Charlotte MacKenzie

Posts Tagged ‘housing’

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Labour offers Cornwall Council new homes deal

In news on March 28, 2010 at 11:14 pm

Charlotte MacKenzie today welcomed Labour’s shake up of funding for
council homes.

Housing Minister John Healey MP announced Labour will give Councils
new freedoms to fund and run their local housing stock. Cornwall
Council already has some Labour Government funding to build new
Council homes. The new system will release at least 10 per cent more
money to build new council homes.

Tenants – like those in Carrick Housing – whose homes have been
upgraded through the decent homes programme will have guaranteed
future funding to maintain high standards backed by a new national
regulator, the Tenant Services Authority.

Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“These proposals are exactly what Cornwall Council needs to make the
most of its existing housing stock and to invest in more new homes to
meet local housing need. I hope Cornwall Council will respond
positively to the opportunity to start working in this way from next
year, it will help speed up delivery of new homes for local people in
housing need; and keep the revenue from Council housing stock in
Cornwall.”

Sarah Webb, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing said:
“We are delighted at the Government’s clear commitment to new council
house building and are also very pleased that our work to help shape a
new self-financing future for councils has been taken on board.”

The plans mean dismantling the old ’Housing Revenue Account’ system
which has long been criticised by local government. Established
initially in the 1930s, the HRA system was reinforced by Margaret
Thatcher in the 1980s as a way of discouraging authorities from
building new council housing.

Under the new system, councils will keep all rent collected as well as
all receipts from sales of housing or land. Not a single penny will go
elsewhere. Councils will have to accept a share of an additional £3.65
billion debt, but none would take on debt that was not sustainable in
the long term.

The consultation document, Council Housing: A real future seeks the
views of councils on implementing the new system. Responses are
required by 6 July 2010. More information and the consultation
document can be found at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/decenthomes/councilhousingfinance/

The new system would be implemented voluntarily where Councils agree
from 2011-12, and addresses concerns raised by local government about
the current HRA system. The need to reform the HRA has cross-party
support.

However, other housing plans under consideration by the Tories could
make council tenancies less secure.

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Cornwall’s Tories : community asset strippers

In news on February 3, 2010 at 9:47 pm

Charlotte MacKenzie today condemned more property moves by Cornwall Council which disregard community aspirations. The issue came to a head as the Council markets two former schools in the constituency:

(1) Devoran Old School. On Monday evening over 100 people attended a meeting called by Devoran Action Group. This group has been working to develop plans for the community to take over the village centre building and develop it as a community centre with a nursery, after school clubs, village shop, and other employment units. The Council backed this scheme by applying for it to be one of two possible community asset transfer pilots and access government funding. The outcome of this bid is not yet known, but those at the meeting on Monday evening want it to go ahead. However, while the Council is waiting for the outcome of the bid they have put the property on the open market, and say that – if Devoran Action Group cannot come up with a competitive bid and available funds by 11 February (next Thursday) – they will accept one of the other bids they have so far received.

(2) Old Richard Lander School site. This site was placed back on the market on 23 January 2010. It is one of very few brownfield sites in Truro, and one which local residents accept could be used for new social and affordable homes. The draft Truro and Threemilestone Action Plan – which has been through public consultation – ear-marked the site for housing development including 50 per cent affordable housing as it is currently public sector land. But the Council has now ignored it’s own plan and advertised the land as suitable for development as a ‘district’ retail centre, with limited housing, of which only 35 per cent would now be expected to be affordable.

Charlotte said:

“If Devoran old school was re-used as a community centre it could put the heart back into the local communities of Devoran, Point, and Penpol. 

“I know that people in the Truro ward that I represent as a councillor will be very upset at the prospect of more intensive retail development near what is known locally as the ‘Sainsburys roundabout’; and at the fact that this development could mean fewer social and affordable homes being delivered on what many people see as the most suitable and available local site.

“In January the Council agreed a draft document on community engagement. These two decisions show that document isn’t worth the paper it is written on. In both cases, the Council is well aware of what local people would prefer to see happen and they have chosen to disregard our views.”

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Charlotte challenges Tory on priorities

In news on January 18, 2010 at 2:08 pm

Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth, Charlotte MacKenzie, today challenged the local Tory candidate to make known her real views on local priorities. ConservativeHome today published the top priorities of Tory candidates.

Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“This is a coward’s charter and it is not what Cornwall needs. The Tory candidates who responded to this survey put Cornwall’s priorities last.

“The issues they ranked as least important include affordable housing, better transport, new schools, protecting the countryside from over-development, and tackling climate change. Most people see these as some of their top priorities for Cornwall. I challenge Sarah Newton to confirm whether she replied to this survey, and if so to publish her response.

“Everyone can ask MPs and candidates for their views on climate change through Ed Miliband’s website .

“This is an own goal for local Tories – it is hypocritical to make promises they lack the clout to deliver, even within their own Party.” 

 

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Labour funds new Cornwall Council homes

In news on January 12, 2010 at 1:48 am

Housing Minister John Healey MP announced on Monday 11 January that Labour is increasing funding for new council homes by £500 Million.

Some of this funding has already been allocated to Cornwall Council to build more council houses including 16 new homes at Tresillian near Truro. Charlotte MacKenzie, Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth, said:

“This is great news for Cornwall. This is the largest council house building programme for at least two decades and I am really glad that people in this constituency will benefit. The boost for our area is part of the massive £1.5 Billion housing pledge announced by the Prime Minister last June.

“Everyone deserves a decent home, but house prices and private sector rents make that unaffordable for many people in Cornwall. This funding is a step in the right direction and I will be calling for further funding in future so that we can meet Cornwall’s housing needs.

“Labour’s actions stands in stark contrast to the Tories’ proposals for slashing spending on affordable housing – which would have seen £800m less invested in housing over the past year. The Liberal Democrats are never going to form a government or hold the purse strings to help people in Cornwall.”

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Prospective MP welcomes £3.85M for Chiverton Cross improvement

In Uncategorized on August 4, 2009 at 12:51 pm

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Charlotte MacKenzie welcomes transport funding boost for Cornwall

Today’s Labour Government’s funding of £3.85 Million for a transport scheme to support the building of much needed local housing has been welcomed by Charlotte MacKenzie.

Housing Minister John Healey’s green light for Chiverton Cross means that much-needed improvements can go ahead.

Charlotte MacKenzie, Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth said:

“This is good news from the Labour Government. It’s putting money into a scheme to invest in our local economy and support much needed new homes.”

Housing Minister John Healey MP said:

“This will create construction jobs, help build the new homes we need and make sure we have the transport in place to support development.

“We are investing to help the country through recession. We are not simply stepping aside to let the recession run its course as the Conservative Governments did in the past.”

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Cornwall – meet the need for affordable local homes.

In Uncategorized on July 15, 2009 at 8:40 pm

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More homes for Cornwall

In Uncategorized on July 2, 2009 at 1:24 pm

Labour’s prospective MP challenges Cornwall Council to meet the need for affordable local homes.

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On the day that Cornwall Council appointed its new portfolio holders for Housing and Planning, Charlotte MacKenzie asked Councillor Mark Kaczmarek and Councillor Graeme Hicks to meet her to discuss how the new Council will meet the need for local affordable housing.

Hundreds of people have signed Labour’s petition (on and offline) to meet the need for local affordable homes. The petition will go to Cornwall Council.

Following the meeting on Monday 29 June, Charlotte MacKenzie said:

‘We had a good discussion in which I pressed the new portfolio holders on the need for positive action by Cornwall Council to deliver more affordable homes despite the challenging context.

‘It’s vital that more homes are made available for the 18,000 households on waiting lists in Cornwall. The Council is already committed to completing over 2000 homes each year up to 2011, it will take positive leadership to make that happen in the present climate, and with Government backing more could be achieved.

‘I’m delighted for everyone who is waiting for a new home in Cornwall that on Monday the Government announced it is increasing investment in housing. So that more new homes are completed and more jobs are created in the construction industry.

‘Cornwall Council is a major landowner. The challenge to the new Council is to bid for funding, build, release their land, give go ahead to planning permissions, and adjust allocations policy to meet local needs for affordable homes.

‘Cornwall Council has said it wants to provide more strategic leadership locally. This is their opportunity to make a real difference for people with local housing needs.’

For more information contact Charlotte MacKenzie 01872 261675.

Notes

1. The £1.5 billion housing investment outlined in Building Britain’s Future includes:

o Extra funding for councils and housing associations – to build around 15,500 new affordable homes, of which over 11,000 will be available for social rental and the rest will be affordable housing. More may be built if greater value for money can be achieved.

o Extending the Kickstart programme – to get stalled housing sites back on track, with the aim of delivering an additional 13,000 homes, of which 4,000 will be affordable.

o Investing in the development of public sector land – owned by the HCA, local councils and other public sector bodies to deliver up to 1,250 units of which 500 could be affordable.

On top of the Government’s existing housing commitments and recent announcements in the Budget, the new investment will deliver an additional 20,000 new affordable energy efficient homes over the next two years. 45,000 new jobs will be created in the construction and related industries to build the extra new homes.

2. The investment will be matched with reforms that deliver value for money and recognise rights and responsibilities for those in social housing. While preserving security of tenure, reforms will include:

o Changing the current rules for allocating social housing – not changing those previously required for people in serious housing need (the ‘reasonable preference’ categories) but by enabling councils to manage better local pressures on their waiting lists, and to give more preferences to those who have spent a long time on a waiting list.

o Expanding Choice Based Lettings – to help residents to move nationwide, and support to tenants who need to move to take up the offer of a new job.

o Clamping down on sub-lettings fraud – freeing up more homes for those in need. o Reforming the council house finance system – to allow councils to keep all the proceeds from their own council house sales and council rents.

3. Housing and Planning Minister John Healey MP confirmed that the Government wants local Councils to act. He said: “Together these announcements signal my intention to get local authorities involved in delivering more housing that their local area needs. Councils haven’t built significant numbers of housing for a long time, but with this extra cash and an overhaul of the council house funding system I am giving councils the green light to start building more homes in their area. And we are putting our money where our mouth is to fund new Housing Association developments, get mothballed housing projects back on track, and free up public land for more affordable homes.”

Photo: Charlotte MacKenzie with John Healey MP at County Hall in July 2008.

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Call for new Cornwall Council to help hard-pressed tenants now

In Uncategorized on April 2, 2009 at 10:21 pm

Labour’s would-be MP for Truro and Falmouth, Charlotte MacKenzie, has called on the new Cornwall Council to take advantage of help offered to hard-pressed tenants by the Government to lower rent increases.

On 6 March the Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett, announced that the Government was to invite local authorities to apply for cash to reduce average guideline rent increases from 6.2 per cent to 3.1 per cent.

The changes to the guideline rent increase means tenants should see a marked drop in their proposed average rent increase for the coming year – but only if the help is claimed.

Charlotte MacKenzie said:
“This offer of help by the Government is welcomed by hard-pressed tenants in Truro and Falmouth constituency – but it’s up to the new Cornwall Council to claim it. Today they will have received a letter setting out what their new revised guideline rent will be and if any time is lost in responding positively local tenants will want to know why.

“The Government has listened to what people in Carrick said about the planned rent increases, and I am determined to help tenants get a fair and affordable deal. I am delighted that the Government has listened to people who wrote to them – including the letter that I sent to housing and local government ministers – and representations by Carrick Tenants Forum.

“I have written to Cornwall Council asking them to make sure we don’t miss out.”

Margaret Beckett said:
“We are determined to do all that we can to help local people in these difficult times, which is why I announced this extra help on 6 March. As I set out, there is no reason why the revised increases cannot be introduced straight away, so I would urge Cornwall Council to ensure that there is no delay in taking up the offer.”

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Truro Liberal Democrats say no to more affordable homes

In Uncategorized on March 25, 2009 at 10:31 am

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On Monday evening – with the exception of one Councillor who abstained and one was absent (who rarely attends meetings)  - Liberal Democrat councillors for Truro, and the only Tory councillor who is also on Carrick District Council, voted against increasing the local social housing target to 50 per cent.

This confirmed that the draft Truro and Threemilestone Action Plan – which currently has lower targets for affordable homes – is the product of cosy joint working by Liberal Democrat and Tory councillors in Truro.

Common sense and concern prevailed on Monday evening by 11 votes to 10, and the views of Truro residents who are not in support of the plan as it stands will now be heard.

The new draft plan is an improvement on the previous one and does reflect some of the views expressed at community workshops.

But there are real issues that need to be addressed including:

(1) Local transport – the objective is to improve accessible convenient public transport, but the plan would deliver increased car use.

(2) Housing need – there are no projections for local housing need and the 35 per cent affordable homes target is recognised by many as too low.

(3) Climate change - Truro City Council agreed to promote microgeneration but the draft plan is woolly in it’s commitment to renewable energy, meeting high sustainability standards for new homes (Code 6), and has no plan to reduce Truro’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions from current levels.

We have already responded to the consultation to voice peoples concerns.

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Meet the need for local affordable homes

In Uncategorized on January 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm

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Hundreds of shoppers at a busy Penryn supermarket on Saturday signed Labour’s petition to meet the need for affordable local housing. Those signing ranged from students to pensioners, and included people losing work locally because of the slowdown in the construction industry. 

Charlotte MacKenzie said:
“Many people’s dream of finding a place of their own will be put on hold if developers do not proceed as planned with major developments like that of the former Richard Lander school site in Truro.

“Labour in Government is taking action to help people keep their homes despite the credit crunch. Carrick Housing has funding to build new social housing; and some local housing associations in Cornwall are also purchasing unsold homes, in developments affected by the downturn in the housing market, with the help of Government funds.

“It is really important that local authorities also work with developers in a way that maximises the opportunities that are available. This petition will go to the new Cornwall Council, which will be responsible for housing and homelessness in future, as well as for sustainable economic development.

“We want to move the debate forward. The people supporting our petition are not saying every controversial development proposal in Falmouth and Truro must be allowed to go ahead. But they recognise that if more affordable homes are needed, new housing does need to be built.”

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Help for homeowners

In Uncategorized on December 8, 2008 at 4:55 pm

Many people who have mortgages in Carrick are concerned at the fall in house prices and the cost of mortgages.

Charlotte MacKenzie, the Labour candidate who wants to be MP for Truro and Falmouth, said:

“I would urge people to seek advice if like many they are finding it difficult to pay bills, worried about the fall in house prices, and facing reduced hours or possible job loss.

“Everybody knows that with incomes being lower and house prices previously soaring in Cornwall many families stretched their budget to afford to buy a home.

“It is really important the Government helps people keep the homes they have worked hard for and provides the support that is needed to weather this difficult period. That’s why I support the new Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme which will enable households that experience a temporary loss of income as a result of the economic downturn to defer a proportion of the interest payments on their mortgage for up to two years.”

The Government will guarantee the deferred interests payments in return for banks’ participation in the scheme. The scheme was announced last week and is now being developed in detail, with a view to it being available to customers early in the New Year.

The country’s eight largest banks have already pledged that they will work with the Government to develop the scheme. The 8 largest lenders cover 70% of the mortgage market – HBOS, Nationwide, Abbey, Lloyds TSB, Northern Rock, Barclays, RBS, HSBC – have all agreed to support the new scheme.

Other help is also available to those in difficulty with mortgage payments:

1. The National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS) to produce a consumer leaflet Worried about your mortgage? Get advice now.

2. The new mortgage pre-action protocol, introduced by the Civil Justice Council, came into effect last week. The new protocol makes clear that repossessions should be a last resort. Lenders must discuss and try to agree with borrowers alternatives to repossession. The Government has also expanded court advice services available to help those facing repossession.

3. A new mortgage rescue scheme targeted to help up to 6,000 households avoid the trauma of repossession over the next two years. Depending on their specific circumstances, eligible home owners will be offered either a shared equity option, enabling the household’s monthly mortgage payments to be reduced, or the option of Government mortgage to rent with the household remaining in the property as a tenant paying subsidised rent.

4. New support measures to help vulnerable homeowners meet their mortgage interest payments. The DWP announced it would be reforming Income Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) by shortening the waiting period before SMI is paid from 39 weeks to 13 weeks for new working age claims. This will take effect from 5 January 2009. The capital limit for new working age claims will also increase to £175,000 from January 2009.


Meet the need for affordable local homes

In Uncategorized on October 6, 2008 at 9:58 am

A petition is calling for more action to meet the need for affordable local homes. The petition was launched in September, as the Government announced measures to help keep the housing market moving despite the credit crunch.

In the Carrick area, 3000 families are on the local housing register. Carrick District Council expects developers to make one in three new homes affordable, but regional plans make it clear that councils can require more new homes to be affordable. In October, local councils will also be invited to make proposals to tackle local problems using new powers of the Sustainable Communities Act.

Local campaigner Charlotte MacKenzie said: “As well as making affordable housing part of local development plans, there is much more that councils can do. For example, by helping to make more publicly owned land available for low-cost homes.

“As an active supporter of the campaign which got the Sustainable Communities Act passed, I know that it could make a difference in Cornwall. I hope that local councils will respond positively when they receive the invitation to make proposals under this Act. Tackling the shortage of affordable homes tops the list of local priorities. All levels of government need to work together to put people first and meet local housing needs.”

You can sign the petition here.

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New council homes in Carrick

In Uncategorized on July 20, 2008 at 7:24 pm

Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie today welcomed the news that more new homes for rent are to be built locally.

Carrick Housing is one of the organisations nominated as eligible to receive funds from the Housing Corporation, under new measures designed to beat the credit crunch which were announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint. In order to keep up the supply of new homes despite the impact of reduced borrowing on the housing market, the Government is investing additional funds to support new social and affordable housing, including council housing.

Labour Councillor Gerald Chin-Quee, who chairs the Carrick Housing board, said: “The importance of the fact that Carrick Housing will get the opportunity to build homes is that the first new council owned homes in over 25 years are going to be built. During those 25 years we have seen our housing stock reduced by nearly 50% and we know what effect that has had on the homelessness problem. From this small acorn of hope comes the chance to start putting that right.”

Charlotte MacKenzie said “I’m absolutely delighted that this investment will mean more new homes to rent in the Carrick district area. Carrick Housing’s record is second to none; they are the only South West provider planning new council housing who have been confirmed as eligible this time by the Housing Corporation.”

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Planners must listen to views of local people

In Uncategorized on February 7, 2008 at 1:33 pm

Charlotte MacKenzie’s letter to West Briton:

I welcome the fact that there will now be a rethink of Carrick’s development plans.

For everyone who has looked at the plans, taken part in consultations, or attended the examination in public of the Council’s ‘core strategy’ for development, the Inspector’s finding that Carrick District Council paid insufficient attention to the views expressed through consultation will come as no surprise.

I was one of those who spoke at the hearing in June last year to voice concerns about the environment and housing.

I welcome the fact that tackling climate change will now be given fuller consideration in plans for future development. I hope that the fact that Truro City Council recently accepted a proposal from Cllr Lindsay Southcombe and myself to promote green energy will prompt discussion in 2008 of solutions which will work best for Truro’s community, and step up local commitment to carbon neutral homes.

We also need widespread discussion of how best to provide housing to meet local needs. The Inspector rejected the plans partly because it was unclear that they would deliver housing which is needed, including in Falmouth and Penryn. I will continue to call for two out of three, rather than one in three, new homes to be affordable.

At least now we can expect that, as detailed plans are developed, our Councils will take account of views expressed by local people.

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Call to double Lib Dem commitment to affordable homes

In Uncategorized on April 23, 2007 at 4:06 pm

Responding to news today from the Halifax Bank that the average price of a house in Truro now tops £300,000, Truro and Falmouth Labour Party called for the local commitment to affordable housing to be doubled.

 

The latest figures show that Truro is now the most expensive city for housing in the South West. Carrick District Council currently has 3000 local families on its housing register.

 

In areas of greatest housing need, regional plans recommend that local authorities specify up to two out of three new homes or more are affordable. But local plans drafted by the Liberal Democrat led Carrick District Council make a commitment to just one in three new homes being affordable.

 

Speaking on behalf of Truro and Falmouth Labour Party, Charlotte MacKenzie said: ”Carrick District Council covers an area of very great need for housing that local families can afford. We are concerned that Carrick District Council is not planning realistically to meet the need for affordable homes in Truro and Falmouth. At the Liberal Democrats’ pace, it would take 20 years to house the current register for the Carrick District Council area. We think that the Council should double their commitment and enable more housing for rent to be built.”

 

“In 2006/7, only 20 new affordable homes to rent were completed in Truro, and none at all in Falmouth. Carrick has been identified as a growth point. There is every opportunity to tackle the shortage of affordable homes, but local Liberal Democrats and Tories talk instead about just providing ‘pockets’ of affordable housing.”

 

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Lib Dems fail to tackle local housing needs

In Uncategorized on March 19, 2007 at 10:28 am

The Labour Party in Truro and Falmouth hit out today at local housing plans drawn up by the Liberal Democrat led Carrick District Council. 

The Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West recommends local authorities specify up to two out of three new homes or more are affordable in areas of greatest housing need. Despite being identified as an area for growth, local development plans only make a commitment to one in three new homes being affordable.

Speaking on behalf of Truro and Falmouth Labour Party, local campaigner Charlotte MacKenzie said: “We welcome the fact that Truro has been identified as a growth point. But we are very concerned that this will not tackle shortages of affordable housing in Falmouth. In 2006/7, 20 new affordable homes to rent were completed in Truro, and none at all in Falmouth.”

“Carrick District Council covers an area of very great need for housing that local families can afford. We are concerned that Carrick District Council is not planning realistically to meet the need for affordable homes in Falmouth and Truro. At the Lib Dems’ pace, it would take 20 years to house the current housing register for the Carrick District Council area. They need to do more.”

Truro and Falmouth Labour Party has made a written submission about local housing needs to the RSS examination in public, which will take place shortly.