Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s Mayor sparked debate about local council’s approach to homelessness on BBC’s The Big Questions
18:59, 30 Jan 2018Updated 18:39, 31 Jan 2018
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, James Palmer. Picture: Warren Gunn(Image: Warren Gunn)
James Palmer, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, criticized Cambridge City Council over the number of homeless people in the city during a national broadcast.
He shared some strong opinions about homelessness in Cambridge on BBC’s The Big Questions, filmed at Netherhall School on January 21.
Palmer pointed out that despite receiving £70 million from central government for housing projects, there were still people sleeping rough in Cambridge.
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, James Palmer. Picture: Warren Gunn(Image: Warren Gunn)
He accused the city council of deliberately not tackling homelessness so they could criticize government policies instead. He also said they hadn’t moved quickly enough to develop new housing under the devolution deal.
‘I solved the homeless problem’
During the show Mr Palmer said: “The situation of people sleeping on the streets in Cambridge is not central government’s fault.
“The responsibility for homeless [people] on the streets of any town or city in the UK lies with the local council.
“When I was the leader of the district council at East Cambridgeshire I solved the homeless problem.
A rough sleeper in Cambridge(Image: Harry Hubbard)
“There were no people on the street in East Cambridgeshire because of the policies I put forward.
“I have offered those policies to Cambridge City Council and they have not taken them up.
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“I believe that is a deliberate political decision because they want to blame the government for something that they can solve.
“The government gave the city council last year £70 million pounds for housing, social housing, in the city, and yet there are still people on the streets and those houses are not being built.
“You can’t blame the government for local problems, these are problems that could be sorted out.
“It is the mistake of the city council.”
Mayor should ‘make sure he knows all facts’
Councillor Kevin Price
The deputy leader at Cambridge City Council has pushed back against Palmer’s statements made live on TV.
Councillor Kevin Price responded by saying: “The Combined Authority was formed to enable a strong partnership between all the constituent authorities in tackling some of the major challenges facing our area, and housing and the problems of homelessness are very much to the fore of those challenges.”
“If we are going to tackle this properly it takes members as well as officers working together positively,” he added.
“I have written to the mayor to strongly refute what he said on that programme and make sure he understands better what work has been done by this city council around these issues as well as what we’ve achieved.”
“It was hard listening to such harsh criticism about rough sleeping especially when recent government figures showed while it’s gone up nationally for seven years straight – rising by 14 per cent – excellent work by our officers alongside partner groups has actually caused numbers here in Cambridge to drop significantly.”
Homelessness has become a contentious issue in Cambridge(Image: Harry Hubbard)
“That positive result against national trends shows how effective our officers’ efforts have been along with several new partnerships – some even funded or supported by central government,” Councillor Price stated.
“I hope now that message gets through to him.”
‘I stand behind what I said’
James Palmer(Image: David Johnson)
When talking with News Mr Palmer mentioned he hasn’t had a chat with Cllr Price yet but did get his letter-and says he stands by everything he said during that BBC show.
“Last week I was away selling Cambridgeshire abroad but when I meet him next time I’ll definitely talk it over,” Mr Palmer explained.
“I’m aware work’s being done here but honestly it’s super easy just blaming others rather than looking right at your own doorstep,” he added.
“Do I think solving homelessness here is possible? Yeah definitely. It won’t be simple but it can be done.”
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