Row erupts after senior York Council figure steps down

A row has erupted after a senior figure at York’s city council quit his role.

York Council’s opposition Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Coun Andrew Hollyer said affordable house building had stalled, council house tenant satisfaction fallen and regeneration schemes gone backwards under executive member Coun Michael Pavlovic.

Labour’s Coun Anna Perrett, the council’s incoming communities spokesperson, said the Liberal Democrats had wanted to build homes few could afford while progress on affordable housing sites was due in spring.

It comes after Coun Pavlovic announced he was stepping down from his housing, planning and communities role on the council’s executive.

The Labour councillor said he wanted to spend more time with his family and focus on other projects but he would remain ward member for Hull Road.

Heworth ward’s Coun Perrett and Guildhall’s Coun Dave Merrett have taken on Coun Pavlovic’s communities and housing and planning briefs respectively.

Coun Pavlovic said his departure came after no one with a connection to York was found to be sleeping rough in recent weeks which was among his proudest achievements.

But opposition Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Coun Hollyer said Coun Pavlovic’s resignation could not disguise Labour’s record on housing and planning.

Coun Hollyer said: “Three years in post, York has seen no new affordable homes delivered on council owned sites initiated by Labour.

“Instead, they have repeatedly sought to claim credit for homes approved under the previous Liberal Democrat-led administration, while key regeneration schemes have gone backwards.

“Council tenants have also been badly let down, satisfaction has fallen sharply and tenants have seen their voice weakened.

“This change should be an opportunity for Labour to admit where it has gone wrong and change course, that must include abandoning its costly and unnecessary decision to begin a new Local Plan, simply changing the person in the job is not enough.”

Labour’s new communities executive member Coun Perrett said they were taking grown up decisions to ensure the council was fit for the future and able to serve residents.

Coun Perrett, whose portfolio includes homelessness, said: “The Liberal Democrat’s housing approach seemed more about attracting people from outside York to buy expensive homes here rather than meeting the housing needs of those who already live here.

“Changing approach on sites under development we inherited would have cost millions, but we’ve changed this commitment to deliver 100% affordable housing on council owned sites in future, which should see action on the ground from next Spring.

“No local people sleeping on York’s streets which is a major achievement for Coun Pavlovic and this Labour administration.

“We make no apology for allocating limited funding where it is most needed; local government continues to experience huge financial challenges and we will not copy the Liberal Democrat approach of continuing to spend like austerity never happened.”