21st February 2008

Town Hall
S1 2HH

Dear Sir

I wish to clarify some points made in your recent article 'Green Party slams council lettings policy'. Firstly the council's cabinet approved the report not after 'recent changes in the law' as the Act was passed in 2002. The report came after a Green motion to Full Council in November last year calling for a full review of its lettings policy.

In addition the article states a new category of priority for lettings would include those 'living in very poor conditions'. This is not the case, in fact persons living in substandard accomodation will receive no priority for rehousing. People who are suffering from homelessness, domestic violence or loss due to demolition have priority but those in inadequate housing, for instance, damp, with children in high-rise flats, or suffering from harassment will receive no preference over other bidders.

With the shortage of social housing and long waiting lists in Sheffield currently, it is even more important that those in most need get a priority for appropriate housing.

The Green Party believes that the vastly differing housing needs of the people of Sheffield are too complex to be covered by just four categories of priority. We are calling on the council to introduce a points system that would make the lettings policy more transparent, easily understood and take into account the many reasons that people may require priority.

Yours sincerely,
Rob Murphy (Sheffield Green Party)