Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Second bid also being considered.

Wiltshire Council has secured a £3.2m grant from the Government for affordable housing and councillors are considering a second bid.

The first grant will provide 47 homes in Salisbury, Trowbridge and North Bradley. If the council is successful with a second bid, it would provide a further 17 homes in Southview, Trowbridge. The WC Cabinet will decide at its meeting on October 20 whether to make the second bid.

Of the original 47 homes, 22 are planned for Pembroke Road, Salisbury, 13 for Southview, Trowbridge, four for Southwick Road, North Bradley and eight for St Thomas' Road, Trowbridge.

The houses will be built on council owned land but could see WC returning to the role of landlord. Currently, WC has a major future problem with housing stock inherited from Salisbury District Council and I hope that the cabinet will not see becoming a landlord as a step forward. There are a number of Residential Social Landlords in the area, such as Westlea and Selwood, that are skilled in this area - let them do what they do best (providing affordable housing for rent) and don't have WC trying to emulate them.

Please note that I could be deemed to have a 'personal interest' in this scheme as I am a WC nominated director on the board of Selwood Housing.