased over the years. To not have a Local Plan would leave the Council vulnerable to speculative development. He outlined some of the actions that he had taken to try to get the housing numbers for the Borough reduced.
The amendment to the Motion was
accepted by the proposer of the original Motion, subject to the
following change ‘successive past and current Labour, Lib Dem and
ConservativeGovernments,’ and, therefore,
became the substantive Motion.
A number of Members spoke in support of a reduction in the Council’s housing numbers.
Upon being put to the vote, the amended Motion was declared by the Mayor to be carried.
RESOLVED: That this Council wants the political leadership to more than redouble their efforts to challenge the housing numbers which are being inflicted on this Borough by central Government which we consider do not meet our local needs.
Since the beginning of the year, our lives have changed considerably and local circumstances are now very different to what they were in January and February. We would therefore like to again and again invite Ministers and senior Civil Servants from MHCLG to come to Wokingham to see for themselves the beautiful semi-rural nature of our Borough.
We would like them to meet local residents, Borough Councillors from all political groups, Town and Parish Councillors from all parts of the Borough including Remenham to Swallowfield and everywhere in between; so they can understand for themselves the strength of feeling that residents have about the high housing numbers that have been forced on us by successive past and current Governments.