Opposition councillors at Cornwall Council have called for the council to declare a housing emergency and take immediate action to help those people affected.

Independent councillor Tim Dwelly is set to table a motion at next month’s full council meeting calling for a housing emergency to be declared.

The draft motion states that the council should aim to draw up an action plan by the end of October which will “focus on measures that can rapidly increase the supply of homes that are prioritised for residents to rent or buy”.

Cllr Dwelly said that there was a need for the council to take immediate practical action to help those who are unable to rent or buy a home in Cornwall.

He said that he drew up the motion after hearing more and more cases of people who were simply unable to find somewhere to live.

The Penzance councillor said that while there had been a housing crisis in Cornwall for a number of years the current situation was making it far worse.

Property prices have jumped in recent months with an increase of people from outside of Cornwall wishing to buy properties after finding they were able to easily work from home during the pandemic.

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In addition the number of homes available to rent has slumped with people from outside snapping them up as soon as they come onto the market so that they can search for a permanent base.

There has also been a rise in the number of landlords who are serving notice on tenants as they need to sell their properties due to financial struggles or want to take advantage of the increased demand for homes or use their homes as Airbnb style holiday properties.

Cllr Dwelly said that he expected the motion would get cross party support from councillors in the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Mebyon Kernow groups. He was unsure whether it would be supported by the Conservative administration at County Hall.

The motion puts forward eight actions which could be used to help tackle the housing emergency.

These are:

  • A major increase in the number of affordable homes delivered in Cornwall each year with an aspiration to double numbers if possible
  • Urgent reallocation of resources in the capital programme to prioritise deliver of this affordable housing, including council housing
  • A significant and rapid expansion in the delivery of council-owned high quality private rented homes for existing residents via Treveth. Use the investment programme to create an ambitious programme that goes well beyond the trial housing development programme
  • Reduce the threshold at which affordable housing is required on new developments from 10 to a suitable lower figure that reflects Cornwall’s housing emergency
  • Urging Government and Homes England to maximise additional central government resources to address Cornwall’s housing emergency (including starter homes initiatives, key worker housing self-build)
  • Implement the private rented sector reforms including landlord registration as set out in the recent inquiry
  • Urge Government to review and change its recent decision to bar higher council tax on second homes. Lobby for a council tax supplement of up to 100% (to match the system in Wales). Ring fence any additional revenue secured to fund supply of homes prioritised for residents
  • Review availability of Cornwall Council owned land and excess buildings that can be used to provide emergency accommodation to those unable to find a home to rent in the usual ways.

The motion comes after Cornwall Council’s Conservative Cabinet announced plans to increase provision of temporary accommodation for those at risk of homelessness.

Cabinet member for housing, Olly Monk said that the council was looking at possible solutions including purchasing 100 park homes and that the council would use more “bunkabin” units which have already been used in Truro and Penzance.

Cllr Monk said: “We know we are facing a massive challenge in terms of housing, exacerbated by the pandemic, and we’re acting with urgency to deal with the immediate issue of those in need of emergency accommodation that offers security.”

However Cllr Dwelly said that this would not be enough and said that the council would need to declare an emergency.

He said: “We can’t fix this emergency with cabins in car parks. Much more is needed. Our motion gives examples. We will need to see many more normal homes built or bought by the council for local people.

“We are calling for an urgent review with actions including a major expansion of the council’s own homes available for private rent as well as a large increase in the number of affordable homes provided each year.”

The motion is expected to be tabled at the next full council meeting on July 13.