THE LEADER of Bromsgrove District Council has hit back at claims the authority is not willing to build their own houses.
Coun Geoff Denaro spoke to The Standard after a motion for a new housing revenue scheme, put forward by Labour leader Coun Michael Thompson, was defeated at the last full council meeting.
Coun Thompson wanted the district council to borrow from the Government so more properties could be built, addressing the district’s home and affordable housing.
Coun Denaro said: “It is factually incorrect that we are not willing to build our own houses.
“Put simply – we do not feel that a housing revenue scheme, as suggested by Coun Thompson, is the right way to go about this.
“We have the option of creating a new HRA scheme or launching our own housing company and we are currently looking at plans – with sector professionals – for the latter option.
“This would allow us to develop our own housing portfolio.
“The need to re-balance and support the housing market in Bromsgrove is not in question.
“We have explored how other councils in a similiar position to ourselves have tackled this situation and it has become clear that a large number of authorities have opened housing companies.”
The companies take ownership of the houses created and, Coun Denaro said, the approach was far more flexible for housing delivery.
He added he hoped to bring more details before the council in the coming months.
