Member

We also have a great citizen army out there—I do not know whether it exists everywhere. Certainly, when I was a councillor, when any home was empty for longer than a couple of weeks, I would get phone calls about it, asking me why it had not been let. Sometimes it is justified, because there are structural issues that involve the need to leave properties empty, but it is very important that councils follow up on that as quickly as possible. We are clear that this should be done through local flexibility. For those reasons, although I respect the intention behind the amendment, I ask that it not be moved.