SOUTHPORT Councillor Mike Sammon has expressed his disappointment after last night's Sefton Council Scrutiny Committee rejected the Liberal Democrat call in on the Salfordian.
Cllr Sammon and colleagues had asked the Labour led Cabinet to consider allowing some capacity for homeless families with children, rather than limiting the building to single adults and couples. He argued that the Council's own FAQs describe the building as suitable for:- "small households" and that its location opposite Hesketh Park makes it a natural setting for some family provision.
"I'm disappointed that the Labour majority rejected the case we put forward,” said Cllr Sammon adding:- "Cllr Liz Dowd, the Cabinet Member responsible, focused solely on political points and did not address the reasons for the call in. She did not even mention the question of families, despite the fact that Sefton Council currently has homeless families living in shared temporary accommodation. They appear to have been completely overlooked for this family orientated location opposite Hesketh Park."
Although the committee voted against referring the decision back to Cabinet, the Council’s purchase of the Salfordian is still subject to gaining planning permission.
