Housing minister John Healey still investigating Camden Council's sale of council homes

By TOM FOOT and RICHARD OSLEY

HOUSING minister John Healey has warned Town Hall bosses that their controversial policy of selling off council homes is on a hit-list of problems he has to sort out before this year’s General Election.

He told the New Journal he had not forgotten about his promise to investigate “serious concerns” about the sales of council housing in Camden. 

Despite opposition from tenants’ leaders who say the properties could be used to ease the massive waiting list for affordable accommodation, the Liberal Democrat and Conservative ruling coalition is in the middle of selling 500 homes to private bidders at auction.

“I met the Labour group leader at Camden Council and I have since Christmas been in contact with local candidates and MPs on this matter,” Mr Healey said when the New Journal interviewed him during a ministerial trip to neighbouring Islington.

“What I’ve said is that I understand the strong concerns people have locally about this, and the way of generating funds the council says is required to look after council homes. 

“I have given an undertaking to look hard at what they are doing. When as housing minister I am getting such strong concerns from MPs I have to take that seriously. I have given them an undertaking. I am looking very hard at the way the council is trying to tackle its problems.”

He made the pledge to investigate the council’s policies at the Labour Party conference in September last year. 

But his bold talk was seriously undermined after an aide signed off a letter in his name, addressed to council leaders, indicating he supported the method of pulling in revenue.

The next homes to be sold at auction – on Tuesday – in­clude a flat in south Hampstead, a flat on a council estate in Somers Town and a semi-de­tached house in West Hampstead. Campaigners have called the sales “immoral” and asked whether this is the best time to sell Camden’s family silver with the country facing the biggest housing crash in recent memory. 

They have called on the council to put more pressure on central government to find the cash to repair homes.

The debate still scars relationship between central government and the Town Hall. The New Journal understands that Mr Healey’s office sent out a press alert last week about investment in new council homes on the Holly Lodge Estate in Highgate before it had even discussed the grant with councillors in Camden.

All sides were this week attempting to take the credit for new homes planned for Camden, the first significant investment in council housing for years.

Mr Healey’s supporters say that in his short time as housing minister he has thrust the importance of council housing to the top of the agenda, while the coalition insists its campaigning has forced a sea change in opinion at Whitehall.

Lib Dem housing chief Councillor Chris Naylor said: “It’s a disgrace that past Labour policies have left Camden with half our council homes substandard. If the minister is offering cash to fix this we’d be happy to sit down with  him.”