Councillors stage walkout during housing debate

Opposition councillors staged a walkout from a scrutiny meeting after accusing Reform UK members of reading pre-prepared statements during a debate on a homelessness housing policy.

Reform UK-run West Northamptonshire Council was reviewing the new private rented sector policy, which allows homeless people to be offered private rented homes instead of social or temporary accommodation.

Councillors raised concerns over limited detail, possible out-of-area placements and whether people could be moved without consent.

Despite calls to send the policy back for further scrutiny, it was backed by Reform councillors, who have since rejected the criticism and called the walkout "political theatrics".

As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Children, Education and Housing Scrutiny Committee met on 29 June to review the policy.

Opposition councillors argued that assurances given during the meeting differed significantly from the written policy. Labour councillor Sally Keeble, who called in the decision, said members were effectively discussing "a completely different policy" from the one approved by cabinet.

Suggestions were made to send the policy back for further scrutiny, additional financial analysis, publication of supporting documents, and clearer rules on placement distances.

Speaking after the meeting, Keeble said: "This was a complete farce. It leaves in chaos a policy that affects thousands of the most vulnerable local people.

"It is now completely unclear whether they will be forced into private sector housing, and whether they will be sent out of county. There are no criteria given for the council's action and complete misinformation about the public's rights."

She said the hearing "made a complete mockery of scrutiny", which is supposed to be politically neutral.

"The decision was taken on the casting vote of the Reform councillor who chairs the committee, supported by Reform councillors who read out ready-prepared statements." Keeble added.

However, council leader Mark Arnull rejected the criticism, calling the walkout "political theatrics".

He said: "After two hours of scrutiny, where the opposition had every opportunity to make their case and put questions to officers and the cabinet member, it says everything that their response to losing the argument was simply to storm out.

"Much of the discussion wandered well beyond the actual call-in, which rather underlines the point.

"The real 'farce' here is the opposition now trying to attack Reform UK councillors for doing exactly what they were elected to do - prepare properly, understand the detail, and treat a serious issue with the seriousness it deserves."

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