DENBIGHSHIRE County Council will devise a strategy to build more affordable housing and increase its housing stock by buying properties, says the new leader.  

Cllr Jason McLellan was elected leader at a full council meeting on Tuesday, May 24, where he addressed the newly elected council. 

In his speech, Cllr McLellan listed flooding, social care, improving education, the local economy, rural communities and the Welsh language as his priorities.  He also said he planned to address the cost-of-living crisis. 

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But Cllr McLellan is expected to announce his new cabinet on Wednesday, and the leader says he will appoint a new cabinet member with a portfolio specifically aligning with a new housing strategy.  

Cllr McLellan said: “I have worked for a member of parliament and two members of the Senedd. Part of that work was casework for constituents who come in and seek help from their elected representative.  

“The biggest aspect of my caseload was residents in poor housing, inadequate housing, housing that does not address their family’s needs. For example, you might have a child with a profound disability. That child grows into adulthood but is still dependent on that family, and that family remains in inadequate housing.  

“Scenarios like that should not be allowed to continue. We need to grasp the nettle, and we need to start looking at building houses."

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He added: “As leader, I would say we have an opportunity. We have funding through the housing revenue account. The pot of money is there. I was a councillor from 2012-17, as many of you know, and that was discussed. It was on the table. It is still on the table.  

“As leader, I will appoint a lead member for housing with a specific strategy. We are going to do what it says on the tin. That will be to build affordable, social housing, low-carbon housing, build those houses, acquire that sort of social housing as well, where the market allows us to do that, and work with the private rented sector.” 

He added: “I want to continue the work the housing department has done on buying houses that come available, bringing them into the housing stock. Everybody has a basic human right to decent housing.”