Last night’s full Council meeting brought fresh criticism from both the Independents and Labour for the Conservatives. The Independents’ main line of attack was over affordable housing. Kicking off the questioning was Independent leader Martin Terry. He asked Cllr Waite, who is now executive councillor for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing: “Now that...
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Ian Gilbert, Labour councillor for Victoria ward, has opposed Cllr Anna Waite on tower blocks as solutions to the affordable housing shortage. Cllr Waite said on her blog that well-designed high rise blocks of flats in the town centre would take the pressure off the housing market, make housing more affordable, and avoid building...
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Joining the national debate on how to create affordable housing without ruining green spaces, Anna Waite, Executive Councillor for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing has said that a few well-placed, well-designed tower blocks in Southend may be the only solution. On her blog, Cllr Waite highlighted the growing need for affordable housing in...
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James Duddridge, the Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East, has said that he is ‘delighted’ that the controversial Home Information Packs (HIPs) will be banned. HIPs were brought in by the Housing Act 2004. A HIP was a document which was to be provided before a property could be placed on the market...
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By Rachel Charman Independent councillor for Thorpe Ron Woodley has revealed that there will be no central government intervention into the development of a hotel in the Kursaal ward. Planning permission was given to a developer to build a 64 bedroom hotel, along with 216 homes, a restaurant and shops on the site of...
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By Rachel Charman At the full council meeting on Thursday 22nd April, a Southend resident asked the Council questions over the use of a property in the Kursaal ward by the National Assocation for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO). Mr Glyn Evans asked Mark Flewitt, executive councillor for Adult Social Care, Health...
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By Rachel Charman Southend Borough Council’s Private Sector Housing Team brought the prosecution against a landlord who neglected his tenants for almost a year. Mr John Squires, of South Crescent, Southend, left his tenants with no heating, hot water or downstairs lighting for ten months. Southend Magistrates fined Mr Squires £2,000, and ordered him...
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By Rachel Charman Southend Borough Council has increased efforts to raise the standard of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) in the borough. The Council is extending its inspection programme for HMOs to cover properties not previously identified in a bid to better protect vulnerable occupiers and in turn prevent anti-social behaviour. HMOs of three...
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By Rachel Charman Rochford and Southend East Conservative MP James Duddridge has continued his campaign against Home Information Packs (HIPs). Mr Duddridge has raised various objections to HIPs in the past since their introduction in 2007. In a Parliamentary debate on Tuesday, Mr Duddridge asked Ian Austin, Minister of State for Regional Affairs: “If...
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