Housing Matters

Debbie sits on Housing Committee and is the Conservative spokesman on housing, so she is always happy to try and help tenants and residents resolve their problems. Her involvement with the Beards Lane railway bridge in Stroud began when the bridge was first being built and residents were having to suffer inordinate noise and nuisance. Despite that work now being over, there is still nuisance, with rats in bins and the whole area being overgrown with brambles, nettles and bindweed, that is not only a danger to pedestrians, but are infiltrating peoples gardens. Pam Blanche has asked Debbie to see what she can do about it

Since becoming the Cabinet Member for Housing in 2009 Debbie has ben involved in sorting out the Sheltered Housing. This service currently runs at a loss of £750,000 per year. The latest review is looking at making both savings and giving the residents the service they want. Debbie  recently met with the new Site Officers who will be delivering a Concierge Service whereby staff can replace light bulbs, put up curtain rails and generally deliver a handy person service.

As  many of you know Debbie started the new build Council House programme when she was Cabinet Member for Housing. She is still involved, sitting on the New Build Project Board and last week visited the site at the Top of Town. Two developments are happening here, the Council site pictured her and another by Jephson which between them will provide 93 much needed homes at affordable rents.

​Debbie said....
"It is great to finally see this redevelopment going ahead, and now the builders are on site they are moving so quickly. Families will be in these home by the end of this year and joining in what is a great community here in Stroud"

Debbie met with Eric Pickles recently , she raised the subject of the Nailsworth Community Land Trust. despite being totally supportive of the concept she was concerned that the land worth £125,000 was to be sold for £1 by the Council. Debbie raised the subject as Housing Committee and despite having the support of tenants was defeated by the ruling coalition of Labour, Lib Dems and Greens.

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When Debbie first became Cabinet Member for Housing she was determined that the issue of Woolways Housing would be sorted out. these were house that were built after the war with a lifetime of 50 years, they had well exceeded that and were literally falling down. The Minchinhampton project was innovative, in that Debbie came up with the idea that  the District Council should offer half of the land for open market sales in return for the council houses being built free of charge. Despite a change in power from the Conservatives to Labour, they have continued with Debbie's plans and the first houses were handed over this week to new tenants.
Debbie has continued to be involved as she sits on the Strategic Board which makes recommendation to Housing Committee on the way forward with all the projects she started

Debbie said...
"It has been a long and bumpy road with this project but we have finally got there. we have learnt a lot which should make future projects easier"