Hull council is to debate a motion of no confidence in its cabinet member for housing as rival factions fight over a proposal to knock down 2500 homes.
A meeting on 20 Marchis set to be a dramatic showdown over the plan and the future of independent councillor Chris Jarvis.

The plan was drawn up in response to the pressure from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Audit Commission, which want to see a rapid improvement in Hull's financial health after the housing department came close to insolvency.

Jarvis opposes the council's plan to address low demand on the grounds that it involves demolishing occupied homes in popular areas, including 500 that were previously part of a £92m refurbishment scheme (HT 14 February, page 13).

He feels the consultation proposed by the council will not be sufficient.

Jarvis' attempts to revise the plan to demolish piecemeal in more locations have been criticised as anti-democratic and delaying by Conservative councillors including John Fareham, who proposed the no-confidence motion.

Fareham said: "It's about time the council got a grip. The plan should get a full council decision."

Source

Housing Today