THE Town Hall is facing a fresh showdown with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott over right-to-buy options which it is feared will slim Camden’s housing stock.
Concerned Labour councillors, already at war with Mr Prescott and homes minister Keith Hill over withheld funding for estate improvements, have warned that new policies could compound the borough’s chronic housing shortage.
When Mr Prescott and Mr Hill announced a five-year housing masterplan which improved right-to-buy chances last month, Camden’s department chief Labour councillor Raj Chada gave a guarded response, claiming he was considering the detail in the announcement.
But Labour councillors are now ready to pressure the government for a policy review.
In a new statement, Cllr Chada said Camden would fight any plans that would lead to the borough’s housing stock being shrunk.
He said: “We can’t afford to lose any social housing. There is a great demand in Camden and we are committed to tackling it.”
Fifteen thousand hopefuls are stuck on the waiting list for homes and housing chiefs are desperate not to lose any more resources in their fight to whittle down numbers living in temporary accommodation.
The issue was raised at a private Labour meeting last Monday night when councillors decided to press the government for a clearer policy.
Several members raised concerns about national strategy.
One senior source said: “It is another example of the council being asked to back a national policy which they aren’t happy with, and more and more the councillors are not putting up with it.”
Camden is already deadlocked with the government after millions of pounds for home improvements was withheld when tenants and leaseholders voted against government policy of hiving off homes to an Arms-Length Management Organisation (Almo).
The Town Hall is fighting for £283 million to be provided in direct investment.
But council chiefs do not expect the outcome of their lobbying to become clear before July.