Denbighshire’s Leader comes under fire over homes

Concerns have been raised about comments made by Denbighshire’s leader and the achievements of the council over the last five years.

Earlier this month, leader Cllr Jason McClellan said the former administration could have been more creative in securing affordable housing for the county, claiming they should have “grasped the nettle”.

He said he plans to reinvest council funds into building affordable homes and acquiring new council houses.

But now the leader of the largest opposition group has hit back, Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts said: “I am appalled at the comments and the lack of knowledge the new leader has demonstrated.

“It’s worrying this shows he is out of touch with his own council and appears to be pushing the national policy without the details of the local agenda. It’s clear that during the last five years he has no knowledge of what the council achieved in housing.

“That’s concerning for residents and demonstrates he has no grasp of the nettle. I am calling for an apology for officers and the previous lead member Tony Thomas as a great deal was achieved by the previous administration.

“They delivered more than 1,000 additional homes, either being created or brought back into use in the last five years in Denbighshire.”

Cllr Hilditch-Roberts said Denbighshire helped deliver 394 affordable homes, worked in partnership to develop two extra care facilities providing more than 100 homes, and delivered 34 additional council homes.
He also said 695 empty homes in the private sector had been brought back into use.
Cllr Hilditch-Roberts added: “Additional properties have been provided in communities right across Denbighshire, including Cefn Meiriadog, Trefnant, Denbigh, Ruthin, Gellifor, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Llangollen, Corwen, and Llandrillo.
“These include the first brand new council homes to be designed and built for the Denbighshire area in 30 years. Two extra care facilities have been developed in partnership with Grwp Cynefin at Awel y Dyffryn, Denbigh, which opened in February this year, and Llys Awelon, Ruthin, due to open next year.
“These developments will see 70 extra self-contained homes in Denbigh and 35 in Ruthin, which give residents a balance between living at home and having on-site, dedicated care available if needed.
“Nearly £2million has been invested in neighbourhood improvements for council tenants, including 17 new play areas.”
Cllr Hilditch-Roberts then claimed the council had invested in developing 45 energy-efficient homes, with work starting on another 59 this year. He also claimed council tenants had benefited from 1,100 new heating systems, 465 new roofs, 325 new windows, 125 air source heat pumps, 775 kitchens and bathrooms, and from 2,550 properties being externally painted.
Cllr McClellan previously said: “It is easy to blame the administration before you, and I don’t want to get into mudslinging. I think they could have been a bit more creative. There could have been more grasping of the nettle.”

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter