HL Deb 20 July 1994 vol 557 cc229-31

2.49 p.m.

Lord Dean of Beswick asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied that Wandsworth London Borough Council is acting in the best interests of the council tax payers of the borough by selling off accommodation which gives less financial return than if the accommodation was rented.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Arran)

My Lords, whether the policies and decisions of Wandsworth Borough Council are in the best interests of its council tax payers is a matter for the council tax payers to judge.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, is the Minister aware than when I and others in your Lordships' House were involved in local government there was almost a statutory duty on members of local authorities to do the best financially for the people in the area. Have the rules changed? If not, why is Wandsworth not being brought to heel and made to deal with the situation referred to in the Question in the interests of the taxpayers in Wandsworth?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I know that the noble Lord has considerable experience in local authority management. However, I think he will agree that it is for each local authority to ensure that it exercises its discretion in a manner which does not conflict with statutory obligations.

Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone

My Lords, as a council tax payer in the borough of wise Wandsworth, I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that we are altogether satisfied with our council in comparison with some of the neighbouring bodies.

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I am delighted to hear what my noble and learned friend says. Indeed, I have heard the same from many other people besides the noble and learned Lord.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, as another taxpayer and ratepayer in Wandsworth, may I say that Wandsworth Borough Council is beginning to smell and will soon have a similar effluvium to that already emerging from Westminster?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, frankly, I do not think that that is playing the game. The noble Lord well knows that there are some serious and grave allegations against councillors in Westminster and that an able and qualified district auditor is pursuing the case as quickly as he can.

Lord Finsberg

My Lords, is it not the answer that, first, if anything was occurring which was not right the district auditor would already have taken action? Secondly, did not the sensible inhabitants of Wandsworth re-elect their council only a few months ago? Surely they are the best judge of the situation?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, my noble friend is quite right. Of course the district auditor would have taken action if he had thought it appropriate in the particular circumstances.

Lord Monkswell

My Lords, perhaps I may—

Noble Lords

Order!

Viscount St. Davids

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Monkswell, may not speak from the Gangway.

Lord Monkswell

My Lords, I had thought that I was within the precincts of the House. I thought that one was outside those precincts a little further to the right. Having moved slightly to the left, perhaps I may ask my question. Is it not right that local councillors have a legal duty to respect and protect the fiduciary interests of their local inhabitants? Surely the case identified by the noble Lord, Lord Dean of Beswick, would suggest that local councillors in Wandsworth are not abiding by their legal duty. What action are the Government going to take to investigate the matter and ensure that the law is upheld?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, there is a statutory obligatory duty upon the councillors in every local authority to house the homeless as they think appropriate in their particular local authority. That is what is happening.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that there are serious allegations that Wandsworth's housing policy was illegal and that it failed to fulfil the council's obligation to the homeless as part of its duties under the Housing Act 1985, to which I believe the noble Earl was referring? Is he further aware that distinguished lawyers have reported that the impact on the homeless of sales policy in Wandsworth is, close to the margins of legality"? Will the noble Earl take this opportunity to make sure that the Government give Wandsworth Council proper notice that it is "close to the margins of legality" and that it should not stray over those margins?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I understand the point that the noble Lord makes. But I also understand that the council has reviewed its procedures with a view to reducing the maximum time that is spent in bed-and-breakfast and other forms of temporary accommodation.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, in his Answer a few moments ago the noble Earl referred to the question of homelessness. A Statement on homelessness was made in another place earlier this week which, because of the pressures of business in this House, unfortunately we could not take. Is the Minister aware that Wandsworth, and the other councils that follow the same policy, are exacerbating the present plight of the homeless in London? Is he further aware that, according to independent bodies in the area which deal with the homeless, the situation has now once again begun to deteriorate and more homeless people are appearing on the streets in London?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, the local authority in Wandsworth is not exacerbating the situation on the homeless. As I recently said to another noble Lord, there is a statutory obligation upon each local authority to house the homeless. That is precisely what Wandsworth is doing.