Conservative and Labour councillors abandon tenants

1.52.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 29th Mar 2007

Cllr Matthew Bedford is calling on Labour and Conservative councillors to pu people before party politics

Both Conservative and Labour councillors have abandoned council tenants, by refusing to take up their place on a vital local housing forum. A 'shadow board' of Thrive Homes has been set up to run local housing if tenants vote yes in a ballot later this year. The board is made up of tenants, councillors and independent members and will make important decisions about how local homes are run and maintained.

Labour had already said that they would not take up their place due to political dogma.Now the Conservatives have refused to take up their place, as they do not want an independent association - despite this being the overwhelming choice of tenants.

Cllr Matthew Bedford, Cabinet Member for Housing, said, 'Tenants and councillors wanted to representatives from all political parties and all areas of the district. Sadly Conservative and Labour councillors have put party politics above the future of people they have been elected to represent'.