Heated debate over housing the homeless

Feb 8 2011 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

COMMENTS from two Tory councillors were labelled “reprehensible” and “populist nonsense” during a heated debate over homeless rehousing.

The political spat followed a PA story last week about a 90-year-old Luncarty resident living in fear of anti-social behaviour after previously homeless residents were moved to her neighbourhood.

Explaining the problems surrounding such a sensitive issue, Carse of Gowrie Councillor Mac Roberts suggested the council should attempt to please residents rather than the housing regulator.

He said: “We must not lose sight of our responsibilities to our good tenants.

“Placing homeless people with drink and drug problems in our council housing estates, while perhaps giving us good marks with the regulator, can create serious problems for our tenants.

“People who for years lived quietly looking after their house and garden, keeping on good terms with their neighbours and helping out where they can, suddenly find a person without their values moving in next door.”

In response, “disappointed” Liberal Democrat Peter Barrett, who also holds the position of housing convener, dismissed the statements as “claptrap populist nonsense” before Councillor Willie Wilson, also a Liberal Democrat, continued the fiery exchange.

Branding the statements as “insulting” and “reprehensible” he declared: “I don’t know if Councillor Roberts is freewheeling with his comments or if it is group policy which will form part of the Conservatives’ next manifesto.

“The coalition government in Westminster would be appalled to hear these remarks today. They are telling us the problem but not the solution.”

The controversial debate followed the announcement that the council’s homeless service was now sitting amongst the top six in Scotland, according to the Scottish Housing Regulator.