A motion to ditch the plans by the controlling Liberal Democrat group at a full council meeting on 20 March comes after the party’s assumption of the housing portfolio within the Hull cabinet.
Leader Simone Butterworth sacked independent councillor Chris Jarvis from the housing portfolio last week after Jarvis campaigned against the proposals.
The plans, part of a report titled Making Hull Better, have stirred up intense local opposition.
Jarvis objected to the fact that most homes scheduled for demolition were occupied, popular and in some cases recently refurbished. He wants the council to vote for an alternative, lower-impact demolition plan.
He referred the matter to Lord Richard Best, chairman of the council’s Partnership Liaison Board – the body set up to oversee Hull’s response to last year’s damning corporate governance inspection.
Best concluded that the original report was partially sound but that it omitted the need to demolish several thousand privately-owned homes, as well as clear statistical evidence on population trends that would help make the case for demolition.
But the Liberal Democrats now feel that the controversy has snowballed so much that it would be better to sideline Making Hull Better and proceed with consultation on broader issues.
Butterworth said: “Our motion does not have ‘demolition’ as the key word, but ‘re-peopleing the city’.
“We mustn’t let politics get in the way of the timetable – the inspection deadline is shortening on a weekly basis.”
Hull must make progress on reducing its stock and improving its housing budget by the summer, or face direct government intervention.
However, the Partnership Liaison Board to consider whether Hull should be granted more time.
Following Jarvis’ dismissal, two Liberal Democrat and one Labour councillor have now joined the Independent group. This means the Liberal Democrats now have 26 seats out of 59.
Jarvis said: “We need to progress quickly and safely, and with tenants and residents groups on board.”
Source
Housing Today
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