Housing, Infrastructure, and devolution were at the top of the agenda for an important meeting between representatives of the East of England’s local authorities and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government.
Representatives from the East of England Local Government Association (EELGA) and Baroness Taylor, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government, met today in London to discuss key priorities for local authorities the East of England and to establish how to enable growth in the region.
Following the publication of their most recent report, “Opportunity East”, EELGA has been working with local partners to highlight the opportunities present in the East of England, if unlocked with up-to-date infrastructure and public investment.
Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council, Cllr Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford City Council, and Cairistine Foster-Cannan, the Chief Executive of EELGA, met with Baroness Taylor at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government offices to discuss the key issues raised by members and officers across the region, including:
- The need for new and updated infrastructure, particularly around digital connectivity, transport, and water management solutions.
- How the Government’s plans for devolution and local government finance will impact on the East of England.
- The various housing-related issues in the region, ranging from lack of affordable housing, to the large amounts of money that councils are required to spend on temporary accomodation each year.
Cllr Cliff Waterman, who is also the East of England Labour Lead, said
“This was a really productive meeting and we thank Baroness Taylor for her time today. We greatly value this opportunity to discuss the key priorities of the East of England with Baroness Taylor, and look forward to working with the Ministry for Housing, Communties, and Local Government in the future to ensure a brighter future for the East of England.”
Cllr Stephen Robinson, who is also the Vice Chair of EELGA, said
“In many parts of the Region we have a housing crisis. Lack of affordable housing (and the infrastructure to go with it) is putting the brakes on economic growth in the East of England. Thousands of families are in deeply unsuitable, temporary accommodation, which costs taxpayers vast sums of money and damages the life chances of those children.
“We urge the Government to act decisively to help councils and housing associations in the East of England build genuinely affordable homes.”