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| Laneside Farm lost to Developers |
Morley
Borough Independent Councillors will take part in two controversial debates to
take place at Leeds City Councils Full Council Meeting this Wednesday.
The first
relates to a reduction of the Leeds City Councils Planning Housing Target which
will also lead to a vote on a proposed no confidence motion in the Labour Administration
by Tory Councillors. This follows Labour Councillors setting of the Core Strategy
Housing Target of 70,000 new homes and then agreeing to an early review to
reduce the number.
Morley
Councillors have campaigned since 2007 to reduce the housing target which
covers the City up to 2028. They believed the target was too high and would
lead to the loss of many Greenfield sites in Morley and across Leeds.
Cllr Tom
Leadley – who has battled to reduce the housing target for over a decade said “The
70,000 plus target was never realistic or achievable but gave developers an
option to build on Greenfield sites and ignore previous developed brownfield
ones. This has led to the loss of many Greenfield sites in Morley including
Owlers Farm, Low Moor Farm and Laneside Farm – all important Morley Greenfield
sites. The decision to revise the housing target to reduce it downward will not
help Morley as these sites have already been granted planning permission.”
Over 2,000
new homes have been granted planning permission across Morley over the last 5
years but no new schools or other infrastructure proposals have been agreed to
cope with the increased demand on local services.
A second
debate will be held on the Governments Welfare Reform Flagship – Universal Credit.
Cllr Robert
Finnigan, a former welfare rights worker for over 30 years said “The principle
of Universal Credit is a sound one with the rights and responsibilities of
claimants clearly laid down. The Labour Administration in Leeds wants a pause
in its introduction but we are backing Labour MP Frank Fields proposals to make
Universal Credit work better.”
Morley Councillors
are backing Frank Fields proposals to make Universal Credit payable on a
fortnightly basis – rather than after 6 weeks and are also backing the removal of
rent payments from Universal Credit with payments being returned directly to
Landlords.
Cllr
Finnigan said “The Labour Administration seems to have no proposals as to how
to make Universal Credit work better. We back Frank Fields proposals which make
work pay, keep roofs over claimant’s heads and make it more manageable for
those on low incomes to cope.”
