MP told to focus on ‘Southend not Africa’

Independent councillor Martin Terry slammed Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge during a cabinet meeting, urging him to see for himself the conditions some residents live in.

The MP - who is also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa - criticised plans for a licensing scheme that would stop landlords renting sub-standard properties.

Mr Duddridge recently branded the plans as a “tax on good landlords”.

Mr Terry, councillor for community safety, said: “It’s disappointing to see our local MP coming out against this.

“What our MP needs to do instead of spending all his time working overseas is to have a walk around his own constituency and look at the way some people are suffering in his own constituency.

“The cost five year licence that works out at £2 a month so what’s the problem with that?

“There really is no problem

“It’s good for Southend, good for our residents, our tenants, for homeowners and good for our street scene.”

Mr Terry said he had been involved in setting up the The South Essex Alliance of Landlords which was an attempt to allow landlords to self-regulate.

He added: “We’ve tried to work collaboratively.

“The good landlords came on board but sadly the ones who don’t want to play ball didn’t.

“I have to say, and this is from the heart, I was actively delivering leaflets in the last general election and I was shocked at the condition of certain areas of Southend and those areas are predominantly managed by lots of landlords and letting agents.

“Frankly I feel sorry for the stakeholders there.”

More than 1,700 took part in a consultation on improving rented accommodation in deprived areas.

Only 22 per cent of landlords opted for the scheme while 77 per cent of tenants approved the move.

The cabinet agreed to move forward with the scheme which will initially focus on four wards - Kursaal, Milton, Chalkwell and Victoria.

Council leader, Ian Gilbert, said: “Our sense is we have gone as far as we can with a voluntary arrangements and we need an arrangement that’s on a proper statutory footing where we can put a proper compliance regime into place if we are going to tackle some of the more difficult areas.”

Mr Duddridge was contacted for comment.

AN MP has been accused of neglecting the needs of some of the most vulnerable people in his constituency.

Independent councillor Martin Terry spoke out at a cabinet meeting to savage Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge for criticising plans for a licensing scheme to prevent rogue landlords letting sub-standard properties.

The Conservative MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa, recently criticised plans for a £700 licence fee for private landlords in areas with barely habitable accommodation, as a tax on good landlords.

But Mr Terry, councillor for community safety and customer contact, said: “It’s disappointing to see our local MP coming out against this.

“What our local MP needs to do instead of spending all his time working overseas is to have a walk around his own constituency and look at the way some people are suffering in his own constituency.

“The cost five year licence that works out at £2 a month so what’s the problem with that? There really is no problem

“It’s good for Southend, good for our residents, our tenants, for homeowners and good for our street scene.”

Mr Terry said he had been involved in setting up the The South Essex Alliance of Landlords (SEAL) which was an attempt to allow landlords to self-regulate.

He added: “We’ve tried to work collaboratively. The good landlords came on board but sadly the ones who don’t want to play ball didn’t.

“I have to say, and this is from the heart, I was actively delivering leaflets in the last general election and I was shocked at the condition of certain areas of Southend and those areas are predominantly managed by lots of landlords and letting agents. Frankly I feel sorry for the stakeholders there.”

More than 1,700 took part in a consultation on improving rented accommodation in deprived areas it has been revealed.

Only 22 per cent of landlords opted for the scheme while 77 per cent of tenants approved the move.

The cabinet agreed to move forward with the scheme which will initially focus on four wards - Kursaal, Milton, Chalkwell and Victoria where there are significant and persistent problems caused by antisocial behaviour.

Council leader, Ian Gilbert, said: “Our sense is we have gone as far as we can with a voluntary arrangements and we need an arrangement that’s on a proper statutory footing where we can put a proper compliance regime into place if we are going to tackle some of the more difficult areas.”