Conservatives on Wiltshire Council have won a victory against the Liberal Democrats to protect the county's supply of council houses.
Cllr Dominic Muns, who represents The Lavingtons in the Melksham and Devizes constituency, slammed the attempt by the LIberal Democrats to sell off the county's council houses.
Demanding the council stand up for vulnerable Wiltshire residents, the Deputy Conservative Leader said it was "nonsensical" for the Lib Dem run council to sell off some council houses in rural areas.
"[The Conservatives] have been investing in our council stock for a number of years, and rightly so.
"To invest in new social housing stock, yet let stock drop off at the other end, is nonsensical. We need to increase the size of the stock for residents that rely on it." said Cllr Muns.
“This council, some time ago, voted to challenge housing associations when they were doing exactly the same thing; which would negatively impact Wiltshire resident
"Most of the chamber supported that drive to say to housing associations, 'No - this stock is really valuable for our local residents and it must be maintained."
The call follows a decision to sell off some council houses that are in remote areas or in need of significant work to bring them up to compliance with energy regulations.
The motion was brought to a meeting of full council on Tuesday, October 21 by Conservative group leader Richard Clewer and his colleague Cllr Rich Rogers, Conservative spokesman for housing.
In July, just months after taking over the council, the Liberal Democrat administration voted to sell two vacant council houses in the south of the county - one in Wilton and the other in nearby Barford St Martin.
"I am sad that I have to be bringing this motion today," said Cllr Clewer. "In this council we sought for a very long time to build council houses and not see a reduction through anything other than right to buy.
"It was really regrettable that we came to a point with the new administration where we were suddenly seeing council houses being sold off.
"You do not see council housing being rebuilt in rural areas - it's in urban areas. Keeping hold of rural council housing means keeping families together.
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