Birmingham City Council's new leader and deputy leader have presented two key requests to incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, both aimed at tackling the city's housing crisis. Councillors Roger Harmer (Liberal Democrat) and Julien Pritchard (Green) outlined their priorities at the 'Connections for Prosperity' business conference, calling for government backing to build more council homes and to regulate the problematic supported exempt accommodation sector.
Social Housing Shortage
Cllr Harmer described housing shortages as the city's biggest issue, with over 10,000 children currently living in temporary accommodation. 'Give us collectively as a city the opportunity to sort out our housing problems,' he said. 'That includes building more social housing. Give us the resources and we will get on with it.' The council's housing stock has declined from 120,000 homes four decades ago to approximately 57,000 today.
Exempt Accommodation Regulation
The coalition government, formed after Labour's election defeat in May, also seeks tighter regulation of the supported exempt accommodation sector. This sector currently houses 33,000 people, despite the city only needing an estimated 10,000 to 11,000 beds. Cllr Pritchard called housing a 'massive challenge' requiring more genuinely affordable social rent homes.
Restoring Confidence
Both leaders said they aim to restore public confidence in the council by addressing daily issues such as street cleaning, pothole repairs, and anti-social behaviour over their four-year term. They stressed that solving the housing crisis is central to this effort.
