Councillor Zulfiqar Ali on Housing!

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali is Rochdale Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Cohesion on Rochdale Council. He is here responding to criticism of Choice Based Letting, the system used to let out Council Housing.

Regarding the recent letter in the paper about the way that this Council lets out Council Houses - Your correspondent S R Whittle (03.01.06) is absolutely correct in his comments about the way that this Council lets them out is fundamentally unfair. We are not making excuses but Choice Based Lettings or the 'Bidding System' as Mr Whittle says is a Labour Government Initiative that has been foisted on the people of Rochdale.

A year ago the Liberal Democrats on Rochdale Council sponsored a motion that called for a review of the service. As a result there have been minor improvements but they don't go far enough. The system is now under constant scrutiny but we would like to see more face to face contact when letting out Council Houses. One positive thing we have done is to increase the amount of Housing Stock in Band A from Band B. You may ask why that is important? - Well Band A properties are more difficult to access unless you have a real need and you have to go through the system. You can't just get a house off the Internet that is Band A unlike Band B where it is easier. Since becoming the Cabinet Member in charge of Housing in May, I have received dozens of complaints from non-internet users including people that can't afford a computer. That is why we are now encouraging people who don't have access to the computer to either call into or phone their local housing office to find out the latest houses available. You can find out where your local Housing Office is by calling the Town Hall Switchboard on 01706 647474.

Mr Whittle says that our local politicians and MP have 'been remarkably silent on this issue' - That is not the case, we have been remarkably vocal to try and improve a faltering system. Paul Rowen MP, Council Leader Alan Taylor and I have had several meetings to discuss this problem. We all agree that the answer to is to build more socially affordable housing in this Borough. Margaret Thatcher's right to buy scheme whilst having many merits, stripped this Borough of much of it's Council Housing stock. We are listening Council, who have shown through our action in increasing accessibility that we are taking notice - but we must continue to do so. I treat Mr Whittle's comments very seriously.

The Internet Revolution has gripped Rochdale, like huge parts of the world. We must not however let it become a vehicle that disenfranchises the most in need. We will continue to strive to improve the service so this Council reaches out to everyone - Not just those glued to a keyboard.

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali

Rochdale Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Cohesion