Labour Group Motion

Across the UK a shortage of housing[1] and uncontrolled increases in private rents[2] have led to a soaring rise in the number of households made homeless[3] and a massive increase in the demand for temporary accommodation.[4] In Oxford we’re working hard to prevent homelessness, minimise use of temporary accommodation (especially hotels), and reduce costs. Our housing needs team has received national recognition for their work, but 237 Oxford households still spent last Christmas in temporary accommodation, and we are spending over £4million a year on it. 

The watering down of Local Plan housing targets by the Tories means some councils, including in Oxfordshire, have been dodging their responsibility to those in need now and future generations by failing to plan for the homes that are so desperately needed.?? 

This Council is building homes. Our wholly owned company OxPlace will build more than 2000 homes in the next decade. We have a rolling four-year target to provide 1600 affordable homes for local people through building, buying and through partnerships with housing associations. We also work with private developers like at Barton Park which is over 50% affordable and Oxford North which will be at least 35% affordable. 

Pressures on the budgets of housing associations and local housing authorities mean that developers find it increasingly difficult to find buyers for the affordable homes for rent within mixed developments, leading to the stalling of schemes even if they have planning permission. 

This Council congratulates our Housing Needs Team on being shortlisted for the 2025 LGC Awards for their work to prevent homelessness in the face of a housing crisis. This Council also asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing & Local Government to convey that:?? 

• This Council applauds the new Labour Government for its reversal of cuts to housing numbers in Local Plans and welcomes the return of strategic level planning to ensure that homes are delivered. 

• This Council welcomes the Government’s approval of the long-overdue reservoir near Abingdon, necessary to support new homes in Oxfordshire. 

• This Council welcomes the Government’s commitment to the ending of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions which are a driver of homelessness. 

• This Council welcomes this year’s increase of £600k in our allocation of Homelessness Prevention Grant and calls on the Government to ensure future allocations take into account the true drivers of homelessness and the work done by councils on prevention. 

• This Council calls on the Government to give councils the power to regulate the short-term let sector to stem the flow of properties from the private rented sector into short-term lets.? 

• This Council calls on the Government to ensure that investment in power, water and sewerage is delivered to support new homes. 

• This Council calls on the Government to increase grant funding for new social housing, to ensure that this city, and this country, benefits from the expansion of social housing we need to ensure everyone has a decent and genuinely affordable home.