BASILDON Council's leader has responded to criticism of the authority from the region's new MP, challenging him to come up with solutions.

At the weekend Basildon & Billericay Nub News reported on comments from South Basildon MP James McMurdock after his team visited a homeless family.

The MP was scathing of the council for placing the famiy in one room. he said: "My staff believe this is one example of serious failings within the department. At the very least, this situation highlights the need for more stringent oversight of temporary accommodation."

"We will continue to monitor this case closely, and if necessary, we are prepared to escalate this issue."

Now council leader Cllr Gavin Callaghan has responded. He says: ""Temporary accommodation is a national crisis, and here in Basildon we have a seen a tenfold increase in demand since 2019.

"Since the Mini-Budget in 2022 we have seen a huge surge in the number of people requiring temporary accommodation because they've lost their homes or been forced to move out due to increase costs of the private rented sector. As things stand, the private rented sector in Basildon is broken and unaffordable to the overwhelming majority of people who need it. 

"What this crisis needs in Basildon, is concrete action.

"If we do nothing, it's set to cost the council more than £3million each year in bed and breakfast accommodation for those with nowhere else to go. What is worse, this figure is forecast to increase by 31% each year. This is unsustainable for the council and unacceptable for those in hotel accommodation who are unable to build a life for themselves and their families.

"Tackling this crisis is our top priority as an administration. In May I made a commitment to halve the cost of temporary accommodation in this financial year and we are on track to exceed that target.

"To do that, we are buying new homes to provide more council properties - up to 500 over the next five years. We are using the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) to support that programme of work and we are bringing forward proposals to acquire more properties as soon as they become available.

"No one wants to find themselves in temporary accommodation. The council does everything it can to ensure we can provide accommodation which meets the needs of the applicants and all accommodation is inspected by trained officers to ensure it is suitable. We know that we desperately need to build more homes.

"We will continue to exercise all of the resources available to us in order to provide appropriate accommodation for those who need it, while making sound decisions to reduce the waiting list.

"If any Member of Parliament has any new credible ideas for how the council can increase its housing stock, within budget and without increasing council tax by eye watering levels, my door is always open to them."