At its meeting today South Swindon Constituency Labour Party passed our model resolution on council housing 'debt'. There were two other resolutions for consideration but the housing resolution came top in the vote to decide which one would go forward to the September national Labour Party conference. Thus far the resolution is on the agenda … Continue reading South Swindon CLP passes resolution on cancelling council housing ‘debt’

At a recent meeting on housing in Swindon with John Healey, Swindon Tenants Campaign Group raised the issue of the cancellation of the so-called council housing debt. Mr Healey said he was prepared to discuss the issue and asked us to put together a case for Labour making such a commitment, with a view to … Continue reading The case for cancelling council housing ‘debt’ – update

Below is a model resolution which we are seeking Labour CLPs to send to this year's Labour Party conference. The resolution is being discussed at three CLPs thus far, South Swindon, North Swindon and Norwich. Model resolution for Labour Party conference Local authority Housing Revenue Account under-funding This conference recognises that local authority housing revenue … Continue reading Model Resolution – cancellation of council housing debt

Funding for building new council housing has always included borrowing, usually from the government's Public Works Loans Board, at interest rates which are lower than commercial rates. The news that the government is ending the borrowing cap, i.e. the amount of borrowing which each council which owns housing stock is allowed, has been widely welcomed … Continue reading The limits of “borrowing to build”

News that the borrowing cap imposed on local authority housing revenue accounts (HRAs) is to be lifted was widely welcomed on the grounds that this would enable councils to borrow to build new homes. The media generally ignores the little question of who pays for the borrowing. Since the HRA is 'ringfenced' it is council … Continue reading Borrowing cap to be lifted