'Council houses sit empty so long you might find Tarzan living in gardens'

COUNCILLOR SAYS IT SOMETIMES TAKES TOO LONG TO RE-LET HOMES

- By DALE SPRIDGEON

A COUNCIL debate over the number of empty houses waiting to be re-let on Anglesey erupted into a row.

During a meeting of Anglesey Council's corporate scrutiny committee meeting on, the committee chair Councillor Jeff Evans said he was aware of houses on the island that were still empty after two years.

He said they were properties that had been "in first class" condition initially, but which now had overgrown gardens where you were more "likely to find Tarzan in them" The comment prompted a strong reaction from the council's housing portfolio holder Cllr Robin Williams.

He said he was "disappointed" the matter had been raised during a public meeting, and accused Cllr Evans of providing "no evidence" for the claim.

The committee was discussing the number of council homes that were empty, or "void", and the work done to reduce the time it takes to re-let homes when they become available.

The average number of calendar days to re-let accommodation units was 89, higher than the Q1 target of 51.

Cllr Williams said the target to re-let houses had been changed compared to previous scorecards, now only including the letting of existing houses, not new houses.