Council Tax Reform and Affordable Housing key issue at next week's Lib Dem Conference says Parliamentary Spokesperson, Mike Treleaven

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Sep 2003

Mike Treleaven, the Totnes Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson will be attending the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton next week ( Sept. 21st - 25th.)where he will be contributing to a number of debates crucial to the well being of the Totnes Constituency. Speaking this week Mike said:

'As usual the conference will be debating matters key topical issues and high on the list are Council Tax reform and the Affordable Housing Crisis - subjects at the heart of problems in this constituency. Our campaign to replace Council Tax with Local Income Tax based on the ability to pay is receiving tremendous support wherever I go - people recognise how unfair the current system is as it penalises pensioners and those on low incomes. In Devon we have had tremendous rises this year as the Council seeks to redress the cuts in Central Government grants and there is the distinct prospect of large increases in the next couple of years. A system based on the ability to pay is much fairer and after all fairness is what Liberal Democrats are all about.'

He continued:

' Affordable housing is an even more important issue as we struggle to provide decent accommodation for all who want it. With average house prices in the South hams in excess of £200,000 and wages 20% below the national average the situation is at crisis point. We shall be calling for he reintroduction of the local Authority Social housing grant which has cost the South Hams £2million, the right to charge up to 200% council tax on second homes ( until it is abolished altogether) and a whole raft of other measures designed to speed up the provision of decent accommodation for local people. When, in the South Hams, we have 1600 families on the housing list and an average of 100 new units per year being built it is obvious that something has to be done and done quickly.'

Other subjects to be debated include energy conservation, higher education, GM crops and spending more wisely in the health service.