LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Richard Hill is not correct about a number of issues (Letters, April 8).
Derwenthorpe was the idea of Labour, with the background work completed prior to May 2003. Only the planning permission was granted under the Lib Dems.
As for the new council homes in Clifton, these were originally a Labour Government project that the Coalition Government withdrew funding for and rebranded as their own.
Secondly, and also to John Reeves, the proposed “up to” £75,000 right-to-buy discount on council homes will not allow councils to build new homes with the £23,000 receipt.
This fact is recognised by councillors of all parties at the Local Government Association, which lobbied against the proposal.
The Government proposal is that councils borrow on the financial markets and that rent will be up to 80 per cent of private sector market rent to allow borrowing payback.
In York, we are not planning to build by this means as very few people on the council house list can actually afford this rent level without housing benefits. The trap in York is that benefits are worked out regionally and will not cover 80 per cent rent levels.
Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour councillor for the Acomb ward, Cabinet member for health, housing and adult social services, City of York Council.
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