LABOUR believes York residents have the right to decent, affordable and suitable housing.

However, many people live in unsuitable housing, paying rent and mortgages which are not affordable because York is expensive.

Fordham’s Housing Assessment Needs 2007 (reported to meet need York required more than 1,000 affordable homes per year), that 63.7 per cent of the city’s households had an income of less than £30,000, and the average mean annual gross household income was £29,000, the median of £23,000, suggesting a significant income inequality in the city.

This week the housing waiting list stood at 3,700.

York needs affordable housing for careworkers, teaching assistants, shop workers, etc, who earn low wages.

Many live in private rented housing and receive Housing Benefit.

Last month, Shelter reported that by 2022 those receiving Housing Benefit will not be able to rent in York – is this the future we want for our children?

For these reasons the Lib Dem council’s Local Development Framework needs to be sound.

Council officers have said it is not and will not be found sound by the inspector, resulting in a financial cost to the city’s residents.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour Spokesperson for health housing & adult social services, Salisbury Road, Leeman Road, York.