At the Waverley BC Full Council Meeting this evening the opposition parties achieved a monumental victory over the Lib Dem administration by winning a vote 22/20 which in effect shows ‘no confidence in the Executives’ handling of Homeowner CIL in Waverley (proposed by Cllr Jane Austin/seconded by Cllr George Murray).
Numerous Conservative, Independent and Farnham Resident Cllrs spoke passionately at their frustration over the fact that there has been little if any progress in correcting the injustice of how WBC have enforced hardship onto some homeowners over the past 6 years – with very little signs of any compassion. At least one family has been forced to sell their home. There is a total lack of consideration of the impact their decisions have had on homeowners who should have been exempt from any charge.
A motion was passed, 22 votes in favour 20 against (which had every sign of a Lib Dem 3 line whip, which failed) supporting a motion for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to set up a Task and Finishing Group – even possibly a Select Committee, to ‘investigate’ the Council’s enforcement of CIL and homeowners.
The Minister for Housing was very clear in the guidance he directed to Council Leaders in England last week: “You have discretion to make ex gratia payments when a householder developer would have been entitled to an exemption but, as a result of an administrative error, failed to claim it in accordance with the required procedure and now faces significant hardship as a consequence.”
Members of the Executive including the Leader Cllr Paul Follows, The Portfolio for Housing Cllr Liz Townsend and the Portfolio holder for Finance Cllr Merryweather hit back (unsuccessfully) with what can only be described as anger, to defend their long held position trying to justify why it would be wrong to make ex-gratia payments – against the guidance of The Housing Minister!
Long standing Councillor and former Mayor Cllr John Ward said: “I am very sad. We were elected to improve residents’ lives, and I am lost for words that this Executive has conspicuously failed in this regard.”
Statement from the CIL Injustice Group
The CIL Injustice Group would like to thank every councillor who voted in favour of Councillor Jane Austin’s motion calling for greater transparency and progress on Waverley’s long-promised review of historic householder CIL cases.
We are particularly grateful to Councillors cross-party who stood up for ordinary homeowners and recognised that this issue is about fairness, accountability and restoring trust.
For years, families have lived under the shadow of life-changing financial demands for what were often simple home improvements. Many have endured enormous stress, financial hardship and uncertainty while waiting for Waverley Borough Council to honour the commitments it made to review these cases.
It was deeply disappointing to hear members of the Executive once again seek to defend delay and argue against meaningful compensation, despite the Housing Minister making clear that councils have discretion to act where exceptional hardship has occurred. The repeated focus on reasons why the Council cannot help, rather than how it can, has left many residents feeling ignored.
Steve Dally, founder of the CIL Injustice Group and himself a victim of the householder CIL rules, said:
“Those of us caught by this scandal have spent years being told we were somehow to blame. During that time we have been subjected to repeated criticism and personal attacks by some members of Waverley’s Executive, rather than seeing any real effort to put these injustices right.
“Tonight’s vote sends an important message. A majority of councillors have recognised that residents deserve answers, transparency and, ultimately, fairness. We are extremely grateful to every councillor who voted for the motion and who has taken the time to listen to those affected.
“The Government has now acknowledged that the regulations have produced unfair outcomes and confirmed that councils have discretion to respond. The excuses are running out. The Executive must now stop resisting progress, listen to the clear will of Council and finally deliver the fair review residents have been promised.”
The CIL Injustice Group will continue working with affected homeowners, councillors from across the political spectrum and Members of Parliament until every historic case has been properly reviewed and those who have suffered injustice receive a fair outcome.
