The Labour party in Swindon has criticised the government’s plans to shake-up council housing - saying it doesn’t address the causes of ever-increasing housing lists.

The party’s spokeswoman for housing at Swindon Borough Council has called for more money to be provided to allow councils to build more homes for rent.

Housing minister James Brokenshire announced proposals in a green paper yesterday, but Coun Emma Bushell said: “There are some measures that are to be welcomed, such as ones to tackle rogue landlords and the scrapping of a plan to force councils to sell off high value properties.

“But there is no extra funding for the building of more social housing. The lack of supply of housing is the cause of the crisis.

The councillor for Walcot and Park North added: “We need more houses to be built and without that this won’t do much to affect the housing problems in Swindon or elsewhere in the country. That’s the fundamental point - we need more social housing and I think this shows the government just doesn’t understand that need, or the the reasons for the housing crisis.”

Leader of Conservative-run Council, Councillor David Renard said: “We welcome the Government’s announcement and once more news is available, we’ll examine the detail.”

In 2017-18 92 council or social rented homes were built in Swindon. Across the UK that figure was 6,000, one of the lowest figures ever. Last year the Adver reported the council spent £3.8 million on housing families in private rented accommodation

The green paper was announced by the government in the wake of the Grenfell disaster.

Proposals include allowing new tenants to purchase as little as one per cent of their property each year to build up to ownership.

New powers will also be given to the regulator of social housing to intervene to ensure the quality of social homes and tackle rogue landlords

Mr Brokenshire said: “Providing quality and fair social housing is a priority for this government. Our green paper offers a landmark opportunity for major reform to improve fairness, quality and safety to residents living in social housing across the country. Regardless of whether you own your home or rent in the social sector, residents deserve security, dignity and the opportunities to build a better life.”

A spokeswoman for the Local Government Association said: “There is a desperate need to reverse the decline in council housing over the past few decades. The loss of social housing means that we are spending more and more on housing benefit to supplement expensive rents instead of investing in genuinely affordable homes.”