A MAN whose concern for housing issues inspired him to enter local politics has resigned from St Albans District Council's housing committee, claiming it is no longer able to work effectively.

Councillor Paul Riley took the decision to step down during a meeting last week, frustrated with the committee's lack of ability to tackle the problems of homelessness and build new homes to meet need in St Albans over the next few years. Speaking after the meeting, he said: "Housing is the least democratic of all functions councils are able to carry out.

"The Government limits the money it gives to us when it comes to spending money on repairs and renewals, but we are sitting on large amounts of capital receipts that we can't spend.

"We are effectively a quango for the Government and if anything, the situation is getting worse under Labour.

"The money the new Government has released back to the council so far is just a drop in the ocean in terms of what we actually need to be spending on a capital programme.

"Housing is what brought me into politics in the first place, but I am no longer prepared to sit on the housing committee."

Liberal Democrat Mr Riley, who represents Ashley ward, said he would continue to campaign on housing issues and try to raise the public profile of housing problems and homelessness.

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